Botox Injury Stories

Lauren joins us from the UK for episode 31 of the Botox Injury Stories podcast. She received a small amount of cosmetic Botox in her forehead and 11 lines for the first time in 2021. Immediately afterwards, she became fatigued and laid down to rest. This evolved into severe and persistent migraines and blurry vision for many months, in addition to all of the systemic autonomic nervous system disruption symptoms. Her intuition knew it was the Botox, but like so many of us she was gaslit and mostly ignored by her injector and many doctors. Lauren is a single mom, and somehow navigated this nightmare with minimal support from family and friends. In this episode we talk about how her symptoms unfolded, how her injector (and almost every other doctor) gaslit and ignored her, and how she is managing her symptoms today, more than 5 years out.Visit ⁠www.botoxtruths.com⁠ for more information.Follow us on Instagram @botoxinjurystories and @botoxtruths

Joelle joins us for episode 30 of the Botox Injury Stories podcast. After her 5th round of cosmetic Botox, she suffered botulism symptoms including blurry vision, migraines, heart palpitations/panic episodes, and cognitive deficits. These evolved into MCAS within a month after poisoning. She did seek care at the emergency room, and even though the doctors acknowledged her symptoms were from Botox, they told her they couldn't help her because she was too far out for the antitoxin. Later, her injector tried to have her sign an NDA to never talk about her injury for a sum of $2,000. Joelle declined.In this episode we talk about how her symptoms unfolded, how she sought care from doctor after doctor, and how she finally sought out an alternative healing modality called AAT, which cleared up her chemical and food sensitivities.Learn more about AAT here: Home - Advanced Allergy TherapeuticsVisit ⁠www.botoxtruths.com⁠ for more information.Follow us on Instagram @botoxinjurystories and @botoxtruths

Amanda joins us for episode 29 of the Botox Injury Stories podcast. She received 33 units of Botox on her 45th birthday, and suffered horrific adverse effects, including paralyzed bowels and MCAS.In this episode we talk about how her symptoms unfolded, how her injector blocked her when she reached out for help, and how she is managing her symptoms today, almost 3 years out.Visit ⁠www.botoxtruths.com⁠ for more information.Follow us on Instagram @botoxinjurystories and @botoxtruths

Tiffany joins us for episode 28 of the Botox Injury Stories podcast. She had been receiving botulinum toxin injections for 15 years before developing full blown botulism and MCAS symptoms. In this episode we talk about how her symptoms unfolded, a tried (and failed) immune system injection, and the ripple effects this illness has had on her career and family life. Tiffany is almost a year out from her injections, and while she is doing much better, she still suffers from MCAS, which has significantly altered what she can eat and be exposed to.Visit ⁠www.botoxtruths.com⁠ for more information.Follow us on Instagram @botoxinjurystories and @botoxtruths

Brittany joins us for episode 27 of the Botox Injury Stories podcast. She developed serious neurological symptoms after receiving Dysport cosmetically for the first time. She was given about 70 units, and what followed was months of symptoms including severe anxiety and panic, muscle weakness, joint pain, and more. Like so many people who experience these reactions, the physical symptoms were only one part of the story. The mental and emotional toll of this illness was enormous.In this episode we talk about how the experience affected every part of her life, including the ripple effects it had on her family. At one point, Brittany’s husband even lost a significant amount of weight simply from the stress of supporting her through such a frightening and uncertain time.The good news is that Brittany is now about 20 months out from her injections, and she is doing much better. She talks about the changes she made to her diet, and how she used nervous system regulation modalities to help heal. Visit ⁠www.botoxtruths.com⁠ for more information.Follow us on Instagram @botoxinjurystories and @botoxtruths

