The East Kilbride mum had been diagnosed at 20 with a condition called Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH), where the body overproduces fluid round the brain and creates pressure on the optic nerves, which causes severe headaches, fatigue, dizziness and visual problems.
She was forced to abandon her education, spent periods in hospital and was in agony. At its worst, her IIH was beginning to cause vision loss.
Years of excruciating lumbar punctures and operations failed to ease the pain and Jenna felt like an old woman.
“I actually forgot I was in my twenties,” said Jenna, 27.
“I was immobile and in so much pain that I felt I was in my eighties.”
Having battled with the scales over the years, and aware of the link between IIH and weight, Jenna joined Scottish Slimmers, lost an incredible six stones and won the Health and Happiness title at the organisation’s awards night in February.
Jenna’s health improved so much she recently married long-term partner David, started a full-time job and is preparing to go on honeymoon to Rhodes in May.
“It was after my seventh operation, where a replacement shunt in my head caused a bleed on my brain, that I decided I couldn’t take anymore.
“It was my lowest point and I was struggling to cope. I was told I needed to have a gastric band fitted, which I didn’t want, so I went back to Scottish Slimmers.”
She first joined the group in 2006 when she was 18, but when she became pregnant with son Leo, now three, the IIH symptoms worsened and her weight crept back up, peaking at 16-and-a-half stone.
“A combination of the weight gain and hormones meant I spent most of my pregnancy in bed because of the severe headaches and dizziness,” Jenna said, “I was diagnosed with IIH in 2009, but I had felt ill for a long time before that.
“I had headaches, fatigue, dizziness – but those were symptoms that could be related to just about anything.
“It forced me out of my second year of HND contemporary art and I was being sent for MRIs, because the symptoms are the same as a brain tumour.
“It was only when I went to the opticians that IIH was discovered. They spotted some swelling and I was sent to Hairmyres Hospital and then on to the Southern General in Glasgow.”
When Leo was a year old, Jenna’s condition became really bad.
“I had blurred vision and the sight in my right eye would black out completely. It was terrifying.”
She had a number of shunts fitted but due to complications they had to be removed or replaced, culminating in the one that led to the bleed on her brain.
“I was determined not to have more surgery when I joined Scottish Slimmers.
“It took a while to get better and I still have symptoms like bad headaches. I also have blind spots that can’t be fixed and my peripheral vision isn’t great.
“I lost everything because I was so ill but now life is much better.
“I feel like a new person.”
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