A dad who assumed he was dealing with trapped wind after using skinny jabs was shocked to learn the pain was caused by his gallbladder becoming gangrenous and needing to be removed.
Edd Langmead began trying to lose weight in May 2025 after a lifetime of struggling with his size. He says he often reached for sugary snacks and at his heaviest weighed 20st 7lbs (around 280lbs).
The 44-year-old musician says his weight contributed to severe back pain, so he went to his GP to ask about weight-loss injections. He claims he was told the wait for medication was more than a year.
Wanting faster results, he decided to purchase Mounjaro through an online pharmacy and says changes were noticeable straight away.
When the price increased, Edd says he tried a cheaper injection instead, but felt it didn’t work as well, so he moved back to Mounjaro.
The father-of-two says he avoided any major side effects and lost 70lbs in less than 12 months, dropping to 14st 5lbs (196lbs). He also says the weight loss eased his back problems.
However, on March 9, 2026, Edd developed pain he believed was trapped wind. He tried over-the-counter remedies, but the discomfort wouldn’t go away.
Within three days, the pain became so intense that he says he ended up “doubled over” on the floor, and his partner called an ambulance. He was taken to hospital on blue lights.
At the hospital, tests reportedly showed he had gangrenous cholecystitis — a serious condition in which gallbladder tissue dies — and he was scheduled for surgery on March 13.
The infection is said to have spread further, affecting his stomach and lungs, and it’s believed the episode may have been connected to rapid weight loss.
Edd, from Oldham, Greater Manchester, UK, said: “I’ve struggled with weight all my life. I went to my doctor to get on it [weight loss injections] and they said that the waiting list is more than twelve months.
“Everyone wants a quick fix don’t they? I did. I’d been suffering with back pain for the past three years, getting out of bed actually hurt, and within the first two months my back pain had gone.”
He continued: “I didn’t have any bad side effects. It was up until that week, that’s the first bit of pain [I had]. I’ve dealt with trapped wind quite a lot and I know what it feels like.
“I got all these things from over the counter trying to relieve it but it didn’t do anything. I couldn’t sit or lie down without being in pain and it just kept getting worse and worse.
“My partner was meant to be going to work and I was doubled up in pain on the floor and could barely talk so she rang an ambulance.”
Following more checks, Edd was taken into emergency surgery to remove his gallbladder. He remained in hospital for four days, then went home with an IV antibiotic drip for a further 10 days.
Edd said: “When I came out of the operation, a couple of the surgeons were saying how lucky I was. All I could think of was leaving my kids without a dad.
“I’ve gone from being the healthiest I’ve ever felt since I was a teenager to now, I feel like I’m in my nineties. I’ve got pipes hanging out of me, I can’t walk or move properly, I can’t lie down.
“If I had not gone in or if I had been in a different situation where I couldn’t get to a hospital then I might not be here so that’s the scary thing.”
Since the ordeal, Edd says he has stopped using the injections and is encouraging others to pursue prescribed treatment routes so they can be properly monitored.
Edd said: “Once I found out it’d all gone wrong and was related to weight loss it put doubt in me [and] that maybe I should’ve just waited for the NHS.
“The online companies don’t show you those risks. There is a sadness that it happened like that for me because I’m sure that had I done it differently it wouldn’t have been that way.
“Make sure you go get regular blood tests. It’s not worth the risk.”
A spokesman for Lilly, who manufacture Mounjaro, said: “Patient safety is Lilly’s top priority and we actively monitor, evaluate, and report safety information for all our medicines to the MHRA.
“The Mounjaro (tirzepatide) Patient Information Leaflet warns that cholecystitis (infection of the gallbladder) is an uncommon side effect (may affect up to 1 in 100 people).
“Anyone experiencing side effects when taking any Lilly medicine should consult their doctor or other healthcare professional, and should ensure that they are getting genuine Lilly medicine.”