A woman who thought she needed glasses was shocked when an optician suspected a brain tumor and doctors sent her to emergency surgery 12 hours later, telling her that if it had happened a day later she would have died.
Manchester’s Ellie Musgrove began suffering from severe headaches and cervical pain after her 21st birthday in January 2022, but she knew it was more than a hangover after celebrating it with just two alcoholic drinks.
Then he realized that he could not see well when he was tearing his eyebrows: his vision was impaired with black spots and double vision.
She called her GP and was prescribed antibiotics over the phone for an ear infection, but her symptoms did not improve, which led her to book an appointment with the optician.
Thinking she needed glasses, Ellie visited Specsavers with her father, Mike, 54, a commercial owner, on March 20, 2022, before being rushed to Salford Royal Hospital, Greater Manchester, after the optics noticed an inflammation of his optic nerve.
Just 12 hours later, he underwent emergency brain surgery to drain excess fluid around his brain, before undergoing an MRI the next day which revealed he had a brain tumor that had caused the Addison’s disease, an uncommon disorder that occurs when the body does not produce it. enough of certain hormones.
Ellie will now have to take lifelong steroids to manage the uncommon disease, but she is grateful to have gone to Specsavers when she did so after doctors told her another day without action could have been fatal.
Manchester’s Ellie Musgrove began suffering from severe headaches and cervical pain after her 21st birthday in January 2022, but she knew it was more than a hangover after celebrating it with just two alcoholic drinks.
Ellie (pictured in the hospital) realized she couldn’t see well when she was tearing her eyebrows: her vision was impaired with blackheads and double vision.
She called her GP and was prescribed antibiotics over the phone for an ear infection, but her symptoms did not improve, which led her to book an appointment with the optician. In the photo, Ellie with the optometrist, Aqeel Mahmood
Ellie, a support caregiver, said: “I knew my headaches weren’t reduced to hangover because we celebrated my birthday with a quiet family meal, nothing crazy.
“I never have a headache, but these were terrible. I thought I had only slept in a funny way, which hurt my neck.
He added: “My life has turned upside down, but it could have been much worse; I can’t help but remember.
“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 commercial owner, on March 20, 2022, before being rushed to Salford Royal Hospital, Greater Manchester, after the optics noticed an inflammation of his optic nerve.
Just 12 hours later, he underwent emergency brain surgery to drain excess fluid around his brain, before undergoing an MRI the next day which revealed he had a brain tumor that had caused the Addison’s disease, an uncommon disorder that occurs when the body does not produce it. enough of certain hormones. Ellie photographed with father Mike
Ellie will now have to take lifelong steroids to manage the uncommon disease, but she is grateful to have gone to Specsavers when she did so after doctors told her another day without action could have been fatal. Ellie photographed 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, double vision, blackheads, and I started hearing heartbeat noises,” he said.
“My headaches and neckaches seemed to get 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 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. In the photo, on the 21st with her father Mike
“I also had blurred, double vision, blackheads, and I started hearing heartbeat noises,” he said. In the photo, on the 21st with her mother Diane
Heaton Park Specsavers optometrist Aqeel Mahmood said: “At that time, Ellie made an appointment when she could not get to the bottom of her severe headaches and neck pain and impaired vision.
“I noticed a swelling of the optic nerves in both eyes and this, along with Ellie’s symptoms, indicated that something was seriously wrong.
“Urgent medical intervention was required, so I immediately referred Ellie to Manchester Royal Eye Hospital.”
After numerous scans and tests that day, Ellie was taken by ambulance to the neurology department at Salford Royal Hospital.
After numerous scans and tests, Ellie (left) was taken by ambulance to the neurology department at Salford Royal Hospital.
Ellie (pictured at her 21st birthday lunch with the family) was diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a buildup of fluid in the depths of the brain, caused by a brain tumor, and required emergency surgery to drain the fluid. .
“I went from having an eye test at 11 a.m. to having emergency brain surgery at 11:30 p.m. the same day,” Ellie said (in the hospital photo)
WHAT IS ADDISON’S DISEASE?
Addison’s disease is a condition in which the body does not produce enough of the hormone cortisol.
When the body’s cortisol levels drop too much, this can cause a number of symptoms.
These include weakness, dizziness, fatigue, and abdominal pain.
A very low level 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 hormone replacement pills.
It is believed that some 8,000 people in the UK suffer from the disease and most cases develop first in people between the ages of 30 and 50.
It is believed that about 70% of cases are caused by an autoimmune disease, but it can also be triggered by tuberculosis.
Source: patient.co.uk
He was diagnosed with hydrocephalus, an accumulation of fluid in the depths of the brain, caused by a brain tumor, and required emergency surgery to drain the fluid.
“I went from having an eye test at 11 a.m. to having emergency brain surgery at 11:30 p.m. the same day,” Ellie said.
“An MRI the next day confirmed that I had a benign brain tumor between the pineal gland and the pituitary gland, which was blocking the flow of fluid around my brain.
“I was also diagnosed with Addison’s disease. The tumor is affecting my pituitary gland, which is a devastating blow, as I will have to take hydrocortisone for the rest of my life.
“I am recovering slowly but surely and now I will do regular MRIs to control the tumor.
“Neurosurgeons think it’s a slow-growing tumor, which only develops in 1% of people, so I hope you don’t need surgery to remove it soon.
“I may need more 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 eternally 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 Hospitals: they took very good care of me and were so affectionate.”
Aqeel added: “Ellie’s story shows the importance of taking care of your eye health and, if you have any major concerns, take a look at them.
“If Ellie had ignored her symptoms and delayed the visit to an optician, it could have been a very different outcome.”
Ellie (pictured), a supportive caregiver, said, “I knew my headaches weren’t reduced to the hangover because we celebrated my birthday with a quiet family meal, nothing crazy.”
Ellie was recently photographed at Specsavers. She said, “I never have a headache, but those were terrible.” I thought I had only slept in a funny way, which hurt my neck.