A woman was shocked to discover that her ‘anxiety’ symptoms were actually caused by a large tumor that had been growing in her brain for a decade.
34-year-old Emily Bailey from Northamptonshire, UK, had been suffering from what she and her doctor thought was anxiety for more than ten years.
As Bailey explained, she was prescribed medication for anxiety after she started experiencing fatigue and dizziness in her 20s.
Following years after the false diagnosis, in 2019, things took an unexpected turn as the 34-year-old lost her balance and collapsed while she was out jogging.
“When I first lost my balance, I was out jogging and other members of my running group had to help me up and guide me to the finish line. I was walking as if I was drunk – it was so bizarre,” Emily explained.
While she was initially told that her condition could be caused by an ear problem, Emily found out she had a large tumor growing on her brain and pressing against her nerves after getting an MRI scan done at a private hospital.
“The type of tumor I had was a slow-growing one and doctors told me I’d probably had it for about 10 to 12 years,” she added.
“I was gobsmacked. The consultant said that, for all that time, I hadn’t had anxiety – the tumor had been causing my symptoms.
“As terrifying as my diagnosis was, in a way, it almost felt like a relief. My symptoms hadn’t been all in my head and there was something that could be done about them.”
Following the new diagnosis, the majority of Emily’s tumor was removed successfully, whereas a small part of it was left behind because it was too dangerous to remove it due to its proximity to her facial nerve.
After the tumor’s removal, Emily’s ‘anxiety’ disappeared and she was finally able to ditch anti-depressant medication that she was prescribed all those years ago.
“I am so grateful to all the medical staff that have helped me. They are truly amazing and I can’t thank them enough,” Emily concluded.
“It’s nobody’s fault that my tumor wasn’t found sooner. They are rare, so it’s understandable that it’s not the first conclusion you’d jump to. But I want my story to encourage other people to listen to their bodies, push for a referral when they know something isn’t right and, most importantly, stay positive.”
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