Bridget joins us for episode 26 of the Botox Injury Stories podcast. Bridget had been doing Botox for 10 years, and looking back, she had been experiencing subtle signs of nervous system disruption like nerve pain and chronic inflammation, but at the time she never connected those symptoms to the injections.It wasn’t until she began receiving masseter Botox for jaw pain that her symptoms escalated dramatically. After her final appointment, where she received injections across her full face both cosmetically and for TMJ, Bridget developed botulism symptoms.She experienced severe nerve pain throughout her entire body, along with significant muscle weakness in her legs, symptoms that completely changed the course of her health and daily life.In this conversation, Bridget shares her story and also discusses some of the healing modalities she explored early in her recovery, including things like peptides, sauna therapy, and coffee enemas. Interestingly, coffee enemas were mentioned in Dr. Hristova’s research as practices that certain patients have reported trying during early recovery.I am not personally recommending any of these treatments, and they are not approaches I would personally choose, as I tend to be fairly risk-averse when it comes to experimental therapies. However, I strongly believe that people should be allowed to share their full medical journeys and experiences, and that open conversations are important when we’re trying to understand a condition that is still poorly recognized.Visit ⁠www.botoxtruths.com⁠ for more information.Follow us on Instagram @botoxinjurystories and @botoxtruths

Jessica joins us for episode 25 of the Botox Injury Stories podcast. Jessica is a former nurse injector who began experiencing serious neurological symptoms while she was still actively injecting patients. She struggled with breathing issues, brain fog, racing heart, panic attacks, memory problems, and overwhelming fatigue after injections, but of course she didn’t put two and two together at first, because she hadn’t been trained to recognize these as symptoms of toxin spread.It took months for her to connect the dots. And when she did, she made a life-changing decision: she stopped injecting altogether.It takes real courage and moral character to reflect on this experience, and I’m so grateful Jessica was willing to come on the show.Visit ⁠www.botoxtruths.com⁠ for more information.Follow us on Instagram @botoxinjurystories and @botoxtruths

Heidi joins us for episode 24 of the Botox Injury Stories podcast. Heidi is an aesthetician who actually owns an aesthetics academy; Botox was a part of her normal life until she was injured by routine cosmetic injections administered by a plastic surgeon.Shortly after her injections, Heidi began experiencing severe botulism symptoms that many of us in this community know all too well. She even began bleeding immediately after the injection and was later gaslit when she sought help at the ER.Heidi is now eight years out from her injury. While she’s doing much better today, she still lives with lingering symptoms and has experienced relapses along the way. Her story offers a powerful perspective- especially coming from someone inside the aesthetics field itself.Visit ⁠www.botoxtruths.com⁠ for more information.Follow us on Instagram @botoxinjurystories and @botoxtruths

Allison joins us for episode 23 of the Botox Injury Stories podcast.After receiving migraine Botox for the very first time, Allison developed over 50 adverse effects consistent with botulinum toxin poisoning. She sought help in the emergency room, only to be told they ‘didn’t have’ antitoxin. Later, her primary care physician abandoned her as a patient altogether.Allison’s symptoms were extensive and terrifying: a burning sensation along her spine, neuropathy, heart complications, curvature of her spine, and serious lung and liver issues. Allison is now years out from her injections. While some of her symptoms have improved with time, she continues to live with chronic pain and lingering health issues that have permanently altered her life.Thank you for being brave and willing to share your story, Allison.Visit ⁠www.iatrogenicbotulism.com⁠ for more information.Follow us on Instagram @botoxinjurystories and @botoxtruths

Tracy joins us for episode 22 of the Botox Injury Stories podcast. After cosmetic Jeuveau injections and a top-off a few weeks later, she experienced vision impairments, tingling and numbness throughout her body, anxiety / fight-or-flight feelings, and she also developed MCAS.Her battle to be believed by medical professionals and seek help is one that is familiar to most of us.This episode is an important reminder that top offs are ALWAYS dangerous, and should never be performed, even by licensed/experienced injectors. Please educate anyone you know who is still doing Botox about this topic.Visit ⁠www.iatrogenicbotulism.com⁠ for more information.Follow us on Instagram @botoxinjurystories and @botoxtruths

