"I nearly died after taking £20 'fake' weight loss jabs I found on Facebook"

Jodie Jones, 37, from Eryrys in Wales, had to be rushed to hospital after one of her children called an ambulance after she used the fake weight loss jabs she bought on Facebook

A mum of three nearly lost her life after using what she believes were fake weight loss injections bought for £20 on Facebook. Jodie Jones, 37, was rushed to hospital in a critical condition when one of her children called an ambulance.

She was left unconscious, delirious, and vomiting blood following the use of the jabs. Jodi, from Eryrys in Wales, has revealed that doctors are still puzzled about the contents of the injections, but she is hopeful that further tests will shed light on the matter.

Jodi had gained weight after being prescribed pregabalin, a medication for nerve pain, and despite suffering from degenerative discs in her spine which made exercise difficult, she wanted to slim down from a size 14 to a size 10. After witnessing others lose weight through injections, Jodi contacted a beautician recommended by a friend via Facebook and purchased four injections to be used over a month from a beauty salon in Liverpool.

Initially pleased with the results, Jodi's health took a dire turn. On Good Morning Britain, she shared her ordeal: "I'd gained a fair bit of weight due to being on pregabalin, which is a nerve pain drug and unfortunately one of the biggest side-effects is the weight gain. So I've gained this weight, which causes more pain for me, so I really wanted to do something. I physically can't go to the gym, I tried swimming, I tried gentle walking – the more I do, the more I'm in pain."

In a desperate quest for weight loss, Jodi unfortunately fell victim to what appears to be a counterfeit jab, prompting a severe reaction. She said: "I'd heard about this weight loss jab through a friend, and got in contact with the lady about it and went from there. I thought 'why not give it a go? It sounds really good and everyone is losing weight on it'. I have no idea what was in them. The doctors don't know either. I'm hoping to get them tested."

Recalling the immediate aftermath, she added, "After the first injection, I actually lost half a stone that week. I just felt full all the time, my stomach felt very full, I couldn't eat and I'd have a few bites of food and then be done. I was struggling to keep up with my fluids because I felt so full, I was just overdone.

"It was the second injection a week later that made me very poorly – only about 5-6 hours after taking it. I was vomiting all night and couldn't keep anything down, not even a sip of water."

Her condition quickly deteriorated: "It continued throughout the day. My children had to look after my older two. I started vomiting blood, I was in and out of consciousness, I was delirious and not making much sense. My daughter had to call the ambulance in the early hours of the morning and they took me straight to the hospital where I was given fluids, anti-sickness drugs, fluids – I was just a mess," she said.

Following her treatment at Wrexham Maelor Hospital and her discharge the next day, Jodi has made a firm decision never to use such jabs again, fearing that what she received was a 'fake'. She now cautions others against using these jabs, advising them to consult the NHS before considering such weight loss methods.

"Go to a GP and do it properly through a dietician. If it's something you're really interested in, do not do it through a beautician," she advised. "After my experience, I couldn't even risk it. Why pay for it when you can go through the NHS if you need it that badly? There are some women out there using it who don't even look like they need it. Don't. It's just really not worth it."