My brain ‘slips’ into my spine & causes me to collapse 20 times a DAY – I’m in so much agony I want to rip my head off
A WOMAN with a rare brain condition that causes her to collapse 20 times a day says the pain is so bad she wants to "rip her head off".
Jennifer Sullivan, 35, from London was diagnosed with Chiari malformation in 2012 - after a two-year battle to diagnose her unusual symptoms.
Her medical troubles started when she collapsed on her stairwell in 2010 and began suffering extreme pain.
She told : "I used to grab my skin, as I wanted to rip my head off."
Jennifer, who lives in Dulwich, began randomly passing out more frequently - at one stage up to 20 times a day.
In some cases, she would be temporarily left without sight or hearing.
She feared she would be wheelchair-bound for the rest of her life after losing all feeling from her chest down.
Sometimes the pain would be so bad it felt like someone was "squeezing" her brain.
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She said: “I was passed on to every hospital around London, but no one could diagnose me.
“It was terrifying that no one could find what was wrong."
She added: "I honestly wanted to die, as I felt so alone."
A breakthrough only came when her MRI scans were sent to a friend's dad.
The dad, a neurologist, helped identify Chiari malformation which was causing the lower part of her brain to be pushed into her spinal canal.
But putting a name to her symptoms was only the beginning.
She has since undergone three brain surgeries as part of her recovery.
SUCCESS STORY
Jennifer began having reflexology massages and found them the most helpful in being able to restore movement.
Jennifer said: “Learning about reflexology and removing toxins in my life have allowed me to find some normalcy, and that’s why I’m not in a wheelchair like the consultants said I would be.
“I want to raise awareness of this condition, so it’s less of a lonely process for other people."
