A 21-year-old caregiver was diagnosed with a brain tumor during a routine eye test. Ellie Musgrove is now on the verge of recovery after undergoing emergency surgery at the Royal Hospital in Salford to release fluid that has accumulated around her brain.
Ellie’s symptoms began just after her 21st birthday in January, when she was experiencing severe headaches along with neck pain. She says: “I also had blurred and double vision, black spots and I started hearing throbbing heartbeats.
“My headache and neck pain looked worse in the morning and evening, but they were still in the background all day. My GP suspected I had an ear infection and prescribed antibiotics and ibuprofen, but my symptoms did not improve. I decided to make an appointment with my opticians. “
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Heaton Park Specsavers optometrist Achil Mahmoud explains: “At that time, Ellie had an appointment when she could not get to the bottom of her severe headaches and neck pain and poor eyesight.
“I noticed swelling of the optic nerves in both eyes, and that, along with Ellie’s symptoms, showed that something was seriously wrong. An emergency medical intervention was required, so I immediately referred Ellie to the Royal Eye Hospital in Manchester.
After numerous scans and tests that day, Ellie of Crumpsol, who works with vulnerable adults with special needs, was transferred by ambulance to the neurology ward at Salford Royal Hospital. She was diagnosed with hydrocephalus – an accumulation of fluid deep in the brain – caused by a brain tumor and required emergency surgery to drain the fluid.
“I went from eye testing at 11 a.m. to emergency brain surgery by 11:30 p.m. that day. The next day’s MRI confirmed that I had a benign brain tumor between the pineal gland and the pituitary gland that was blocking the flow of fluid around my brain.
Eli and Achilles Mahmoud (Image: Carl Sukonik | The Vain Photography The Vain Ltd. hello@thevain.co.uk 07947484641)
“I was also diagnosed with Addison’s disease. The tumor affects my pituitary gland, which is a devastating blow, as I will have to take hydrocortisone steroids for the rest of my life.
“I’m slowly but surely recovering and now I will have regular MRI scans to check the tumor. Neurosurgeons believe it’s a slow-growing tumor that only 1% of people develop, so I hope I don’t need surgery to remove it soon.
“I may need additional surgery if the fluid builds up again, but at least I know what the symptoms are now.
“My life has turned upside down, but I, along with my family, will be forever grateful to Aqeel and the Specsavers team.
“If it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t be here today, they saved my life. I would also like to thank from the bottom of my heart the medical teams at the hospitals in Manchester Royal and Salford Royal – they took such good care of me and were so caring. ”
Aqeel Mahmoud continues: “Ellie’s story shows how important it is to take care of your eye health and if you have any serious concerns, see an optician. If Ellie had ignored her symptoms and postponed her visit to the optician, the outcome could have been very different.
For more information or to book an appointment, visit www.specsavers.co.uk
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