Woman’s warning after weight-loss injections led to surgery and unexpected side effects

A woman from Northern Ireland has spoken publicly about serious health complications she experienced after using weight-loss injections, warning others to carefully consider the risks before starting similar treatments.

Sarah-Jayne Crawford, 32, from Co Antrim, began taking Wegovy in August 2024 after reaching 19st 9lb. The mum-of-one said she had struggled with her weight for years and decided to try the medication in the hope of losing weight ahead of her wedding in November 2025.

Crawford said she obtained the injections privately through an online pharmacy, paying £199 for an initial supply at a 0.25mg dose. She later increased the dose, and said she paid a further £350 as her treatment continued and the dosage rose to 1mg. Despite the expense, she said she did not see a significant change in her weight.

Severe pain began around 3 months into the injections

In the early weeks, she said her appetite slowly disappeared and she initially felt positive. However, around 12 weeks into the injections, she began suffering sharp upper abdominal pain and frequent vomiting. The symptoms escalated quickly, with Crawford describing an excruciating trapped-wind sensation that left her unable to get out of bed.

Within a 24-hour period, she also noticed an unusual and alarming change, her tongue had turned black. She said the mouth pain was severe and that she could not tolerate spicy foods, including peppers and onions. She also experienced foul, ‘egg-smelling’ sulphur burps, which are commonly linked to slowed digestion.

Fearing the worst, Crawford stopped taking the injections and attended A&E at Antrim Area Hospital. CT and MRI scans revealed multiple gallstones blocking her bile duct, a condition that can lead to serious complications such as pancreatitis if left untreated. Doctors also identified diverticulitis, an inflammation of small bulging pouches in the wall of the large intestine.

Most of the weight loss was believed to be due to the side effects rather than the injections

She was booked in for a total cholecystectomy and, on February 10, 2025, underwent surgery to have her gallbladder removed. Crawford said her surgeon encouraged her to remain off Wegovy ahead of the anaesthetic. By that stage, she said she was around 18 stone and had “hardly lost any weight”, adding that she believes most of the weight loss she did have was due to being unwell rather than the injections.

Now recovering, Crawford said she remains baffled by the black tongue symptom, noting that no doctor could fully explain it. She said her tongue returned to its normal colour after she came off the injections in December 2024. Over a year later, she said she weighs 18st 8lb.

Crawford, who works as a personal secretary for the NHS in Northern Ireland, has decided to share her experience as a warning to others. Her message is that weight-loss injections may work well for some people, but the risks are not always obvious and should be researched carefully before starting treatment.