Almost a year ago I had a call from the GP who advised I had to make a few changes to my diet, exercise more and take vitamin D. Vitamin D was low and cholesterol was higher than they’d like.
So I decided to take up skipping ( as you do!) and make some other changes.
My goal was to start off with a hundred and build up. Suffice to say I did about 10 felt a twinge and took a breath, managed another 5 but the pain in my right side was too much.
I went to the doctor’s who diagnosed a muscle strain, but even with high strength pain management this didn’t help. A trip to Paris saw me trying to sleep sitting up, pain was excruciating.
I visited the osteopath who said he felt it was gallstones. I went back to the doctors who again reiterated a muscle strain.
By mid April and with little respite a third doctors.visit resulted in a variety of blood tests, MRI scan and ultrasound arranged.
There were a few hairy phone calls which really frightened me, and the ultrasound was the final test at the end of May. They found a gallstone measuring almost an inch.
What a relief that it was this. I got a consultation in July and it was about a four month wait for surgery.
A date in November had to be cancelled due to pre op assessments not being done in time. A rearranged date in December was cancelled once I’d been admitted as blood tests showed a slight infection.
I’ve been panicking about the rescheduled date as I need to be fit for our big trip.
So Monday was surgery date number 3 and finally the op has been done.
Now to recuperate and heal. It’s still early days, but as always I’m impatient to do things, but I have to be sensible.
I’ve looked into what can cause gallstones and it’s cholesterol or salts that build up. Low Vitamin D can also have a bearing. It can also be hereditary: my Mum had her gallbladder removed in 2001.
I’ve made dietary changes, and don’t drink alcohol, I try to walk as much as I can, and I am taking Vitamin D supplements too.
I hope that I feel the benefit of the surgery within the next week or so, and build up my strength for March.
My little life 