See Sunderland designer's incredible weight-loss transformation after battling back from brain condition

Danielle Puttick, 26, was studying at Sunderland University when she began to suffer from an increasing number of migraines in the summer of 2016.

After receiving medical advice, Danielle went for an eye test on October 24, 2016, where opticians found blood at the back of her eye.

She was sent to the Sunderland Eye Infirmary that same day and was told by medics that they believed it was a suspected brain hemorrhage.

Danielle was then transferred to the Royal Victoria Infirmary on October 25 and underwent a CT scan which confirmed it wasn’t a brain hemorrhage.

Instead, doctors diagnosed Danielle with a rare brain condition called Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) on October 26, 2016.

The condition is associated with raised fluid pressure around the brain.

Surgery immediately followed, which saw the brave student undergo a lumbar puncture and had a lumbar stent placed in her back to control the flow of brain fluids.

Danielle said: “I have been big my entire life, but decided I wanted to lose weight when I started my masters degree in design.

“My main motivation was that I wanted a nice photo of myself.

“After I became ill, I was told by doctors that they didn’t know what causes the condition.

“But the doctors said that it might have something to to with weight and said that I needed to lose some as could reverse in the effects of the condition.

“That was the moment what I thought I really have to do this now.

“I joined Slimming World as soon as I was able to walk out of the hospital on crutches.”

Danielle signed up to the Slimming World group at Silksworth Methodist Church in Sunderland in November 2016 and managed to lose 6st 1lb.

Starting out at 18st 3lb and a size 22-20, Danielle – who is 5ft 10.5 inches – is now a size 10 and weighs 12st 2lb.

Official health advice says that sustainable weight loss through healthy eating is a critical part of treatment for people with IIH who are overweight.

Official studies show that weight loss may be sufficient to reduce signs and symptoms of the condition – but Danielle feels that in her case her weight wasn’t linked to the condition.

Since treatment her health has improved, but Danielle says she still suffers from tiredness and migraines.

She said: “Since my diagnosis I have found my condition gets bad if I do a long day – but I don’t believe it has got anything to do with weight.

“When I was doing an internship I found that anxiety and stress were triggers.

“But I had always wanted to lose weight and feel happy that I have finally have.

“Slimming World is like a family and gave me a life.”

And now she is even launching her own Slimming World group on Thursday’s at Ryhope Community Association in January 2020, in the hope of inspiring others with her story.

Danielle said: “I really do love Slimming World.“My condition left me bed bound for a while but I wouldn’t let it beat me.

“I hope my story shows other people that you can do it.”

Diet before:

Breakfast: Nothing.

Lunch: Nothing.

Dinner: Take away, or Greggs and a pizza.

Diet after:

Breakfast: Cereal or a full English.

Lunch: Leftovers from a homemade meal such as butternut squash curry.

Dinner: Burger and chips or a curry – all homemade.

Snacks: Fruit, high fibre bars.