POSTED UNDER Botox REVIEWS
Botox (Dysport) Ruined My Life- Please Read This if You Are Considering Undergoing Anti-Wrinkle Injections
ORIGINAL POST
Writing this is very hard and emotionally...
springgirl_1January 6, 2018
Writing this is very hard and emotionally challenging. I've been going through an ordeal which has ruined my life and it is all because of 30 measly units of Dysport injected into the area between my eyebrows.
Before I begin I'd like to mention that I have had Botox/Dysport injections on 2 occasions prior to this most recent one. First one being about 4 years ago and then another about 2 years ago, with roughly the same amount of units. I did not have any side effects after either of these injections and I had them done with two different clinics in the exact same area on my face.
So stupidly I decided to get more Botox because I started to notice the frown line between my eyebrows again, I guess I was starting to feel ugly and insecure about myself. I'm 30 years old.
I went to a new clinic mainly to enquire about another procedure involving fillers but knowing I'd probably just get the Botox while i was there. The nurse did NOT verbally tell me what the side effects could be, she only asked if I have had the injections before, I said yes and she proceeded to inject the area with 30 units of Dysport.
I left and pretty much forgot about it, didn't think much of it because I'd never had any issues before this, however that night I began to experience a really bad forehead headache, which I brushed off as 'normal' because that was the injection site.
The next day the headache got worse, and I noticed that there was a burning in both of my eyes, like and extremely tired feeling, or a sensation of them being full of hot liquid. I contacted the clinic and explained what was going on, and they told me (ofcourse) that there was no way Dysport could cause any of this.
As the week went on I started to deteriorate, and by the Friday (6 days later) I was in excruciating head pain, it felt like the right side of my head was going to explode as well as my right eye. My right shoulder was in burning pain and my right arm was weak. I couldn't eat, everything I tried to eat I'd vomit. The worst effect was I started to experience derealisation, I felt as though I was not present, I was not myself, it was absolutely and utterly TERRIFYING. I ended up in hospital on the Sunday and they told me it was just a migraine, put me on the drip to replenish my fluids due to me not eating for a week, told me to take panadol and sent me home. My nightmare was just beginning.
I began to read other people's stories online and read so many about people who didn't recover for many months/years.
I started to feel somewhat better until my next period came. This is when I went through the worst experience of my life. I was in a severe derealised state, uncontrollable crying and worst of all, I had 4 panic attacks, half an hour apart and then one after waking up that night.
I was vomiting, shaking uncontrollably, slurred speech, severe, severe depression, twitching/ jolting of my limbs (mainly my fingers, arms, legs and toes) severe head pain, severe fatigue and my shaking could have been mistaken for Parkinson's Disease.
After the panic attacks my partner took me to a GP who didn't even ask me what the issue was, she saw me crying and vomiting and told me I need a psychiatrist. I got angry and walked out.
I consulted my usual GP about the situation and he told me I had anxiety and should see a psychologist, said 'Botox doesn't do that' (he himself was a Botox administer) I saw a neurologist who told me 'Botox doesn't do that' (he himself was ALSO an administer of Botox) and he also told me that the people who shared their bad Botox stories online were "crazy, don't listen to them"
I decided to consult a new GP who admitted to not knowing much about Botox side effects but told me that I should go back to the hospital 'just incase'
So I went back to the hospital only to have the doctor tell me 'Botox doesn't do that' and that I'm experiencing all these things due to dehydration.
I was then lucky enough to see a GP who doesn't generally see new patients but had a fantastic reputation. Although he too didn't know much about Botox side effects he did some blood tests and was taking me seriously.
Turned out my antibody levels (ANA- anti-nuclear antigen) levels were very high, he advised me to see an immunologist which I thought would be my saving grace.
After explaining to this so called 'immunologist' that all of my symptoms began THE DAY I received the injections, giving a tearful account of the hell I had been through, he 'diagnosed' me with chronic fatigue. I thought... is this idiot even listening to what I'm saying? How does chronic fatigue warrant even half the symptoms I'm experiencing? I asked him about whether the injections could be to blame and he half laughed half scoffed, telling me he doesn't think so but admitted not knowing much about Botox and it's effects on the body... an IMMUNOLOGIST doesn't know the effects of Botox in the body. Ofcourse not.
