Single Mom Nearly Dies After Taking Knockoff Ozempic She Bought Online

A mother from England is urging others to be careful with weight loss drugs, particularly when purchasing them online. Michelle Sword, 45, had reportedly found success with weight loss medications in the past when they were prescribed by her doctor. The single mother, however, says she purchased a drug online earlier this year, thinking the product was legit, but she soon realized how wrong she was.

In a recent Facebook post, Sword, who lives in Carterton, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom, explained that she got the medication online because it was difficult to procure from a doctor. But with one dose, she reportedly ended up so sick she found herself in an ambulance being rushed to the hospital. Now, she is warning others not to be so reckless.

More from CafeMom: The Surprising Science That Proves Dieting Is Bad for Our Mental Health

Sword wanted to lose a few pounds.

Like many people, she found herself putting on weight that she wanted to lose. She said in her post that she had used weight loss injections successfully and wanted to try them again. In the past, she claimed she “used a reputable medical nurse and was given all the advice I needed and was asked about my medical history, everything went well, I felt good! I lost weight.”

She decided to try again after putting on a few pounds, but the drugs were harder to find, so she turned to an online source.

“I recently wanted to have it again and because it’s now so sought after it was really hard for me to get it. That’s when I made a terrible mistake!” she shared.

It only took one injection of her online purchase to cause a huge problem.

When the injector arrived, Sword didn’t notice anything unusual. In fact, it resembled what she had taken in the past.

“The skinny jab came, It looked a lot like the pen I had previously used! so I gave myself my 1st dose. Within 20 minutes I became Disorientated and confused. Another 10 minutes later I was starting to feel very unwell, Shortly after that my daughter found me slumped on the floor and quickly got help,” she wrote.

Sword’s daughter contacted one of her mother’s friends, who then called an ambulance.

Sword was in grave condition when emergency personnel arrived.

She wrote that it took paramedics 90 minutes to stabilize her after she had a seizure. When doctors finally got Sword’s blood sugar under control, she realized how sick she was.

“Once I was stable the doctors told me that I was lucky to be alive, I had injected myself with 14/16 units of insulin and my blood sugars were 0.6 which is incredibly low and he said many do not survive with sugars so low,” she shared in her Facebook post.

The whole ordeal likely could have been avoided.

Sword admitted that she should have never ordered the medication online and that it is only safe to obtain prescription medication from a doctor.

“I was so upset and so ashamed of myself and my stupidity I wasn’t going to ever publicise what happened to me but I feel If I share my story, it may save someone life! DONT BUY ANYTHING ONLINE There is a reason this drugs are managed and prescribed from someone in the medical industry! It’s to keep you safe and alive,” she wrote on Facebook.

Sword is glad that she shared her story.

Even though she was hesitant at first, Sword said social media has helped her share her story with people who may have never known the dangers of ordering medications online.

“this is really getting the message out there! Keep it going we may save someone else making the same mistake! Just to clarify the pen wasn’t Ozempic it was just insulin someone knew d— well that by injecting it into myself, there was a possibility I will poison myself, that’s attempted manslaughter in my eyes,” she wrote.

She shared terrifying images of the ordeal, and many commenters thanked her for her candidness.

“Gosh that must have given you all such a fright. I hope you are fully recovered. Well done for sharing to help others,” one follower commented. “You shouldn’t feel stupid, at all. So much online fraud and misrepresentation out there, created to target people at there most vulnerable. Stay strong. Much love xx.”