Yesterday, I found out that ... and I'm scared.

[GoodnessKnows]

I will be brief as I feel like I've entered a time warp where my brain has frozen, incapable of long sentences:
Had hip pain and have been waking at 3am most nights with back pain (not terrible) for about 1-2 years.
Thought I needed a firmer mattress.
Finally went to consultant.
Two MRIs and an X-ray later, I was ushered into a private room having just been told that a large tumor is at the base of my spine.
They called me back in within one working day of the second MRI.
I'm now waiting for a biopsy which will be on Wednesday or Saturday of next week - to determine its 'nature'.
Scared
Shocked
There was talk of chronic bone erosion in the lower back as a result of this thing. Also discussion of nerve paths and tumors, rare cases and cups of tea.
Now, lying awake as usual in mild discomfort, I'm in utter shock and disbelief.

Should have said how glad I am that they sound nice and sensible and prepared to engage in proper discussion. That's what you need. Sorry the news is not straightforward but it sounds ad though you are in good hands.

This does indeed sound like cautiously good news. Hope you feel at least a little reassured. It's fine to ask the surgeons directly which operating option they would choose if you feel unsure. I would guess that two pairs of eyes are better than one? I think the Wellington is private? Can you get private care at the Other hosp? Still shouldn't be a deal breaker, though.

Sleep well and hope this will in time be a happy new year.

Happy New Year lovely ladies!
May it bring everyone only good and happy news, giggles and love.
I've had two MRIs in the past 2/3 weeks, so I'll try to remember to take my CD. It's a loooong one though isn't it. What if I fell asleep and then jerk awake? It'll be fine, I'm sure. I think they give me some injection though ;(
Such things are not for pathetic wimps like me. Lol
I'm what my GP nurse calls 'a fainter'. Anything near a vein and I'm out cold!
Had a better night's sleep though. I just kept 'seeing' the consultant' stock solid expression. V reassuring. Vs thinking of scary scenarios.
As for preferred hospital. Wellington is private I think (not sure) but not heard good things about agency nurses there etc. RNOH I've heard is better for medical care - but has virtually no internet connection and poor phone signal. This does bother me. I'll go for the best medical one though - will take consultant's guidance on it

A pleased that you felt confident in this chap and it sounds as you say as if you are another step forward. So Monday for the scan then they will take it from there...glad you had a nice evening and its good to see you posting at 'sensible time'. I wish you a negative ( in the sense of nasties) new year but a happy one when its all over.....

Aaaaah, Rosa. Thank you. How was your NY Eve? Yes - wasn't posting at stupid-o'clock last night. I'll leave my worries (mostly) to him now.

Aaaaah, Rosa. Thank you. How was your NY Eve? Yes - wasn't posting at stupid-o'clock last night. I'll leave my worries (mostly) to him now.

NYE was quiet thanks nice meal with parents... DC stayed up later , D h ate far too much so snoring was at max... Packing today yipeeee doesn't looks as we will get New years walk on a beach its blowing a hoolie out there. .... Great that you could share yoru worries and this chap seems to have helped take the strain a bit!

Wish you a safe journey home then. It certainly is a blustery day, as Pooh would say!

See another factor - we are huge Pooh fans , there was so much water in the stream we couldn't play pooh sticks as they all got stuck so we made a pretend dam then cleared it all!

Pooh engineers. Genius. Even Owl and Rabnit would be impressed!

I've had spinal surgery twice, once privately once NHS. I have to be honest and say in neither case was I very impressed with the nursing care. Some was good, some very sloppy. It all felt quite formulaic and routine driven rather than patient centred.

The environments were very different. Private hosp you of course have single room, own bathroom, tv, decent food and someone does answer the bell. Also the consultant did visit daily albeit very briefly.

In the NHS hosp I was on a neuro surgical ward with some very sick women. One (brain haemorrhage, poor soul) cried out almost constantly. Another, (also brain haemorrhage) kept coming a talking to me, forever repeating the same information. Further away was a lady who screamed a lot. Apparently god had told her to accept no painkillers. The food was pretty poor but edible. Nursing was ok, sometimes quite slack. Mostly kind, though.

Sorry, not trying to frighten you at all, but if the medical care is the same I think I'd be looking towards the most comfortable environment. See if you can find out a bit more before you decide.

