Mum's Mounjaro Weight Loss Nightmare: Golf Ball-Sized Gallstones After 'Skinny Jab'
A single mother from Belfast has issued a stark warning after her pursuit of a "quick fix" for weight loss resulted in a harrowing medical crisis, involving gallstones the size of golf balls and a collapsed lung. Orlaith Commander, 33, spent up to £260 monthly on the medication Mounjaro, hoping it would be a "miracle drug" following years of unsuccessful yo-yo dieting.
Rapid Weight Loss and Sudden Collapse
Orlaith, a carer and mother of two, initially lost nearly four stone over seven months using Mounjaro, a drug from the GLP-1 RA family originally developed for diabetes but now popular for appetite suppression. After a two-month break, she resumed the injections on New Year's Eve, taking just five doses before waking with excruciating stomach pain on February 9.
"I thought it was just constipation," Orlaith recalled. "But the pain worsened, and I couldn't function to make breakfast for my kids. I rang the doctors, and they told me to go to A&E immediately."
Shocking Medical Discovery
Within hours, Orlaith was transferred to a surgical ward, where doctors diagnosed an infected gallbladder. They were reportedly stunned to find gallstones measuring up to 3cm—approximately the size of golf balls—with one lodged in her bile duct. This condition is flagged as a common side effect in Mounjaro's information leaflet, affecting up to one in ten users.
The situation escalated when she underwent surgery to remove her gallbladder on February 18. What was expected to be a 45-minute procedure extended into a five-to-six-hour ordeal after complications led to a collapsed lung.
Lengthy Hospital Stay and Ongoing Recovery
Orlaith remained hospitalised for 19 days, finally discharged on February 28. She is still receiving chest physiotherapy for the collapsed lung and reflects on the ordeal with regret. "When I found out about the collapsed lung, I remember thinking 'I'll never take a quick fix again'—especially because I am on my own with two kids," she said.
She now urges others to consult their GP before considering weight loss jabs like Mounjaro. "I regret taking Mounjaro—it wasn't worth any of that. Do research and speak to your GP. It's just not worth it, not when you have kids. I wouldn't recommend it to anybody."
Manufacturer's Response and Safety Warnings
A spokesperson for Mounjaro's manufacturer emphasised that patient safety is a "top priority" and encouraged users to consult healthcare professionals about any side effects. The company's patient information leaflet explicitly warns that gallstones are a common side effect for weight management, while gallbladder infections and gallstones are uncommon for type 2 diabetes treatment.
Orlaith's story highlights the potential risks of rapid weight loss medications, underscoring the importance of medical guidance and awareness of possible severe consequences, even with widely used treatments.
