surgery recovery times for brain surgey

I had a meningioma removed on 20th July 2013. It was the size of a golf ball and resting on my left optic nerve. I only found out it was a tumor becasue my eyesight was deteriorating... it took 8 months and two optometrists to actually send me to a neuro opthamolgist to be sent for an MRI.

After almost 4 weeks I have recovered really well, my family and friends were shocked at how alert and upbeat I was after surgery. The sursery was almost 7 hours long and I was walking about the ICU the next day. Thankfully my surgeon was able to remove the whole tumor. The only sacrifce was that I have lost my sense of smell on the left side.

The only side effects are that I have a numb head and terrible double vision, so bad I have to have a patch over my eye. Wierd thing is if I lay on my left side I can see perfectly so I'm hoping it will improve over time. My surgeon is unable to tell me if my vision will improve or not.

Would be interested to hear if other people have had similar vision issues and if yours corrected over time?? Im starting to worry as I am due back at work in 3 weeks and I am scared my vision wont improve and I will have double vision for ever...

Cheers

Hi. I had a craniotomy on 23.05.2013. My tumor was about the size of a kiwi fruit and started from behind the brain stem. Since, the operation, I have double vision; my right eye cannot move to the right. I do need to wear a patch but not for close up work anymore since I decided to stop and to try to re-train my brain. This definitely helps as the brain seems to work hard to make sense of what it sees . I am to reduce my 'patch' for long sight now too though it is not so easy. I was told that my right eye could be operated upon but not until 12 months after my surgery. In the meantime, I have to have some sort of radiotherapy. I do still get aching headaches, maybe as some of the tumour is left in situ; the surgeon said that this portion was too wrapped around the 4th nerve. I am also tired very often though gradually it is getting better and I can do more. Cheers. Juliette 

I had a craniotomy 2 weeks ago. I was like yourself very scared. The surgeon removed an epidermoid cyst on my brain. I was in HDU for 1 day then moved to another ward & discharged 5 days later. I am now recovering at home . I feel really tired at the moment & taking each day as it comes. I have felt no pain from my wound & can't believe how neat it is.
(17 year old young girl)

You sound like a success story and that's good. Only thing is I did some research on your doctor's name and it is spelled: Fukushima = not as you have entered above. I'm sure it was an oversight. By the way, after my brain surgery from 3 months ago - I get vertigo frequently and mostly when I am lying in bed.

Hello - I am happy you are doing well now. After my meningioma surgery 3 months ago (benign) I still have some issues, especially with the Keppra that is prescribed. Can't sleep well, VERY FATIGUED, and just a general feeling of worthlessness sometimes. It comes & goes. I was very interested in the spelling of your doctor's last name and after some research found out it is spelled: Fukushima - Not as you have entered above - I do things like that all the time too (entry errors) - but in this case I wanted to bring up the correct name spelling and I'm sure if your doctor was reading this post he/she would be pleased with the correction. Thanks for your information.

Yes, I had a 4 cm meningioma removed (95%) August/2013. The other 5% is behind my right optic nerve and in a bad location for surgery. Maybe radio surgery/cyber knife if needed, in the future? MRI is scheduled for next February/2014 to see if it has grown. My eye feels numb when I apply mascara and to the right of that eye is really numb up & down about 4 inches. My husband says it looks like I have a crater/indentation there. Oh well, it's my battle scar and proof that I am in recovery. I hate the Keppra I'm on - lots of issues with that - lots of patients call it: "Kepp-Rage" I had a titanium mesh patch placed over the meningioma and maybe that's why I have the numbness. Still am not allowed to drive and my neurosurgeon, Dr. Eric Nussbaum, stated this tumor could have been growing, 5, 10 or even 15 years! Now I know why I had some physical (walking issues, clumsiness, tremors, etc. ) along w/personality changes over the years. It was this tumor! Thank God it was benign.

I had my surgery 3 months ago for a benign meningioma. 95% removed w/5% still behind my right optic nerve. I will be having annual MRI's to watch that progress, if any. I have numbness on the right side of my head - next to my right eye. I think it has gotten a little better but I think I have numbness in my eye too. I had double vision (in left eye) for a few weeks after surgery but that has gone away. My sense of smell has changed - I think it has become more sensitive and I smell everything and it is frustrating. I can't even read a magazine in bed (need cheaters now) w/out smelling the paper which is repulsive to me. It is intense. I used to have a sinus drip for decades and now I don't. So, I don't missing blowing my nose 50 times a day. I haven't seen an eye doctor yet - I don't know when that will happen. Trying to live my life normally while taking Keppra (that's impossible!) I am grateful that I'm still here to complain though. I really feel I have had a 2nd chance given to me.

its Sharon . I am seizure free, tumor free. so far and I still have auras but no seizures. I am now 56 . 54 at surgery.
Sound triggers it like at the movies.