A few days ago I woke up feeling absolutely horrible again, after feeling somewhat functionable for a few weeks. This time, my depression has taken over me, mind, body and spirit. I have considered taking my own life on several occasion (I would not have thought about that before any of this began)
I am suffering from muscle weakness, severe fatigue, inability to concentrate or socialise, inability to be in loud or bright places, lack of appetite, severe anxiety and derealisation which is the most debilitating symptom of all, and the depression has just taken over me completely. I don't know where to go for help, and I have convinced myself that this is going to be my life forever, and then I think 'what's the point of being here then?'
It will be 3 months tomorrow since I had those life changing injections. Nothing in my life has been the same since then. I've become a quarter of the person I was before the injections. I've lost hope completely and I see no way out.
In saying all this I believe the doctors who don't take these cases seriously should be put in jail, the doctors who deny this could happen EVEN THOUGH the warning labels on both Dysport AND Botox warn that these things CAN occur, should have their licenses revoked. They are concerned about their money while so, so many of us lose our lives because of this toxic chemical. We choose to have these injections thinking nothing can happen because the people who are SUPPOSED to be informing us of potential side effects don't even bother, even though that 20 seconds worth of information COULD save someone's life!
Words can't express my regret at having the injections... I wallow over it all day every day, I'm not sure if the depth of my depression is due to the actual toxin or if it's all a combination of the extremely challenging experience. I've had many, many more symptoms apart from what I've mentioned I just can't think straight enough to remember them all.
I truly pray that anyone who is even considering Botox or any of these toxic injections will reconsider, believe me... I would give anything to go back and not go through with it. I'd still have a fulfilling and happy life but I've ended up in the darkest and most hopeless place one can imagine. Please, DONT do it. Look into other options, non-injectable options. It is NOT worth even the 1% risk that you will go through what myself, and thousands of others have had to go through.
For those who are going through the same thing, I'm so sorry... I want to come back one day soon and tell you that it will all go away, I want to give you some hope, just as I've been searching for, and I promise I will come back with good news if I receive it. Otherwise I'm not sure where my life is leading...
DONT DO IT! Just don't do it
Before I begin I'd like to mention that I have had Botox/Dysport injections on 2 occasions prior to this most recent one. First one being about 4 years ago and then another about 2 years ago, with roughly the same amount of units. I did not have any side effects after either of these injections and I had them done with two different clinics in the exact same area on my face.
So stupidly I decided to get more Botox because I started to notice the frown line between my eyebrows again, I guess I was starting to feel ugly and insecure about myself. I'm 30 years old.
I went to a new clinic mainly to enquire about another procedure involving fillers but knowing I'd probably just get the Botox while i was there. The nurse did NOT verbally tell me what the side effects could be, she only asked if I have had the injections before, I said yes and she proceeded to inject the area with 30 units of Dysport.
I left and pretty much forgot about it, didn't think much of it because I'd never had any issues before this, however that night I began to experience a really bad forehead headache, which I brushed off as 'normal' because that was the injection site.
The next day the headache got worse, and I noticed that there was a burning in both of my eyes, like and extremely tired feeling, or a sensation of them being full of hot liquid. I contacted the clinic and explained what was going on, and they told me (ofcourse) that there was no way Dysport could cause any of this.
As the week went on I started to deteriorate, and by the Friday (6 days later) I was in excruciating head pain, it felt like the right side of my head was going to explode as well as my right eye. My right shoulder was in burning pain and my right arm was weak. I couldn't eat, everything I tried to eat I'd vomit. The worst effect was I started to experience derealisation, I felt as though I was not present, I was not myself, it was absolutely and utterly TERRIFYING. I ended up in hospital on the Sunday and they told me it was just a migraine, put me on the drip to replenish my fluids due to me not eating for a week, told me to take panadol and sent me home. My nightmare was just beginning.
