Please help - I'm really scared

Maddoxowns · New User Joined: 23 Jan 2007 Posts: 7

_Edit:_ Since joining this site, I've browsed a bit more and realized that this isn't so much a forum for people who may be diagnosed with tumors but rather more of a site where people who are taking care of loved ones gather to support each other.... I'm sorry if I have intruded in any way, but please help if you can...

Hi. I'm a 17 year old male. Since about last July, I've noticed that my vision is getting generally worse overall. Not just peripheral, not just central, not just trouble focusing...all of it. I also started feeling confused sometimes around then. I just didn't feel as if I was really aware of the things going on around me. Please note that my eyesight was already really bad before this started happening, so in order to notice that my eyes were getting worse, it probably took a lot of getting worse, if that makes sense. I attributed all this to stress, as my girlfriend of a year had just broken up with me that month. I was also having colon problems, and things just seemed to keep adding up, so I thought it was just stress.

Well, this went on for a while before I decided something was wrong. I figured my eyes were getting worse, probably just naturally, and it was probably causing me to feel confused and stuff. I started getting these weird headaches. Headaches that felt like my scalp was being pinched. My head would be really warm and feverish while I had these headaches. I attributed it to me having to strain my eyes because of my vision loss.

My family is fairly poor, and we're on government supplied health insurance (CareSource). My mom was having trouble finding an eye doctor for a long time, and I think after a while, she simply gave up. However, she did find a family doctor for my colon issues I mentioned. I got that all taken care of (well, not exactly--they found internal hemherroids during a colonoscopy and have yet to tell me what they want to do about them), but still hadn't mentioned the vision/awareness/headaches to my doc.

That is, until Friday before last. My vision had been getting worse and worse, I seemed to be feeling more and more confused sometimes. The headaches weren't really as bad anymore, but still. I told my doctor about the vision loss and the headaches, but forgot to mention the confusion/awareness issue. He decided to order an MRI. I got that done on last Thursday. Now, since last Thursday, a lot has seemed to happen.

Since last Thursday, I had a really bad migraine. It was so bad I almost vomitted. My left eye hurt really bad during it. I actually think that was on that Thursday night. Anyways, also, I've began to have random muscle twitches. Mostly my facial muscles, but also in my arms and legs. My optic nerves seem to hurt a lot. I get weird pains in my hands. I've been stuttering occasionally. Sometimes I can't understand what someone is telling me.

My doctor and I haven't been over the MRI results yet. He hasn't called me or anything. My mom called and scheduled an appointment for the second of February. He doesn't look at test results until the day someone scheduled an appointment to do so, so I won't know until then what is wrong with me....

I guess my question is...is this behavior typical of a brain tumor? I've been scared senseless all weekend thinking about the possibility of it. I'm at the point where I just want to know the likelihood of it so I can get it over with.

How likely is it that I have a brain tumor, in your opinion?

_Edit:_ I forgot to mention that sometimes I also experience partial numbness in my left arm. It's not completely numb, but desensitized to feeling.

michelesmith · Experienced user Joined: 28 Oct 2005 Posts: 72

Maddoxowns,
Don't apologize. We are actually quite an ecclectic mix Smile

. I can't give you a diagnosis. I would plead with you to try to get someone to look at the MRI sooner. Maybe you can call the office and tell them your new/increase in severity of symptoms. Ask to speak with a nurse. Often they are able to move things along more than just the receptionist. I wish you the best, and please regardless of the outcome let us know how you are doing.

You will be in my prayers and thoughts,
Michele
_________________
Michele

Maddoxowns · New User Joined: 23 Jan 2007 Posts: 7

Thanks for your support. I really do appreciate it.

I tried calling them to get someone to look sooner, but the receptionist simply refused to let me talk to anyone else. She was loud and rude. Eventually she said she would get someone else, but she put me on hold for at least ten minutes before I hung up. At that point my mom called and got the same result. That's when we decided we had to make an appointment to get the doctor to look at it...it was the same way with my colonoscopy results I mentioned.

Reading some of the stories on this site has gotten me all teary-eyed. I almost feel bad posting about this, as many people here have/are dealing with actual cases of what I only fear I may have....

michelesmith · Experienced user Joined: 28 Oct 2005 Posts: 72

maddoxdowns,
I know you don't have good health insurance, but your other option is to go to the emergency room. They will do an MRI and give you the results. Please keep us posted.
_________________
Michele

Maddoxowns · New User Joined: 23 Jan 2007 Posts: 7

Michele,

I appreciate your help but I don't think that's possible.... We don't have a means of transporation right now (hell, family members take me to my appointments, and that's only when it's convenient for them), not to mention that I'm highly highly claustrophobic...the place I went to for my MRI was an open MRI Smile

I suppose I will have to wait until February 2nd. I know if it is something as serious as a malignant tumor, time is essential to survival, but I simply don't have any other options. I simply wish I had gone to the doctor about this sooner.

brainman

Maddoxowns, you are in my thoughts and prayers. I know from personal experience how difficult waiting for the doctors to tell me the results of tests can be. The saying is true: “The squeaky wheel gets the grease.” Don’t stop trying to get a reply from your doctor. Call every day leaving a specific message that you want to hear the results of your MRI because you are worried.

On the positive side, if the doctor did see something wrong, he/she would not wait until Feb 2 to call you with the results. If he/she has any concerns, he/she would have you come in at once. So, no news might, in fact, be good news.

Oh, and this forum is for you Very Happy

. I am a cancer patient as well as a care provider. Welcome.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/

Maddoxowns · New User Joined: 23 Jan 2007 Posts: 7

brainman,

Thanks for helping me feel as if I belong.

I do hope that the old adage "no news is good news" does apply here, but I'm afraid it likely does not. My doctor doesn't review test results until the patient schedules an appointment to do so. February 2nd will likely be the first time he even looks at it or is even aware of its existence. It doesn't seem as if he takes a personal interest in his patients or his work. It's sad, but, I think it's true.

You will be in my prayers as well. I've been reading some of your posts on the board and you seem to be quite helpful. I'm sure everyone appreciates it, but I want you to know that I really do. Thanks again.

brainman

Maddoxowns, YOUR doctor might not review the test result before your appointment; however, let me share a little secret with you, a radiologist HAS to review the test results first and then write a report that is then sent to your doctor. If there is something that really needs urgent attention, the radiologist will code it differently and your doctor will see it as soon as it arrives (assuming that your doctor’s staff is competent). Sometimes, the radiologist will even phone the doctor. If they don’t report a significant problem that needs urgent attention, that can be grounds for a lawsuit against them. That is not to say there is nothing to worry about. Obviously, there is something wrong and you need answers. Therefore, keep calling. Good luck.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/

Maddoxowns · New User Joined: 23 Jan 2007 Posts: 7

Update:

Yeah it's been a bit of time since I was here, but a lot of nothing has happened in the last year. I've been to several doctors, gotten several scans done (the whole alphabet soup of them--EEG, MRI, CAT, PET, you name it) and no one can find anything wrong with my brain. What worries me is that no one has bothered to check out my spine.

Thanks for all the help. I have more concerns with cancer though with the latest health issue I've acquired, which can be found here:
http://www.cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=37030#37030

brainman

WOW Maddoxowns, it HAS been a long time Smile

.

I am glad all the scans came back negative. It you did have any cancer anywhere, one of them would have shown it wherever it is. You might still have a pinched nerve or something like that causing your symptoms. Are you still having the same ones??

Keep working with your medical team to find out what is wrong.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/

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