Scared about brain surgery

[SauvignonBlanche]

Have had a benign Grade 1 tumour for over 20 years and have no current symptoms.
Had what I thought was a check-up today after a recent scan and was told I need surgery!
I don't want it and am frankly, terrified!

No, I have my next scans on the 28th, as you're having your surgery, then see the Neurosurgeon again on the 4th of Feb.

The waiting is awful isn't it! Private or NHS? If it's serious you'll be sort of fast tracked anyway like me. I called surgeons secretaries for the first time and they seemed to know who I was. Was so weird. Oh to be famous. Lol

I have a very supportive family, I saw most of them today. I went to the first appointment on my own as I as I had no idea what was going to happen.
DH will be with me for the next ones!

Yes. I've been with someone to all but one or twi appointments. The pre op (I'd assumed would be factual and uneven true), I found to be quite detailed, long and emotional - you may not. I wish my DH had come but I'd never have known.

I know at our place they warn patients how long a pre-op appointment can take, they're very detailed.
I can't believe I might be having one, I'm still thinking it might all be a mistake.

Gosh. That's exactly how I feel. I want to scream that theta some mistake - records mixed up or something.
I don't even want to go on Tuesday as they'll be GIVING me problems, not taking them away!

How r u doing?

I doing fine Goodness, better than you, as I'm in bed at 02:40 and not MNing!

Just waiting very inpatiently to see the Neurosurgeon again next week now I've had more scans.

The diet's not gong well, I can't think why?

Thinking of you Sauvignon . I have no experience of brain surgery but I know how awful it is to wait for surgery which you have to have even though you're relatively symptom free .

Have my hand .

Diet? Lol
I got a slimming world certificate last week: Slimmer of the Week. Now hen asked how I'd done it I replied with a smile, "I've had a bit of a stressful week." Lol
Are u waiting for an op date?

Thanks ginger.
I'll find out what the plan is next week

Just a quick pop in to say my surgery went brilliantly and I was released ahead of schedule from the hospital! So happy to be home, no neural or physical deficiencies apparent, and - although not something I'd like to do a third time - not something I needed to worry so much about. SB I sincerely hope you ARE able to avoid surgery, but if you do need one I wanted to wish you all the best and give you a recent success story to remember.

Let me know the plan when you find out. Whatever it is, it might make you feel like your feet are more on the ground.

That's fantastic news Reinette, thanks for letting me know, I have been thinking about you and Goodness.
I'm delighted to hear you're home already, I'm dreading being an inpatient, nurses make terrible patients and I'll be desperate to get out as soon as possible.

I'll let you know how it goes on Tuesday.

They'll ask you what your occupation is when they do inpatient form filling. I had fun with one form-filler, telling her that I was a medical negligence lawyer. Gd, I enjoyed that! She went white as a sheet. Told her that I'm a teacher within seconds. Five fantastic seconds. Enjoy telling them that you're a nurse.
I think it'll be hard for you to be a patient, but also revealing. You'll know what to complain about and what to expect. Many of them are just lovely. You'll have a far better idea of their workload and responsibilities within the ward, so might not be as fearfully self-centred as patients like me. That will actually be to your advantage. All this waiting must be horrible for you. I remember being so overwhelmed with my 'out of the blue diagnosis' that I thought I'd faint (like a Victorian swoon) a couple of times. Before I'd established the support of a good group of friends (some v recent ones included), I occasionally wanted to scream out the fact that I ...
I was going a bit doolally. Better now. Except for The await of the results.
Much better to have had the op. Promise.
Xxx

Did you get to ask about driving?

That's very reassuring Goodness, thanks.
I've often said that all Nurses should have to have some sort of monorail op as part of their training as it does make you more empathetic but this is a bit extreme!

I haven't been able to ask anything yet Giraffe, I'm going back on Tuesday, I may need to write all my questions down to make sure I haven't forgotten anything.

How goes it? Having / had a lovely weekend, I hope!

No surprises, good or bad today, I still need surgery though there's no rush, it'll be in the next 2-3 months.

I asked about driving, I have to inform the DVLA and they send a form through to my consultant but as I shouldn't have any neurological deficits there shouldn't be a problem but I may well contact the DVLA myself.

I'll be in hospital for a week, don't like the sound of that.

So sorry to hear you will be having surgery after all, but at least it was caught before it became inoperable - sometimes all it takes is one new tendril wrapped around a critical brain structure to take that option right off the table.

When I went in I was told 3-7 days in hospital. I ended up having surgery Monday, ICU for Tue and most of Wed (while they found me a bed on the floor - I was actually ready to go much sooner Wed morning), general floor Thursday and discharged Friday morning.

If you want or need any tips on what to pack for this length of hospital stay I'd be happy to share my strategies for maximizing comfort :)

That's really kind, thank you. I'll pm you.

I've just seen my consultant on Channel 5, shaving a young girl's head !!