I began to read other people's stories online and read so many about people who didn't recover for many months/years.
I started to feel somewhat better until my next period came. This is when I went through the worst experience of my life. I was in a severe derealised state, uncontrollable crying and worst of all, I had 4 panic attacks, half an hour apart and then one after waking up that night.
I was vomiting, shaking uncontrollably, slurred speech, severe, severe depression, twitching/ jolting of my limbs (mainly my fingers, arms, legs and toes) severe head pain, severe fatigue and my shaking could have been mistaken for Parkinson's Disease.
After the panic attacks my partner took me to a GP who didn't even ask me what the issue was, she saw me crying and vomiting and told me I need a psychiatrist. I got angry and walked out.
I consulted my usual GP about the situation and he told me I had anxiety and should see a psychologist, said 'Botox doesn't do that' (he himself was a Botox administer) I saw a neurologist who told me 'Botox doesn't do that' (he himself was ALSO an administer of Botox) and he also told me that the people who shared their bad Botox stories online were "crazy, don't listen to them"
I decided to consult a new GP who admitted to not knowing much about Botox side effects but told me that I should go back to the hospital 'just incase'
So I went back to the hospital only to have the doctor tell me 'Botox doesn't do that' and that I'm experiencing all these things due to dehydration.
I was then lucky enough to see a GP who doesn't generally see new patients but had a fantastic reputation. Although he too didn't know much about Botox side effects he did some blood tests and was taking me seriously.
Turned out my antibody levels (ANA- anti-nuclear antigen) levels were very high, he advised me to see an immunologist which I thought would be my saving grace.
After explaining to this so called 'immunologist' that all of my symptoms began THE DAY I received the injections, giving a tearful account of the hell I had been through, he 'diagnosed' me with chronic fatigue. I thought... is this idiot even listening to what I'm saying? How does chronic fatigue warrant even half the symptoms I'm experiencing? I asked him about whether the injections could be to blame and he half laughed half scoffed, telling me he doesn't think so but admitted not knowing much about Botox and it's effects on the body... an IMMUNOLOGIST doesn't know the effects of Botox in the body. Ofcourse not.
A few days ago I woke up feeling absolutely horrible again, after feeling somewhat functionable for a few weeks. This time, my depression has taken over me, mind, body and spirit. I have considered taking my own life on several occasion (I would not have thought about that before any of this began)
I am suffering from muscle weakness, severe fatigue, inability to concentrate or socialise, inability to be in loud or bright places, lack of appetite, severe anxiety and derealisation which is the most debilitating symptom of all, and the depression has just taken over me completely. I don't know where to go for help, and I have convinced myself that this is going to be my life forever, and then I think 'what's the point of being here then?'
It will be 3 months tomorrow since I had those life changing injections. Nothing in my life has been the same since then. I've become a quarter of the person I was before the injections. I've lost hope completely and I see no way out.
In saying all this I believe the doctors who don't take these cases seriously should be put in jail, the doctors who deny this could happen EVEN THOUGH the warning labels on both Dysport AND Botox warn that these things CAN occur, should have their licenses revoked. They are concerned about their money while so, so many of us lose our lives because of this toxic chemical. We choose to have these injections thinking nothing can happen because the people who are SUPPOSED to be informing us of potential side effects don't even bother, even though that 20 seconds worth of information COULD save someone's life!
Words can't express my regret at having the injections... I wallow over it all day every day, I'm not sure if the depth of my depression is due to the actual toxin or if it's all a combination of the extremely challenging experience. I've had many, many more symptoms apart from what I've mentioned I just can't think straight enough to remember them all.
I truly pray that anyone who is even considering Botox or any of these toxic injections will reconsider, believe me... I would give anything to go back and not go through with it. I'd still have a fulfilling and happy life but I've ended up in the darkest and most hopeless place one can imagine. Please, DONT do it. Look into other options, non-injectable options. It is NOT worth even the 1% risk that you will go through what myself, and thousands of others have had to go through.
