When you are full of despair and need someone just to listen and you want to hear I've got the ear. But I need HELP too to build this fledgling foundation and I NEED to help you navigate through this nightmare of having a brain tumor nobody wants to acknowledge. You won't get an answering machine on Sundays, it's me! Please be aware of the time difference and respect the hours since I have a 5 yr old. Right now where I live it is about: 05:53 am. So DON'T CALL ME NOW!


Your donations will help support our cause. We are waiting for the last piece to finish up the complete non profit status but if you need a number then I have one!.

My name is Yvonne from Manchester United Kingdom. I finally came across your page, by searching on the worldwide websites for my disease. There seems to be nothing in the Uk, so I would like to tell my story to you.

I am 49years of age and 3 years ago I was diagnosed with an Arachnoid Cyst underneath the brain and lying on the optic nerve. For nearly ten years I had suffered with headaches and frequent trips to my doctor, resulted in his diagnosis, of Migraine, Depression.

Three years ago I was suffering really badly and made visits to my Doctor, who insisted I was depressed and stressed, a couple of trips to the A&E at the hospital, who inferred, I may be showing signs of having a stroke.

It wasn't until I was found wandering on the street, by my sister, not knowing who I was or what day it was, that finally my sister gave my doctor an ultimatum, "give her a brain scan, or I will hold you personally responsible for whatever happens to her"

Next day I had a CT scan, they found the cyst, size of an egg, had an operation week later to drain, it. Surgeon came to see me and said, "yes we have got rid of it, should have no further problems, it seems you were born with it but has only just come to light.

Within, 18months, I was back in the hospital for Brain Surgery again to drain it,was told before I had the op that they were going to insert an Ommaya Reservoir, because they could not get all of the casing of the cyst away, because of where it was lying.

I now have this Ommaya Reservoir, underneath the brain and the rubber end protrudes out of the side of my head. As the Doctor, said "you wont see a lot of people walking round Sainsburys shopping with one of them" funny!!! I don't think so.

Four months ago I had it aspirated and never had i experienced such paIn. The Surgeon, wont agree to putting a shunt in. Everyday I suffer headaches, sharp pains, no sleep, dizziness and awful fatigue.

I have to say, that I am clueless on this condition and all the medical jargon that goes with it and don't really know what I should be doing, or discussing with my Doctor

I have to say that your page has been really helpful to me and has given me a starting point of how to go about dealing with my illness, and exploring the consequences of it more. Thanks!!!

Yvonne Record
Manchester
United Kingdom