• About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Cookie policy (EU)
  • Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • Video
  • Write for us
Today Headline
  • HOME
  • NEWS
    • POLITICS
    • News for today
    • Borisov news
  • FINANCE
    • Business
    • Insurance
  • Video
  • TECHNOLOGY
  • ENTERPRISE
  • LIFESTYLE
    • TRAVEL
    • HEALTH
    • ENTERTAINMENT
  • AUTOMOTIVE
  • SPORTS
  • Travel and Tourism
  • HOME
  • NEWS
    • POLITICS
    • News for today
    • Borisov news
  • FINANCE
    • Business
    • Insurance
  • Video
  • TECHNOLOGY
  • ENTERPRISE
  • LIFESTYLE
    • TRAVEL
    • HEALTH
    • ENTERTAINMENT
  • AUTOMOTIVE
  • SPORTS
  • Travel and Tourism
No Result
View All Result
TodayHeadline
No Result
View All Result

Martial arts instructor, 25, lost half her SKULL after sinus infection spread to her brain

March 29, 2022
in Health
0
Martial arts instructor, 25, lost half her SKULL after sinus infection spread to her brain
0
SHARES
6
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter


A martial arts instructor has been left with half a skull after a sinus infection spread around her brain.

Natasha Gunther, of San Francisco, was forced to have surgery to remove 5.5inches of bone (14cm) to stop a mass pressing against her brain. She claimed doctors told her she would be dead in a week without the surgery.

The 25-year-old is now urging people not to write off their cold-like symptoms as just a mild infection, and to see a specialist if they do not get better.

Ms Gunther’s life-changing ordeal began in late 2021, when she wrote off her stuffy nose and blocked sinuses as just another infection.

The judo black belt was used to regularly getting ill from working with children, who she teaches martial arts to. But she became concerned when her condition did not improve, despite being given antibiotics from her doctor.

By December, Ms Gunther, who must now wear a helmet to protect her brain, was vomiting and suffering migraines, which prompted her family to pressure her to get a brain scan.

It revealed a mass inside her skull, which forced doctors to cut out part of the bone on the right side of her head to relieve pressure on the brain.

Ms Gunther pictured following surgery to remove a section of her skull

When she caught her sixth sinus infection in a year in late 2021 she thought nothing of it and got antibiotics to clear it. But it only got worse. When she went for scans, doctors discovered it had spread into her head. A section of her skull was removed (pictured after surgery) likely to relieve pressure on the brain which can be fatal

Natasha Gunther, 25 (pictured before the operation), was used to regularly catching coughs and colds from working with children

Natasha Gunther, 25 (pictured before the operation), was used to regularly catching coughs and colds from working with children

Ms Gunther pictured before the operation

The removed 14cm (5.5inch) area of her skull is now in a freezer, and doctors are planning to try and put it back in next month

The removed 14cm (5.5inch) area of her skull is now in a freezer, and doctors are planning to try and put it back in next month. If this fails, they will insert a 3D-printed piece of metal to replace the bone

Ms Gunther remained in hospital for five weeks after surgery and had to learn how to speak again.

She will not be able to do some martial arts moves such as grappling — where you grip or seize your opponent — ever again.

The removed bone is being stored in a freezer, and Ms Gunther hopes to undergo an operation to refit it to her skull next month.

What is a sinus infection? What are the treatments?

A sinus infection is when the small air sacs in bones around the nose become infected.

It is usually triggered by a virus, but can in some cases be due to a bacteria.

Symptoms include pain, swelling and tenderness around the cheeks, a blocked nose and a high temperature.

They normally clear up on their own in about two to three weeks.

In more serious cases where someone is not getting better doctors may prescribe antibiotics to help clear the infection.

In rare cases, it can spread into the soft tissue around the eye, bones in the face and into or around the brain — leaving someone needing urgent medical care.

Source: NHS

Sinusitis — the medical name for a sinus infection — usually clears up on its own within two weeks.

But if symptoms do not improve, doctors may prescribe antibiotics to help clear the infection.

In rare cases, it can spread into the soft tissue around the eye, bones in the face and into or around the brain.

The sinuses are small, air-filled cavities behind your cheekbones and forehead.

It is unclear how the mass inside her skull formed from the infection.

Ms Gunther posted about her infection on TikTok, alongside pictures showing herself before and after surgery.

She revealed that she came down with her ‘fifth or sixth’ sinus infection late in 2021.

Scans on December 12 revealed that the infection had spread to her brain.

That same evening doctors rushed her for a craniotomy — where a small area of the skull is removed and replaced so that doctors can check the infected area.

But she was then booked in for a full craniectomy on December 23 to have the right side of her skull removed.

This may be done to relieve pressure on the brain, which can press it onto the stem leading to permanent damage or death, or to remove pus-filled abscesses that build up due to infection.

Ms Gunther said: ‘I usually suffered from one sinus infection per year but last year, I got more that that.

‘As most people who get sinus infections will know, you don’t think anything of them and neither did my usual doctor. I teach martial arts to kids so I’m used to getting colds.