Bridgette joins us from Canada for episode 21 of the Botox Injury Stories podcast. After masseter Botox, she experienced anxiety and some difficulty swallowing, and while those symptoms resolved within a few months, she was left with symptoms that were even worse.The weakness caused by the Botox injections altered the balance of her jaw, and what followed was severe TMJ pain- pain she had never experienced before Botox. Essentially by weakening the muscles that were injected, everything around those muscles destabilized. Now she is left with a new, chronic problem that she’s still dealing with almost a year later. This episode is an important reminder that Botox injuries aren’t always dramatic or immediate—and that long-term mechanical fallout is often overlooked, minimized, or ignored entirely.Visit ⁠www.iatrogenicbotulism.com⁠ for more information.Follow us on Instagram @botoxinjurystories and @botoxtruths

Anna joins us from Germany for episode 20 of the Botox Injury Stories podcast. She discusses how she developed symptoms of botulism poisoning after receiving Botox in her masseters. Her symptoms included severe anxiety, muscle weakness, blurry vision, cognitive impairment, and more. Like so many of us, her injector told her that her symptoms had nothing to do with the Botox injections. Thankfully, she found the Botox Side Effects support group on Facebook and began to learn more about injuries resulting from these injections.Her boyfriend is a nurse, and supported her through her journey of trying to get answers from medical professionals.Visit ⁠www.iatrogenicbotulism.com⁠ for more information.Follow us on Instagram @botoxinjurystories and @botoxtruths

Kelly joins us for episode 19 of the Botox Injury Stories podcast. She discusses how after just 16 units of Botox administered by a "top injector" in Southern California, she developed symptoms of severe botulism poisoning, including muscle weakness, difficulty breathing, and more. Her injector told her he'd "never heard of her symptoms", and dismissed them as a result of the Covid vaccine.Kelly lived through hell on earth, but thankfully at almost 4 years out, has regained a lot of functioning and is beginning to feel more and more back to her old self. Last year, she was able to go on her first vacation since her poisoning.Her story gives hope to everyone suffering from these injections.Visit ⁠www.iatrogenicbotulism.com⁠ for more information.Follow us on Instagram @botoxinjurystories and @botoxtruths

Valeria joins us for episode 18 of the Botox Injury Stories podcast. She discusses how she was experiencing negative health issues after each of her Botox injections, but didn't put two and two together until her most recent round. Valeria experienced severe symptoms of botulism poisoning, and being a medical doctor herself she quickly realized something was very wrong. Despite her medical background and clinical experience however, she was also gaslit by her injector and hospital doctors, like so many Botox victims before her. Once she was finally hospitalized due to needing a BiPAP machine to help her receive more oxygen, the CDC denied her antitoxin because she "wasn't sick enough" in their opinion. Her story is one of incredible resilience and strength.Stay tuned for more stories of fellow Botox victims - we will be back in January 2026!Visit ⁠www.iatrogenicbotulism.com⁠ for more information.Follow us on Instagram @botoxinjurystories and @botoxtruths

Amber joins us for episode 17 of the Botox Injury Stories podcast. Amber discusses how her health began radically declining after several aesthetic procedures, including breast implants, filler, and Botox. Amber has suffered from a multitude of symptoms, and was also gaslit by many doctors and told that her symptoms were just "normal" for a woman.After spending many months with horrific and debilitating symptoms, Amber is committed to raising awareness about the harms of cosmetic procedures. Stay tuned for her upcoming podcast "Pretty Sick", which will touch on the aesthetic industry and its war on women's health. Stay tuned for more stories of fellow Botox victims.Visit ⁠www.iatrogenicbotulism.com⁠ for more information.Follow us on Instagram @botoxinjurystories and @botoxtruths