For those who are going through the same thing, I'm so sorry... I want to come back one day soon and tell you that it will all go away, I want to give you some hope, just as I've been searching for, and I promise I will come back with good news if I receive it. Otherwise I'm not sure where my life is leading...
DONT DO IT! Just don't do it
Replies (189)
February 18, 2018
I too had extremely massive issues which I now put down to Botox. I nearly died. panic attacks, like something exploded in my brain. I’m lucky to be alive and considering getting it done again. it takes ages to fight but eventually it will come out of your system. just keep fighting.
February 23, 2018
I’m so sorry I just noticed your comment on my thread. Yes I also suffered panic attacks and SEVERE anxiety, felt like I was constantly on the verge of dying, I still get that feeling every so often. May I ask how many units you had and how long it took for you to feel back to normal?
February 18, 2018
Thank you for your review. I was considering Baby Botox and reading up on it on RS. Seen too many freaky potential side effects and was already tilting towards a no go, coming across your review was the final "drop" to decide not willing to take that chance even if it would be less then 1%. I hope within time when it wears off that you will be feeling better. I am sorry this happened to you and wish you strength and hope these scary horrific symptoms will wear off soon.
February 18, 2018
Thank God you read my review then! I’m so glad I have saved at least one person from this nightmare. PLEASE don’t do it, the risk is absolutely and utterly NOT WORTH IT! I regret my decision every second of every day. Thank you for your kind wishes, if I get to that point where I am myself again I will write an update :)
March 26, 2018
It normaal botox but deluted so you still can move the facial muscles and expressions without having that "frozen" look

February 21, 2018
I think everybody responds differently .. and maybe the injector wasn’t experienced enough .. sorry you had such a horrible experience .. I’ve been getting Botox for the past 7 yrs .. my visit is every 4 months consisting of (3times a year) 44 Units in the forehead , between eyebrows and around the eyes ... I have had great results and no issues
February 23, 2018
Thank you for your comment, I am glad to hear that you haven’t had any issues and hope that this continues for you. I just wanted to post my story so that people know the risk they are taking, because we aren’t told about the risks by the people who are supposed to tell us (the injectors and healthcare providers) Again, as I mentioned in my review, I had Botox previously with NO issues, not even so much as a headache, but THIS time was the straw that broke the camels back. Please be careful and be kind to your body, I really really hope you never have any issues :)
March 1, 2018
Y so many times how old r u ?? If u don’t mind me asking... I would imagine those area now are so tight & stiff..... I’m considering some my self but are scared as to what might happen... I would just like a one time shot to prevent it from getting any deeper between my forehead... right now I look like I’m a bit angry lol
March 1, 2018
So sorry for your bad experience I know it must be tough wanting to look better ending up feeling & looking worst instead... I’m so sorry... hope with time you feel much better & thanks for your advice... and plz do not kill yourself it’s not the end of the world you still have life
September 6, 2018
There are people who have been injected by medical professionals who have had botox for medical issues who now have catastrophic life changing side effects and are chronically ill from these injections . Nothing to do with the injector.
October 2, 2018
Botox wears off after 6 or 8 months (mine lasts a year after having it done for so many years) and it is not cumulative, so your skin does not get tighter with each injection. I also didn't like the fact that the 11s were making me look angry when I wasn't. One day a colleague asked me why I was angry and it took me by surprise - I was just reading a report and wasn't angry at all! I decided to try Botox and haven't regretted it for a moment.
October 2, 2018
Who really wants to age? Or have the angry look wrinkles? You may not have had any side effects but many of us have and to us its definitely not worth the nightmare we are going through.Cross your fingers that it never happens to you.
February 21, 2018
Hi I hope you are feeling okay. Are you aware of somatoform disorder? It may well be that some of your initial symptoms were caused by the Botox but they then scared you into imagining more. We can sometimes then bring the actual physical effects into our bodies
February 22, 2018
Scared me into ‘IMAGINING’ more??? are you kidding me? the physical turmoil myself and THOUSANDS of others are experiencing aren’t psychologically induced, it had been PROVEN that Botox cans and DOES spread through the body! Don’t give me that crap, just because it’s not a well-known medical issue does it mean it is all in our heads. What a joke
February 22, 2018
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somatic_symptom_disorder
Just trying to help - our minds can do crazy things and encourage our bodies to do the same
Just trying to help - our minds can do crazy things and encourage our bodies to do the same
February 22, 2018
Read the realself botox forum and you will see thousands of women complaining about the same kind of symptoms after botox injections. This is real, the botox can spread from injection sites and cause many symptoms. Read up on it before making such claims!
