Any other moms who went through brain surgery?

[Anonymous]

I had brain surgery to remove a benign brain tumor and am having trouble with my recovery. I'm doing ok physically, except for some swelling of my left eye and temple that keeps coming and going. It's very frustrating, but I don't feel the same as before my surgery and have trouble keeping up with my two little ones. Are there any other mothers on here that have been through brain surgery? I'm on an online support group, but I was hoping to find someone local to talk to.

[Anonymous]

OP, I had a vagus nerve stimulator implanted about 8 years ago to control seizures. It took me about a year to feel really good about the surgery. First of all, a lot of what you are describing (having a hard time keeping up with the kids) is about recovery from any surgery and feeling run down and in pain just from surgical recovery. I recommend vitamins, esp. zinc, to help you bounce back and pampering yourself.

Also, anything involving the brain is just so difficult and complex to evaluate, and so "chicken and egg." I think you should give it more time. Your body has been under siege and needs to recover. I know for about the first year after my surgery I really felt like I wasn't sure what I was experiencing -- better? worse? new? different? whatever?...then I began to be able to evaluate how I was doing more objectively as my body completely healed from the surgery and its side effects.

Anyway, I hope some of this make sense in terms of your own experience and provides a sense of support.

[zumbamama]

My best friend had a very rare, inoperable brain tumor. SHe couldn't have it surgically removed, but she did have that gamma knife laser thing along with other types of radiation. She did say she always felt better after acupuncture.

[Anonymous]

Hi there!

I had a benign brain tumor that was removed through surgery 14 years ago. I recall that the Doctor told me it would take nearly a year to recover fully, although I was back at work in 4 weeks and felt pretty good, although not 100%. Also, I was on anti-seizure medication for awhile, which also made me feel a bit sleepy and disoriented. I don't think it took a full year to recover--although I also think that I needed more sleep ever since the brain surgery. I did not have any children at the time, but can imagine that it would be overwhelming. After several years, I can tell you that I rarely even think about the surgery, but in the meantime, I have been treated for colon cancer (which was a much worse surgery and much more difficult recovery than the brain tumor) and then had my first baby at 42. I think that the good news is that the brain surgery rarely affects my life anymore (although my OB made me have a C-section because of it) and I would say I have no long term health effects from it.

Good luck with your recovery!

[Anonymous]

Thank you for the replies. I am only about 6 weeks out from surgery, so I know I'm expecting too much too soon. The major problem that I'm dealing with, which is more about appearance than anything else, is with having my hair shaved right up front and the forehead and eye swelling. I have never been vain, but I am a little self-conscious and don't like people staring. I know people are just probably curious about what happened to me and why I look like I do, but it's hard. Up until now I've had my husband with my everywhere I go, but he's going back to work this week so it will just be me and the two little ones. They don't care what I look like! They just love their mommy regardless.

To the PP, did they tell you why they wanted you to have a C-section? What was their concern regarding delivery and the brain? My NS said it wouldn't be a problem to have more children, but he didn't mention anything about delivery. I had my others naturally and just assumed subsequent ones would be natural as well.

[Anonymous]

Hi,

I am the previous poster with the C-section post brain surgery--sorry it took me so long to reply. I think my OB was very conservative and the prior colon cancer surgery probably played a role as well. He said that he was worried about an aneurism, etc. from the pressure of pushing during a natural delivery. I talked to my neurologist and he said that he did not think a c-section would be necessary because of the prior brain surgery, but that didn't carry much weight with my OB.

Following up on your concerns about your appearance--I know exactly what you mean! I don't think of myself as vain either, but I had a completely shaved head, bruised and swollen face and was very self-conscious. I think people thought I had been in a car accident. The only place I really felt comfortable was at the hospital. When I went back to work and was taking depositions or meeting with clients, it was really uncomfortable, especially if they did not know the whole story. The good news is that the hair does grow back and the swelling eventually goes away. I hope you are feeling better!!