San Jose Martial Arts Instructor’s Shares Story on TikTok of Skull Removal Due to a Sinus Infections: Unusual Symptoms Not to Overlook

Multiple sinus infections led to a life-altering situation for San Jose martial arts instructor, Natasha Gunther Santana, 26, who had to undergo a craniotomy to remove half of her skull following the spread of infection to her brain. The healthy mom had experienced five sinus infections in 2021 that were previously treatable with antibiotics. However, the persistent symptoms of vomiting, severe migraines, and uncharacteristic mood changes suggested the medication was no longer effective for the most recent infection.

@natasha_santana97 This is the story on how I lost half my skull 😌 (don’t worry I’ll get it back soon) #tbi #traumaticbraininjury #brainsurgery #braininjury #sinusinfection #sinussurgery #sinuses #brain #craniotomy #craniectomy #skullremoval #stanford #speechtherapy #hospitallife #skull #badluck #viral #fyp #surgery #surgerycheck #surgeryrecovery #tbisurvivor #tbiawareness #fyp ♬ original sound – Natasha Alyena Santana

It was discovered that Santana had a mutated gene that impeded the production of a protein responsible for initiating an immune response to foreign invaders, according to the Daily Mail. Consequently, the inability of antibiotics to fight the infection led to its spread to her brain, requiring the removal of a large part of her skull. Following the craniotomy in December 2021, Santana faced various post-surgery challenges, including a seizure, deep vein thrombosis, and the need to learn how to walk and talk again through intense therapy. After several months of recovery, Santana finally returned to teaching martial arts.

Sharing her story on TikTok, Santana warned others with recurrent sinus infections to seek medical help from an ENT (ear, nose, and throat) specialist, rather than relying solely on primary care doctors. By consulting an ENT, individuals may be able to better address sinus infections before they lead to life-threatening complications, such as Santana’s ordeal.

The development of a brain abscess following persistent sinus infections has been linked to the body’s ability to adapt to certain antibiotic medications. Frequent antibiotic use may cause the infection to become resistant to the medication, leading to chronic or recurrent sinus infections. If left untreated, the infection may affect the thin bones separating the sinuses from the brain, eventually entering the brain and causing tissue inflammation that requires urgent surgical removal.

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