‘Surgeons told me I would have been dead within a week if I hadn’t gone to the hospital when I did.

‘If you have more than one sinus infection per year or even just a sinus infection, please go to the hospital or the ENT [Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic in the US] just to be safe.

Ms Gunther must now wear a helmet to protect her brain as part of the skull is missing. She has an operation next month to reinsert it

Ms Gunther must now wear a helmet to protect her brain as part of the skull is missing. She has an operation next month to reinsert it

Ms Gunther pictured on a beach

Ms Gunther pictured above before the surgery on the beach

Ms Adsett pictured before the surgery practicing a martial arts move in the mountains

Ms Adsett pictured before the surgery practicing a martial arts move in the mountains

Ms Gunther pictured with her boyfriend Joao who is also a martial arts instructor

Ms Gunther pictured with her boyfriend Joao who is also a martial arts instructor

‘Please just don’t rely on your primary doctor [GP in the UK] because it could be serious.’

Speaking about her life after the surgery, Ms Gunther said: ‘My life is very different to what it used to be.

‘I used to have a busy life teaching martial arts and hanging out friends every day — like any person in their twenties.

‘When I came out of surgery, I struggled to talk so I’ve been having regular speech therapy since then.

‘My boyfriend Joao — who is also a martial arts instructor — has been doing a lot psychical therapy so I can get my energy back in my body.

‘But there are some martial arts moves like grappling that will be too risky for me to every do again.’

Tags: artsBraininfectioninstructorLostMartialSinusskullspread
Previous Post

‘Another wave of Russian disinformation’: Russian billionaire reportedly poisoned

Next Post

5 of the Best Films to Watch After You’ve Seen CODA

Related Posts

CMS turning attention to hospitals with Covid outbreaks
Health

CMS turning attention to hospitals with Covid outbreaks

“We have really pivoted to...

Read more
Pina coladas contain as much sugar as EIGHT Krispy Kreme glazed doughnuts
Health

Pina coladas contain as much sugar as EIGHT Krispy Kreme glazed doughnuts

Just one glass of pina...

Read more
What to Look for When Choosing One
Health

‘One Day, You Feel Fantastic, Next Day, You Can’t Move’

Sydney Evans had just returned...

Read more
New research questions previous link between diabetes drugs and bone fractures
Health

New research questions previous link between diabetes drugs and bone fractures

Graphical abstract: Journal of the...

Read more
11 Best Standup Paddleboards of 2022
Health

11 Best Standup Paddleboards of 2022

The sun’s out, the weather’s...

Read more
Load More
Next Post
5 of the Best Films to Watch After You’ve Seen CODA

5 of the Best Films to Watch After You’ve Seen CODA

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Sex/Life fans notice a HUGE editing fail in Adam Demos’ nude shower scene –

Sex/Life fans notice a HUGE editing fail in Adam Demos’ nude shower scene –

Six times actors really romped in sex scenes that make 365 DNI look tame

Six times actors really romped in sex scenes that make 365 DNI look tame

Gervonta Davis vs Rolando Romero: Weigh-in Results, Odds & Live Stream

Gervonta Davis vs Rolando Romero: Weigh-in Results, Odds & Live Stream

Horror as goat gives birth to ‘humanoid kid’ with baby-like face

Sunrise Birthdays (5/27) – Crossroads Today

Sunrise Birthdays (5/27) – Crossroads Today

Computer scientists suggest research integrity could be at risk due to AI generated imagery

Computer scientists suggest research integrity could be at risk due to AI generated imagery

CMS turning attention to hospitals with Covid outbreaks

CMS turning attention to hospitals with Covid outbreaks

Final turn decides epic Stage 19 in Giro D’Italia

Final turn decides epic Stage 19 in Giro D’Italia

About Us

Todayheadline the independent news and topics discovery
A home-grown and independent news and topic aggregation . displays breaking news linking to news websites all around the world.

Follow Us

Latest News

Sunrise Birthdays (5/27) – Crossroads Today

Sunrise Birthdays (5/27) – Crossroads Today

Computer scientists suggest research integrity could be at risk due to AI generated imagery

Computer scientists suggest research integrity could be at risk due to AI generated imagery

Sunrise Birthdays (5/27) – Crossroads Today

Sunrise Birthdays (5/27) – Crossroads Today

Computer scientists suggest research integrity could be at risk due to AI generated imagery

Computer scientists suggest research integrity could be at risk due to AI generated imagery

CMS turning attention to hospitals with Covid outbreaks

CMS turning attention to hospitals with Covid outbreaks

  • Real Estate
  • Education
  • Parenting
  • Cooking
  • Travel and Tourism
  • Home & Garden
  • Pets
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact
  • About

© 2021 All rights are reserved Todayheadline

No Result
View All Result
  • Real Estate
  • Education
  • Parenting
  • Cooking
  • Travel and Tourism
  • Home & Garden
  • Pets
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact
  • About

© 2021 All rights are reserved Todayheadline

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

Posting....