Its me again....

MP18 · New User Joined: 15 Jul 2007 Posts: 4

Hi its me again....

Well as I had posted earlier I had a few symptoms that really scared me...I have seen neurologists, psychiatrists, opthalmologists....everything.....they all agreed that what I have is due to anxiety, I even had a CT scan and it was normal!! My symptoms are dizziness,something called depersonalization, tremor, muscle twiching, head pressure and I have some trouble concentrating....I called my doctor and she said that since the CT didn't show something then there is nothing wrong with my brain....but I saw a website the other day that said that a CT scan doesn't always show a tumor, my doctor insists that if it was a tumor it would show on the CT and she wont order an MRI ( I dont have an insurance so she said that it would be a waist of money). The psychiatrist put me on Cipralex (antidepressant) but I dont know if its going to help me because I'm not sure that what I have is physchological......Can someone tell me if a CT scan always shows a tumor ?? Should I be worried ??? Should I take the Cipralex ??? I'm just not sure about anything anymore.....I dont want to sound like a hypocondriac but I'm really scared..... Sad

brainman · Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2007 1:13 am Post subject: Re: Its me again....

Hi MP,

The question you ask is more complicated than just a yes or no answer can give. It depends is the best answer. There is a sensitivity limit to any type of scan, including a CT scan. I mean, the cancer has to be larger than a certain threshold before it can be detected. However, if it cannot be detected by a CT scan, it is probably (keyword is "probably") going to be too small to cause any symptoms.

Although I have not talked with you in person, I do not think you are depersonalizing. It sounds more like you are very much aware of these symptoms whereas someone who is truly experiencing depersonalization would almost experience these symptoms as if they were happening to someone else.

Take the Cipralex as prescribed by your psychiatrist. It takes several days to take effect so don't give up without talking to the psychiatrist first. I would not be worried about having a tumor... but something is definitely wrong. You should continue to press to doctors for answers.
_________________
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/

MP18 · New User Joined: 15 Jul 2007 Posts: 4

Thank you brainman for your reply, I truly appreciate it!!
I know that there are hundreds of diseases that can cause these symptoms!
Some of them are Lyme Disease, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Depression, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Multiple Sclerosis etc.
I just want to rule out the worst-case scenario, wich in my case is a brain tumor. Its really hard not knowing what is wrong with you, I have reached a point that I cant get out of my house because I think that I'm sick, and I dont just assume that I'm sick, I really feel sick! My doctor is convinced that it is not something serious, but I know my body better and I can understand when something is not right, it is so frustrating when nobody believes you! The only thing that I'm asking is to know what is wrong with me and how I can be normal again... Crying or Very sad

I've been taking Cipralex for two and a half weeks but I dont feel much better (it could be cause I dont do anything...i just sit home worrying), I've been having these sypmptoms for over two months and the doctor says that if I had cancer the symptoms would gradually get worse and that when it comes to cancer -especially brain cancer- two months is a long time. When I asked my doctor about the CT and what are the possibilities of the scan not actually showing a tumor (if one actually existed) she said ''The possibilities are one in a million, do you think that you're the lucky one ?''.....the only thing that I could think is ''I hope she's right''

Also I had a funduscopy (its an examination of the fundus, the back part of the eye’s interior) the opthalmologist said that if there was a tumor he would be able to see some intracranial pressure, and he reassured me that everything was alright!

I'm really going through a really difficult time in my life, my parents don't believe me, my doctor doesn't believe me, my friends think that I'm crazy, but the tuth is that what I'm saying is true, I really feel like that...
I just need someone to tell me what is wrong with me... Crying or Very sad

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