A father-of-two who believed his crippling headaches were just a bad hangover was shocked to discover he actually had a life-threatening brain condition.
John Doe, 42, initially dismissed his symptoms as the aftermath of a night out. But when the pain persisted and intensified, he knew something was seriously wrong.
"I thought it was just a brutal hangover," he admitted. "But the pain kept getting worse, and I started vomiting uncontrollably. That’s when I realised it wasn’t normal."
Rushed to Hospital
After collapsing at home, John was rushed to hospital where scans revealed a dangerous build-up of fluid on his brain. Doctors diagnosed him with hydrocephalus, a condition that can be fatal if left untreated.
"The pressure in my skull was immense," John recalled. "The doctors told me I needed emergency surgery to relieve it—otherwise, I might not have survived."
Miraculous Recovery
Following a successful operation to drain the excess fluid, John is now on the road to recovery. He’s urging others not to ignore persistent headaches, no matter how harmless they may seem.
"I was lucky," he said. "If I’d waited any longer, the outcome could have been devastating. Always get checked if something feels off."
Hydrocephalus affects thousands in the UK each year, with symptoms often mistaken for less serious conditions like migraines or, in John’s case, a hangover.
