I have IIH (Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension). Bit of a long name for something that basically means there’s too much pressure in my skull for no obvious reason. It can mess with your vision, your brain, and your whole sense of normal.

I didn’t know I had it and I didn’t even think anything was wrong. I had a mild, 24/7 headache that I just lived with. It wasn’t even that painful, just constant. One day I even lost part of my vision for a bit and thought, “eh, maybe I need more sleep.” Spoiler: I needed an emergency lumbar puncture.

I only found out because I randomly booked an eye test for fun (yes, genuinely just for vibes), and they spotted swelling around my optic nerves. That kicked off a chaotic chain of hospital trips, scans, blood tests, lumbar punctures, and a crash course in “your brain shouldn’t be doing that”.

Physically, I’d been living like normal. I wasn’t bedridden or dramatically ill (except after the lumbar puncture), I just didn’t know my body was waving red flags. And that’s the point. Most people with IIH don’t. It’s rarely caught early, because no one tells you that “just a headache” could be something more.

Since being diagnosed, life’s changed. No alcohol, strict weight goals, a future that includes more medical appointments than I’d like. I can’t always do what I used to. There’s a real fear that my eyesight could get worse. But honestly, the biggest impact was mental. It shook my trust in my own body and made me realise how easy it is to ignore symptoms, until you can’t.

So I’m doing something about it. I’m raising money for IIH UK by doing the UK’s highest bungee jump of 300ft. Partly because I like a thrill, and partly because awareness matters. IIH doesn’t always look serious, until it is.

If you can donate, that would honestly mean the world. If not, just sharing this would help too. And if you’ve been meaning to get your eyes checked, consider this your sign.