A woman who gouged out her own eyeballs has opened up about the unsettling way her mind forces her to see things.
On February 6, 2018, during a methamphetamine-induced psychotic episode, Kaylee Muthart ripped out her own eyes.
The then-21-year-old had been awake for nearly 48 hours, using a mix of contaminated meth that amplified her deepest fears and beliefs.
“The drugs take your fears and beliefs and amplify them,” she told PEOPLE a year later. “I thought I had to take my eyes out to survive and save the world.”
Kaylee’s struggles with addiction intensified after Thanksgiving in 2017, despite several attempts to quit.
She had agreed to enter rehab but never made it in time. A harrowing hallucination caused her to believe that tearing out her eyes was the only way to save the world.
“I remember thinking that someone had to sacrifice something important to right the world, and that person was me,” Kaylee told the Daily Star.
“I thought everything would end abruptly, and everyone would die if I didn’t tear out my eyes immediately.”
She recounted the horrifying moment: “I pushed my thumb, pointer, and middle finger into each eye. I gripped each eyeball, twisted, and pulled until each eye popped out of the socket. It felt like a massive struggle, the hardest thing I ever had to do. Because I could no longer see, I don’t know if there was blood. But I know the drugs numbed the pain.”
Kaylee was rushed to the hospital, where surgeons performed emergency procedures to remove what remained of her eyes.
Now sober and living with her family, Kaylee reflected on an arduous year of recovery and self-discovery.
“She has been given a second chance,” her mother, Katy Tompkins told People. “Mentally and physically, Kaylee has come so far.
“We take one day at a time, but each of her days gets better. Her thoughts are very goal-oriented, and now she completely understands her path. Part of that path is to help people with her story.”
After the incident, Kaylee spent weeks in a psychiatric facility, underwent surgery to prepare her eye sockets for prosthetic eyes, and completed a month-long inpatient drug treatment program.
She credits the devastating consequences of her drug use for her resolve to stay sober. “The drugs took something from me,” she said. “When you get burned by the fire, you learn not to go back.”
Back at home, Kaylee has been relearning how to navigate life without sight. “I try to do everything on my own,” she said. “If I get hurt in the process, it’s just learning.”
Kaylee has since expressed a longing to see her loved ones age and discover the details of her life she can no longer witness, per Cosmopolitan.
“I would like to see my loved ones get older, see what color my cat is – I got him after I went blind,” she said.
“It’s like, imagine someone explaining to you what a character on a TV show looked like. They could tell you all the different attributes, but until you look at them, you just won’t know.”
She also explained how her mind creates “visual hallucinations” as a way to cope with the loss of sight.
“Because I have seen before, my mind will not accept not seeing. They are called visual hallucinations, and I kind of think of that as God not letting me be in the darkness,” Kaylee revealed.
In 2020, Kaylee underwent surgery to have prosthetic eyes fitted to match the appearance of her original ones.
If you or someone you know is battling addiction, please reach out for help and contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA’s) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (1-800-662-4357) or go to https://findtreatment.gov/
Women are warned not to ignore heart attack symptom that shows up around a month before
Women have been warned not to ignore an early sign of a potential heart attack, which many would brush under the carpet.
Health anxiety is a very real thing, and while some people get every little niggle checked out by a medical professional, others prefer to ignore it in the hope it might go away by itself.
However, not getting prompt medical attention for some things can prove deadly, as in the case of a heart attack.
Experts have shared the one small sign women shouldn’t ignore as it could mean a heart attack is to come within the next month.
According to a study published in Circulation, a scientific journal for the American Heart Association, heart disease is the leading cause of death for women.
It has also advocated for more awareness of the warning signs that could save people’s lives.
While women tend to have heart attacks half as frequently as men do, it is still twice as deadly to them as breast cancer is, according to the British Heart Foundation.
