A woman whose “terrible headaches” and low energy was dismissed as depression says a trip to the opticians saved her life after she was diagnosed with a brain tumour.
Debbie Organ, 45, had visited medics constantly for eight weeks with a range of health concerns.
Her symptoms began with headaches and low energy while she was on holiday in July last year - which doctors suggested was depression, in the aftermath of family deaths of family members, and medics gave her medicine to improve her mood.
A nurse then recommended that Debbie get her vision tested after she experienced dizziness, ringing in her ear and a flickering eyelid.
It was during this examination that her optician raised concerns about her eye pressure, and then referred her to a hospital clinic.
Debbie later underwent a brain scan, which revealed a low-grade tumour.
Within two days she had emergency surgery to remove it.
Following the life-saving diagnosis, Debbie is now calling on more people to get their eyes tested regularly.
Debbie, a hire desk manager, said her ordeal started after her dad died and she went on holiday in July 2021.
During the trip, she suffered from a debilitating headache and a lack of energy.
She was due back at work but called in sick and went to see a doctor when she didn't feel better after taking painkillers for a week.
But doctors dismissed it as a low mood after the death of her dad and prescribed her antidepressants.
Debbie didn’t take the tablets as she was convinced this was not the right diagnosis and instead continued to chase the doctors for the next eight weeks.
She said: “I was phoning weekly saying I had headaches, no energy, dizziness, ringing in my ear, a flickering eyelid.
“A nurse practitioner suggested it could be my eyes and to get them tested.”
Debbie then went for a routine eye test at White Rose Optical in her hometown of Wakefield, West Yorks.
But as the optician was concerned about the pressure in Debbie’s eye, they then referred her to the hospital’s eye clinic, where she got an MRI scan.
Debbie said: “The following week, I went into the mobile scanner at Pinderfields Hospital with my husband waiting outside.
“A lovely nurse gave me an eye mask and some headphones, and spoke to me as she could tell I was scared.”
After the MRI, Debbie was told she had a brain tumour and needed to be transferred to Leeds General Infirmary for an urgent operation.
She said: “I was shocked. It didn’t sink in. I came out and told my husband and was escorted to A&E, my head whirling.
“I called my mum and a few close friends and no one could believe it.”
Debbie’s husband, gym engineer Mark, 48, was not allowed to stay with her at the hospital due to Covid rules and just two days later, Debbie was taken down to the hospital's theatre.
To her relief, she made it through the nerve-wracking operation.
She said: “When I was pushed back to the ward, I can remember putting my thumbs up to my roommate in the hospital saying ‘I made it to the other side’.
“She supported me through the week as due to Covid restrictions there were no visitors.
“I rang my family and I was in tears, they were so relieved to hear my voice.
“After a few days, I was allowed to come home to recover.”
Debbie said her husband, mother and a few close friends had been “amazing” throughout the ordeal and had looked after her on the rollercoaster of the recovery journey.
She later found out that she had a low-grade tumour known as a meningioma, but was told by the surgeon he was confident that he had removed all of it.
Shortly after her diagnosis, Debbie was referred to Yorkshire’s Brain Tumour Charity by her specialist nurse.
The tumour will need to be monitored in future, but Debbie is determined to keep doing the things she enjoys.
She said: “I might need radiotherapy in the future to stop the tumour from regrowing but I’m here to tell the tale.
“My tumour was highly receptive to progesterone so my contraceptive had been feeding it; I’ve now stopped taking it.
She added: “All I can say is the NHS nurses and surgeons at LGI (Leeds General Infirmary) are amazing!
"I’d tell everyone, make sure you get your eyes tested regularly, it really can save your life. I will never forget my optician.”
