A student nurse has been given a shock diagnosis after being told her persistent headaches were just symptoms of anxiety. After suffering from the ailment for a while, Bridie Wilson went to visit her GP in April to be told her symptoms were most likely to stem from anxiety, reports the Liverpool Echo.
However, as time progressed the student nurse's symptoms began to deteriorate with more regular headaches alongside new symptoms of dizziness and increased clumsiness. Due to the worsening symptoms, Bridie decided to look up her symptoms online to see if she could discover anything more about her condition.
Upon, researching she saw the symptoms lined up to that of having a brain tumour which she shared with her partner and mother. The pair told the 22-year-old not to be silly as it was ' just stress'.
However, two weeks later disaster hit when Bridie woke up one weekend with her room spinning around her as she got out of bed. The student nurse rested on the floor before reluctantly visiting hospital as she did not want to ruin her weekend off.
She was quickly seen at hospital and thought she would still get home for tea with her boyfriend Harry Louch. However, she says having worked in the healthcare sector she quickly realised that would not be possible based on the look her Doctor was giving her.
Bridie said:" On Saturday the 17th of September, I woke up with my partner Harry, and I sat up and the room was spinning around me. I stood up and I had to sit back down on the floor as the room was spinning around me.
"I was very reluctant to go to hospital because I wanted to have a good weekend. I had worked the whole week. So I went to hospital and they dealt with me very quickly.
"We still had plans to go home and have tea. I knew something was not quite right and a doctor was looking quite funny at me, and I knew from working in healthcare that it’s never a good look."
Bridie was diagnosed with a brain tumour on the 17th September, but she would have to wait until the 22nd for her operation due to the Queen's funeral. After the four day wait, she was transferred to LGI and where she would have an 11 hour operation to remove the tumour on her brain.
The operation was successful leaving only approximately 2mm of tumour and the tumour bed behind.
Bridie added: "There were so many risks associated with it and you always think 'am I going to come round from it', but I was very lucky and it was a successful operation."
After the operation, she had occupational and physiotherapy to help her walk again, and within 11 days she was ready to come home and start her recovery. Bridie said: "I was over the moon to be home where I could continue my recovery,
"A lumbar puncture showed that there is no evidence of cancer in my cerebrospinal fluid or spine meaning I’m eligible for proton beam radiotherapy.
"A date has been set for the 1st of November, we’re just waiting on a few other treatments before I start my radiotherapy, it is a curative treatment so I am hoping that I am lucky that I get to live my life and grow old."
Before she begins her treatment, Bridie and her boyfriend, will be braving the shave on October 28 by shaving their hair off for Macmillan Cancer Support. Bridie said: “This is a charity close to my heart. The work and support these people do and offer is simply amazing and is a light throughout this dark journey.
“Since I found out I’d lose my hair, I knew I wanted to do it for charity. I didn’t want it to be because of cancer. I was quite adamant about that.
“I wanted it to be on my terms and I wanted it to be turned into something positive. And now, instead of it being because of cancer it’s for cancer and it can’t take it away from me.”
Bridie expressed her gratitude to both Harry and her parents for the support they have given her through this tough period of her life. She said: “It really is amazing, I couldn’t thank them enough for just always being there.
“It makes it just that little bit easier, you don't feel as alone.”
Along with her fundraiser for charity, Bridie wants to raise awareness for cancer and urges people to speak with their doctors and seek help if they are not feeling right.
If you would like to visit or donate to Bridie's fundraiser click here .
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