Posted by Anne Thomas (208.250.108.119) on July 06, 1999 at 17:52:07:
In Reply to: Brain tumors? posted by Debbie on July 06, 1999 at 02:56:14:
Hi Debbie, Got the worst headaches of my life while on my honeymoon about 5 yrs ago. MRI showed a brain tumor close to my trigeminal and optic nerve. Underwent surgery in NYC, tumor was gratefully benign. Recovery was to take about 3 weeks I was told. I was totally racked with pain for close to 6 months. It was a rt side tumor and half my forehead and half the rt side of my skull was removed to get to the tumor, the procedure took about 9 hours. I did well in the hospital, alot of drugs, and after the major steroids were slowly taken away did my real troubles begin. My neurosurgeon in hindsight thought perhaps the tumor was the source of the pain at all althought it was a good idea to remove it. I have been to alot of medical diciplines seeking relief. Went to a headache ctr in ct when the idea of cluster was suggested. I have remission stages and do well when pregnant and have at times done well for close to a year. I have classic cluster traits, waking at night, red teary eye, pain in eye, cheek.mouth, and temple. Since my tumor I have somehow managed to work(now I am a ft mom), have 2 beautifiul sons, and get out of bed each day. I have had the best luck with Indomethician. It was this drug that saved my life(my husband too). I think diffrent thing work for diffrent people. The headache Ctr I went to was very aggressive in finding what helped me. If something was'nt working they gave you something else. I had even met with a neuro surgeon who specializes in Pain Mngt suggest to me it was all in my head. I suppose it was all he could come up with. Don't need to tell you how much that devastated me. That's my story in a nutshell. Hope your husband is feeling better, I imagine you are he angel on earth. It takes very ,very special people to spend their lives with those of us in such pain. Living with such a disorder really can stress a marriage/partnership. Pls feel free to be intouch...stay well....Anne