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What Are The Symptoms Of Brain Tumor?
Question: I'm afraid I have a brain tumor. Here are my symptoms:
-Head/neck ache upon awakening - although this disappeared last week while on vacation, so I'm thinking it might be my pillows/mattress
-Brief headache when straining
-Headache when going from sitting to standing position (sometimes happens, not all of the time)
-Intense XXXXXXX vu moments
-Olfactory hallucinations (smelling things that aren't really there)
-Drowsiness - more than usual
-Disequilibrium - my equilibrium will go "off" for a second or two. I've never fallen but it is a brief moment of dizziness and I always feel tired afterward
-Brain fog
I've had the disequilibrium for about 10 years now, the olfactory hallucinations for about 3 years, and the XXXXXXX vu is new - last 3 months or so.
In January 2012 (2.5 years ago) I had a brain CT scan without contrast because I'd been experiencing the olfactory hallucinations for 6 months and was also worried back then that I had a brain tumor. The CT scan was clear.
But the scan was 2.5 years ago.
I spoke to a neurologist online on another website and he thinks that I might have seizure activity going on, but he doesn't think I have a brain tumor. He said that my chances are less than 0.1%. How does he know? Can you help me? I've read that these may be simple partial seizures - but why would I suddenly start developing XXXXXXX vu? Don't seizures get worse if a brain tumor is growing? Is this a brain tumor? Please help!
I had a neurological exam (strength in grip, gait, reflexes, looked into my eye with light instrument) in my endocrinologist's office a month ago and he said that everything was fine, but I'm still worried.
-Head/neck ache upon awakening - although this disappeared last week while on vacation, so I'm thinking it might be my pillows/mattress
-Brief headache when straining
-Headache when going from sitting to standing position (sometimes happens, not all of the time)
-Intense XXXXXXX vu moments
-Olfactory hallucinations (smelling things that aren't really there)
-Drowsiness - more than usual
-Disequilibrium - my equilibrium will go "off" for a second or two. I've never fallen but it is a brief moment of dizziness and I always feel tired afterward
-Brain fog
I've had the disequilibrium for about 10 years now, the olfactory hallucinations for about 3 years, and the XXXXXXX vu is new - last 3 months or so.
In January 2012 (2.5 years ago) I had a brain CT scan without contrast because I'd been experiencing the olfactory hallucinations for 6 months and was also worried back then that I had a brain tumor. The CT scan was clear.
But the scan was 2.5 years ago.
I spoke to a neurologist online on another website and he thinks that I might have seizure activity going on, but he doesn't think I have a brain tumor. He said that my chances are less than 0.1%. How does he know? Can you help me? I've read that these may be simple partial seizures - but why would I suddenly start developing XXXXXXX vu? Don't seizures get worse if a brain tumor is growing? Is this a brain tumor? Please help!
I had a neurological exam (strength in grip, gait, reflexes, looked into my eye with light instrument) in my endocrinologist's office a month ago and he said that everything was fine, but I'm still worried.
Brief Answer:
Please find detailed answer below
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for writing in to us.
I have read through your query in detail.
It is important to know if your symptoms are following any particular pattern.Brain tumors are two types, cancerous and benign. If there was a tumor, it would obviously have been noted on your CT scan. Getting an EEG may help to know any focus of seizures in you.
Can you please detail me about your experiences over last 6 months so that we may discuss your problem from a closer perspective.
Wishing you good health.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Please find detailed answer below
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for writing in to us.
I have read through your query in detail.
It is important to know if your symptoms are following any particular pattern.Brain tumors are two types, cancerous and benign. If there was a tumor, it would obviously have been noted on your CT scan. Getting an EEG may help to know any focus of seizures in you.
Can you please detail me about your experiences over last 6 months so that we may discuss your problem from a closer perspective.
Wishing you good health.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Over the last 6 months I've been more fatigued then usual. And I've continued to experience the disequilibrium - not any more frequent then usual - and the new symptom is XXXXXXX vu that started sometime in March. I've also experienced "brain fog" or difficulty concentrating.
I also suffer from anxiety and in the last 10 months it's been worse then it's ever been. But, I am concerned about having a brain tumor. And my CT scan was 2.5 years ago - isn't that a long time? Even though I've been experiencing the disequilibrium and olfactory hallucinations for a very very long time.
I also suffer from anxiety and in the last 10 months it's been worse then it's ever been. But, I am concerned about having a brain tumor. And my CT scan was 2.5 years ago - isn't that a long time? Even though I've been experiencing the disequilibrium and olfactory hallucinations for a very very long time.
Brief Answer:
Please find detailed answer below
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX
Thanks for writing in.
ThereI understand that you have been having symptoms related to olfaction and dizziness and both these sensations are processed through cranial nerves which are a special type of nerves which transmit information in the brain. There have been patients in my experience who have been having problems similar to you. It is important to keep in mind that you also have anxiety for last few months and recently have experienced déjà vu phenomenon. Now the earlier symptoms are purely physical and the later ones are more thought related. In this context, if there had been a tumor growing in your brain then it would have progressed much faster and in 2.5 years you might have experienced many more physical problems. I would recommend a consultation with a psychiatrist and then if felt necessary, a MRI scan of brain may be done, after complete clinical examination. It may also apply that you first get treated for your anxiety and then, based on your symptomatic improvement, a further imaging can be decided upon at a later date.
Wishing you good health.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Please find detailed answer below
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX
Thanks for writing in.
ThereI understand that you have been having symptoms related to olfaction and dizziness and both these sensations are processed through cranial nerves which are a special type of nerves which transmit information in the brain. There have been patients in my experience who have been having problems similar to you. It is important to keep in mind that you also have anxiety for last few months and recently have experienced déjà vu phenomenon. Now the earlier symptoms are purely physical and the later ones are more thought related. In this context, if there had been a tumor growing in your brain then it would have progressed much faster and in 2.5 years you might have experienced many more physical problems. I would recommend a consultation with a psychiatrist and then if felt necessary, a MRI scan of brain may be done, after complete clinical examination. It may also apply that you first get treated for your anxiety and then, based on your symptomatic improvement, a further imaging can be decided upon at a later date.
Wishing you good health.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
So...you dont think i have a brain tumor?
Brief Answer:
Please find detailed answer below
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX
Thanks for writing in.
I do acknowledge the problems you are having and as mentioned earlier, have met patients having similar problems in my routine practice. However, the presence of a serious brain tumor is almost negligible. At the same time, you surely need to take care of your anxiety and disequilibrium which may need some medications for a while and regular follow up with your doctors.
Wishing you good health.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Please find detailed answer below
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX
Thanks for writing in.
I do acknowledge the problems you are having and as mentioned earlier, have met patients having similar problems in my routine practice. However, the presence of a serious brain tumor is almost negligible. At the same time, you surely need to take care of your anxiety and disequilibrium which may need some medications for a while and regular follow up with your doctors.
Wishing you good health.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank yiu.
Brief Answer:
Welcome
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX
Thanks for accepting my replies. Should you have any further queries and would like me to reply to you then please quote Query Id 113744 and I will be glad to be answering to your queries.
Please do continue regular follow ups with your doctors for your thyroid, IBS and ITP problems.
Wishing you good health.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Welcome
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX
Thanks for accepting my replies. Should you have any further queries and would like me to reply to you then please quote Query Id 113744 and I will be glad to be answering to your queries.
Please do continue regular follow ups with your doctors for your thyroid, IBS and ITP problems.
Wishing you good health.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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