Woman has to have her spleen removed and says her life was ruined after botched ... trends now
A mother-of-three is warning others against surgery abroad after she had to have her spleen removed and nearly lost her life following a botched weight-loss procedure in Turkey.
Leanne O'Driscoll said she had reached 'breaking point' with her weight after trying numerous diets. She was 16st 10lbs at her heaviest, and decided she wanted to make a drastic change.
The 43-year-old researched her options and but discovered that weight loss surgery was available in her native Ireland but had a 10-year waiting list.
Eager to start her new life, she came across a cheaper alternative, costing £2,400, in Turkey – and the operation was available right away.
But what had been a dream quickly turned into a nightmare, with the procedure leaving her body 'vomiting blood' and 'wracked with pain'.
Leanne O'Driscoll said she had reached 'breaking point' with her weight after trying diets, and wanted to make a drastic change
Pictured: Leanne O'Driscoll while in hospital with sepsis
Leanne after her weight loss surgery. She said she will now have to be on antibiotics for the rest of her life
'I feared the worst, but the nurses kept telling me it was normal,' she said.
One week after the operation, she said, she had finally recovered enough to go home, but was hit again with illness on the flight.
When she got home, she said, 'I was shivering cold and before I went to bed, I collapsed and fell unconscious.'
Assuming she was dehydrated, she called her sister after regaining consciousness to get some water.
But when her sister climbed the stairs she saw Leanne was on the floor.
'My sister screamed to ring for an ambulance.