Jenny joins us for episode 16 of the Botox Injury Stories podcast. Jenny received Botox cosmetically for years before having any side effects. After a round of injections, she developed blurry vision, but was told by her injector that this symptom wasn't related to her injections. When she received Botox again 3 months later, she developed systemic symptoms of botulism poisoning and MCAS. Despite her struggles, Jenny has remained positive that she will continue to heal.Stay tuned for more stories of fellow Botox victims.Visit ⁠www.iatrogenicbotulism.com⁠ for more information.Follow us on Instagram @botoxinjurystories and @botoxtruths

Shana joins us for episode 15 of the Botox Injury Stories podcast. Shana received Botox for migraines, and when she asked her neurologist about side effects, they told her she was being "paranoid". Within days, Shana had developed severe neck pain and general feelings of malaise, which evolved into full blown botulism and MCAS. Her story of being gaslit and ignored by the medical system is unfortunately a common one.Shana is incredibly resilient, and reminds us all to not lose hope on this wild rollercoaster.Stay tuned for more stories of fellow Botox victims.Visit ⁠www.iatrogenicbotulism.com⁠ for more information.Follow us on Instagram @botoxinjurystories and @botoxtruths

Diana joins us for episode 14 of the Botox Injury Stories podcast. After developing severe urinary retention and swallowing difficulties from routine cosmetic Botox injections, Diana was told by a speech-language pathologist that she would never swallow normally again. Her symptoms begin to rapidly improve around 5 months out, after she received blood plasma exchange therapy. Diana has a truly powerful story of healing and hope.Stay tuned for more stories of fellow Botox victims.Visit ⁠www.iatrogenicbotulism.com⁠ for more information.Follow us on Instagram @botoxinjurystories and @botoxtruths

Jennifer joins us for episode 13 of the Botox Injury Stories podcast. After developing severe anxiety and panic attacks post-Botox, she spent months trying to figure out what was going on. Once she put two and two together, she began healing and became a passionate advocate against botulinum toxin injections. Check out her blog and website: www.botoxinjuries.comStay tuned for more stories of fellow Botox victims.Visit ⁠www.iatrogenicbotulism.com⁠ for more information.Follow us on Instagram @botoxinjurystories and @botoxtruths

Lauren joins us for episode 12 of the Botox Injury Stories podcast. She developed near immediate symptoms of fight or flight and high histamine state after trying cosmetic Botox once. She struggled for years with symptoms, and discusses her journey in getting diagnosed with Lyme.Stay tuned for more stories of fellow Botox victims.Visit ⁠www.iatrogenicbotulism.com⁠ for more information.Follow us on Instagram @botoxinjurystories and @botoxtruths

Zander joins us for episode eleven of the Botox Injury stories podcast. He is our first male guest on the show. Zander was just 17 when he developed botulism after Botox injections for a muscle spasm in his palate.Zander is outspoken about his Botox injury, and can be found at @zanderneuhaus88 on InstagramStay tuned for more stories of fellow Botox victims.Visit ⁠www.iatrogenicbotulism.com⁠ for more information.Follow us on Instagram @botoxinjurystories and @botoxtruths

Shauna joins us for episode ten of the Botox Injury stories podcast. She suffered debilitating symptoms after trying Botox just once. As a single mom to two young girls, she has spent years healing to her "new norm" of life with POTS and cardiac issues caused by Botox. Shauna's story is one of strength, courage, and resilience.Stay tuned for more stories of fellow Botox victims.Visit ⁠www.iatrogenicbotulism.com⁠ for more information.Follow us on Instagram @botoxinjurystories and @botoxtruths

Stephanie joins us for episode nine of the Botox Injury stories podcast. She began suffering from alarming muscle weakness and joint pain after trying 32 units of Xeomin for the first time, but was told by every doctor she encountered that her symptoms couldn't be caused by the toxin. So, 4 months later she went back for more Xeomin, and developed severe botulism symptoms after 40 units in her forehead, crow's feet, and glabellar lines. Two and a half years and more than $10,000 in medical bills later, she is still not 100% the person she was before Xeomin.Stay tuned for more stories of fellow Botox victims.Visit ⁠www.iatrogenicbotulism.com⁠ for more information.Follow us on Instagram @botoxinjurystories and @botoxtruths

