“The muscles in my neck are basically paralyzed, preventing me from lifting my head,” said Alicia Hallock from the ICU.
Alicia Hallock
Alicia Hallock
Alicia HallockKnown as @alihallock on TikTok and Instagram, shared a scary health experience on social media that landed her in the ICU.
“I had a rare complication from my Botox injections for migraines,” the 35-year-old wrote Instagram. “It has spread to my neck muscles, causing various problems. My eyelids are droopy, leading to significant pressure, blurred vision and dizziness.”
He continued, “The muscles in my neck are practically paralyzed, preventing me from lifting my head. I have to wear a neck brace to support my head in an upright position; otherwise, I can’t stabilize it. In addition, I’ve developed dysphagia [difficulty swallowing], which was the most troubling aspect of this ordeal. There have been times when I’ve choked on sips of water, even my own saliva.”
“My speech is very affected. It’s slurred and hoarse. A speech therapist is helping to retrain my muscles and evaluate my vocal cords,” she added.
According to American Migraine Foundation, Botox is an FDA-approved treatment for chronic migraines, defined as headaches occurring 15 or more days per month. The procedure involves injecting Botox into the muscles around the face, head and neck to interrupt pain pathways.
However, if the toxin in the product spreads beyond the intended treatment area, it can cause botulism, a condition that can lead to progressive muscle paralysis. FDA.
A few days after Hallock’s original post, she did Instagram again to share an update with her followers, saying she temporarily stopped breathing after mucus got stuck in her throat.
“They had to put me in bags to raise my oxygen levels and keep me from tanning. It was very scary. I’m relatively well now, but I’m on oxygen. I’ve had a few less severe episodes since then,” she wrote.
“They gave me the botulism antitoxin yesterday that was sent here from the CDC, we’ll see how things go today and decide if they want to do a second dose or not. It won’t reverse anything that’s already attached to the muscle, but it might prevent things from getting worse,” she added, explaining how doctors give her the drugs through feeding tubes.
Related: How to proof your migraine life
But in the most recent one TikTok videos from the hospital, she expressed feeling more “scared and horrified” than ever. In the video, she takes off her neck brace to show people how she can’t hold her head up on her own.
“I know it’s a little scary and scary to watch and I’m sure none of you expected this to be my reality, even with what I’ve shared here so far,” she captioned the video. “Well, I apologize. But, this is where I am right now. And I just wanted to show you my flickering head and let everyone know that I’m fighting and I’m doing fine right now.”
Related: Khloé Kardashian Says She Skipped 2024 People’s Choice Awards Due to ‘Extreme Migraine’
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Since sharing her story, people have taken to social media comments to share positive thoughts about Hallock.
“God you are so amazing I am so proud of you and I am sending constant prayers,” one user commented on her recent Instagram post.
“We love you Ali!!! Hang in there xoxo,” wrote another.
Alicia Hallock
Alicia Hallock
Speaking to PEOPLE on Tuesday, Hallock’s husband Brian shared how his wife was in the hospital for a total of 18 days.
“He just got permission to come home today,” she says. “She has had a feeding tube placed directly into her stomach called a peg tube and will continue to be fed for the next 8-12 weeks or until her symptoms have subsided enough for her to eat on her own.”
“She will continue to have nurses at home to come and help her with various things here at home, including a dietitian, a speech therapist and when the time is right, occupational and physical therapists as well,” he added.
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