WHAT WE LEARNED IN MARCH! |
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"THIS IS ALL TOTALLY NORMAL!" Notes from your Brain Tumor Zoom Support Group (BTZSG) Superheroes! |
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We forget stuff, a lot of stuff! Despite our best efforts to remember things, a common complaint is forgetfulness. This is incredibly challenging for many of us who appear to still be rather high-functioning. We quickly learn on this journey that relying on our memory is not always the best decision. Leave yourself notes always, make your calendar your best friend, and set up routines that are fail-proof so you can free your tired mind of always having to remember that which you forget! |
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Try new things to ease your symptoms. Some of us are on watch and wait, with little to no symptoms, and others have numerous ones. Living with a brain tumor diagnosis does not have to be an uncomfortable or painful daily experience. There are answers out there and medications available for things like chronic migraines, tinnitus, brain fog, vertigo, anxiety, etc. Yes, it is frustrating to always be trying new medications but giving them a chance, changing the dose, and taking good notes on how you are responding to the medication is the best way to find some resolve. Sometimes it's the combination of two or three meds that work best. When you find the right medication(s) and dose you will know because you will feel significantly better. , maybe this new 800mg capsul on the market can solve all our problems. LOL!!! |
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If you are struggling inquire about a neurological examination: A neurological exam assesses motor and sensory skills, hearing and speech, vision, coordination, and balance. It may also test mental status, mood, and behavior. The examination uses tools such as a tuning fork, flashlight, reflex hammer, and a tool for examining the eyes. The results of the neurological examination and the patient’s history are used to determine a list of possibilities, known as the differential diagnosis, that help determine which additional diagnostic tests and procedures are needed. A neurological exam is used to help find out if you have a disorder of the nervous system. Early diagnosis can help you get the right treatment and may decrease long-term complications. |
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Meet with a talk therapist/ counselor/ life coach. Finding someone one-on-one that you can connect with on a private level is a wonderfully healing gift to give yourself. This was mentioned before in a prior newsletter. One of our members speaks very highly of her therapist Shontel Thomas. This is more of a faith-based wellness center but you may want to look into it, Shontel does Zoom sessions so you can get her support from anywhere. We inquired with her and she is accepting new clients at this time if you are interested. Let her know that Meningioma Companion informed you of her services, she'll be glad to know we shared her information. As many of you know, I also provide one-on-one Zoom sessions. I am not a trained therapist but I am here and available to be a support companion to you when and if needed. I have been on this journey for a long time, I work full-time in mental health, and I am no stranger to the needs of this community. Let me know if I can be of support to you. |
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SIGN UP YOUR FIRST GROUP IS FREE! Don't miss out on connecting with your brain tumor peers! Sign up for a BTZSG today. |
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Please respond directly to this email for any April Brain Tumor Zoom Support Groups you wish to join. Your 1st session is FREE! Everyone has the opportunity to try this peer support platform. The last session of every month is FREE too! April (Sessions are Pacific Standard Time) Sat, April 3rd: 9:45am-11am Sun, April 11th: 4:45pm-6pm Sat, April 24th: 8:45am-10am Fri, April 30th: 11:45am-1pm |
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Participating in a BTZSG offers more than a vent session; it's an opportunity to get to know others on a more intimate level all while learning from one another's experiences. We all have a different story to tell, yet we can relate in ways that no other person can. We are truly connected by this diagnosis, and the gift we give to one another at every session is support and understanding. There is some humor in what we talk about too! Anyhow, a special thanks to my regulars, what a gift you are to me and every newbie that jumps in on this service. THANK YOU for being so open to sharing your journey! Since September 2020, this is how many groups each of our regulars participated in. Your contribution to this effort has paved the way for the BTZSG! PAM 17, SABRINA 16, LISA & DENEEN 15, BRENDA 11, NANCY 10 |
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Being a Brain Tumor Companion is a labor of love. When I was diagnosed over nine years ago, I was so confused. When I got the news that I needed a craniotomy, I was changed forever. The support I craved was not available. Yes, Facebook groups are great, but my posts faded fast. I wanted to cry, laugh, vent, and learn from someone I could rely on. In late 2019, I began one-on-one companion sessions to help pay it forward, and in September 2020, I began hosting Brain Tumor Zoom Support Groups (BTZSG). I now offer the platform which I needed all along. Connect with others and never feel alone on this journey again. It's a gift to share in real time, with those who "Get it!" | | |
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The information provided in this newsletter is not to be perceived as medical advice, simply information that is shared by brain tumor peers. Meningioma Companion is not contracted or paid to promote any of the people, companies, or groups that are shared on this platform. To unsubscribe from Meningioma Companions monthly newsletter reply STOP to this email and if willing please share why you decided to leave. |
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