Woman dismissed her soaked pillow and runny nose as sinus trouble — until a scan revealed a leak that shocked medical staff
Some medical conditions can have overlapping symptoms, causing people to overlook the real cause. A Threads user named Rasheedah, who goes by @rasheedah__, shared a post on Monday, July 27, 2026, about one such harrowing experience. Back in 2023, the woman found her pillow soaked after a night's sleep. Her nose was runny, and she immediately assumed she had a sinus problem. After a few months, she visited a doctor, only to be referred to an ENT specialist, where she uncovered an unbelievable diagnosis. Even years later, the aftereffects still impact her health and daily functioning.
Rasheedah was too busy to make an appointment and see a doctor for what she believed was a cold. But nearly six months later, she couldn’t take it anymore and went to the hospital. She was urged to see an ENT specialist. When they took her in without a prior appointment, she knew it was something serious. There, she was told it wasn’t just a runny nose but a cerebrospinal fluid leak. After getting an MRI, it was revealed that she had a crack in her skull, causing the leak. Medical staff was shocked by the diagnosis, even asking how she had managed for so many months. Yet, that was only the start of what would be a life-changing recovery journey.
She consulted a neurosurgeon, who told her she had idiopathic intracranial hypertension, a condition in which pressure inside the skull forced the cerebrospinal fluid out. She had to undergo several tests and take medication before getting the green light for surgery. In the meantime, her symptoms worsened, including headaches, seizures, and other complications.
The procedure was later performed, repairing her skull, repositioning her brain, and clearing the fluid from other affected areas. What followed were weeks of follow-up appointments with the ENT specialist. The story still didn’t end. Rasheedah developed complications with blood flow after the first surgery, requiring two additional procedures.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) was formerly known as pseudotumor cerebri, or false brain tumor, because its symptoms resemble those of a brain tumor. Common symptoms include headaches, nausea, and ringing in the ears. Around 0.2 to 2 out of every 100,000 people are diagnosed with the condition. Although medication and surgery are available treatments, recovery can be difficult.
Years later, Rasheedah is still on her healing journey. She continues to experience headaches and dizziness, and needs extra sleep and ongoing care. She admitted that the entire ordeal left her and her family, including her children, traumatized. “When I walk out of my house, I look normal, but I’m not okay. I’m living with a condition that’s idiopathic, which means no known or obvious cause,” she remarked.
You can follow @rasheedah___ on Threads for more content on lifestyle and health.