IMPERFIX: Jamila Rizvi on Living with a Brain Tumour
Apr 3, 2024
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Writer and change advocate Jamila Rizvi shares her journey of battling a rare brain tumor, discussing surgeries, complications, and communicating with her son. The podcast explores topics like disordered eating, resilience, coping mechanisms, and the societal perception of mental vs. physical health.
Jamila Rizvi highlights the emotional turmoil of battling a brain tumor and navigating surgeries.
Rizvi shares the enduring struggles post-treatment, including hypothalamic obesity and mental health complexities.
Deep dives
Challenging Battle with a Rare Brain Tumor
The podcast episode recounts Jamila Rizvi's journey battling a rare brain tumor. Rizvi candidly shares the emotional upheaval of discovering her condition, undergoing surgeries to remove the tumor, and grappling with the uncertainty of its recurrence. She vividly describes the intricate procedure of having the tumor removed through nasal surgery, highlighting the physical and mental challenges she faced throughout her treatments.
Adapting to Persistent Health Challenges
Rizvi opens up about the lasting health impacts of her condition, including the complexities of managing hormonal imbalances and chronic pain post-treatment. She reveals the challenges of living with hypothalamic obesity, a condition affecting metabolism and weight regulation, despite striving for body positivity. Rizvi shares her experiences of coping with the daily struggles caused by the absence of cortisol production in her body, leading to adrenal crises and a heightened need for medical vigilance.
Navigating Mental Health Amidst Physical Struggles
The podcast delves into Rizvi's mental health journey intertwined with her physical battles, exploring the profound impact of her health crisis on her psychological well-being. Rizvi reflects on experiencing heightened anxiety and debilitating fear of mortality surrounding her surgeries, shedding light on the nuanced connection between her mental health and physical illness. She emphasizes the vital role of professional support in managing her mental health, underscoring the often overlooked but critical significance of mental well-being in the face of serious health challenges.
In 2018, writer, author & change advocate Jamila Rizvi was met with horrible news. She was diagnosed with a rare brain tumour and needed surgery. In this episode of The Imperfix we revisit Jamila’s story; the tumour and its varied complications, the surgeries and how Jamila and her husband communicated the news to their son.
Jamila is an all round wonderful human being and this is an incredibly moving episode. You can hear the entire chat with Jamila here: https://apple.co/4icJmtx
This episode includes a discussion about disordered eating, if you or someone you love is experiencing disordered eating, we recommend the following organisations:
The Imperfects is not a licensed mental health service and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice, treatment or assessment. The advice given in this episode is general in nature, but if you’re struggling, please see a healthcare professional, or call lifeline on 13 11 14.