A Controversial Weight Loss Method Raises Alarms in the Medical Community
In a bizarre turn of events, a woman identified as TE embarked on a dangerous weight loss journey by consuming tapeworm eggs, purchased with cryptocurrency from the Dark Web. The case, highlighted by Dr. Bernard Hsu on the YouTube channel Chubbyemu, has sparked significant concern.
The allure of the ‘forbidden’
TE’s decision stemmed from her inability to achieve her desired weight loss through traditional methods. Enticed by social media posts branding the method as “controversial” and “forbidden,” she believed it held the ultimate secret to weight loss. “TE was intrigued,” Dr. Hsu noted. “A ‘forbidden’ method is one that must be so good, and so powerful, that it’s the one true secret that she needs to know.”
Initial success, subsequent alarm
Initially, TE experienced weight loss but soon faced alarming symptoms. She reported strange sensations, including feeling something “flapping and slapping” inside her cheeks. Her concerns escalated when she discovered tan, rectangular pieces floating in the toilet.
Escalating symptoms
Weeks later, a lump formed under her chin, causing her to pass out when pressed. She battled severe headaches, bloating, and abdominal pain. Despite medical consultations, initial tests revealed nothing unusual, and temporary relief from medication proved inadequate.
Returning to the emergency department, doctors discovered multiple lesions in her brain. Further scans revealed similar lesions in her neck, face, tongue, and liver. Upon questioning, TE admitted to consuming tapeworm eggs from two species, Taenia saginata and Taenia solium.
Medical intervention
Taenia solium, known for forming cysts in sensitive tissues like the brain, can lead to vision changes, personality shifts, and cognitive decline. Dr. Hsu warned, “In an able-bodied human, weight loss with diet and exercise is physically doable, and that has much less risk than letting extra organisms intentionally live inside of you.”
TE received medication to treat the infestation and steroids to reduce brain inflammation and clear the eggs from her body. This case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers inherent in unverified weight loss methods.