February 23, 2018
I appreciate that you’re trying to help but it’s like you are suggesting MASS brain-washing. The physical symptoms are REAL and debilitating. I have had Botox injections twice before this one and I never had a problem, I wasn’t worried or scared that I was going to have issues after the injection. It wasn’t caused by my brain it was caused by the poison I had injected into my body. Botulism is a real illness!
UPDATED FROM springgirl_1
3 months post
Screenshot of Dysport website warnings
springgirl_1January 7, 2018
For those so-called doctors who say it's not possible for injectables to spread from the injection site and cause damage, Dysport itself has a warning on its website that it can happen!!
Replies (15)
March 30, 2018
I wonder why there’s no comments here!...
April 3, 2018
I wonder if anyone has thought of starting a YouTube channel about this? I looked a while back and couldn’t find anything regarding the consequences of the botox traveling to the central nervous system.
April 3, 2018
It would be a good idea, there is hardly any information available. Most information comes from the people who are affected by it but in saying that there is hardly any exposure on the issue apart from out reviews etc. Is it something you’d consider?
April 3, 2018
I wish I had the confidence to do YouTube updates & reviews but I’m quite private, so much so that I have only told a few people about this life changing problem I live with day by day, a couple of which haven’t responded how I would’ve hoped so that results in me mostly suffering in silence. I know I’d watch though if there was a channel. If things continue the way they are with the rising popularity of these injections I think there will be a whole lot more people with these life changing symptoms and it will come out eventually, it’s only a matter of time.
April 4, 2018
Im in the same boat, I’ve also only told a few people exactly what’s happened and I also had somebody react in a way that made me very angry. I know most people won’t understand, if you don’t have a clinical ‘diagnosis’ by the GODLY DOCTORS then there’s nothing wrong with you apparently. I really hope you’re feeling better Jess xx
April 25, 2018
Those are all symptoms of “botulism” do you think you have systemic botulism? If that is your theory, it usually resolves?
July 21, 2018
Does anyone know if Botox causes lupus?? I have a rash across my face butter fly rash when I google the rash lupus appears.. Hope Botox didn’t trigger lupus
July 22, 2018
Hi Hotmami, it might be a good idea to write your personal review and add some photos for people to see and to comment, it might be easier for people to help you that way
July 25, 2018
I had a rash about a week after receiving botox. It went away after 3 days completely, though. I took Benadryl, it seemed to help! Hope yours will get better! xx
August 5, 2018
half my face has that rash. Tri jeminal nerve damage. I feel it systematically too.
UPDATED FROM springgirl_1
4 months post
Epstein-Barr Virus possible link to Botox symptoms
springgirl_1February 3, 2018
I decided to see a naturopath due to the fact that conventional ‘doctors’ were doing absolutely NOTHING to help. She explained to me that although it’s not possible to know 100% she thinks it’s possible that the Botox (Dysport) triggered the Epstein-Barr Virus to flare up and cause some symptoms or exacerbate others that were actually caused by the Botox. I had a feeling there may be a link due to the fact that I had recently had a bad case of glandular fever.
Nonetheless it doesn’t take away from the fact that I have had ‘botulism’ symptoms (eg. weak limbs, difficulty breathing, blurry vision etc)
I’d be curious to know how many of us who are suffering after Botox injections actually do have the Epstein-Barr Virus (or have had glandular fever in the past; an easier way to determine whether you have the virus)
The plan now is to work on the virus via natural supplements etc, and I’ll see if this helps with the overall symptoms.
