17-day coma, peeling, blood blisters in the mouth: a woman's ordeal after taking Ibuprofen for her periods

La jeune femme explique avoir eu l’impression “de brûler de l’intérieur”. MAXPPP – Emma BUONCRISTIANI

Une Brésilienne de 31 ans s’est exprimée dans les colonnes du Sun pour raconter l’enfer qu’elle a vécu.

In 2011, Brazilian Jaqueline Gmack found herself in a coma after taking an ibuprofen tablet to soothe her painful periods. Aged 31 today, she tells Sun about her ordeal and recalls the numerous operations she underwent.

"I felt like I was burning from the inside"

Subject to painful periods, the young woman had taken an Ibuprofen tablet. But two days later, she started to feel a slight itching in her eye.

Shortly after, his entire face is covered in burns and peeling. The young woman had blood blisters on her skin and in her mouth. She explains : "I’felt like I was burning from the inside".

Placed on a respirator, Jacqueline Gmack remained in an artificial coma for almost 17 days: "My whole body was bandaged and my vision was very blurry".

🚨WOMAN "BURNED FROM INSIDE OUT" AFTER TAKING IBUPROFEN?!

Jaqueline Gmack, 31, from Brazil, took ibuprofen for period pain and ended up in a 17-day coma after developing Stevens-Johnson syndrome.

The severe reaction caused her to "burn from the inside out" and left her vision… pic.twitter.com/VRDu63Olol

— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) May 7, 2024

A "miracle" that she survived

A diagnosis is quickly put forward: the young Brazilian suffers from Stevens-Johnson syndrome, a very rare condition caused by the body's excessive reaction to medications. In particular, medicines against epilepsy, analgesics and anti-inflammatories.

With this condition, the body attacks its own skin cells, causing blisters and burning symptoms. Untreated, this syndrome can be fatal.

For doctors, it’is a real "miracle" that the young woman "survived". Since 2011, Jaqueline has undergone more than 24 operations, such as cornea, amniotic membrane and stem cell transplants, reports The Sun.

She currently has about 40% vision and will need bi-monthly exams to monitor her eyes for the rest of her life.