Jayestravellingadventures

My personal experience — from the first symptoms to recovery

It took 1 year and 4 months to get to this point, and looking back, I honestly can’t believe how much of a journey it has been.

March 2025 — Where it all started

In March 2025, I went for my birthday meal at Escapade. I had some amazing food and three grapefruit mocktails. That night, I was in absolute agony.

Because I’d been allergic to citric acid in oranges, pineapples etc. when I was younger, we naturally assumed it was the grapefruit and acid causing the problem.

But the pain started happening more and more, usually during the night, and it didn’t seem to matter what I had eaten.

So, I went to the doctors.

I had a telephone appointment and was prescribed Lansoprazole, which I took for around four months. The pain continued randomly, along with that horrible feeling of acid coming up into my throat.

I went back to the doctors when I’d run out of my tablets because I wanted some for my holiday in August.

The lady I spoke to on the phone was amazing. She showed genuine concern and, importantly, pointed out that nobody had actually examined me.

She asked me to come in.

And that was when the ball finally started rolling.

After blood tests and an ultrasound, they found polyps in my gallbladder and that my gallbladder was enlarged.

I was referred to the surgical unit.

Unfortunately, that appointment was awful.

I left the hospital crying and feeling completely deflated. I was told things like:

“How did you get an appointment so quickly?”

“Other people wait so long that their pain subsides.”

“You go to work, so you can’t be that bad.”

And there was so much more.

I work because I have bills to pay. I live on my own. And I also understand the pressure hospitals are under. Just because I can take painkillers, ride it out and go to work the next day doesn’t mean the pain isn’t real.

I was also put on so many different diets because they kept telling me it was my stomach rather than my gallbladder.

At one point, I literally ate cucumber for a week…

…and I STILL had the pain. 😂

Then, completely randomly, another ultrasound appointment came through my door. I was confused because I wasn’t expecting one.

I went along — and this scan showed that the polyps had grown.

That was worrying because they shouldn’t have been growing that quickly.

Eventually, I got another appointment at the surgical unit.

I was absolutely petrified.

So, naturally, I took my mum with me for moral support…

…and because she can be a bit of a Karen when required. 😂❤️

Thankfully, I saw a different consultant this time. I felt like he listened to me more, although he still wasn’t convinced that my gallbladder was the problem.

He wanted to rule out anything else first and referred me for a gastroscopy — a camera down your throat.

I got the phone call that same day and had the procedure booked within a week.

I was terrified.

But I was also high as a kite 😂 and the staff were absolutely amazing.

Thankfully, everything looked normal from a gastro point of view, and they felt it was likely that my gallbladder was causing the problems.

That was February.

Then, in June, I finally got the phone call I had been waiting for.

Surgery date: 7th July.

I had everything planned.

Then, on 1st July, I got another phone call.

My surgery had been cancelled because of the strikes.

I was devastated.

I was moved to 28th July and just kept everything crossed that this time it would actually happen.

Thankfully…

IT DID. 🥹

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Surgery Day 🏥

I had originally been told to arrive at 11am, which meant no food from 7:30am onwards.

I woke up and had some toast at 6:55am.

At 8:30am, I got a phone call asking if I could come into hospital early. I explained that I’d had some toast and they told me to come in as soon as possible anyway.

So I arrived at 9:45am.

I was checked in, saw the consultant and anaesthetist, and had everything explained to me.

By 10:40am, I was in my hospital gown and ready to go.

Because I had eaten breakfast, I was told I needed to wait a little longer.

At 1:40pm, I said goodbye to my mum and walked off towards the operating theatre.

The guys in theatre were absolutely lovely. We were chatting and laughing, they made me feel so comfortable. Before I knew it my eyes were closing.

At around 3:45pm, I woke up in recovery with an oxygen mask on.

My throat was instantly sore and scratchy because I’d been intubated during surgery.

I also had a plastic cover over my stomach because my incisions had been glued and they didn’t want them sticking to the hospital gown.

As soon as I was awake, I made an effort to sit up and not let the grogginess take over.

I had some yoghurt, lots of water and eventually a cup of tea and biscuits.

And because I’d been made to drink four cups of water before surgery…

…I was absolutely DESPERATE for the toilet.

So, at the grand old age of 26, I had to use a bedpan. 😂

I can confirm they are not easy to use.

After a couple of hours, I was given a blood-thinning injection into my thigh to help reduce the risk of blood clots after surgery, and around 7pm I was moved onto the ward.

I was itching to get up and move around, but they told me I had to wait.

Eventually, around 7:30pm, I was allowed to get up, go to the toilet and get changed.

I knew then that I was going home.

At 8pm, my cannula finally came out.

HOME TIME. 🥹❤️

The walk to the car was very slow and steady.

One thing I had read online was to take a pillow for the car journey and put it between your stomach and the seatbelt.

I am SO glad I did.

It was an absolute lifesaver.

⸻

The first few days

The first night was rough.

I couldn’t turn onto my side, so at 3am I was wide awake…

…and apparently decided that was the perfect time to spend most of my money on Temu. 😂

More things I absolutely did not need.

I was also waking up every couple of hours to go to the toilet because I couldn’t properly push or strain.

Every day since, I’ve just taken things slowly.

I’ve been getting up and going for little walks around the park and to our local shop.

I’m normally a very active person, so I wanted to keep moving as much as I safely could without pushing myself too far.

The pain has honestly felt like having done an extremely intense ab workout.

At around 10 days post-op, that feeling has pretty much gone.

The lower incision — where the gallbladder was removed — has been the most tender. If I bend over for too long, I can still get a burning sensation there.

And one thing I 100% recommend…

LOW AND BAGGY SHORTS. 😂

I haven’t been able to wear my normal shorts or trousers above my belly button, and I definitely haven’t wanted anything tight around my stomach.

So yes…

I’ve basically spent the last 10 days with my shorts hanging around my hips like a teenage boy. 😂

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Food after surgery 🍗

The food side of things has been interesting.

I’ve kept things fairly simple and lower fat — 50% reduced-fat cheese, wholegrain bread, chicken, rice etc.

I’ve also been eating smaller meals more frequently, around 5–6 times a day, rather than having a huge meal and overloading my stomach.

So far, I’ve been taking it slowly and seeing what my body agrees with.

And honestly, the biggest thing I’ve noticed?

THE ACID HAS GONE.

I haven’t had that horrible feeling of acid sitting in my throat since surgery.

That alone feels absolutely amazing.

And then there’s… the toilet situation. 😂

Trying to go to the toilet without pushing or straining has been an experience.

The best way I can describe it is:

Imagine you’re sitting on the toilet, scrolling through your phone, and you feel like there’s just a tiny bit more that needs to come out…

That is basically the feeling I’ve had constantly. 😂

My bowel movements have definitely been different, and I’m still getting used to what my “new normal” feels like.

⸻

So… was it worth it?

Honestly?

YES.

After 1 year and 4 months of pain, uncertainty, being told it was my stomach, changing my diet, taking medication and wondering what was actually wrong with me…

I can already feel a difference.

I know I’ve still got a way to go with recovery, and I’ve been told it can take around two months to really know how much of a difference removing my gallbladder has made.

But if the last 10 days are anything to go by, I’m feeling really hopeful.

I know everyone’s experience will be different, and this is just my personal experience of having my gallbladder removed.

But if you’re experiencing similar pain, don’t be afraid to keep pushing for answers and getting yourself checked.

For me, a year and four months of uncertainty has hopefully led to a lifetime of being able to enjoy food without that horrible pain.

And honestly…

If that’s what’s waiting for me at the end of this recovery, I’ll take it. ❤️