Tumor Symptoms

[MirandaKelly]

My boyfriend was diagnosed with a benign brain tumor located in his frontal lobe about the size of a green grape. He has had tingling and numbness in his arms, hands and legs, pressure in his head, double vision, nausea, balance issues, lack of concentration, rapid heart beat, high anxiety, light-headedness....

Is it normal for the tingling sensation and numbness of arms and legs to occur at night or at rest?

Is it in your opinion that waiting 4 weeks for a second MRI of the brain is safe when the symptoms are occurring frequently and with more intensity?

Is there medication other than decadron to treat these symptoms while we wait for the next MRI?

Should we at this point request a biopsy? removal?

Thank you for answering...
MK

[soldy]

Hi Jennifer,My sincere apology for missing surgery part.I was under assumption that you were following protocol allowing the body to reabsorb(liquid to liquid process)content of cysts  into body fluids and in that way to get rid of all symptoms.My apology again.

[rumpled]

I am afraid that I do not understand your question. What cysts are gone?
I had many surgeries to remove things - that is how I got my cysts removed.
Jennifer

[soldy]

Hi
Am I correct.  I had Cushings(pituitary).....................Are you indicating that cysts are gone.How did you do it.

[rumpled]

I am an um, educated patient. I have had many medical issues and finally had to take control. I feel education is the way to overcome the fear (there is always fear when you find out you have something in your head, I had it too) and the doctors, sadly, are not always correct. It may be that they are in a hurry or some are plain just not up on things so getting copies of everything and making sure you read it will let you know if you have a doc who is savvy, or if you need to move on. I was told to ignore things when I was not well, and despite trying to fight, I ended up disabled from my fight.
You need to be persistent, but not nasty or overbearing (there is a balance). If you do not get want you want, get your records and go - as a doctor who has proven that he does not listen, will not learn. You cannot be chicken little - so that when there is an emergency, things are attended to. All this is very difficult.
I have had two family members with brain tumors (father, uncle) and two with ALS. My mom is a nurse so I used to read her books for fun as a kid. I wanted to go into the medical profession but my health would not allow for it. That and math. :D

[CGROSS]

one more thing Decadron is the med of choice, and based on symptoms I would write symptoms down keeping a breif daily diary for him and research how you feel about biopsy vs removal. My husband and I decided to insist on removal if it comes to that, if your going in then get it all, don't just get a sample, anything in the brain, tumor or cyst does not belong their and can cause problems. They don't go away on their own, ever, so if he conts with symptoms and they want to test it consider the decision to ask them if they will just get it all out instead. My husbands is in a tricky but operable position. Do you have your report that describes size and location I am really wanting to know since for the most part location same but symptoms different, I am thinking the exact local must but different.  PS rumpled seems to be very educated and as a nurse myself I am impressed with her and her knowledge! Take her advice seriously.

[CGROSS]

I wish I had better advice, my husband has a "cyst" left frontal lobe also. They are watching his every 3 months on MRI and now every 6 mos but he has developed symptoms again, review my post. We seem to have alot in common and 4 week apart MRI's are actually closer than standard, so it seems the docs are worried and are on top of things, they pobably just want a chance to see if it changes or grows any before they put him through the brain surgery, you know. I do think it is close enough though, they do too or they would not wait. In the meanwhile any change in symptoms or seizure activity and both of you should review s-s of seizures and brain tuor possible syptoms so that you know what to watch for should be reported immediately!! Especially a grand mal seizure which would deem a medical emergency in his case for sure and a 911 call. I know I am sooo reassurring huh? I'm sorry, but pray, think positive, educate and prepare yourselves in the mean time and keep us posted. I know what you are going through!!

[rumpled]

Did they give you any indication about what kind of tumor? Did he get copies of all the tests and reports?

If he has a rapid progression of symptoms, he needs to call his doctor and tell him about it. Perhaps the MRI can be moved up. Still, he needs to let the doctor know.

Part of the symptoms are side effects of the decadron. Decadron is a powerful steroid and the doctor gave it to him to reduce inflammation. However, when you take any long acting steroid, you run the risk of getting steroid induced cushing's-syndrome. The symptoms are anxiety, rapid heart beat, depression, mood changes, muscle pain, inability to sleep, and can also have nausea as well depending how he takes the steroids (the adrenals are very unforgiving once they are suppressed and the medication has now taken over the function - therefore once the med runs low, one gets the feeling of being sick).

He has to figure out what is a side effect of the decadron, and what is the tumor. I had Cushing's (pituitary) and know steroids are nasty. Some people tolerate them well, others have symptoms from pill one - there is no predicting it.