Hi, I’m Crystal. I am 38 years old, and I have just been diagnosed with a meningioma.

This is a difficult post to make, and I’m going to try and make it as short as possible, so bear with me. But the warning is big and important, especially for women and young girls.

Back in March, I got a horrible headache that made me so nauseous I threw up and noticed petechia around my eye. Odd but not uncommon, so I didn’t think much of it. A week or so later, some blood vessels blew in my eye for no reason. No trauma or hard sneeze (which is apparently also very common). I went to the ER. They told me to just let it dissipate on its own; however, if I noticed pain, vision changes, or any bad headaches, to come back. I’ve had bad headaches for years, so I kept note but wasn’t really concerned. But then I noticed vision changes. So I went back. Several tests later, they had no idea and referred me to an eye doctor.

Went to the eye doctor, several more tests, no answer, and was referred to an optic specialist. At this point, the vision in my left eye is horribly blurry and looks like I’m underwater when trying to focus on anything. Color vision is off, can’t focus to see clearly. The specialist ran several more tests and found that there was a spot on my optic nerve that was receiving low blood flow with no apparent cause, so he sent me for an MRI.

The results of that showed a tumor on my sphenoid bone. It is pushing on my frontal lobe as well as has some tails, one of which is starting to curl around my optic nerve, one is headed into my sinus cavity, and the other is rooted to my temple. The tumor is a meningioma. These are non-cancerous; it is made up of the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord. So a brain tumor, but it’s on my brain, not in my brain. Which is a good thing for what it is. I have an appointment with a neurologist in Sept to discuss radiation and surgery.

Here is where the important warning comes. This tumor was caused by Depo. I’ve been on Depo for at least 17 years to keep my cystic ovaries in check and pain-free so I can live a normal life. Pfizer put out no warning that Depo could cause meningiomas, but they were aware. Please, please, anyone taking this or have your daughters on it, don’t run it long term no matter if they say it’s safe or not. Because it’s not. There are lawsuits going on right now due to many women around my age discovering brain tumors due to Depo use. If you’ve been on it for any amount of time and you have noticed any symptoms such as ringing in the ears, vision changes, emotional changes, memory issues, heightened anxiety, decision-making issues, anger, decisions that seem to have risky outcomes, severe headaches, please go get an MRI. Because while not cancerous, this tumor is strangling my optic nerve, which could cause me to lose sight in that eye. It also is pushing on my brain, which can cause significant personality changes that I attributed to other things. My ears have been ringing for years, which leads me to believe this tumor has been there for quite some time. If caught early, prognosis is good, and most of the time can be removed without serious damage. The point mine is at, there could be lasting effects even after removal; we just won’t know till we get there. Take care of yourself, listen to your body, and don’t ever let anyone, medical or otherwise, make you brush off things that feel off to you.

I am trying to find some help for my current and expected medical bills. This is going to be a process, and they have already accumulated quickly with more to come. If you can’t donate, please share my story, so many women are being diagnosed with these brain tumors. The more people are made aware, the better chances of helping someone else avoid the issues I am facing now.