A 22-year-old woman, JT, had a history of stomach ulcers and was prescribed antibiotics and stomach acid-controlling medications. However, her parents believed her personality change was caused by the medications and stopped them. JT turned to herbal supplements and later discovered gummy antacids, which she began eating excessively. One morning, she ate 108 gummy antacids, leading to severe hypercalcemia. The high calcium levels in her blood caused her kidneys to shut down, leading to massive water loss, seizures, and eventual permanent kidney damage. JT was hospitalized and put on dialysis, and doctors warned her about the dangers of excessive antacid consumption. The incident highlights the risks of self-medicating with over-the-counter calcium carbonate and the importance of following medication instructions carefully.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. JT, a 22-year-old woman, was taken to the emergency room after eating 108 gummy antacids for breakfast.
2. JT had a history of stomach pain and was diagnosed with a bleeding ulcer in high school.
3. She was prescribed antibiotics and medicine to control her stomach acid, but her parents stopped giving her the antibiotics due to concerns about their effects on her mental health.
4. JT started taking herbal supplements to calm her stomach and eventually switched to gummy antacids.
5. She ate 108 gummy antacids in one sitting, which led to her hospitalization.
6. JT's blood test revealed that she had hypercalcemia, a condition characterized by high levels of calcium in the blood.
7. The high calcium levels in JT's blood caused her kidneys to shut down and led to seizures.
8. Calcium has a plus 2 charge and can block signals in the body, leading to muscle weakness and brain fog.
9. The kidneys use electricity to balance plus and minus charges, and high calcium levels can disrupt this process.
10. JT's excessive urination was caused by the high calcium levels, which prevented her kidneys from holding onto sodium.
11. The high calcium levels also led to the formation of solid salts in JT's kidneys, causing permanent damage.
12. JT was diagnosed with Milk Alkali Syndrome, a condition caused by excessive consumption of calcium carbonate.
13. The condition was treated by rehydrating JT and administering medicines to force her kidneys to excrete calcium in the urine.
14. JT's blood calcium levels decreased over time, and she regained consciousness.
15. Despite her recovery, JT's kidneys were permanently damaged, and she was put on dialysis.