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Life-limiting illness

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How to deal with the wait for a diagnosis

5 replies

pomegranatepie · 05/02/2023 09:27

I took my husband into A&E mid November, as he kept falling asleep, had a constant headache and had become confused. A CT scan and MRI later and we were told that it was bad news, they believed it was a high grade butterfly glioma. He spent three weeks in Hospital on a high dose of steroids, and a repeat MRI a couple of weeks later showed that it had reduced in size, which meant that it couldn't possibly be the glioma, he was discharged, and we were told we would see a neurologist within a fortnight. We are still waiting to see the neurologist. He has developed diabetes as a side effect of the steroids, has had a DVT, probably because he has been more inactive than usual, is unable to work or drive and is feeling really really unwell. A recent MRI showed a further reduction, which we took as really good news, but have now been told (by the senior doctor who's care he was under in hospital) that they still haven't ruled out a tumour, and the two main possibilities are CNS lymphoma, which would need heavy duty chemo, or inflammation, non viral possibly autoimmune. They are worried that once the steroids stop it could come back. We have been muddling along in survival mode but thinking that he was healing, and now back in shock. He is terrified and emotional. I am terrified and emotional. Neither options are great, but chemo sounds so big and scary. We have an 8 year old Ds, and I'm trying to keep things as normal as possible, but I'm scared, and exhausted, and I miss our lovely life, and I am struggling to keep the fear at bay. We have an appointment with the neuro next week, and have managed for months, but this next week of waiting feels impossible.

OP posts:
pomegranatepie · 05/02/2023 09:28

I guess I'm looking for positive stories and coping mechanisms if anyone has been through similar?

OP posts:
thesandwich · 05/02/2023 09:29

I’m so sorry to read this. Would contacting Macmillan be worthwhile to give you both some support and information? The waiting is so hard.

thesandwich · 05/02/2023 09:31

And also stay away from Google. Stick to nhs/ Macmillan sites. Maybe headspace or calm apps might help?

pomegranatepie · 05/02/2023 09:37

Thank you. Maybe I should contact Macmillan, I guess I thought that without a diagnosis we would just need to wait it out. I have been pretty good in the non Google front, and am sticking with NHS and Macmillan, but even those sources have been terrifying, as whatever it is seems to be pretty rare and unusual and as the doctor kept repeating to us, very serious.

OP posts:
thesandwich · 05/02/2023 19:08

Do try Macmillan.

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