This hits very close to home to me.
My 10 year-old son was experiencing double vision a few weeks ago. When it grew temporarily worse, his pediatrician sent him to the Johns Hopkins pediatric emergency room. That was Friday, September 14.
Because his symptoms were stable, he didn’t get an immediate MRI. He waited one week.
On September 21, he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Because it was believed likely to be benign, surgery wasn’t done on an emergency basis.
He had his surgery on September 26 (all went well).
The "leisurely" pace of events - diagnosis to surgery in 12 days, was because he WASN'T an emergency case.
If we lived under the communists in Canada, it would be months before we ever even knew that he had a tumor.
Those who promote single-payer systems are murderers.
Happy to hear your son’s surgery went well.
Prayers for your son....and I am so glad he is doing well.
You had to wait 5 days for his surgery and I could imagine that was 5 days of hell for you....It is hard to imagine waiting months.
One of my relatives that has lived in Canada for decades...
“loves Canadian healthcare”.
But I’m too nice to ask why she ALWAYS rushes to get an extensive
physical when she comes to visit in the USA.
I’m glad your son is doing well. I’ve had brain surgery twice for a (benign) meningioma which was pressing on the left optic nerve. I developed double vision for about three and a half months after brain surgery 2 when the surgery team either stretch or partially severed cranial nerve III. I’m fine now, however.
For me, neither surgery was particularly painful. You don’t have many nerve endings up there - just a few in the scalp. After brain surgery 1, I was pretty much back to normal in 3 weeks and I was 45 years old at the time. I’m sure that your son will bounce back in no time.
It is very possible that local hospitals in your area have brain tumor support groups. Perhaps you would be helped by them.
You may be interested in the American Brain Tumor Association website if you need information about brain tumors. I see that they also have a website devoted just to kids.
In 1995, before computers were so common, they sent me a whole packet of information which arrived in one day. It included a marvelous little booklet (which was only 53 pages long) summarizing all the major types of brain tumors and treatments available. They never sent me direct fundraising appeals. Their newsletter contained articles about fundraisers, but no direct appeal. They also ran articles about doctors, research, etc. They’re a good organization. I sent them $200 to thank them and they still did not put me on a fundraising list.
Brain surgery 2 was Sept. 21, 2006, so it hasn’t been that long since the last one. I understand your fear. My own experience is that lots of information helped me to deal with the fear. I went into surgery in 1995 scared to death but knowing that this would be my best option.
In my (unprofessional) opinion, if your son got through the surgery itself without any of the possible complications (stroke, swelling of the brain, leakage of spinal fluid), it’s just a matter of waiting for the body healing. Your son has already had the surgery, so I would think that he will be fine. Stay in touch with the doctor, of course. He needs to get the stitches out. Dilantin was no big deal with me. I’m just one patient, of course.
Finally, you chose one of the best hospitals in the world.