A Newcastle woman has thanked her quick-thinking optician who spotted signs of a potentially life-threatening brain tumour.
Sarah Kelly (42) thought she was experiencing ‘stress or menopause’ after suffering from headaches, confusion and occasional loss of feeling in her right leg.
But the mum-of-two – who had not had an eye test in more than 10 years – was diagnosed with a meningioma tumour after an optician at Specsavers Blaydon found her optic nerves were seriously swollen and referred her to hospital.
Sarah, who works in social care, describes the day she took seriously ill in March this year.
She says: ‘At first I thought I was menopausal or stressed from moving house, but then my symptoms got worse.
‘I sing in a band called Liberty Belle and was performing at a charity fundraiser for Tynedale Hospice at Home when I suddenly felt awful. I vomited during every break and by the end of the gig I was lying in the corridor backstage being sick every time I moved my head. It was really worrying.’
Sarah’s partner and fellow band member, Stu, took her to A&E but says medics couldn’t get to the bottom of her illness at that point.
Stu, who had booked an appointment at Blaydon Specsavers, wondered if an eye issue might be the root cause and encouraged Sarah to book in too – and it was at that appointment an important discovery was made.
Optician Charles Obiefule examined the back of Sarah’s eye and observed significantly swollen optic discs, and believed the headaches were likely to be caused by severe cranial hypertension.
She was advised to go straight to the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) Newcastle, and attended A&E because the emergency eye department was closed.
She says: ‘I was examined and told to monitor my symptoms and come back if things worsened over the weekend – and unfortunately my condition deteriorated. I had episodes of confusion and my leg went completely numb.’
A scared and upset Sarah went back to hospital where the emergency eye department conducted tests which revealed a 7.5-inch Grade 1 meningioma brain tumour – described as the size of ‘two fists’.
She was put first in line for emergency surgery which went accordingly to plan, and spent the next six weeks recovering in hospital. It took four weeks before Sarah could walk unaided and she has been steadily improving. A small part of the tumour remains (being regularly monitored) and Sarah still has some numbness and weakness in her foot, but she says these are minor issues by comparison.
Looking back, Sarah remembers experiencing numbness in her arm after giving birth to her son back in 2007 – but thought nothing of it when it went back to normal within a few days.
But following her surgery, she now realises there were other more subtle symptoms in the years that followed.
She says: ‘It’s only now I realise that I haven’t really felt normal for over a decade. I’ve got myself back. I’ve lost three stone, I can concentrate better and I’ve got energy for my family and friends. I’m happier than I’ve been in a long time.
‘To Charles and everyone at Specsavers, to everyone at the RVI and to the physiotherapists that continue to care for me months after my surgery, thank you. My heart is full knowing that these services are available to help people like me. They, collectively, have saved my life.’
Sarah’s partner Stu has since been in to Blaydon Specsavers, and the optician who examined her says it was an emotional moment.
Charles Obiefule, says: ‘Stu came in to pick up a contact lens subscription in the months following the surgery, and we naturally just hugged.
‘I’m so happy to see Sarah doing so well. It’s moments like this that give me a real sense of pride and purpose, knowing I have made a difference.
‘Stories like Sarah’s also put into perspective the importance of having your eyes checked. I would encourage everyone to have regular eye examinations and if you ever have any particularly concerns, even in between tests, get yourself seen by an optician.’