Symptoms

The nurses, radiology technicians, and doctors all want to know how the tumor was found, so here is my story.

I believe it all started about 2 years ago when I was pregnant with my baby boy. July 2008, I was eight months pregnant. I arched my back and leaned over my husband to become dizzy to the point the room was spinning. I sat up quickly contributing it all to be pregnant. I then had Chantry August 2008. Six weeks later, I was supposed to return to Church, but got the dizzy flu. I was so sick and couldn't get off the floor. My husband took care of me and I slept. I was okay by the next day. I was okay for the rest of that year, I think.

In 2009, the dizzy and vomiting episodes increased to about once a month and then became more often. (Mostly caused when I would lean back.) I gradually lost weight even though I tried to eat more. I became sick in the mornings and couldn't eat until about 9 or 10 (up and going 3-4 hours).

In 2010, I was constantly dizzy and sick. Mondays would be the worst. As the week went on, I felt better, but got tired. I had a hard time getting up in the morning and keeping food down.

Throughout all this time I had been going to the doctor. I was diagnosed by my primary care physician with sinus infections, labyrinth infections, and BPPV (benign paroxysmal positional vertigo). I received medication (antibiotics) and the treatments (Epley Maneuver) associated. It would work for a time, and then everything would return. So I was then referred to an ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor). He said I had received the correct treatments, and since they didn't work he would pursue it. The sinus CT scan wasn't enough, so he also ordered a brain MRI. Most of my symptoms fit with migraines (minus the headache). So I was also put on medication for that. The MRI showed a tumor. He referred me to a neurosurgeon who is now on vacation, so he referred me on to Salt Lake. I have since been receiving treatment from Richard Schmidt. And that is how I got to where I am today!