NEED TO KNOW
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Ali Eastburn, a 58-year-old mother from Nashville, had been having a tough time losing weight after going through menopause.
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She began using the GLP-1 medication Ozempic because she wanted to look good for her son’s upcoming wedding. However, when her weight loss plateaued, she decided to increase her dosage, which led to her appendix bursting.
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A representative from the manufacturer stated, “Novo Nordisk remains confident in the benefit-risk profile of our GLP-1 medicines, when used consistent with their indications and product labeling.”
Eastburn started taking Ozempic to shed pounds in preparation for her son’s wedding but nearly missed the event after suffering a burst appendix. She attributed this serious health issue to the medication, saying it “almost killed me.”
Having struggled with post-menopausal weight gain for several years, Eastburn shared that her metabolism had drastically changed, and she had tried numerous methods to lose weight.
Previously a size 16, she was particularly anxious about how she would appear in the wedding photos. In April, her doctor recommended the weight-loss drug.
Ozempic and similar medications, like Wegovy and Mounjaro, are known to affect feelings of fullness. Although Ozempic is FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes, it’s gained attention as a way to lose weight.
A spokesperson for Novo Nordisk indicated that the drug has undergone extensive research and has shown significant improvements in health outcomes for those with obesity.
At first, the weight seemed to come off easily for Eastburn. By July, she had lost 15 pounds and felt hopeful about her progress.
However, when her weight loss came to a halt, she felt desperate to achieve her goal. “I didn’t want to regret how I looked in the wedding photos for years to come,” she admitted. So, she increased her dosage, hoping to lose an additional 20 pounds.
There’s no clear indication if she consulted a doctor before making this change. The FDA had previously warned that exceeding the recommended dosage could cause gastrointestinal issues, along with other serious side effects.
After upping her dosage, Eastburn experienced severe nausea and intense heartburn, leading her to feel extremely unwell. While shopping for a wedding dress, she found herself in such distress that she ended up in the emergency room twice from nausea and diarrhea.
Despite her condition, she traveled from Nashville to Orange County, California, for the wedding, but her health deteriorated during the flight. An ambulance took her directly to the hospital where she was diagnosed with a burst appendix.
A burst appendix is a serious medical situation, occurring when the appendix becomes inflamed and can send bacteria into the body, posing significant health risks.
Eastburn spent four days hospitalized and missed her son’s rehearsal dinner. “I just cried, feeling it was my fault for wanting to be thin. It broke my heart,” she reflected, recalling the fear of missing the wedding.
On the wedding day, she made a last-minute appearance, despite being in immense pain, and shared a heartfelt moment with her son, who was visibly emotional upon seeing her.
“We honestly didn’t expect I’d make it to the wedding, let alone be alive to share this story. I didn’t care about my size; I was just grateful to be there,” she expressed, although she admitted that her physical discomfort overshadowed her concerns about her weight.
Eastburn believes the medication is responsible for her health crisis. While some studies suggest a potential link to appendicitis, a direct connection to the medication hasn’t been established.
“I will never put my health at risk again for the sake of losing weight,” she shared. “I urge anyone considering a GLP-1 to think very carefully; it nearly cost me my life. Being thin isn’t worth that.”
