recession where skull was removed

[cavedin]

7 weeks ago I had a benign skull based meningioma removed. It was adhered to my right optic nerve.My sight is not good but it wasn't to start with - hence, how the tumor was found. My surgeon removed almost all but for fear of permanently blinding me, left a small piece on optic nerve. After 6 week MRI will determine if radio-surgery is needed. (Had MRI - am waiting to meet with surgeon to discuss). My biggest concern is that I have quite an indentation in my forehead to my right temple where I assume my bone was removed. I also had my jaw muscle taken down on right side to gain better access to tumor. My surgeon told me he put many pins in to keep bone in place otherwise I would have a"hole" or "dip" in my skull where the bone was replaced. I understand all that so why do I now have a dip in my forehead? Will it ever go away? I feel deformed. My family assures me it is not as bad as I make it out to be but I feel they are being kind. Does this take a long time to heal and is there a possibility this "dip"/indention will ever go away? My right eye was swollen shut for 6 weeks. It opened Christmas Day. I also have a great deal of pressure behind my right eye as well as above it and in my right temple area. I had a very reputable neurosurgeon but was not given much as to what is normal and not normal after surgery. Thank you for any help/advice.

[cavedin]

Thank you for your post. I feel much better after reading it. I too have flashes of bright light in my eye. I have an appt with my eye dr but feel better after knowing you experienced as well.

Where is your dent? In your forehead? I found out a week after posting that the pins/plates in my skull did not hold and my skull has sunk. Is it really noticeable?.....probably not to others as much as it is to me. I discussed this concern (dent in skull) with my neurosurgeon prior to surgey and was told things like that dont happen anymore because of the new hardware used and low and behold....it happened to me. My surgeon wants to do reconstructive surgery. I have alot of pressure where the recession is and have been told this is normal. I still don't know how this happened to me and the Dr claims he does not know why either. Hence, my frustration.  If I have the surgery can it happen again. I could wear bangs but my eyebrow also juts out quite a bit so a simple change of hairstyle does not cover the deformity. I have better hair days some days than others.Has your hair grown back. Mine is but very slowly. Physically I feel SO much better...I just feel blah.....and then very guilty for feeling blah. I an so happy you are feeling well. I was told it takes about a year before our bodies will be as they were prior to our major surgey. Please let me know how you are doing. I wish you well.

[Frida721]

I have experienced much of your condition, having had my tumor resected in July. My eye, too was of great concern and did not open nor function for several weeks afterward. Five months after the surgery I began to have flashes of light in my eye. A thorough inspection revealed nothing radically changed. (a relief) I bought a new pair of reading glasses (never having worn them before) and the flashes have gone.
My point in writing to you is that I  was also not given much in the way of what to expect. Healing felt slow, unlikely. But one day I realized I had energy all day. I felt strong again. It happened when I honestly had given up ever feeling that way.

Oh! And I have a dent. What can I say? After a brain tumor, plastic surgery seems so petty. I decided to just wear bangs.

I still have issues, 7 months out, such as not loving seizure drugs at all. But most of me is put back together. And it seemed as if it just happened one day. All at once.