Hope the scans are ok. I find them almost hypnotic. Don't worry too much about twitching, I'm sure they get all sorts! Oh and the IV dye is fine.x

Support IV dye being fine, had it loads. Never been private but nursing varies from nurse to nurse, ward to ward. Two years ago at Thomas' initially I had the best food in the world, coming back a fortnight later it was not so good. You can't tell.

Gd Matilda, you've been through the wringer! How are you now? Well, I hope. I'll thankfully be going privately as insured. Not so bothered about the food. Just the nurses n docs. I once had an op (3 years ago) and remember bejng perched on the bed wanting to be sick but unable to get to the loo and the nurse coming and telling me she was too busy, leaving me on the bed and unable to stand, move or lie down - with a mouthful. Nice! That was private! Lol

Ancient, thank you. Reassuring to know that dye was ok. Gonna order food in (not really)! Lol

Hi Goodness, you are sounding a bit more confident about the process, the more you know about what's going to happen. It's also good that you got the second opinion and like the doctor!
I had a similar experience, only felt happy when I'd found a surgeon who gave me confidence that they'd do the job well!
Big sighs of relief here! We've got the house back to ourselves for the first time in a week and a half. It's wonderful! I had to share!

goodness do you think your tumour got picked up quicker because you have private insurance? I have a horrid feeling on the nhs an achey hip would have been fobbed off for quite some time unfortunately. I don't want to derail your thread....

I wish you the best of luck in the coming weeks here's hoping for the most benign least complicated possible outcome.

Here, here!

Thank you, Denial. Well, I think it probably was. Just because I'd not have got to see a consultant in the first place based on the mild symptoms I'd been experiencing. Plus, the NHS may well have fobbed me off or at best gone via the physio route first. I think it's likely that private insurance makes them more likely to refer you for an MRI, etc. as NHS funds are limited. Just my gut feeling. Tbh, my hip does ache but is certainly not painful and even the limp (minor and limited to first twi steps after being seated/ in bed) is occasional and a minor irritation. A good NHS Physio may have picked up on bump on my back - but doubtful as had showed it to many people before - including epidural person and osteopaths. Saying that, my consultant says The Bump and hip ache are unlikely to be connected with the tumour - that it's an incidental finding.

Helza - back in the house? Fan bumming tastic!

You'll have to have turkey to celebrate ;)

Hi Goodness, how did you get on with your scans today?

sending love, Goodness, best of luck to you Xx

Hi GoodnessKnows

Just wanted to say that my DGM had a schwannoma removed from her neck this year.

It was extensive and had grown off from the main tumour around several nerves, it didn't cause her huge amounts of pain, but it kept her awake at night. The main tumour was the size of an egg.

She's 82 and it was benign (though we didn't know this until after surgery, the first needle biopsy and second deeper biopsy were inconclusive).

She came through the op very well and was home two days later, scar has healed very well. Dr said some main nerves were affected but they did their best to remove it while damaging as few nerves as possible.

She has physio and although she can't quite lift her arm on that side as high as she could, that is improving. She also has good dexterity in her hand and strength in her arm. She lives alone and is doing well.

I know it's probably little comfort to you but I'm hoping it might help you to think positively. If you have any questions that I might be able to answer please just PM me.

Good luck, thinking of you.

Dollfaced, that's hugely encouraging. It's bizarre to have something so untowards inside is but feel next to no pain bar being awake at night. Thank gd they found both hers and mine. I'm really heartened to hear how well she's doing. These bloody clever surgeons, hey!
I'm reluctant and apprehensive about the op but am encouraged by her experience. It's so kind of you to share it with me.

Chaffinch and Behind, it was ok. No pain and no needles - always a us as I'm The Biggest Needle Wimp if they're aimed at any veins. Lol
Was weird and a tad claustrophobic in the head MRI as I had a neck and head brace thing put on me. Particularly noisy. But I actually managed to fall asleep - gd knows how - for a few minutes here n there. But if a headache but it's over now. Waiting is the worst. If anyone else asks me when I'll know the results and to let them know ... I shall SCREAM! I'd like to know 'when' myself. I heard that they'll be looking at them tonight. Don't think that can possibly be right though. CT scan woman said the doc who looks at it is on annual leave until 29/1/14. So, I guess it'll be somewhere in between. I'm going to find it hard not to think the worst when they do call though. It's like walking a plank abc bejng on it for weeeeeks.