I have a tumour

I'm actually OK though. I only found out yesterday so I don't know if its anything to worry about.

I had an mri scan on Wednesday and got the news about it yesterday. It's a 6mm tumour on my nerve sheath on my spine.

Was a bit in shock when I was told about it over the phone. She just rattled off loads of things. Basically my spine is shot to ######6 pieces but I'm still standing.

Just thought I'd let you all know anyway.

I'm surprised about how I'm taking all of this actually. I've never felt better in a long long time. Probably because I knew there was something going on but didn't know what it was and now I know I can do something about it.

Hope you're all well. Love you all.

Wow- glad you did share with us! Sorry to hear about that, but as you said, we don't yet know anything.

I tend to be a hypochondriac, who is also very afraid to be checked out. I can sympathise with the anxiety that not knowing brings. I'm glad you got it checked out.

Keep us updated here about what they find out and can do about it. Also prayers for a good outcome.

Thank you for caring Snaga.

I will keep you posted on it when I know more. Just waiting to be seen by the spinal clinic now.

I'm sorry I've not updated this for a while but things have taken time.

I'm OK. I do have this tumour but the doctors aren't too concerned about it. The only thing is is that it is growing and it is causing some disruption. This could be why I'm limping. Unable to walk unaided now but it's a g est excuse to carry a stick around with me.

I'm being referred to a neurologist or neuro surgeon or something anyway. But that'll probably be a bit of a wait.

Appreciate the update! and that for now it's not quite as urgent as it could have been.

The health care system is crazy right now with under-staffing and COVID protocols at hospitals. It has always been a crazy business, but is more stressful than ever now. Everything seems to be in slow-motion and wait-times are causing patient-rage around here.

I have a sub-sternal goiter (fluid-filled cyst under the rib cage). It reaches from behind my thyroid to down near my heart. Like a big banana-shape. They took a syringe in my neck to sample the fluid and confirmed that it was inert and non-cancerous.

They were going to drain it, but then said no, they had to remove it. The surgery hasn't happened yet. They instead monitor it for changes and/or growth.

In x-rays, it has pushed my trachea over and interfering with lung volume. I get short of breath easily.
I am currently on blood thinners for a blood clot that caused a stroke about a year ago. The good doctor has said that he is willing to curtail the thinners temporarily if surgery is indicated.
Surgery is risky and not in the cards at present. I also don't think that there is any alternative to not having surgery. It is not a good time to be in a hospital right now.
Trust the experts. I keep all the doctors aware of what the other doctors are saying. They work as a team. I feel that I am in good hands.
Best of luck to you.

Western wrote:I'm being referred to a neurologist or neuro surgeon or something anyway. But that'll probably be a bit of a wait.

From your local time, I'd say UK? In which case, is that a normal NHS wait, or....

Wally58 wrote:The health care system is crazy right now with under-staffing and COVID protocols at hospitals.

Short-staffed because they've mandated folks out of the workplace...?

Not a good time to be in hospital, agreed. Here I am, my good insurance will be running out in 2022, but even if I were so inclined to find everything wrong with me (I'm not) and do something about it, heck of a time to have stuff done. Meh.

Wally58 wrote:I have a sub-sternal goiter (fluid-filled cyst under the rib cage). It reaches from behind my thyroid to down near my heart. Like a big banana-shape.

Ouch ouch ouch.. Of course, being OCD now you have me wondering if what I think is a hiatal hernia is something like that lol. I try not to pay attention to other folks' maladies, 'cause then I have it. Shame they can't just drain it, especially with having to be on the blood thinners and everything. If it's not cancerous, couldn't they at least drain it and relieve the pressure, then continue to monitor it? It's not as if anything's going to spread; they've already pierced it once, after all... Is it really that injurious to do that at least as a stop-gap measure? And that would be outpatient, surely.

I was totally unaware it was there. They happened to find it during the chest imaging for heart & lungs.
It doesn't hurt, but it doesn't help with the shortness-of-breath issue either. It is benign enough that they are happy to just periodically make sure that it isn't getting out-of-hand.
If the doctors aren't worried, I'm not worried.
When the doctor said that it was growing towards the heart, I imagined claws reaching for it and that reminded me of the Vincent Price chiller 'The Tingler'.
The main breathing problem is a hemi-diaphragm paralysis from the right-sided stroke. Only half of the diaphragm is pumping air. Another surgery for another time?

The stroke hadn't occurred to me about the breathing problems- I suppose I'd assumed COPD or something.

The Tingler!!! One of my favorite Price movies. A shame it's against forum rules to post the iconic image of the bathtub scene. It's my understanding upon its first run, some theaters had electric buzzers randomly scattered under seats in the audience? And when the Tingler gets loose in the theater, lucky folks would get buzzed... lol that's totally wicked. That would have been so cool to watch for the first time in a cinema.

Back to the OT, I missed whether that tumor is growing quickly, or slowly?

A neurosurgeon would be able to determine better if it needs treatment or not and how to go about it if it does.
The limp concerns me. Is there a numbness or 'tingling' in the legs?

I did have a lower lumbar laminectomy years ago. My spine will never be straight either. I was pinching nerves.
I'm glad that they caught it and that they didn't feel any urgency at this point. Do follow through with what the good doctor suggests.

Hopefully next year we can get this COVID thing to subside enough to treat the backlog of patients for other things. Our hospitals here have stopped 'elective' surgeries to concentrate on emergencies-only.
Merry Christmas and the Best of Luck to you.