A Woman Drank "35% Food Grade Hydrogen Peroxide." This Is What Happened To Her Brain.

Summary

In this medical case, a 40-year-old woman named KJ, suffering from a history of eating disorders and misdiagnosed as having acute psychosis, eventually received a correct diagnosis of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Desperate for relief, she turned to 'food grade' hydrogen peroxide therapy, mistakenly consuming a concentrated solution, leading to severe health complications. The ingestion caused oxygen bubbles in her blood, resulting in ischemia and paralysis. Despite the critical situation, hyperbaric oxygen therapy helped dissolve the bubbles, restoring blood flow and highlighting the dangers of alternative medicine without professional guidance.

Takeaways

• 🚑 KJ, a 40-year-old woman, was admitted to the emergency room with severe symptoms after consuming 35% hydrogen peroxide.
• 🍽 KJ had a history of an eating disorder and was frequently hospitalized due to hypoglycemia and acute onset psychosis.
• 🤒 Despite her health issues, KJ was often dismissed by her family and doctors, leading her to feel misunderstood and neglected.
• 💊 KJ was later diagnosed with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (Lupus) and rheumatoid arthritis, which explained her chronic symptoms.
• 💡 The nurse suspected KJ had an autoimmune disease and encouraged her to seek further testing, which led to her Lupus diagnosis.
• 💡 KJ turned to alternative therapies, including hydrogen peroxide therapy, out of frustration with conventional treatments.
• 🧪 KJ believed that 'food grade' 35% hydrogen peroxide could help with her autoimmune issues by providing extra oxygen to her body.
• 🚫 The ingestion of concentrated hydrogen peroxide is extremely dangerous and can cause severe health complications.
• 🧊 KJ stored her hydrogen peroxide in the fridge without proper labeling, leading to a tragic mistake where she consumed it.
• 🛑 The hydrogen peroxide caused an ischemic event in KJ's brain, resulting in paralysis on one side of her body.
• 🩺 KJ underwent hyperbaric oxygen therapy to dissolve the oxygen bubbles in her blood and restore blood flow to her brain.

Q & A

What was the initial condition that brought KJ to the emergency room?

KJ presented to the emergency room with her eyes wide open but was completely unresponsive, and she was foaming at the mouth.

What was KJ's history with eating disorders and its effects on her mental health?

KJ had an eating disorder from a young age, which led to periodic hospitalizations and was often associated with acute onset psychosis, delusions, and hallucinations due to hypoglycemia.

Why did KJ's family, particularly her mother, downplay her health issues?

KJ's mother would interject during doctor visits, downplaying her symptoms, giving the impression that things weren't as severe as KJ described, and sometimes refused to bring her to the hospital.

What was the autoimmune disease KJ was eventually diagnosed with?

KJ was diagnosed with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, also known as Lupus.

How did KJ's Lupus diagnosis explain her various symptoms?

The Lupus diagnosis accounted for her facial rash, flare-ups, susceptibility to illnesses, muscle aches and pains, and acute onset psychosis.

What was the additional autoimmune condition KJ developed a few years later?

KJ developed rheumatoid arthritis, where her immune system was attacking her bones and joints, causing permanent damage.

Why did KJ turn to alternative therapies, and what was one such therapy she tried?

Frustrated with her lack of improvement on traditional medications and the cost, KJ sought alternative therapies online. One such therapy was hydrogen peroxide therapy, which she believed would provide her body with extra oxygen.

What was the critical mistake KJ made with the hydrogen peroxide, leading to her emergency?

KJ accidentally consumed concentrated 35% hydrogen peroxide, mistaking it for water, which led to her collapse and emergency room admission.

How did the ingestion of 35% hydrogen peroxide affect KJ's brain and body?

The ingestion caused caustic burns in her mouth and throat, released a large amount of oxygen which formed bubbles in her blood, blocking blood flow to her brain and causing ischemia.

What medical treatment did KJ receive to address the effects of hydrogen peroxide ingestion?

KJ underwent hyperbaric oxygen therapy to increase the solubility of oxygen in her blood and break up the blockage in her brain, followed by treatment for the caustic injury to her throat and esophagus.

What is the narrator's final advice regarding alternative therapies and the health system?

The narrator advises against turning to unproven alternative therapies that can cause harm and emphasizes the importance of working within the health system to address grievances.