EMMA McDonald was forced to have her gallbladder removed after it started “rotting” when she took Mounjaro.
Despite the horrific ordeal, the 38-year-old mum had “no regrets” after losing 8st and still takes the jab.
Emma resorted to wearing athleisure wear after jumping to a size 22[/caption]
The 38-year-old mum saw the weight drop off when she took fat jabs[/caption]
The context creator from Oxford gained weight after giving birth to her daughter, three in 2021, taking her from 15st and a size 12 to 21st and a size 24.
At the time, she found herself “constantly” grazing.
Her snacks of choice would include bags of crisps, chocolate and biscuits – as well as a Chinese takeaway at the end of the day.
But Emma soon realised she struggled to get into size 22 work trousers – resorting to wearing hoodies and leggings all the time instead.
“That was my wake-up call,” she explained.
After visiting her GP in June 2024, she was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and prescribed 2.5mg Mounjaro for her weight loss and lost 8st within a year.
After one month on the jabs, Emma started to experience episodes of “burning” in her ribs – but put it down to indigestion.
“I used to stand underneath a hot shower until it [the pain] passed,” she explained.
By August 2024, having lost 2st, the burning had progressed to an “excruciating” trapped wind sensation, which left Emma unable to cope.
She drove herself to A&E where an emergency ultrasound revealed she had a “substantially large” gallstone blocking her bile duct – leaving her at risk of sepsis.
She was also diagnosed with a condition called cholecystitis – which meant the gallbladder had become inflamed.
If left untreated, cholecystitis can lead to life-threatening complications like sepsis, gangrene and bowel perforation.
“I was told my gallbladder had gone rotten and Mounjaro was an exacerbating factor,” she said.
Emma was booked in for a total cholecystectomy – a procedure to remove the gallbladder – in October 2024.
Her surgeon encouraged her to stay on Mounjaro so she could go under the anaesthetic.
“I cracked on with the recovery period – it was painful and I had four holes in my stomach,” she said.
After one month on the jabs, Emma started to experience episodes of “burning” in her ribs[/caption]
She drove herself to A&E where an emergency ultrasound revealed she had a “substantially large” gallstone blocking her bile duct[/caption]
She added: “I’m transitioning back into eating more food now – I’ve been finding meat really hard to digest since the operation.”
Despite feeling well now and having no regrets about the jabs, Emma wants to raise awareness of gallbladder issues in women.
Women are two to three times more likely to suffer from cholecystitis than men, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) – with factors like substantial weight loss, birth control, and giving birth contributing.
“I can’t stress enough how much women are at risk of it,” Emma said.
“It was a perfect storm of having PCOS, a massive weight gain after giving birth and using Mounjaro.
“But I don’t have any regrets – Mounjaro has helped me take control of my life.”
Emma is still on the jabs[/caption]
A spokesperson from Eli Lilly who make the jabs said: “Patient safety is Lilly’s top priority.
“We take any reports regarding patient safety extremely seriously and actively monitor, evaluate, and report safety information for all our medicines.
“The Mounjaro (tirzepatide) Patient Information Leaflet warns that gallstones is a common side effect when used for weight management, and an uncommon side effect when used for type 2 diabetes.
“We encourage patients to consult their doctor or other healthcare professional regarding any side effects they may be experiencing and to ensure that they are getting genuine Lilly medicine.”
Everything you need to know about fat jabs
Weight loss jabs are all the rage as studies and patient stories reveal they help people shed flab at almost unbelievable rates, as well as appearing to reduce the risk of serious diseases.
Wegovy – a modified version of type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic – and Mounjaro are the leading weight loss injections used in the UK.
Wegovy, real name semaglutide, has been used on the NHS for years while Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a newer and more powerful addition to the market.
Mounjaro accounts for most private prescriptions for weight loss and is set to join Wegovy as an NHS staple this year.
How do they work?
The jabs work by suppressing your appetite, making you eat less so your body burns fat for energy instead and you lose weight.
They do this my mimicking a hormone called GLP-1, which signals to the brain when the stomach is full, so the drugs are officially called GLP-1 receptor agonists.
They slow down digestion and increase insulin production, lowering blood sugar, which is why they were first developed to treat type 2 diabetes in which patients’ sugar levels are too high.
Can I get them?
NHS prescriptions of weight loss drugs, mainly Wegovy and an older version called Saxenda (chemical name liraglutide), are controlled through specialist weight loss clinics.
Typically a patient will have to have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, classifying them as medically obese, and also have a weight-related health condition such as high blood pressure.
GPs generally do not prescribe the drugs for weight loss.
Private prescribers offer the jabs, most commonly Mounjaro, to anyone who is obese (BMI of 30+) or overweight (BMI 25-30) with a weight-related health risk.
Private pharmacies have been rapped for handing them out too easily and video calls or face-to-face appointments are now mandatory to check a patient is being truthful about their size and health.
Are there any risks?
Yes – side effects are common but most are relatively mild.
Around half of people taking the drug experience gut issues, including sickness, bloating, acid reflux, constipation and diarrhoea.
Dr Sarah Jarvis, GP and clinical consultant at patient.info, said: “One of the more uncommon side effects is severe acute pancreatitis, which is extremely painful and happens to one in 500 people.”
Other uncommon side effects include altered taste, kidney problems, allergic reactions, gallbladder problems and hypoglycemia.
Evidence has so far been inconclusive about whether the injections are damaging to patients’ mental health.
Figures obtained by The Sun show that, up to January 2025, 85 patient deaths in the UK were suspected to be linked to the medicines.
