Influencer Yuli Vargas says a meal of contaminated sushi triggered a medical crisis that left her hospitalized for 23 days, undergoing high-risk surgery, and facing partial paralysis after suffering a stroke.
Keep reading to learn more.
What began as a suspected foodborne illness in August 2025 quickly escalated into a series of complications that affected multiple organs and left her fighting for her life.
Vargas, who shares content about chronic illness and health awareness, has since opened up about the frightening experience, describing days of relentless pain, weeks without eating normally, and the moment she had to confront the possibility that she might not survive surgery.
Her ordeal also led to diagnoses including severe gastrointestinal inflammation and systemic lupus erythematosus affecting her nervous system and pancreas. Following surgery, she reportedly suffered an ischemic stroke that left the right side of her face and body paralyzed.
Now, as Vargas continues working toward recovery, her story is raising important questions about food safety and the dangers of dismissing food poisoning as something that will simply pass. An infectious disease expert has also explained how certain foodborne infections can become life-threatening and and why some symptoms should never be ignored.
She Says Her Health Deteriorated After Eating Sushi
Vargas described the experience as a turning point in her life during an October 2025 interview with Need to Know.
“It all started when I ate sushi… which triggered a series of complications and diagnoses,” she recalled.
According to her account, she contracted severe Salmonella and typhoid fever infections after eating contaminated sushi in August 2025. Her condition subsequently deteriorated, leading to a 23-day hospital stay and a series of medical procedures.
What initially appeared to be food poisoning became much more complicated.
Vargas said doctors diagnosed her with pangastritis, moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis, pancreatitis, and inflammation of her gallbladder. She also underwent an endoscopy and a colonoscopy during the same week as her illness progressed.
The number of complications was overwhelming, and she eventually faced surgery that she described as particularly dangerous.
“I went through countless tests, procedures, and finally, an extremely risky surgery where I had to face reality: the odds of me making it out of the operating room alive were slim,” the influencer said.
Looking back on her hospitalization, Vargas struggled to find words to describe the experience.
“The pain and fear I felt throughout my hospitalization is something I don’t know how to explain,” she recalled.
She also described enduring nights of relentless pain that medication could not seem to relieve.
“I endured nights of incessant pain where no medication worked; not even heavy sedation could calm me,” she said.
For Vargas, the experience was not simply a difficult recovery from a stomach illness. It became a prolonged medical crisis that would change her mobility and force her to reconsider what recovery would look like.
The Influencer Spent 23 Days In Hospital And Went 16 Days Without Eating Normally
As her condition worsened, Vargas required intensive medical monitoring and assistance with nutrition.
She said she went 16 days without eating, receiving assisted feeding instead because of the severity of her illness.
“In those moments, between pain and despair, I was unable to sleep or drink water, unable to breathe properly because of the pain, and I went without food for 16 days because I was given assisted feeding,” she shared.
According to Vargas, doctors initially placed a feeding line in her arm. However, she said the line caused considerable pain, prompting them to use a central line inserted through her jugular vein to continue providing nutrition.
She later reported that the central line became infected several days afterward and had to be removed in an emergency.
Meanwhile, her gallbladder problems presented doctors with another difficult decision.
Vargas said her elevated pancreatic enzyme levels made the operation especially risky, leaving her facing the possibility that she might not survive the procedure.
“The doctors didn’t want to operate on me, and I had to accept that I might not survive,” she said.
For Vargas, that fear of not surviving became part of an already exhausting ordeal. But the complications did not end when the surgery was over.
A High-Risk Operation Was Followed By A Stroke And Partial Paralysis
Hours after her gallbladder procedure, Vargas said she suffered an ischemic stroke.
An ischemic stroke occurs when blood flow to part of the brain is blocked, depriving brain tissue of the oxygen and nutrients it needs. Depending on the area affected, a stroke can lead to weakness, paralysis, difficulties with speech, and other neurological problems.
