Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Worried these are Symptoms of brain tumour? Scared

27 replies

dennisreynoldsduster · 10/02/2019 20:15

This probably sounds silly but I can’t stop worrying.
Last month I found out I have an eye problem which I have been referred for . It’s to do with the focus of my eyes and is causing slightly blurred vision either close up or far away depending on what I’ve been looking at (usually far away is worse and close up is much better)
The referral was a routine one so non emergency but I can’t shake the feeling it’s something serious causing it like a tumour.

It’s not helped by the fact I’m also getting tense neck and shoulder/back of the head.
Feel a bit dizzy and out of whack when I’m out walking or been out for a bit (this has been in the last week)
Shaking
Strange feeling in my ears
Very tired and generally run down feeling

I stupidly looked at google which is what started this all off.

I have got my eye appointment in several weeks so they obviously don’t think it’s anything terrible but since I have seen on google tha the eye problem can be a sign of tumours/pressure in the brain I am terrified.

OP posts:
goose1964 · 10/02/2019 20:35

If they even think there is a chance it was cancer you would have been referred under the 2 week rule. Sounds like it's something elze

Original poster
Dennisreynoldsduster · 10/02/2019 20:43

@goose1964 I guess the thing that’s worrying me is I was referred by an optician not a doctor but opticians must have lots of different red flag symptoms to look for too right?

OP posts:
PickwickThePlockingDodo · 10/02/2019 21:04

Opticians are highly trained in this area. My DH went to the Optician with a problem with his eye, the optician told him he had to go to the hospital straight away, turned out he had a tumour (he's fine now)

The Optician obviously doesn't think it is anything that major or would have sent you to hospital straight away or at the very least you would receive an appointment for a few days time.
I'm guessing the dizziness, neck pain etc is stress and you worrying. I believe strange ear sensations are also a sign of anxiety.

Step away from google 🙂

YeOldeTrout · 10/02/2019 21:04

I bet when you googled you found a long list of other things it might be, too.

I always like to hear how these threads turn out, so please come back and let us know. These threads almost never turn out to be something bad.

My experience is I get something odd, I google, I go to doc with short list of things in my head that my odd thing might be, and Doctor comes up with an explanation. It's something I never heard of & my googling didn't find (but turns out to be totally harmless, too).

XmasPostmanBos · 10/02/2019 21:07

I think none of the other symptoms are related to the eye thing but more likely a cold or virus affecting your inner ear.

ScarlettDarling · 10/02/2019 21:10

Op google the symptoms of anxiety and you'll see that all of the weird things like dizziness, tension in head and neck etc that you've been suffering are all very common symptoms of anxiety. Why don't you try to get an earlier eye appointment? But if you can't, reassure yourself that the professionals definitely aren't worried or you'd have been referred under the two week wait.

Wolfiefan · 10/02/2019 21:10

If my vision is off for any reason I feel sick and dizzy and tired. I also become tense and feel pain.
Step away from the google and good luck with the appointment.

MeganJPerry · 10/02/2019 21:16

OP: If your in the UK, phone NHS 111 number and talk to a knowledgable person. Personally, I would not risk leaving it. If there is some underlying problem which an eye test may not even show up, its better to catch it sooner rather than later. Shaking and dizzy is not normal if you don't have a bug and your eating properly. Just ring, it costs you nothing.

Original poster
dennisreynoldsduster · 10/02/2019 21:45

@scarlettdarling I have seen - and I am anxious. but I just keep thinking what if it’s not an obvious red flag to an optician or something.
I have been to the doctor in between but they just focused on anxiety and that was before I was feeling dizzy sometimes.

@meganjperry I think they will just tell me to go to a & e if I’m worried as it’s all I can do. it’s not constant and I don’t know if I have a bug as there is a weird one going around that people have described as making you dizzy and brain foggy.

I might see if I can get in to see the doctor again tomorrow.

OP posts:
glamorousgrandmother · 10/02/2019 21:52

An optician would be able to tell, I think, if a tumour was likely and refer you to hospital. I know of someone who found out they had a tumour on the optical nerve through a routine eye exam. Not that I'm suggesting this is what you have. Go for your appointment and mention your worries to the optician so they can put your mind at rest.

trudytapas · 10/02/2019 21:57

It could be a number of things. Best to see your GP and go from there.

