Motion sickness was the surprising sign I had a deadly brain condition that could kill me at any moment
Share:
A Hertfordshire woman spent most her life battling mysterious symptoms — only to discover, aged 41, that she was born with a rare and disabling brain condition. Charlie Rolstone has long been plagued with 'subtle' health problems, including migraines and severe motion sickness triggered by watching television and looking down at her phone.
![[Ms Rolstone recalled suffering 'blackouts' as a teenager, which she dismissed - but doctors later informed her she'd been experiencing seizures.]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/23/14/93427335-14221161-image-a-21_1734964318241.jpg)
The jewellery business owner 'ignored' the symptoms during her teenage years, believing they were 'quirks' that she'd 'grow out' of. However in September 2021, Ms Rolstone collapsed on her way home from the local pub, prompting her partner to rush her to hospital.
![[Chiari malformations affect around one in 1000 people and they are often only detected in adulthood.]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/23/14/93427327-14221161-image-a-22_1734964356053.jpg)
Doctors ran a plethora of tests and eventually discovered she had what's known as a Chiari malformation — a condition whereby the lower part of the brain pushes down into the spinal canal, causing a host of problems. Chiari malformations are mostly present at birth, and caused by DNA mutations that make the brain too large for the skull.
The condition is thought to affect around one in 1,000 people, with most cases detected in adulthood. The excess pressure on the brain can result in a range of symptoms, including headaches, neck pain, dizziness, hearing loss, swallowing problems, nausea and seizures.
Charlie Rolstone has suffered a series of strange symptoms since childhood, but only got a diagnosis at the age of 41. While the condition itself is not thought to be deadly, the resulting seizures can be life-threatening, as they often occur without warning, risking serious injury.
