Meningioma

Just wanted to say hello, and tell you about me. My name is Tanya, I had a meningioma brain tumor, and had three craniotomies between 2010 & 2011. They left me with double vision in my right eye, and deaf in my right ear. I had been living in North Carolina since 2000, my ex husband was a U.S. Marine, and in December of 2017, I was diagnosed with brachial pneumonia, and after several visits to the doctor, and being told that I just wanted attention, in February 2018, apparently I was staying with my mom, when I called 911 for a wellness check, & thank goodness! Long story short, I wasn't "supposed" to make it through the night (8% chance). To save me, I was put on ECMO for 2 weeks. Since I woke up in April of 2018, I've had several procedures, including losing several toes from vasopressors, muscle flap surgery to repair a femoral artery rupture, and open heart surgery, (when air got into my IV line causing two strokes). Most of these were from the canulas used during ECMO, that weakened the arteries in my leg & heart. I should also mention that from the strokes, I have dystonia in my left hand, mainly my wrist, and my left index finger bends in such a way that I'm unable to tap the tip with my left thumb. So, that is my story. I would also like to mention that I have a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology, and a Master's Degree in Human Resource Management, just to give some insight into me as a whole.

#CavernousAngioma #Meningioma #lymphoma #Schwannoma

know that may sound ridiculous, but for a while I thought I had my anxiety under control. I know my triggers, but I’m still crippled and taking baby steps does not work...I remain stuck.
I’m tired and cranky and depressed and unhappy and getting to the point where my bed is my salvation, which I know is unhealthy.
The idea of Exercise sounds like the devil. My limbs hurt. I’ve developed TMJ... and the idea of spending time with people is not a priority... BUT...I know I need to change and it will get better... any advice (all welcome) to speed things up?

Months of being told I was just overly stressed because my ex husband was deployed on a ship, I was working as a substitute teacher, and working on my Master's Degree. My doctor FINALLY admitted that I should see a neurologist, who sent me for an MRI! Meningioma brain tumor - utter PANIC - my grandma died from a glioblastoma. The first neurosurgeon that I saw told me that it was much worse than I thought; it was wrapped around the artery that connects the brain to the brain stem, and that he didn't feel comfortable touching it,but he knew an AMAZING neurovascular surgeon, and he referred me to him. Dr. Gavin Britz, saved my life!

Part 2 - my first craniotomy was September 10, 2010, and did NOT go as planned AT ALL. I went in for a procedure on the 9th, where the plan was to cut off any blood supply to the meningioma - FAIL! It just felt like my brain was on fire. So, the next day, I went in for my first craniotomy. They made burr holes, and cut a circle out of my skull, but when my neurosurgeon went to pull it off, I had a serious bleed. So, on to plan B, which entailed A LOT of testing, and more risks - which I happily accepted, so I could be alive for my Sam Stearns

Part 3 - LET THE TESTING BEGIN! First thing first, my neurosurgeon had to come up with a new plan - through my right ear canal. The "damage": I would be permanently deaf on the right side. Possible risk? The nerve that controls half of my face is extremely sensitive, and I could lose function. My question: do I get to watch my daughter grow up? The answer was yes, so I was all in. The tests took all day, and they were interesting, to say the least. They put water in my ear, & put me in a weird chair to test my equilibrium - yuck! Then they tested my hearing, we've all had that done... Then we waited for surgery to be approved, and schedules to be put together.
[ ] Surgery #2 - October 12, 2010. FINALLY! My neurosurgeon told me that he would NOT be removing any tumor from my cavernous sinus because it would give me "googly eyes." Very technical term. Lol. After I woke up, he was very upset because my right eye had turned all the way towards my nose. This was nothing, compared to the balance issues I had.
[ ] Part 4 - physical therapy
I found an amazing physical therapist about 20 minutes from where I was living in Wilmington, NC. Her name is Anne, and she taught me how to walk, and balance so well, that she, basically, had to make me leave. Not having an inner ear, on my right side, took A LOT of getting used to!

So, I have had a ROUGH 10 years! In 2009, I was diagnosed with a meningioma brain tumor that was wrapped around the main artery from the brain stem & the brain. I almost died during the first craniotomy, because I had an artery attached to my skull, that started to bleed when they removed it; so my neurosurgeon decided to take a different approach, through my ear canal. This left me permanently deaf on my right side. Also, my right eye has permanent double vision. BUT, I was able to be alive to watch my daughter, who is now 21, grow up. In 2018, while my daughter was in her second semester in college, I ended up back in the hospital, this time, they told my mom to call my family because I wouldn't make it through the night. WELL, after 2 months on ECMO, rehab, MRSA, an aneurism on my aorta, I'm still here. Oh yeah, during the surgery, I had TWO strokes! We are now living in Ohio, closer to family; we were in NC - my ex husband was a Marine, and my mom, my daughter, and I all live in one house, which definitely has it's challenges. My mom & daughter are VERY similar. Between the age difference, anxiety, etc. They butt heads A LOT. I often feel like I'm being pulled in two opposite directions. I feel like I'm losing my mind