What started as a desperate attempt to feel seen and taken seriously by doctors turned into a life-threatening ordeal for Aimee Chapman, a 34-year-old woman from Southampton, England. Today, she’s sharing her story in hopes of preventing others from making the same mistake.
Aimee had long struggled with fibromyalgia, a chronic condition that left her in constant pain and often feeling dismissed by healthcare providers. In March 2024, desperate to take control of her health and to be taken more seriously by doctors, she turned to weight-loss injectables she found online.
“I just wanted to feel better and be heard,” Aimee said. “I thought if I lost the weight, maybe the doctors would finally see me.”
And at first, it seemed to work. In just four months, Aimee lost nearly 60 pounds. But the rapid weight loss came at a devastating cost.
“I couldn’t eat, I could barely walk,” she recalled. “I was only eating a couple of times a week. I kept collapsing. I was throwing up all the time — sometimes blood — and I convinced myself it was just a virus.”
As her symptoms worsened, Aimee began fainting. One evening, her husband came home to find her unconscious in the hallway. But it wasn’t until she experienced severe chest pains that she finally went to the hospital.
There, doctors made a shocking discovery: Aimee had developed a hole in her esophagus, likely caused by intense vomiting. She was also showing signs of liver failure. The medical team immediately admitted her to the ICU.
“I was terrified,” she said. “They told me I might need a new liver. They told me I could die. It all happened so fast.”
Fortunately, Aimee’s condition stabilized after two weeks in the hospital, and she was discharged without needing a transplant. But the damage didn’t end there. In September, she began losing her hair in handfuls—likely a result of the vitamin deficiencies caused by the injectables and rapid weight loss.
“My hair was such a big part of my identity,” she shared. “Watching it fall out was heartbreaking. But I kept telling myself, ‘It’s just hair. It’ll grow back.’”
Aimee’s story comes as more people turn to injectable weight-loss medications, including counterfeit versions widely available online. Others, like Big Brother UK star Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace, have also spoken out after experiencing severe reactions to fake injectables.
Now, Aimee is using her voice to warn others.
“If you’re thinking about trying weight-loss injections, please don’t buy them online,” she said. “Go through your doctor. They can monitor your health, do blood tests, and make sure you’re safe. What happened to me isn’t worth the risk.”
Her journey is a powerful reminder that health isn’t just about appearance—it’s about safety, self-care, and knowing when to ask for help from professionals you can trust.
