Worried I have a brain tumour

[Scaredan]

Not sure what I’m looking for in this post as I know no one can diagnosed me online… just have no one else to talk to about this

I had an awful ear infection last year which lasted months which has left me with some dizziness!

A month ago, I came back from Australia and I started to develop twitching, loss of appetite, a faint hint of smoke (now-and-again) which lasts about 1 second and is quite faint and now I have some eye pain, very mild, which comes and goes (it doesn’t affect my day to day activities).

I went to my GP and optician about this and they didn’t seem concerned. Had a blood test which showed I’m severely vitamin D deficient and I’ve been given supplements for which has somewhat helped with the twitching but everything else remains. All other bloods OK. The optician looked at the back of my eye and we did quite a comprehensive eye test which showed my eyes are healthy and no concerns visually/OCT scan good.

I am now seeing the ENT in a week’s time and I’m absolutely petrified at the thought of having a brain tumour. Has anyone else had similar symptoms and it wasn’t a brain tumour/MS? Thanks

I know 2 people with brain tumors and both picked up by the optician with no other symptoms, so the fact your eye test is fine is a good sign.

It's natural to have those fears and you are doing the right thing getting symptoms checked. But honestly the best thing you can do is NOT worry.

The aftermath of ear infections can last for years- you could easily still have an ear or sinus problem. Vit D deficiency makes you feel dreadful too.

It sounds like you need to really invest in well-being and health - lots of fresh air, gentle exercise, scrupulous diet. Best wishes.

I have M.S and had optical neuritis, diagnosed by the optician. I was then sent to the eye clinic at the hospital, then referred to a neurologist.

The pain was horrendously excruciating and persistent for many days , my vision was also bleary in that eye. Even now I have a little bit of peripheral vision issues in that eye, 15 years after the initial event.

The only definitive way to diagnose M.S or a tumour is through having an MRI, but a neurologist would arrange this if they thought it necessary from ongoing symptoms.

I do believe there’s a documented reason for smelling smoke briefly. It’s happened to myself and my mum, and she’s has no health issues.

Try not to worry so much, hard I know. It’s most probably something that isn’t remotely serious 🤗

I get the smell of cigarette smoke very strongly for days at a time on occasion. Like I can't smell anything else when I get into bed I have to put my nose under the covers to stop the smell.

No brain tumour. GP said its probably my sinuses.

Update, it’s called Phantosmia. Smelling smoke momentarily.

My young family member had headaches and numbness in face. It ended up being an ear problem. ENT see this all the time, if they think it needs checking further they’ll send you for a head MRI.

Thanks all for your answers. I know deep down, a brain tumour is very unlikely reason for my symptoms however I can’t shake the thought off! I’m so bad at consulting Dr Google and always gives the worst case scenario. I seriously need to stop obsessing over my symptoms and try to live my life! I think it’s mainly because I’m in my 20s and I’ve already been through a cancer scare so it’s quite exhausting going through all of this again…

My husband sometimes smells things that aren’t there quite vividly and I’m certain he doesn’t have a brain tumour…

Thanks! That is reassuring. Do you still smell smoke?

I haven’t smelled it for years, unless my daughter lights up a ciggie outside, vile habit, 😵‍💫

Try a good quality magnesium supplement for the twitching. I get twitching when I don't take it.

I smell smoke most days - phantosmia is a huge symptom of my migraine. It's a nightmare and probably the one that drives me the most insane because nothing seems to work on it.

The two people I know who had brain tumours, both became symptomatic only with seizures.

Do you have migraine at all? Silent migraine is a type without the classic head pain and can be the source of many weird symptoms in the body!

There's also the possibility of Covid or another coronavirus type virus picked up in transit!

Thanks all. No, I don’t suffer with migraines. It is such a stressful time for me. I think the loss of appetite is linked to me googling my symptoms and noticing they match a brain tumour! When I’m busy/see a story whose symptoms were the same as mine and it wasn’t a brain tumour - my appetite comes back. Really hope these symptoms I’m having are linked to my ear. I will keep you updated on what the ENT says.

I thought I’d share an update if anyone is going through the same thing and happen to read my story with similar symptoms:

MRI scan was clear. Didn’t show anything abnormal and my symptoms all disappeared.

That’s good and really reassuring. It is a worry though when you’re not sure what’s happening to you, take care 🤗