Have you been tested for Von Hipples Lindau Disease?

My little brother had major exploratory surgery they took off the side of his skull. The day before they screwed bolts in his head to hang equipment on. Surgery last 8 hours and tumor fluid was drained and a tissue sample of the mass was recovered. He went to a recovery room for about 6 hours and has been in ICU 2 days and told he will be there one more day so a total of 3 days in ICU following major brain surgery so for tomorrow will be four if you count the day of surgery. Yesterday he had a CT scan. Yesterday he muttered the words I feel like shi?t. 8 hours later he said to my mom go home.
so 6 words in 2 days. He has a turban type thing on his head and one eye is swollen shut and the other one half shut. A question mark is in the side of his head we are told.
Only his wife and mother have been allowed to see him. The best thing to do is rest for the home recovery ahead. LIfe must go on kids to school family to work.
Will anything be affected I can guarantee our love will not be. I prayed the surgeons hand would steadied and guided by God and that there would be no major slip ups in surgery. I believe my prayers saved him but the surgeons take home the millions.
One thing was my little brother a professor was at work 6 days before the surgery tasted metallic on his tongue and garbled his words and sough immediate treatment. He got aspirin for a stoke and had to wait days for surgery or he would bleed out.
The night before the surgery he cried and cried and we all cried he was scared and we were but we made it through. Things changed to fast too much information not enough time to process it too many emotions. But now after brain surgery things slow down the information will start to get better and we rest for the fight and pray for time.

Thanks for sharing. After reading your experience, I am jittery about my upcoming surgery.

Hello, June 18th, I had a quarter size meningioma on my right side of the brain removed. My surgery was only 5.5 hours instead of the 7 hrs., which was a relief to my family. I came out good, was in ICU from Wed. to Frid., I was released that Friday afternoon, which for me was a releif. there is nothing like your own bed to sleep in. Well here is wherer the problem starts, I continue to have sleepless nights. I had to have the wrapping on my head for about a week until the Dr. took ouit he staples. (ouch).  Ihave been blessed to have a great support system, my husband is out of work for amonth to care for me, and my two teenage boys have been wonderful as well as my sisters who have brought my family and I food to eat. The only trouble I have had besides the sleepless nights is that I got a breathing virus which took me to the ER...not good. I still feel dizzy now and then but could be due to meds. (Keppra), and antibiotics. and GAS....other than that, I am good. Had it not been for prayers, having an deep conversation with GOD, and listening to Christian music, (I am Catholic), and reading scriptures from the book....."Prayers through difficult times", I feel I would have lost it and would have been nervous, scared and not doing good at this moment. Plus I had a FABULOUS Dr. who put me at ease. I put it in GODS hands and let him take the wheel. I needed to be strong for my family, mother, husband but mainly for my two boys who still need this nagging mother. God Bless all who are going thru this and keep faith strong, and self talk yourself that everything will be good. God is good and Miracles happen everyday.......Thru GOD all is possible

I had a meningioma removed from my fourth ventricle in March this year and I was originally told I would need three months with no work or driving. It has now been 5 months plus and I am still unable to work or drive. I have major balance issues and my vision is not good either. I have been patching one eye so that I can see to read etc with my old reading glasses. I have had my eyes tested and I will be going to pick up prism glasses next Monday which the optometrist assures me will help to retrain my eyes and make improvements. I am willing to try anything to get rid of my double vision. I have been and still am very depressed some days. I have had some counselling . I am very frustrated and wonder if I will ever go back to being the old me.

gain a healther brain and you will by past all the other stuff...

Hi my name is Lize, i had surgery 2 .5 years ago to remove the tumor in the old factory groove. It was the size of an egg, the surgery went well and i left the hospital in two days. my problem not is that I can not smell, I get dizzy it I turn, walk fast, bending over, playing with my children and even hugging them, I am not working due to these problems. Doctors care to know the problem and they are saying it nerve damage. Did you ever encounter any of these and how long did it last?