The British Heart Foundation‘s research also stated that women are 50 percent more likely to be misdiagnosed following a heart attack, and are also more likely to delay getting medical help as they do not always recognize the symptoms that a heart attack is in progress.
This in turn means women are less likely to get lifesaving treatments in time, or medication prescribed which could prevent a second heart attack.
While most people would know the symptoms of a heart attack as being chest pain or tightness, or tingling in the arm, there are other more subtle signs – particularly prevalent in women – which could signal that a heart attack is imminent.
According to Circulation, 39 percent of women reported experiencing indigestion in the month leading up to a heart attack.
The symptom was not present during the heart attack itself but in the days and weeks leading up to it, meaning it could serve as a potential early warning sign.
The most common other symptom seven out of 10 women who had a heart attack reported was feeling unusually tired in the month beforehand.
Around half experienced some form of disturbance with their sleep, while over four in 10 had shortness of breath, out of a study of over 20,000 people aged between 45 and 79 across a total of 11 years.
But how can you reduce your chances of having a heart attack?
Their top advice is to quit smoking as that is a leading cause of heart attacks, followed by other lifestyle changes.
A healthy and balanced diet including lots of fruit, vegetables, legumes, nuts, low-fat dairy, whole grains, and fish is also recommended.
If you are experiencing any symptoms which may point to a heart attack, it’s always best to seek medical help sooner rather than later as it may just be lifesaving.
Man with stage 4 colon cancer regrets ignoring two key symptoms
A man who has stage 4 colon cancer has opened up about his initial symptoms, and how how regrets ignoring them.
Joe Faratzis was just 28 when he was diagnosed with colorectal cancer.
Now 34, Faratzis has been documenting his journey on TikTok, raising awareness about the disease and its symptoms.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 141,000 cases of colorectal cancer were diagnosed in 2021, with nearly 53,000 deaths reported in the same year.
In an article for Self, Faratzis reflected on the early signs of his illness and the crucial mistakes he made in addressing them.
“This all started in 2019,” Faratzis wrote. “I started experiencing a faint abdominal pain whenever I bent over – for example, to tie my shoe. It was a dull, mild ache in the bottom right portion of my abdomen that popped up periodically, maybe once or twice a week, and I didn’t think much of it.”
At the time, the pain was sporadic and mild, making it easy for him to dismiss.
After visiting a doctor, Faratzis was advised to undergo a CT scan. However, he declined, citing cost and skepticism about its necessity.
Six months later, he noticed small amounts of bright red blood on his toilet paper. Still, he chalked it up to minor issues like hemorrhoids or a fissure.
“As a 28-year-old man, I thought I was invincible, so I didn’t do anything about it,” he admitted.
“Plus, I didn’t want to just run to the doctor to get a digital rectal exam. That whole situation, where the physician inserts a gloved finger in and around your rectum, seemed uncomfortable and embarrassing.”
The turning point came when he passed gas and saw a significant amount of blood—roughly half a cup.
Though initial blood tests didn’t raise alarms, a subsequent colonoscopy revealed the true cause: a cancerous tumor.
Faratzis was initially diagnosed with stage II colorectal cancer. “The imaging tests showed that the cancer was localized to my colon and hadn’t spread to other parts of my body,” he recalled.
“I had to do chemotherapy, radiation, and get surgery to eliminate all of the cancer from my colon.”
Despite aggressive treatment, Faratzis later learned that the cancer had metastasized to his lungs and liver, advancing to stage 4.
“I get my chest, abdomen, and pelvis scanned every three months. It’s a never-ending cycle of getting tested,” he shared.
Encouragingly, Faratzis revealed he’s had clear scans for the past year, the longest period without new lesions since his diagnosis.
“I feel good, I’m hopeful, and I live my life as if there isn’t an issue,” he said.
Still, he admitted to moments of regret about not taking early symptoms more seriously.
