A woman who thought she needed glasses was shocked when an optician suspected a brain tumor and doctors sent her for emergency surgery 12 hours later – saying that if it had been a day later, she would have died.
Ellie Musgrove of Manchester began to experience severe headaches and neck pain after his 21st birthday in January 2022, but he knew it was more than a hangover after celebrating with just two alcoholic drinks.
Then she realized that she could not see properly when she plucked her eyebrows – her vision was impaired with black spots and double vision.
She called her GP and was prescribed antibiotics for an ear infection over the phone, but her symptoms did not improve, prompting her to make an appointment with an optician.
Thinking she needed glasses, Ellie visited Specsavers with her father, Mike, 54, a landlord, on March 20, 2022, before being rushed to Salford Royal Hospital, Greater Manchester, after the optician noticed swelling of his eyesight. and nerve.
Just 12 hours later, she underwent emergency brain surgery to drain excess fluid around her brain before undergoing an MRI the next day, which revealed she had a brain tumor that had caused Addison’s disease, an unusual disease that occurs. occurs when your body does not produce enough of certain hormones.
Ellie will now have to take steroids for the rest of her life to deal with the unusual condition, but she is grateful to have gone to Specsavers when she did so after doctors told her that another day without action could be fatal.
Ellie Musgrove of Manchester began experiencing severe headaches and neck pain after his 21st birthday in January 2022, but he knew it was more than a hangover after celebrating with just two alcoholic drinks.
Then Ellie (pictured in hospital) realized she couldn’t see properly when she plucked her eyebrows – her vision was impaired with black spots and double vision.
She called her GP and was prescribed antibiotics for an ear infection over the phone, but her symptoms did not improve, prompting her to make an appointment with an optician. Pictured is Eli with an optometrist, Achilles Mahmoud
Ellie, an assistant, said, “I knew my headache wasn’t a hangover because we were celebrating my birthday with a quiet family dinner outside — nothing crazy.
“I never have a headache, but they were terrible. I thought I was just sleeping funny, which hurt my neck.
She added: “My life has turned upside down, but it could have been much worse – I keep reminding myself of that.
“I’m glad I went to Specsavers when I did – I’m grateful to the opticians and the doctors for saving my life.”
Thinking she needed glasses, Ellie visited Specsavers with her father, Mike, 54, a landlord, on March 20, 2022, before being rushed to Salford Royal Hospital, Greater Manchester, after the optician noticed swelling of her optic nerve.
Just 12 hours later, she underwent emergency brain surgery to drain excess fluid around her brain before undergoing an MRI the next day, which revealed she had a brain tumor that had caused Addison’s disease, an unusual disease that occurs. occurs when your body does not produce enough of certain hormones. Eli in the photo with Father Mike
Ellie will now have to take steroids for the rest of her life to deal with the unusual condition, but she is grateful to have gone to Specsavers when she did so after doctors told her that another day without action could be fatal. Eli in the photo with mother Diane
Ellie’s symptoms began just after her 21st birthday on January 5, 2022, when she was experiencing severe headaches along with neck pain.
“I also had blurred and double vision, black spots, and I started hearing throbbing heartbeats,” she said.
“My headache and neck looked worse in the morning and evening, but they were still in the background all day.
“My personal doctor suspected that I had an ear infection and prescribed me antibiotics and ibuprofen, but my symptoms did not improve. I decided to make an appointment to see my optician at Specsavers.
Ellie’s symptoms began just after her 21st birthday on January 5, 2022, when she was experiencing severe headaches along with neck pain. Pictured, her 21st with her father Mike
“I also had blurred and double vision, black spots, and I started hearing throbbing heartbeats,” she said. Pictured on the 21st with her mother Diane
Heaton Park Specsavers optometrist Achil Mahmoud said: “At that time, Ellie made an appointment when he could not get to the bottom of his severe headaches in his head and neck and poor eyesight.
“I noticed swelling in the optic nerves in both eyes, and that, along with Ellie’s symptoms, showed something was wrong.
“Urgent medical intervention was needed, so I immediately referred Ellie to the Royal Eye Hospital in Manchester.”
After numerous scans and tests that day, Ellie was taken by ambulance to the neurology department at Salford Royal Hospital.
After multiple scans and tests, Ellie (left) was taken by ambulance to the neurology department at Salford Royal Hospital.
Eli (pictured eating her 21st birthday with her family) was diagnosed with hydrocephalus – a buildup of fluid deep in the brain – caused by a brain tumor and required emergency surgery to drain the fluid.
“I went from testing my eyes at 11 a.m. to emergency brain surgery by 11:30 p.m. that day,” Ellie said (pictured at the hospital).
WHAT IS ADISON’S DISEASE?
Addison’s disease is a condition in which the body does not produce enough of the hormone cortisol.
When cortisol levels in the body fall too low, it can cause a number of symptoms.
These include weakness, dizziness, fatigue and abdominal pain.
Very low levels of cortisol can be life-threatening.
This is because cortisol is vital as it helps regulate blood pressure and the immune system and helps the body respond to stress.
Addison’s disease is treated with hormonal substitutes.
It is estimated that around 8,000 people in the UK have the disease and most cases first develop in people between the ages of 30 and 50.
It is estimated that about 70% of cases are caused by an autoimmune disease, but it can also be caused by tuberculosis.
Source: patient.co.uk
She was diagnosed with hydrocephalus – a buildup of fluid deep in the brain – caused by a brain tumor and required emergency surgery to drain the fluid.
“I went from testing my eyes at 11 a.m. to emergency brain surgery by 11:30 p.m. that day,” Ellie said.
“The next day’s MRI confirmed that I had a benign brain tumor between the pineal gland and the pituitary gland, which blocked the flow of fluid around my brain.
“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 think it’s a slow-growing tumor, that only 1% of people develop it, 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 the medical teams at Manchester Royal and Salford Royal Hospital – they took such good care of me and were so caring.”
Aqeel added: “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 ignored her symptoms and postponed her visit to the optician, the result could have been very different.”
Eli (pictured), a caregiver, said, “I knew my headache didn’t come down to a hangover because we were celebrating my birthday with a quiet family dinner – nothing crazy.”
Eli pictured recently at Specsavers. She said: “I never have a headache, but they were terrible. I thought I was just sleeping funny, which hurt my neck.
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