Amanda Wolaver, who lives in Georgia, claims that a common beauty procedure left her paralyzed and stuck in bed for an extended period of time. She’s now hoping to raise awareness so others don’t go through what she did.
She also said that when she first reported her symptoms and went to see a doctor, her concerns were brushed off. Medical professionals initially believed her symptoms weren’t serious and would eventually go away on their own.
But the next morning, things took a drastic turn. She said she woke up unable to move and decided to head to the hospital to figure out what was going on.
After a CT scan was done, a doctor told her that everything looked fine. They suggested she was most likely dealing with a bad migraine and didn’t find anything alarming.
She shared that she had been receiving anti-wrinkle Botox-like injections regularly for about a decade and had never had any complications before.
However, after one routine top-up, she started experiencing intense headaches that would not let up.
After undergoing a long series of medical tests that cost over $30,000, a neurologist finally gave her an answer. Amanda was diagnosed with iatrogenic botulism.
This rare condition affects the nerves and muscles and is caused by botulinum neurotoxins — the very substance used in Botox. According to the CDC, it can occur if an excessive amount of the toxin is injected during cosmetic procedures.
An MRI scan also showed that Amanda had suffered transient ischemic attacks, which are commonly referred to as mini-strokes or TIAs.
Although there’s no exact cure for her condition, Amanda says she is slowly getting better. For now, she’s relying on time and her body’s natural detox process to heal.
“It was the worst decision I’ve ever made. I couldn’t be the mother I wanted for my three children.”
Amanda expressed deep gratitude toward her husband, Josh, for being by her side during such a difficult experience. She’s now urging others to become aware of the risks that can come with these procedures.
“But soon, my body felt like the floor was being ripped out from underneath me and that I’d collapse.”
“My dizziness became so severe that I had to take Xanax to knock me out to sleep.”
She also shared that she still lives with constant pain every single day.
She added: “I don’t care about my wrinkles at all now and I’m getting more active and able to do more things with my family.”
“Hopefully, I can help prevent this from happening to others.”