Faratzis urged others to be vigilant about their health, saying: “Listen to your body. Be your own health care advocate. No one else is going to hold your hand and do it for you.”
diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer shares the four easy-to-miss symptoms she experienced
A woman has come forward to share her experience battling stage 4 bowel cancer, highlighting the four subtle symptoms she overlooked before her diagnosis.
Her story serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of recognizing early signs of this potentially preventable disease.
Bowel cancer (also known as colorectal cancer) is one of the most common cancers, with statistics from the American Cancer Society revealing “the lifetime risk of developing colorectal cancer is about 1 in 23 for men and 1 in 25 for women”.
The challenge lies in the fact that bowel cancer symptoms often mimic other conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). For Ellie Wilcock, 25, understanding these symptoms earlier could have led to a quicker diagnosis.
Now, she has bravely shared her story in order to help others be more aware of the warning signs.
1. Persistent Pain
Ellie revealed in a TikTok video that she initially dismissed her pain as a urinary tract infection (UTI) that had spread to her kidneys. The pain wrapped around her left abdomen and pelvis.
“Number one was pain in the left-hand side of my tummy and my pelvis,” she explained.
Despite experiencing significant discomfort, her infection markers came back clear, prompting further testing. Pain in this area can be a warning sign, and seeking medical advice is crucial if it persists without explanation.
2. Fatigue
Another red flag was extreme fatigue, which Ellie initially dismissed as routine exhaustion.
“Normally I would get up, go to work, come home, then maybe go to the gym or cook dinner or see a friend,” she said. “But I was basically getting home from work and falling asleep for the rest of the evening.”
The Mayo Clinic lists unexplained “weakness or tiredness” as a primary symptom of cancer, as it can indicate underlying issues within the body.
3. Changes in Toilet Habits
Ellie admitted she didn’t initially notice changes in her bowel habits, but in hindsight, this was a major indicator of her condition.
“One I didn’t notice but in hindsight I probably had was a change in my bowel habits and blood in my poo,” she said.
Ellie emphasized that noticing blood in stool or changes in bowel movements, such as diarrhea, constipation, or unusual frequency, should never be ignored. The UK’s NHS advises looking out for softer stool, red or black blood in stool, or a persistent feeling of needing to go to the bathroom.
“Check your poo. I’m such an advocate for that,” Ellie urged.
4. Weight Loss and Appetite Changes
Ellie’s fourth symptom was a lack of appetite, which occasionally caused nausea.
“On official symptoms, this goes down as an unexplained weight loss,” she said. “For me, I wasn’t actually losing weight because the lack of appetite was quite infrequent. Most of the time, my appetite was fine. But in hindsight, I remember nausea and not wanting to eat as much, because my bowel obviously wasn’t normal.”
Unexplained weight loss or appetite changes, even if infrequent, can be significant and warrant a conversation with a GP.
A Critical Reminder
Ellie’s experience highlights the importance of knowing the signs of bowel cancer and seeking prompt medical advice if you notice persistent symptoms.
She has since amassed thousands of followers on social media as a “your cancer bestie”, as she has dedicated her time to help educate others and make them aware of symptoms that could be brushed off.
She believes recognizing the indicators sooner could have led to an earlier diagnosis, potentially before the cancer reached stage 4.
Per the NHS website, here are a list of key bowel cancer symptoms to watch for include:
- Changes in your poo, such as having softer poo, diarrhea, or constipation that is not usual for you
- Needing to poo more or less often than usual for you
- Blood in your poo, which may look red or black
- Bleeding from your bottom
- Often feeling like you need to poo, even if you’ve just been to the toilet
- Tummy pain
- A lump in your tummy
- Bloating
- Losing weight without trying
- Feeling very tired for no reason
If you experience any of these symptoms, don’t hesitate to consult your GP. Ellie’s story is a powerful call to action: checking your health — and even your stool — can be lifesaving.