I hope anybody who is suffering with this horrendous illness finds healing soon
Nonetheless it doesn’t take away from the fact that I have had ‘botulism’ symptoms (eg. weak limbs, difficulty breathing, blurry vision etc)
I’d be curious to know how many of us who are suffering after Botox injections actually do have the Epstein-Barr Virus (or have had glandular fever in the past; an easier way to determine whether you have the virus)
The plan now is to work on the virus via natural supplements etc, and I’ll see if this helps with the overall symptoms.
I hope anybody who is suffering with this horrendous illness finds healing soon
Replies (44)
February 6, 2018
The people who are getting sick from botox are those who have a mutated mthfr gene....if it is mutated on one side (from one parent) called heterozygous mutation then you have a 40% reduction in your bodys ability to remove toxins from your system. if the mthfr gene is a gene mutation on both sides (from both parents) called homogenous mutation then you have a 70% reduction in your body's ability to remove toxins from your body.....these include botox, chemo, toxic metals, or any toxin at all.......which puts you at a much higher risk for chronic illness....which means botox could actually kill you......
February 20, 2018
Anyone can get sick from Botox injections. There is a reason why there is a 39 page black box warning on it. It is like playing Russian roulette. You might be fine after many injections and then the next one hits you with terrible symptoms. Also Botox injections contain human albumin which can also pass viruses into your system.
January 17, 2019
February 24, 2018
Do you think you had some type of autoimmune response (body attacks it self in a wide variety of ways from Alopecia to MS to RA to Lupus etc etc)...these things are sometimes 'triggered' by 'something' can be almost anything....Like MS can be triggered after drug use or having a child etc...Alopecia Universal can be randomly triggered by taking some medications or eating specific foods etc....the list goes on with infinite possibilities...Sometiems you will hear of someone who starts losing hair after they had the flu shot--sounds so random because it is...that person was genetically made up to be predisposed to alopecia and something bout the flu shot triggered it in them....I think you symptoms are real and I think they were probably triggered by the flu shot..I would keep investigating to see if you are having an Autoimmune response of some kind that was triggered by the shots...IF anything it might be a better way to communicate with your Doctors so they listen to you..(I can be wrong and i hope i did not upset you in anyway).
February 24, 2018
sorry meant the botox shot i wrote flu shot in stead second time..hope it makes sense.
February 24, 2018
Ugh wish edit button...meant botox injections...not shot/flu shot in last parts...I hope makes sense and i hope you figure it out good luck.
March 14, 2018
Hi there, apologies for my late reply. You make a valid point about the auto immune trigger, many people who suffer these symptoms after Botox find they test positive for auto immune diseases but some say it’s the Botox mimicking an auto immune disease or causing an auto immune response. I’m not sure I want to get those specific tests just yet, I might wait until I feel a little better so that I know the results are true and I don’t stress myself out for nothing if it comes out as a false positive. Thank you for your input and if there’s anything else you might be able to shed light on please feel free to comment
January 17, 2019
What do you mean there has to be some under lying issue? It’s not hard to believe that some people cannot handle the toxin being put so close to the brain. There is a warning from Allergan that it can go into the blood stream once injected. It’s not natural and they test on rats people have died from Botox btw
January 17, 2019
I’m glad it’s helping some people including yourself. I wouldn’t wish the side effects from Botox on anyone. I wish I would’ve carefully did my own research before getting it done. I wish I would’ve been happy with my appearance instead of trying to erase my flaws. I’m suffering the consequences of vanity. Yes fillers temporarily erase wrinkles but it wasn’t worth it to me. I’d rather have wrinkles then suffer through the horrible g that seem never ending. I’ve read that Botox side effects can mimic an auto immune disease along with others like multiple sclerosis. I’ve read count less stories on it but most of the testing come back normal for most. I also wish doctors and plastic surgeons would stop lying and covering up the side effects that do happen from Botox instead they deny Botox could cause adverse reactions.
First of all, all chemicals are natural.
Second of all, you’ve only been going through this for three months and you’re already giving medical advice as to seeing a naturopath? Have you forgotten that you haven’t gotten better yet?
Thirdly, correlation does not equal causation.
So you do have Epstein Barr virus, then?