Kayla joins us for episode eight of the Botox Injury stories podcast. She suffered severe botulism symptoms after routine Dysport injections, which left her with difficulty breathing for months. She was left to heal on her own, as all of the doctors she interacted with told her that her symptoms had nothing to do with her injections. Stay tuned for more stories of fellow Botox victims.Visit ⁠www.iatrogenicbotulism.com⁠ for more information.Follow us on Instagram @botoxinjurystories and @botoxtruths

Maureen joins us for episode seven of the Botox Injury stories podcast. She tells us how, after 50 units of Xeomin, she began experiencing scary symptoms of toxin spread, including difficulty swallowing, severe fatigue and muscle weakness, and difficulty breathing. She was mostly bedbound for a year. Her injector and most of the doctors she interacted with told her that her symptoms had nothing to do with her injections. Stay tuned for more stories of fellow Botox victims.Visit ⁠www.iatrogenicbotulism.com⁠ for more information.Follow us on Instagram @botoxinjurystories and @botoxtruths

Ashleigh joins us for episode six of the Botox Injury stories podcast. Her story is truly remarkable. She worked at a med spa and decided to try 6 units of Botox, since it was offered for free. In the ensuing weeks and months, she developed scary, life-altering cognitive and psychiatric symptoms, which left her unable to work and function normally. She was gaslit by her employer, and forced to move back home with her parents. At almost 2 years out, she considers herself about 70% back to normal. Stay tuned for more stories of fellow Botox victims.Visit ⁠www.iatrogenicbotulism.com⁠ for more information.Follow us on Instagram @botoxinjurystories and @botoxtruths

Mandy joins us for episode five of the Botox Injury stories podcast. She tells the story of how, after receiving 3 different rounds of BoNT injections, as well as microneedling, within a 2-month period, she developed disabling symptoms of toxin spread. One of Mandy's most concerning symptoms was complete numbness in her pharynx, leading to her not being able to feel anything when she was swallowing food and liquids. Stay tuned for more stories of fellow Botox victims.Visit ⁠www.iatrogenicbotulism.com⁠ for more information.Follow us on Instagram @botoxinjurystories and @botoxtruths

Jana joins us today on the Botox Injury Stories podcast to tell her story. She received Dysport four different times, and each time was experiencing symptoms of toxin spread. However, she didn't put two and two together until she was hit hard with her fourth injection.Stay tuned for more stories of fellow Botox victims.Visit ⁠www.iatrogenicbotulism.com⁠ for more information.Follow us on Instagram @botoxinjurystories and @botoxtruths

Tasha joins us today on the Botox Injury Stories podcast. She tells the story of how, after 200 units of migraine Botox, she developed horrific neck and throat spasms that lasted over a year. She spent many months seeking out care for her condition, and even visited the Mayo Clinic. They had nothing to offer her except more Botox. Tasha shares some of the healing modalities she has used to heal on her own, since allopathic medicine had no answers for her. At 3.5 years out from injections, she has thankfully mostly healed.Stay tuned for more stories of fellow Botox victims.Visit ⁠www.iatrogenicbotulism.com⁠ for more information.Follow us on Instagram @botoxinjurystories and @botoxtruths

Bera joins us for the second episode of the Botox Injury Stories podcast. She tells the story of how she developed disabling and scary symptoms after cosmetic Botox, and how these severely affected her ability to work and functional normally. Stay tuned for more stories of fellow Botox victims. Visit ⁠www.iatrogenicbotulism.com⁠ for more information. Follow us on Instagram @botoxinjurystories and @botoxtruths

For the first episode of the Botox Injury Stories podcast, I will be telling the story of what happened after I received 12 units of Xeomin in July of 2024. Stay tuned for more stories of fellow Botox victims. Visit www.iatrogenicbotulism.com for more information. Follow us on Instagram @botoxinjurystories and @botoxtruths