"A meningioma is a tumor that arises from the meninges — the membranes that surround your brain and spinal cord. Although not technically a brain tumor, it is included in this category because it may compress or squeeze the adjacent brain, nerves and vessels. Meningioma is the most common type of tumor that forms in the head." Mayo Clinic - Meningioma: Symptoms & Causes
Had the radiologist back when informing me about the result of my first MRI used these words, maybe I wouldn't have left the doctor's office shattered in tears and having to calm myself for rest of the day.
But let's go back a little further, shall we...
Back in November 2016 I suddenly suffered from acute hearing loss without any vertigo, fainting or a blast trauma, it simply appeared as a feeling of listening through a can and hearing less on my left ear. At my ear, nose and throat specialist I found out it was only two diminished bass frequencies and no fluid in my ear. Of course I had to call in sick for work for a few days and I was prescribed cortisone. So I stayed home and tried to relax, cause the doctor also assumed stress a a cause and after a while everything went back to normal, as fast as it had appeared it was gone again.
Back in November 2016 I suddenly suffered from acute hearing loss without any vertigo, fainting or a blast trauma, it simply appeared as a feeling of listening through a can and hearing less on my left ear. At my ear, nose and throat specialist I found out it was only two diminished bass frequencies and no fluid in my ear. Of course I had to call in sick for work for a few days and I was prescribed cortisone. So I stayed home and tried to relax, cause the doctor also assumed stress a a cause and after a while everything went back to normal, as fast as it had appeared it was gone again.
Unfortunately after only a few weeks I felt the same sensation, the same symptoms and like the first time they vanished after a few days - and like the first time, I didn't really have the feeling of being stressed out before.
In July 2017 I had already had 4 of these hearing losses, luckily there were no restrictions left as soon as they were gone again and by the third time I had already quit on taking medicine because it didn't seem to make a difference - I got better after a few days whether with medicine and staying home or without. With the help of my regular doctor, my dentist and the ear, nose and throat doctor I started getting physiotherapy for CMD (craniotomy-mandibular dysfunction) and massages, because I "bite and grind" during my sleep and should be using a bite splint that too often stayed in its case instead of putting it in and we figured there might be a correlation between my jaw and my hearing problems. And the ear, nose and throat specialist also ordered a MRI at a radiology practice in order to make sure there was no problem with my brain, especially in the area of the cerebellopontine angle.
Normally I try to prepare myself for these kinds of appointments so I have an idea of what might be found and had I done that, I'd probably have heard or read of an acoustic neuroma - which is also a tumor and could have been responsible for the hearing losses. But since I didn't even the word "TUMOR" was not in my head (no pun intended...) when doing the MRI.
So right after I was called into the office of the radiologist to be told about the results and what she said was: "Concerning the hearing losses we were not able to find a cause, but you have a meningioma, a tumor of the brain membrane, and I'd suggest you consult a neurosurgeon next."
So right after I was called into the office of the radiologist to be told about the results and what she said was: "Concerning the hearing losses we were not able to find a cause, but you have a meningioma, a tumor of the brain membrane, and I'd suggest you consult a neurosurgeon next."
That's it...!
Good-bye...!
Unfortunately I was so perplexed that I left the practice with a cd of the MRI without asking any further questions. As a trained physiotherapist (yes, I am, but it's been a long time since and I didn't really work as such for long) I have enough medical background to know that "tumor" does not mean cancer and malign right away but only swelling and enhancing mass, but right there for me, as for most other people I know, the word was linked with unnecessary horror. I also notice the same reaction when I tell my story to others, that's why I never fail to add benign and non-cancerous based on my own experience.
Anyway tears ran down my face after just a few meters from the office's door and it took a while to calm down enough to be able to think about everything I had just learned and to call my parents without sobbing. The mention of the neurosurgeon had added its part to my nervousness.
Dear radiologists, please let me tell you, don't do it like that. There's other ways to deliver news like that and even though you may need a certain empathy, it's not a question of more time - the choice of your words is what counts!
Ihr wollt dies lieber auf Deutsch lesen? Bitte, hier: https://meningeomundgummibaerchen.blogspot.com/2020/08/wie-diese-geschichte-begann.html
Anyway tears ran down my face after just a few meters from the office's door and it took a while to calm down enough to be able to think about everything I had just learned and to call my parents without sobbing. The mention of the neurosurgeon had added its part to my nervousness.
Dear radiologists, please let me tell you, don't do it like that. There's other ways to deliver news like that and even though you may need a certain empathy, it's not a question of more time - the choice of your words is what counts!
Ihr wollt dies lieber auf Deutsch lesen? Bitte, hier: https://meningeomundgummibaerchen.blogspot.com/2020/08/wie-diese-geschichte-begann.html
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