A woman who had surgery for a brain tumour had her symptoms originally misdiagnosed as the menopause, she has claimed.
Karen Griffiths, 60, started suffering from one-sided pulsatile tinnitus, when a heartbeat is heard in the ear, in 2018.
She also began to experience headaches in the morning, feeling uncoordinated, struggling with speech and losing her train of thought.
Ms Griffiths, who was 55 at the time, visited her GP, part of East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, for three years complaining of the symptoms but was told they were most likely because of the menopause and was sent home.
But when the “beat” in her ear became so loud that it would wake her up at night, she was referred to an ear, nose and throat consultant, who sent her for an MRI.
The scan revealed that Ms Griffiths had a benign tumour on the brain that was pressing on a major vein, the superior sagittal sinus.
‘My symptoms were disregarded’
The insurance coach from Eastbourne, East Sussex, said that she was originally told “not to worry” when the tinnitus worsened.
She said: “I was suffering with symptoms for over three years and it gradually got worse.
“Alongside that I was going through menopause and it is very well known that it can create headaches, brain fog and difficulty concentrating.
“One of the key things that got missed was that I was having headaches in the morning when I woke up.
Sarah Carter is a health and wellness expert residing in the UK. With a background in healthcare, she offers evidence-based advice on fitness, nutrition, and mental well-being, promoting healthier living for readers.
