MENINGIOMA: A Brain Tumor
THE PRE-SURGERY EXPERIENCE.
What is the most intimate part of the body? Contrary to what you may think, it is the brain. The head is not meant to be opened in our lifetime. Once it is opened, it is certain to leave a physical trace and residual damage regardless of the type of tumor.
A brain tumor is Meningioma. The surgery involved in removing the Meningioma is a Craniotomy. I chose this subject because I have been through it. Although very intimate, I choose to share it to enlighten everyone and moreover, because it stealthily encroaches into one’s life in an unprecedented manner quietly and progressively. I would like anyone and everyone to be fully aware and benefit from my experience. Only retroactively, can I observe how the events unfolded. But at the time, I could not. I thought everything was perfectly normal because I felt nothing unusual.
Meningioma is a primary brain tumor.
A craniotomy is an operation to open the skull (cranium) in order to access the brain for surgery. It is necessary to remove as much of the brain tumor as safely as possible without damaging the surrounding brain tissue.
How it was detected
In January 2022 I was 67. That Sunday, returning from the bakery with a parcel in my hand, a strange thought urged me to speed-walk home rather than walk casually. Simultaneously, I had the premonition that I could lose my coordination and fall. Instantly, I found myself crashing on my elbows full force, flat on the ground. Strangely, I could not lift myself up in any way. My knees were neither flexible nor strong enough to lift myself up, although I am athletic and slim build. Fortunately, a kind passerby interceded and helped me up. I was struck with panic, knowing that this incident was a confirmation that something was certainly wrong with me.
For a year earlier, members of my family made casual off-the-cuff remarks every now and then. I retained their comments which kept nagging at me that something may be wrong, or they were making them jokingly. Physically, I felt perfectly fine. One of them, was by my brother whenever he saw me in the morning, he would ask me if I slept well enough or if I had anything worrying me because I constantly looked tired.
Apprehensive of the medical profession to go for a check-up or laboratory tests, I avoided them since I felt nothing out of the ordinary. I suspected that they will try to find something to pin on me, familiar with their extortionist strategies which I heard reported time and time again.
But now, I was left with no choice but to consult them immediately to identify the cause. The Gates of the Medical Human Den actually opened the day I set foot in the hospital. It was during the Covid-19. I was regularly subjected to an unnecessary battery of PCR tests throughout the period of my neurological tests and consultations, right until surgery. Long story short, it was detected that I had a 6.3cm diameter Meningioma the size of a large orange (not a spherical shape, of course) at the front side of my skull above my right eye. On the surface looking at me, nothing was apparent. It clearly appeared in the scan. Fortunately, it was benign and not attached to the brain. The surgery was imperative and promptly required, or I may not only risk losing my coordination but also my speech may get slurred before losing other functions.
My disdain for the medical profession seeped through my politeness, in my endless interrogations accumulating through my intense research on the internet. One thing was certain, I was not entering into surgery until I obtained all my answers and I exhausted all options before allowing any neurosurgeon to open my head. At this stage, I was more concerned with the post-surgery side effects. But certainly not afraid, as they are only a consequence.
I consulted with several neurosurgeons from different reputable hospitals. Only one left an impression on me, and he was the one I decided (to myself) will eventually carry out the operation.
In February 2022, I faced an embarrassing situation of fecal incontinence in a private gathering. Fortunately, no one noticed although everyone complained of a foul smell. This was the worst thing that could have ever happened to me. I rushed to confirm my operation with the hospital and paid the required deposit. When they attempted to delay me until March 2022 because they were fully booked, I threatened to take my deposit back and travel abroad to have it done. Immediately they called back to squeeze me into the appointed neurosurgeon’s program the same month.
Let’s clarify a few facts I obtained through the extensive consultations prior to my surgery.
- A tumor can grow at any age, even in infancy, and not necessarily at an advanced age.
- Any mental handicap or dysfunction is totally unrelated.
- It grows unnoticeably, at an average of 2mm a year, which is insignificant. Sometimes a little less or a little more. It may be aggravated by impact or deep-seated emotional problems.
- It comes in 2 forms, benign or malignant (cancerous). The benign version is not attached to the intricate nerves and veins of the brain and is non-cancerous. Though a biopsy is taken during the operation and confirmed within a week. The malignant is the riskier type as it is cancerous, may recur, or it is attached directly to the brain.
- Each metabolism heals differently and has its own convalescing period. (We can assist ourselves in the healing process or we can rely entirely on medications). Dependency may become a lifelong burden. (I will explain my self-inspired wholesome healing methods below).
Exactly 18 months later I can now analyze very lucidly all the stages I went through to get to that point of ‘breakdown’.
Now, 18 months post-surgery, I can lucidly list the prior symptoms of my physical ‘breakdown’, over a period of one year. As you will observe, they were subtle indicators accumulating progressively, which was why I did not give them any importance.
- Occasional lethargy. Trivializing certain chores, or finding them tedious and unnecessary.
- Overeating (consequently, adding weight).
- Difficulty making the initial ‘pull’ to get out of the car.
- Reduction in flexibility around the knees. Unable to bring my heels up to my seat. Avoiding bending down.
- Disinterest in certain hobbies like gardening, or sports.
- Procrastinating over menial chores around the house.
- Despite being tidy and organized, getting a little messy (not much) and tolerating it.
- Nonchalance.
There are standard pre-surgery procedures for Meningioma and Craniotomy that may differ marginally from one hospital to another. I will not go into these tests and medications. But I will caution that some may not be suitable for one’s metabolism.
A case in point was Depakine which knocked me off for a minimum of 2 solid hours every time I took it, and I had to take it 3 times a day. My neurosurgeon imposed it as ‘indispensable’ to avoid any eventual seizure during my operation.
I had rejected Cortisone also because it gave me hunger pangs and I had already developed a bad habit of eating. He also imposed it upon me.
When he insisted on Antibiotics, I put my foot down and rejected them completely. It gives me an upset stomach. So, he had to compromise!
This is the 1st part of my article:
1- MENINGIOMA: A Brain Tumor… The pre-surgery experience.
2- MENINGIOMA: A Brain Tumor… The post-surgery experience.
Sammy RNAJ — sammy.rnaj.writer@gmail.com — WhatsApp +96170499352
