- Joined
- Apr 24, 2004
- Messages
- 6
I found this listed as "Leaked to the press".
Source'I couldn't believe it was my brain fluid'
May 13 2005
By Paul Rhys, South London Press
WHEN Bina Kaundun's nose started running in October she had no reason to believe it was anything more sinister than a bad cold.
Already struck down with pneumonia, it seemed just another irritating symptom of her poor health.
But nothing could prepare her for the shock when, two months later, doctors revealed the liquid streaming from her nostrils was brain fluid.
It is not known exactly how it happened, but doctors believe the fluid - which acts as a cushion to the brain and spinal cord - began "leaking" after the former nursery teacher violently sneezed or coughed.
The 57-year-old from Peckham, found herself housebound because she couldn't risk making the problem worse by catching a cold.
She was also susceptible to brain diseases, raising the spectre of meningitis.
The death of husband Deo two years ago meant she had to rely on her daughter, Rita, 37, and son, Roddy, 25, who live nearby, to help her cope.
She was unable to cook because bending over made the fluid flow harder, and she had to carry a towel around to mop up after herself.
And she was soon hit by depression her pillow would be soaked in just seconds when she tried to sleep.
Her children had to take extra care not to catch a cold for fear of endangering their mother.
Immigration officer Rita said "We had to make sure we wrapped up really warm and didn't catch a cold.
"The leaking of the fluid wasn't just a drip, it would all come out at once."
Mrs Kaundun had keyhole surgery in April, using muscle extracts to build up a wall between her eyes to stop the flow.
She said: "I was very frightened, because they told me the operation could make me blind. But in the end it was a success and only took 45 minutes instead of three hours. I felt better by that evening."
The operation was carried out by David Roberts of Guy's Hospital, Southwark, and filmed for the BBC's City Hospital.
Rita said: "He was really good. He pretended the fluid was gin.
"At the consultations he would always call my mum 'the woman with the gin problem'."