need to know
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Richard Plowman experienced unusual muscle spasms after a colleague playfully slapped him on the arm at a wedding reception
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After a few weeks, symptoms including headaches and vomiting worsened, leading to a diagnosis of a brain tumor that required surgery
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Richard urges others to prioritize their own health and seek medical attention for any unusual or ongoing symptoms
A groom’s ‘naughty slap’ on his big day led to a disturbing medical discovery.
Richard Plowman and his wife Victoria Plowman were married on 12 July 2025 in Croydon, London. Richard, 44, was slapped on the right arm by a colleague at the couple’s wedding reception. However, this playful slap gave the man a “tingling” feeling.
“We were having a reception and I was chatting with some friends,” he explained, according to Kennedy News & Media. “I got a playful slap on the arm, which caused my arm muscles to spasm.”
“My arm started twitching and I thought ‘that hurts’ and it just kept twitching but then it stopped,” he added. Since the stinging sensation was gone, Richard saw no reason to worry.
“It was a very hot day and we wondered if it was because I was dehydrated. That didn’t last long,” he explained.
Richard and Victoria, 49, went ahead with their “perfect” wedding and had “the best day of our lives”.
Richard Plowman (left) and Victoria Plowman (right)
Photo Credit: JFK News/Tessa Clements Photography
A few weeks later, Richard suffered another muscle spasm at work. He decided to see a doctor and his blood test results came back normal. However, his convulsions did not stop.
“Spam messages come and go. It’s really weird. Some last a few minutes, some last a few seconds,” he explained.
He was eventually referred to a physiotherapist as his symptoms began to include headaches and vomiting, which he described as “absolutely debilitating” and “pretty scary”. He saw a private neurologist, and that changed everything.
A CT scan revealed Richard had a brain tumor. He is now awaiting surgery.
Richard Plowman
Image source: Kennedy News
“I went to a private clinic to get tested because I couldn’t wait any longer; the headaches were debilitating. I wasn’t eating properly. Whenever I managed to eat, it would come back,” Richard said.
“It’s obviously a bit of a shock because you don’t think about these things,” he added. “They were going to open up my head and take out as much of the tumor as they found and test it to see if it was malignant.”
Due to weakness in his right arm, Richard uses crutches and a wheelchair. He also had to quit his job.
“This was not the start of married life we expected,” he said of Victoria. “We were very pragmatic so we had a little bit of time and now that’s the situation we’re facing. We need to get on with it.”
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He is now urging others to see a doctor if they have any concerns or develop unusual symptoms.
“Anything you’re not sure about, anything, always get it checked out and don’t accept no for an answer. Never take your health for granted,” Richard said.
Read the original article on People
