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Avatar universal

Could this be a brain tumor?

Since 12th January, I have had very strange symptoms that have been getting worse.  It started with pain in my left arm half way down and a strange dizzy, buzzy sensation in my head that came and went.  I also felt quite sick with it too.  My head seemed to hurt in the mornings and I was always more dizzy in the mornings too.  I also noticed vision problems with it sometimes being quite blurred around the edges. I saw my GP and she thought it was something to do with my neck and sent me for a neck Xray which was clear.  she said that could cause my arm pain.  I was feeling very spaced out too and not with it at all.  sometimes the sensation in my head was like a cracking feeling but that seemed to be at night when I was lying down. I got given anti dizzy tablets from my GP which I took but did nothing and pain killers did nothing either.  I had what I think was some sort of seizure a couple of weeks ago where I couldn't look at the light or move my head and I was delirious and also shaking from head to toe. My husband called the doctor out and he examined me and said he didn't think it was anything serious but checked me over and told me not to take the anti dizzy tablets and to take some diazapham to calm me and stop the shaking.  He told me to see my GP in the morning which I did.  I spoke to her on the phone and as I was not as bad as the night before, she said to call her if it got worse.  I've had a couple of nose bleeds too which was unexpected.  I went back to see the GP as I will still very worried as the symptoms seemed to be more frequent.  She signed me off work and suggested blood tests for general health and a CT scan which I am waiting to have.  I've also just seen the optician as my eye sight was getting much worse suddenly and he said that I have acute lens damage which is very unusual for someone my age (45).  he said that something like this is normally caused by illness and that I would need to see an eye specialist which I've been referred to now.  All my symptoms do not go away at all now and I waiting for the scan and the specialist appt which is hopefully this week.  I am very worried about my head feelings as I've never had anything like this before.  I do feel sick alot but not actually being sick.  I feel totally space out too but I'm not taking any medication. Ive also noticed that my left pupil is smaller than my right one too. I also am finding it hard to have a proper conversation and also listen to people when they are talking. Has anyone got any advice for me on what this could be? Thanks.
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4850031 tn?1361058918
Hi Dear. I agree with Marie0456, go and see an endocrinologist... a GOOD one!!! I was diagnosed with a prolactinoma at age 16.  I had vision issues (double vision), anxiety, felt dizzy, weak, cold all the time. couldn't focus on anything. getting up everyday was the biggest challenge. light bother my eyes, i had headaches all the time ... all becuase of the brain tumor o my pituitary gland.  i hope you find a good doctor and a root cause to what is happening.
Good Luck to you ....
Helpful - 0
4924239 tn?1361102541
I agree with Rumpled that it sounds like stroke symptoms. My mother had a stroke at age 40. She recovered completely with no side effects. However, you have symptoms that seem to have nothing to do with a stroke. Besides a neurologist I would check with an endocrinologist. A tumor on a pituitary gland can put pressure on the optic nerve and cause decreased vision around the edges. I know people who have had brain tumors, including myself. I know people who have had strokes, wholes in their eyes, etc... I do wish you the best of luck at getting the proper diagnoses. Don't give up with one doctor's answer. You are your best advocate. Search the different items and read up on everything your doctors tell you about. Smile, positive attitude is your best medicine.
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Avatar universal
I looked up scotoma and yes, that is a blindspot.

I hope the neurologist runs more testing - but given everything is on the left side and the scotoma, it is sounding like a stroke to my layman's read. I do hope that you get good news from the doctor and the neuro figures out the cause.

Keep us posted.
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Avatar universal
Hi thanks for your reply. I had a letter today with detailed report from the optician.  He said that there was a scotoma in my left eye as that is the eye where the vision is worse. I believe this is a blindspot. It's also my left arm which has limited mobility and aches all the time.  Also it says that the optic lens is flat and that both of my eyes have cataract like damage that has appeared.
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Avatar universal
I would get your GP to refer you to a neurologist. Which I see that is happening.

My mom would get migraines and her arm would hurt - so it is not uncommon for headache pain to transfer down to other parts (weird, but true). The eye issue with the lens is odd, but had it been an optic nerve issue that would have been more indicative of an issue in the brain near at least the optic nerve.

Still, you have a lot to deal with and at a minimum I would ask for an evaluation for the pain. BTW CT is good for bone and MRI is better for soft tissue. So a CT may or may not show everything.

I do hope the specialist takes your complaints seriously and you get the testing that you need. Do update us on how things are going.
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