My Stupid Brain Tumor

Today is Monday, January 25th, 2010 and last Thursday I found out I have a brain tumor. Formally it is called a Craniodharyngioma Tumor. But in laymen’s terms it is call, “A Stupid Tumor.”

Evidentially this is a rare type of tumor, because of its location. It is comfortably resting on the top of my pituitary gland, so they will have to remove part of my skull to get to it. YIKES!

How I found out I had a tumor.

About four years ago, I had a lens transplant.
Dr. Carter out of Dallas did the surgery and recently I’ve been having vision trouble, like difficulty driving at night and my peripheral vision was messing up. I was having slight headaches and was constantly nauseated and have started to cough some.

Now, I attributed the vision trouble to the lens transplant. And I figured that the headaches and nausea were from the vision problems. The coughing, I pretty much ignored.

So...I made an appointment with Dr. Carter, the eye guy and expected him to take care of the problem, and then go to lunch with my sister. Well, it didn’t quite work out that way. I was there for 6 hours, going from one test to another. After about the first 3 hours, I knew something might be amiss.

When the testing was all done, Dr. Lee (she is on Dr. Carter’s staff) came into the room and I could tell that the news was probably not good. She told me that the tests pointed to me having a brain tumor and that Dr. Carter would be in shortly to talk to me.

I’m sitting there alone, absorbing and analyzing the news that my whole life just changed when Dr. Carter came in. He emphasized how dire this was and that I didn’t have time to screw around, so he set me up with Dr. Gerhardt, a neurologist.(Dallas) Dr. Marlin arranged for me to have a MRI and when he saw the results, told me that his practice did not operate on that type of tumor so referred me to Dr. Gerhardt,(Dallas) a Neurosurgeon.

Dr. Marlin studied the films and told me this was a rare tumor and he didn’t do this type of surgery either, so he gave me the name of someone who does. I have an appointment this coming Wednesday, with Dr. Raymond LeBlanc (Fort Worth, Tx), a doctor I have seen in the past. I trust him and he and I will find the right doctor to do this surgery.

I really didn’t have time to think about the situation until I was back home. It’s scary to know that in less than a month I could be dead. So how do I prepare for that? My husband of 31 years is pretty freaked out and tomorrow I’m having lunch with my daughter, her husband and my mother in law, because I need to tell them what’s going on.

I am one of those people who cannot stand to have people pity me. I sent an email to my friends and told them that NO PITY is allowed. Me, personally...I don’t feel sick and honestly I don’t want to be reminded of my malady. I need good karma around me. This blog that I am writing will chronicle my journey from good to perfect. So welcome to my life changing event. I hope you wish me well and I hope my trip will help you with your venture through life.