Migranes and Brain tumor

jimmyb · New User Joined: 11 Feb 2008 Posts: 8 Location: Florida

I'm a 28yr old male who went to the doctor for worsening migraines associated with occasional nausea and vomiting. The doctor gave me migraine medication and put me in for a mri to cover protocol. The MRI showed I have a somewhat small deep left cerebellar/posterior fossa tumor close to the brain stem. I have already had one craniotomy to try and figure out what the tumor was, but due to inter cranial pressure and brain swelling the stealth guided biopsy calculation where thrown off and the tumor was missed. O yea I forgot to mention I am in the military so since me first surgery I have been sent to several other doctors never to see the first doctor again. Every doctor I have seen says my headaches are not related to the tumor, how can this be? My last doctor said my brain swelled because of the way I was positioned on the operating table. Does this sound right? I am getting so frustrated, The headaches are very very bad and almost every day. Can Inter Cranial Pressure show up on MRI?
I am seeing a neurologist who has me on topomax but no medication had worked. I'm still waiting mri results to find out if the tumor is benign or not. The last dr. said if its benign he wants to watch it but what if it causing the headaches. I'm really looking for some advice here from some one more experienced than me (2 months) and has more time than the dr's (5 minutes). thank you

brainman · Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 1:53 pm Post subject: Re: Migranes and Brain tumor

Hi jimmyb. I am very sorry about your up to now undiagnosed brain tumor and other health problems. I differentiate between these because your doctors are.

Headaches are not always associated with brain tumors. So, no, it does not surprise me that the doctors are telling you that your headaches have nothing to do with your tumor.

I am not sure what can cause the inter cranial pressure to be so high since the tumor is so small. It does sound like you have two things going on. Keep working with your medical team to try to resolve both.

Are you currently stationed in the US?

You are in my thoughts and prayers.
_________________
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/

jimmyb · New User Joined: 11 Feb 2008 Posts: 8 Location: Florida

Brainman thank you for such a quick response. Yes I am currently stationed in Florida. I was treated locally at Fort Walton Beach the first time but the dr. lacked proper technology to further treat me. So I was sent to Walter Reed Army Medical Center where I was consulted by a neurosurgeon who is not bored certified. I went to UAB for a second opinion but was only given 5 minutes by the dr. there. ?HE almost made it sound like the reason my brain was swelling and trying to herniate during the first surgery was because I was face down on the table.( the first dr's fault) I though that was common postion. About the inter cranial pressure, i have been trying to do as much research as a can and where my tumor is there are many sites that state that it is a sensitive area and even a small tumor can cause increased pressure causing migraines. Whould you possible have any in site into that. I am driving myself and my wife crazy. I have been spending an average of 3 hours a day of research online only to come up with more and more questions, and all my doctors are out of state and impossible to get a hold off. Thanks in advance and thank you so much for the prayer god bless

brainman · Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 2:49 pm Post subject: Re: Migranes and Brain tumor

Hi jimmyb, I guess that if the tumor is at the base of the brain it could block the path that the brain fluid takes therefore increasing the pressure in the brain. That makes sense to me.

Surgery to that part of the brain does require you to lie face down so I am not sure that has anything to do with your problems.

Unfortunately, I do not have any sites to refer you to for more information. I am sure you have already checked the National Institude of Health site? That is where I usually start. I will do some research myself. If I find anything, I will post it.

I asked you if you are Stateside because I was an Army Chaplain (Reserves) for 8 years during the first gulf war... never went over... just helped out Stateside at Fort Dix and Fort Monmouth (only 4 months Active Duty).
_________________
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/

jimmyb · New User Joined: 11 Feb 2008 Posts: 8 Location: Florida

thanks so much i have been to many sites but not the National Institute of Health site. Looks like it might answer a few of my questions.

I have been active duty Air Force for almost 9 years

Aimster · Regular Joined: 03 Jan 2008 Posts: 35 Location: Nebraska

Hello jimmyb,
I don't have anything to offer about tumors in that area, but I do have a comment about migraines. My situation is very similar to yours, in that I went to the doctor to do something about my worsening migraines and they ordered an MRI just to be thorough. The MRI found a right frontal tumor (which we're currently watching, with surgery likely to happen pretty soon). Both neurosurgeons I've seen insist that the tumor has NOTHING to do with the migraines. That very well may be true for you. However, maybe it's also possible that in your particular case the tumor is a contributing factor, but frankly the brain is such a complicated organ that how are we to know exactly what's going on? It is so frustrating to seek help for migraines and find out that not only can they not do much about the headaches, you now have this other huge thing to deal with!

I hope you can find more answers, and find a doctor that you trust to help you through this. Please keep us posted.
_________________
Amy (39)
*presumptive low-grade glioma in right frontal lobe (first observed Aug. 2007; diagnosed Jan. 2008)
*watching & waiting, but anticipating resection in the next year or so

http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=28526

jimmyb · New User Joined: 11 Feb 2008 Posts: 8 Location: Florida

Amy
It is frustrating not to have answers your right, but i had conversation today with one of my doctors nurses who cleared a lot of questions up for me, as far as headaches and tumors .
I figure now that my headaches are caused be something else. I have a sleep study In 2 days to rule out sleep apnea.

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