The story of Breanna
Chiari malformation type , idiopathic intracranial hypertension, Eds, gastroparesis,
All my life I’ve had headaches and pain in my joints. But when I was 12 I had a bad fall that caused blindness and headaches so bad I couldn’t move. So my mom thought I needed glasses, and took me to get my eyes checked. But he found Papilledema in my eyes and sent me to a Neuro ophthalmologist. Then he said I need surgery now because I have pressure on my optic nerve causing my blindness. I went to see a neurosurgeon, and within a month I had a Chiari decompression with a c1 laminectomy. Within three months my whole world had been turned upside down. I became severely depressed and hid that I was sick. But I met people like me, and I started showing it more. I then had a Pseudomeningocele underneath my incision and then had a shunt placed because my IIH decided to show its ugly self. Then I kept getting problem after problem, EDS then POTS then Gastroparesis. I’m turning 18 and still figuring things out. The friends I’ve made have kept me sane and I love them so much. I joined Instagram and followed people like me, who understand what it’s like. Having people who get it and you can rant to, it’s the best thing. Especially when they completely understand.Â