Woman makes horrific discovery after noticing her smile changing in old photos
Niamh Shackleton
Featured Image Credit: 9News/Handout
While looking at old photographs leaves most people feeling nostalgic, this woman was left feeling concerned.
Shari Dawson was reminiscing about a trip she'd taken to Europe with a friend at the age of 21 and, while looking at a selfie the pair took at the time, she realised something.
Of course, our appearances will change as we get older, but Shari, now 32, felt her smile looked very different to how it once did.
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And as time went on, she went on notice other changes to her face that were sparking concern.
"I always used to have quite a normal bite, but I noticed my bottom and top teeth had started touching when I would close my mouth," Shari, from Melbourne, Australia, told 9News.
"I thought, 'This is really strange, I've never been able to do that before'."
Shari also noticed changes to her eyes and nose.
Strangely, Shari's feet were also growing and she kept having to go up a shoe size over the period of a few years.
As the physical changes were so gradual, none of Shari's friends and family really noticed them - but she became increasingly more concerned when she developed debilitating migraines.
She recalled: "Every other week, I would have a migraine that would knock me out for a few days."
On some occasions, Shari had to take a week off work as she was in so much pain she couldn't even open her eyes.
In March 2020, the migraines got so bad that she took herself to the emergency room.
On the first visit, Shari was sent home as doctors said it was just a bad migraine she was experiencing, but when she was still in agony two days later, Shari decided to go back.
This time round she underwent more tests, and doctors discovered she had a tumour in the pituitary gland in her brain that had been growing for several years.
The tumor was found to be bleeding, so Shari was rushed into emergency surgery where doctors were able to remove most of the tumor.
As a result of the tumor, Shari was also diagnosed with acromegaly. This can cause abnormal growth of the hands, feet, and face, caused by overproduction of growth hormone by the pituitary gland.
According 9News, the condition is only thought to affect anywhere between 715 and 3500 Australians, and is often misdiagnosed.
Early acromegaly symptoms can include migraine, vomiting, enlarged hands and feet, gaps in between the teeth, a pronounced jawline, thickened skin, and a deepening of the voice.
While doctors were able to remove most of the tumor, Shari later found out there was a residual tumor in an area that was inoperable so she was put on medication.
In the wake of such conditions often going misdiagnosed, Shari has shared her story to raise awareness.
She's also since become the general manager of the Australian Pituitary Foundation.
Here's to wishing Shari a full recovery!