In mid 2020 around the time just before COVID hit the nation I started to get excruciating pain in my right side that radiated to my back the pain would be off and on but especially after a large meal. I went to the doctors and they immediately took some bloods which confirmed my liver bloods were high and was showing inflammation and I was added to a wait-list for an ultrasound.

A month had passed and I still hadn't heard back so I decided to take matters into my own hands and book a private scan.

I was confirmed to have a 4.8cm gallstone in my gallbladder they said it had been there a long time by the looks and probably explained the digestive issues and stomach issues in the past. That would explain the pain as I was eating the gallbladder was trying to do its job but the stone was getting in the way and blocking my bile duct from sending bile to break down the food I was eating.

I was put on a wait-list for surgery with the local hospital but they said it could be a few months due to COVID everything was put on hold with operations as they dealt with the pandemic.

I ended up in hospital three times with bouts of extreme pain and nausea, I remember thinking why aren't they listening to me this is serious and needs to be sorted I was given pain relief and sent home it was considered not enough of an emergency to operate and I was on a wait-list after all.

One day the pain got that extreme I collapsed on the floor of my flat, the pain was so bad I couldn't stand and my skin and eyes had turned yellow, I had this fear that my liver was shutting down on me. I phoned my friend who immediately came and found me rolling round on the floor in pain, she took me to the hospital and fought for me to get emergency surgery and she said to doctors and nurses I wasn't leaving until they did something. My blood tests confirmed my liver levels were thru the roof and the stone was stuck in the bile duct now. It must have had a sharp corner to it. After another scan I was booked for surgery the next morning.

The surgery went well and lucky the surgeon only had to do a laparoscopic cholesctomy so I had 4 little cuts the least invasive they said.

I remember that night after the operation the pain was absolute agony but knew they had done the right thing finally and saved my life I was still here.

It's now 4 years on from that ordeal and I would say to anyone with health problems don't give up you know your body if you think there is something wrong go to the doctors and get tests as soon as possible and push to get it sorted.

I now have health insurance I wish I had of at the time as unfortunately normal hospitals in New Zealand will only deal with things if they are emergencies.

I now am extremely careful what I eat I still can't eat certain fatty foods and I get some pain still in that area at times which has been diagnosed as post cholesctomy syndrome which is like phantom pains from where the gallbladder was. I was told by a nutritionist to eat a low fat Mediterranean diet and stay away from fatty takeaways and alcohol and drink lots of water my liver bloods are finally stabilized and I'm starting to feel semi myself again.

it's been a hard road for me but at least I'm still here, remember health is everything in life and you have to fight to get through it. I hope my story helps anyone who is or has gone thru major surgery or is in pain to get it sorted, your life may just depend on it.

Charz 2025