‘My bra scratched me, I obtained a flesh consuming bug and a part of my boob eliminated’

Sylvia Halcrow, a 53-year-old civil servant from Lerwick, Shetland, Scotland, believes the metallic in her underwire bra triggered a scratch that finally led to a harmful bacterial an infection often known as necrotising fasciitis.

Sylvia’s ordeal started in May 2022 when she seen a lump on her breast, which shortly was a painful abscess.

She noticed her GP and was prescribed antibiotics, however the ache intensified over the course of some days. Concerned about her deteriorating situation, Sylvia attended A&E.

Doctors then undertook a collection of checks on the abscess, which was on her proper breast, and was diagnose with a bacterial an infection known as necrotising fasciitis.

She stated: “I just knew something wasn’t right and so I took myself to A&E, I was in so much pain. When I walked in the nurse looked at me and rushed me straight though.

“I used to be completely gray within the face. It was actually scary. They did a number of checks and pumped me with drugs and ache reduction, however nothing was serving to. The medical doctors had been stumped for a number of days, I did not know what was going to occur.”

Sylvia spent two days in Gilbert Bain Hospital and was then flown by coast guard helicopter and prepped for surgery to remove the abscess at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, on May 5, 2022.

She was told her organs were shutting down and had to undergo surgery. She was placed into an induced coma for eight days and woke to some of her breast removed and a 15 inch scar from her arm to her ribs.

Sylvia said: “I got here very near not surviving it in any respect so I’m very grateful certainly. It’s scary to suppose this was attributable to my bra. I’ve swapped to a special type now with out underwiring simply in case.”

She said having part of her breast removed is “onerous” as “it would not at all times look very good, particularly in summery clothes” but overall she said “the principle factor is that I’m alive and right here to inform the story.”

Since her recovery, Sylvia has returned to work and is determined to raise awareness about necrotising fasciitis. She organised a fundraising session at the local agricultural auction, raising £2,000 for the Lee Spark Foundation, a charity dedicated to supporting those affected by the disease.

She said: “I do not at all times really feel my greatest now in sure garments as there’s a number of boob lacking, issues do not dangle fairly proper. But I’m so glad I’m alive after practically not making it, I pressure myself to suppose positively.

“I’ve totally chucked bras with underwire, although we don’t know for sure, I’m certain that’s what caused this whole thing. It’s just not worth the risk.”

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