Doctor reveals the one sound someone makes which means they have just 24 hours left to live
A doctor has explained what sound someone makes when they have roughly 24 hours left to live.
Dying, regrettably, is a part of life that we all have to go through at some point.
Sadly this usually means that we lose some of the ones we love along the way, and it never gets any easier.
If you’ve ever been with someone as they enter their final hours, you may have heard them make a sound known as the death rattle.
While this can be an extremely scary sound, there is a specific reason as to why it happens.
The death rattle is a common occurrence in the final hours of life, signaling that a person may have roughly 24 hours left to live, according to Dr. Daniel Murrell, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Alabama, Birmingham.
The sound occurs when individuals nearing death lose the ability to swallow or cough, leaving secretions in their respiratory tract that they can no longer clear.
While the noise may alarm loved ones, Dr. Murrell emphasizes that the death rattle is not painful for the individual.
As per the Daily Mail, he noted that this is part of the dying process.
The unsettling sound is caused by a buildup of secretions such as phlegm at the back of the throat.
Breathing patterns during this stage may vary, sometimes becoming loud or irregular, according to Medical News Today.
To ease the sound, caregivers can reposition the person, such as turning them on their side or elevating their head to allow secretions to drain.
Moistening the mouth with damp swabs may also provide some relief.
Steph Prescott, whose seven-year-old son Braiden died of neuroblastoma in 2016, described the harrowing moment she recognized her son’s death rattle.
“I woke at 3:00AM to hear what sounded like him choking,” said Steph via the Daily Mail. “I buzzed the nurse in, and they told me it was nearly time.”
Braiden, who had tumors on his jaw that had prevented him from speaking for days, surprised his family in his final moments.
He asked for a photo with his father before passing away.
“When he passed, we were shocked,” Steph shared. “You don’t ever want to think you’re losing your baby, but we knew it was coming.”
Though the death rattle and other end-of-life signs can be distressing, understanding them can help families prepare and provide care during a loved one’s final hours.
While it will undoubtedly cause concern, you can take solace in knowing that the death rattle causes no pain.
Expert issues warning why wearing leggings on a plane could kill you
An expert has issued a warning against wearing leggings while on airplanes.
Now, airport fashion is definitely a thing, but did you know that airplane fashion is also a thing but more from a health and safety point of view?
Christine Negroni, an expert who released a book on the world’s most mysterious air disasters, recently revealed why it may prove fatal to be wearing leggings while on board an aircraft.
Speaking to The Sun Travel, the author detailed the reasons why this particular choice of clothing should be avoided at all costs.
“You might have to escape through a cabin fire or there could be a separate fire on the ground once you leave the aircraft,” Negroni told the outlet. “Everyone is wearing yoga pants on planes now, but I avoid all artificial fibers because they are more likely to burn and stick to you if there is a fire.”
Instead, she advised people to wear “cotton clothes or anything made of natural fibers.”
There are a handful of other reasons why one should avoid wearing leggings on a flight including compression issues that can occur when wearing tight clothing for long periods of time and the potential for skin irritation which can also occur on long-haul flights when the friction of the material against the skin can become an issue.
Negroni also had some more advice on suitable attire just in case of emergencies while aboard an airplane, with one of her top tips being to keep your shoes on while you’re traveling.
“One of the best things people can do is put their shoes on for take-off and landing. This is still not required by many airlines and I think it ought to be,” she continued. “If you escape an aircraft, the floor could be very hot or cold, it might be covered in oil or on fire, or in a cornfield – you won’t want to be barefoot.”
The expert also urged people to “err on the side of caution,” by picking appropriate footwear.
“Pick sneakers over high heels, pick natural fibers over synthetic, and take tight-fitting clothes over loose-fitting,” she added.
So no heels or flip-flops – not even if you’re off to a hot country. The better pick would be sneakers or any other closed-toe shoe.
So there we have it guys, it’s better to be safe than sorry as things can sometimes take an unpredictable turn on board