I had a brain tumour but my only symptom was a massive seizure.

If the GP can find no other explanation, they may refer you to have an MRI.

Thinking back to before they found my tumour, I had an eye test about a month before and the optician wasn't able to tell.

jua890 · 10/02/2019 22:00

i had visual disturbance and loads of other weird symptoms. When I went to A & E was told it was fine and just stress. So if you're under general stress it might be just that.

Original poster
dennisreynoldsduster · 10/02/2019 22:38

What symptoms did you get @jua890?
Mine do seem to get much worse when I’m stuck in an anxious thought cycle about them.
I think I’m going to go to the doctor tomorrow if I can I’m just worried they will brush it off as anxiety.
I do have health anxiety so I know I do worry more than other people about this kind of stuff.

OP posts:
annie987 · 11/02/2019 08:05

Have you had full bloods done at the GP?
Sounds very like vitamin b12 deficiency - including the eye thing.

Original poster
dennisreynoldsduster · 11/02/2019 08:26

No i havent, I have a doctors appointment booked for tomorrow morning so hopefully they can reassure me or investigate

OP posts:
glamorousgrandmother · 11/02/2019 08:27

My daughter has a benign tumour on her trigeminal nerve (awaiting treatment ) she first put it down to dental problems (long story) it was only diagnosed with a private MRI. The person she knew with a tumour on the optical nerve had no pain, and optician picked it up when they photographed the back of the eyeball. It is most likely the OP doesn't have one because they are rare but she should go to the optician anyway and if still concerned go to the GP.

glamorousgrandmother · 11/02/2019 08:28

Reading the OP again, I get all those symptoms when I have sinus problems.

JaneJeffer · 11/02/2019 08:53

Has anyone else had this viruswww.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/3493619-Has-anyone-else-had-this-virus
Maybe you have this?

E20mom · 11/02/2019 08:56

Sounds like standard anxiety symptoms

Oldmum55 · 11/02/2019 09:38

OP why don't you go back to the opticians and tell them exactly what you fear. I'm sure they will able to reassure you as they would spot something potentially serious and would send you to hospital straight away. I have great faith in opticians especially now with all this new technology they have when doing eye examinations.

Original poster
dennisreynoldsduster · 11/02/2019 11:25

I’ve spoken to the opticians on the phone (not the optician herself but whoever mans the phones) and explained I am worried but she said it’s been put through as a routine referral so the optician wouldn’t have seen any red flags.
However they didn’t take a picture of my eyes I don’t think, should that be done as standard?

I have a doctors appointment tomorrow morning

The virus does sound like what I’ve been experiencing and I DO get health anxiety. All the symptoms seemed to start after the eye check and referral.
It’s just so difficult to know if it’s something to be worried about or not but hopefully I can explain my concerns to the doctor tomorrow

OP posts:
whatisforteamum · 11/02/2019 12:53

I can understand this OP.I have some field vision loss in my right eye.My parents both had advanced cancer.Dad's went to his brain before he died.I'm on a months referral so any day now I hope.I did suffer with severe dizziness and nausea a while back and balance problems.Last week I could see colours in my other eye and was told it was an occular migraine.
Try not to worry and I'm sure we will both be fine.

Original poster
dennisreynoldsduster · 11/02/2019 14:42

@whatisforteamum sorry to hear you’re going through similar.
I managed to go for a walk today and not feel dizzy - so maybe it is anxiety. and I do have a weird pressure in my ears so wonder if I do have that virus going around (hopefully the doctor will be able to clear that up tomorrow).
Was yours a routine referral as well? Like you say, hopefully we will both be ok x

OP posts:
dontknowwhattodo80 · 11/02/2019 16:36

@dennisreynoldsduster - it does sound very like anxiety. I have very similar symptoms myself, once I convinced myself that it was anxiety they slowly fizzled away, only now reappearing if I'm particularly stressed

whatisforteamum · 11/02/2019 16:54

Yes I went to get new glasses.I told the optician I had headaches as I had had three that.week.She gave me a field test where I missed some dots.It was repeated three times then I was told I was being referred.I too googled right side sight field loss.Anyway I rang GPS who had not heard anything.Then optician who said they were referring.me.I.Then had phone call from GP.I told them about my parents history she said she would have it.Nothing.....in a month.We wait😕