In Vargas’ case, she reported paralysis affecting the right side of her face and body, adding another frightening complication to her hospitalization.
“The doctors were at a loss for what to do,” she recalled.
After further tests and examinations, Vargas said her doctors identified several conditions, including pangastritis, moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis, and systemic lupus erythematosus affecting her nervous system and pancreas.
Lupus is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own tissues. It can affect multiple organs, including the skin, joints, kidneys, heart, and nervous system, although the symptoms and severity vary considerably from person to person.
Vargas’ account describes a complex medical situation involving several diagnoses. However, the precise relationship between her infections, surgery, stroke, and lupus has not been independently established in the information available.
That distinction is important because a severe infection can contribute to serious complications, but it does not automatically explain every medical problem that follows.
For Vargas, the immediate challenge was surviving the hospitalization and beginning the difficult process of rebuilding her strength.
The Warning Signs Of Food Poisoning That Should Never Be Ignored
One of the most important lessons from Vargas’ experience is that foodborne illness should not always be dismissed as a temporary stomach upset.
Many cases cause symptoms that improve without specific treatment. Others, however, can lead to dehydration, bloodstream infections, or other serious complications requiring urgent medical care
Below are symptoms identified by the CDC that can indicate a more serious illness:
- Bloody diarrhea or stools: Blood in the stool can signal a potentially serious intestinal infection or another medical problem.
- Diarrhea lasting more than three days: Persistent symptoms warrant medical attention, particularly if they are worsening.
- A high fever: A temperature above 102°F, or approximately 39°C, is a warning sign.
- Repeated vomiting: Being unable to keep liquids down can quickly lead to dehydration.
- Signs of dehydration: Reduced urination, a dry mouth, dizziness, and unusual weakness can indicate that the body is losing too much fluid.
Confusion, severe weakness, or an inability to keep fluids down for hours should also prompt urgent medical evaluation. People experiencing severe symptoms should not wait for them to become unbearable before seeking help.
Some groups face a greater risk of serious foodborne illness, including young children, older adults, pregnant people, and individuals with weakened immune systems. They may need medical attention sooner.
How to Handle Seafood
Freezing seafood can kill certain parasites when the appropriate time and temperature requirements are followed, but it does not reliably eliminate harmful bacteria such as Salmonella.
That means proper sourcing, refrigeration, food handling, and preparation remain essential. Choosing cooked seafood instead of raw fish can reduce some of the risks associated with eating uncooked seafood.
People who are pregnant, immunocompromised, older, or otherwise at higher risk of severe foodborne illness should be particularly cautious about raw or undercooked fish and shellfish.
The aim is not to suggest that every sushi meal is dangerous. Rather, it is to recognize that raw seafood carries risks that cannot always be detected before eating it.
Yuli Vargas Is Now Working To Recover From Paralysis
After 23 days in the hospital, Vargas faced another difficult chapter: learning how to live with the consequences of her medical ordeal.
In a statement shared with her followers, she described her ongoing recovery from surgery and paralysis, including her efforts to regain mobility and return to everyday activities.
“I’m currently recovering from surgery and paralysis; I’m trying to get back to walking, eating, and moving,” she told her fans.
She also spoke about learning more about lupus and adjusting to life with the condition.
“I’m learning more about lupus and living it to the fullest, because when it hurts, it really hurts,” she said.
Vargas added that she was receiving several medications, including some intended to block the sensation of pain in the brain.
Her comments offer a glimpse into the challenges that can continue long after someone leaves the hospital. Recovery from a stroke can involve rehabilitation, physical therapy, and a gradual effort to regain movement and independence, depending on the nature and severity of the injury.
Vargas has not publicly detailed every aspect of her rehabilitation, and her long-term prognosis is not clear from the information available.
Still, her willingness to discuss the experience has helped bring attention to the potential seriousness of foodborne infections and the lasting effects that a major medical crisis can have on someone’s life.
Share this with others who might be interested in learning how eating sushi can cause such a reaction.
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