Gallbladder Surgery | Symptoms, Surgery & Recovery

Long detailed, but hopefully helpful, post.

I am anxious at the best of times but when I was told I would need my gallbladder removed I big scale panicked.

Symptoms

It all began last Christmas Eve when I fell ill at work. I suddenly developed a searing pain below my ribs, just above my stomach, 10 minutes after declaring that the bacon sandwich I had just eaten was 'the most delicious I think I had ever had'. Darn you wonderful tasting breakfast treat.

I went home on the train crying and doubled over in pain. As it was Christmas Eve the train was packed and I think people presumed I was drunk on merriment and too much prosecco. The same horrendous pain lasted all week up until New Year's Day. Christmas well and truly ruined. 

I went to the doctors on 29th January when they reopened and described my symptoms. I was told it sounded like acid reflux and to take Omeprazole twice a day for a month. Great, I thought, but I wasn't getting any reflux. The pain eased off though and I thought that would be the end of it.

March rolled around and lo and behold two days before my birthday I developed the same pain again at work. Again I was doubled over with what I can only describe as an acidic, burning feeling sitting in my stomach high up below my ribcage. I was sick numerous times and couldn't stand up straight. My colleagues were understandably worried and paid for a taxi to send me home. I'm so grateful that I didn't have to fend for myself on the train. My birthday rolled around and I couldn't eat anything without vomiting and I was writhing around in pain for six days. 

I saw a different doctor this time and she said the same as the previous, take Omeprazole. I explained I wasn't getting any reflux but because the pain felt acidic and almost 'gurgley' she felt this was the right course of action. In all honesty I was in so much pain I didn't have the energy to try and argue and presumed this would help.

I got the same pains in June, July and August. Each time getting progressively worse as the pain was now radiating through to my back.

I was sent for an urgent gastroscopy. This was awful. I decided not to be sedated as it would take less than 10 minutes so I opted for the numbing throat spray instead. This whole procedure was horrendous. I won't go into details but no abnormalities were found except a slight build up of bile at the bottom of my stomach.

Following this and a few tears at the doctors I was sent for an abdominal ultrasound. This found 'a few small stones' in my gallbladder. This made SO much sense after googling (never do this, the 'you're on your death bed' thoughts sprung up immediately) as gallstone symptoms were exactly what I had been experiencing particularly the pain radiating through to my back with the symptoms returning on and off every few months. 

Surgery

I am very fortunate to have private healthcare through my work. I, along with the help of my incredibly wonderful and patient Mum, got everything sorted to go privately and the ball was rolling almost immediately. I saw a consultant who was lovely and reassuring and my keyhole surgery to remove my gallbladder was booked in for 17 days later.

This is when the panic kicked in. I had never had surgery before and despite everyone and their cat telling me I would  be fine I couldn't help but worry that I wouldn't wake up or that I would wake up MID surgery. 

But, everyone is right. Going under general anaesthetic is oddly a non-event. The lovely nursing team held my hand and were so incredibly patient. They were talking to me about beach holidays and the next thing I know I'm awake and the surgery complete. I was groggy and confused for about four or five hours but I was discharged the same evening and was allowed home to my own bed. 

Recovery

I was advised to take two weeks off work for recovery which was most definitely needed. The following morning I couldn't pull myself up to rearrange the pillows, I couldn't stand up straight when walking to the bathroom and I had to sleep on my back for the first week. I didn't feel sick though which was good as I can't imagine having to suddenly leap out of bed. Ouch. 

I had four separate wounds. One in the middle below my ribcage, one on my navel and two to the right of this. They were all so much smaller than I imagined and the nurse seemed pleased with how they looked when I left the hospital. 

I am now two weeks in to recovery and I feel much better than I did 12 days ago. My wounds are still covered in the glue they put on after surgery. I was advised not to get them too wet for the first few days and to dry them delicately wth kitchen towel. Since then I have been careful too but showering normally. 

I have been eating a normal diet since surgery but trying to keep it low in fat. As the gallbladder is no longer there working to break down fats, my liver is now constantly dripping bile into my intestine and I don't want it to overwork. Although the chocolates that friends and family have kindly bought me have gone down a treat so there has been some fat in my diet!

I have a follow up appointment with my surgeon on Monday and I have my fingers and toes crossed that he thinks surgery went ok and that I'm making good progress.

To anyone in a similar position having the same symptoms I had in the last 10 months, I advise you consider having surgery to remove your gallbladder. The pain, if like mine, is a million times worse than waking up from the anaesthetic dazed and confused. 

I hope this has helped answer some questions you may have been wondering or worrying about prior to surgery.

Alex 

A Very Important Date

The Sanderson Hotel - Oxford Street. From £48

Not long ago I mentioned my love for Afternoon Tea and those feelings have most certainly been re-confirmed recently.

Not that I ever doubted they had left.

My best friend and I have missed eachother's birthdays in the last year as she has been gallivanting all around the globe - leaving me behind in dreary England - and she will soon be heading off on another adventure. In a double celebration, come farewell, we decided to treat ourselves to an afternoon filled with tea, mini sandwiches and cakes for days. This was all with a wonderful, magical twist. It was Alice in Wonderland themed.

The Sanderson Hotel has been hosting this affair for a little while now and my lovely friend Gemma first introduced it to me a couple of years ago. I don't know why it took me so long to pay a visit.

It comprised of all the usual offerings of an afternoon tea - pretty china, a selection of teas and the (obligatory) option of having Champagne *raises hand*. There was so much detail it really felt like we had fallen down the rabbit hole.

We both chose the 'Queen of Hearts' tea followed by a second (and possibly a third) round of the miniature Croque Monsieur. Well if they're going to offer! We were in fried bread and melted cheese heaven. These photographs really don't do all the details justice. The staff were incredibly welcoming and did a good job in encouraging us to have a second round of, well, everything.

The final round of treats consisted of marshmallow toad-stalls, mini banana cake and a delicious mango smoothie in an adorable glass bottle with a 'Drink Me' on it. You don't need to tell me twice.

This is the perfect place for a celebration, ideal for Mother's Day coming up. I know my mum would love the sweet details, especially being able to see and smell the tea before choosing as she is a bit of a tea connoisseur.

Top Tip 
If you have the choice, definitely try and get a table in the pretty courtyard outside - It has a much better atmosphere than inside which looked a little dark and dingy. With the outdoor heaters you'll never know it's mid February and -2 degrees!

Three Days in Dublin

January is always a bit of a slow and miserable start to the year. Christmas has gone, it's cold and supermarkets are wishing the year away as Easter eggs come on sale as soon as the New Year's Eve fireworks are complete. (QQ: what is that about?)

For the last three years, Jonny and I have gone on mini adventures for our Anniversary, brightening up the start of the year. So far we have been to Paris, Edinburgh and this year we took ourselves off to Dublin. I feel like we have nailed the long weekend away now, focusing more on the location of the hotel rather than the room itself and booking last minute to get the best deals - £24 return flights, anyone? Oh yes.

I loved this card I found Jonny for our anniversary. Scribbler's finest.

We stayed at Temple Bar Inn on recommendation from a friend and I didn't realise quite how central it was until we got lost and discovered how far afield we had walked by mistake. It's a fun, modern hotel with THE comfiest bed I have ever experienced which made for tricky early wake ups. We were round the corner from all the sights and must sees, Trinity College, Ha'penny Bridge and Grafton Street which had a department store that even Jonny didn't mind window shopping in. 

We found a couple of sweet little cafes for breakfast each morning and tasted potentially the best coffee in a place called Bean Hive. The staff were incredibly helpful and friendly, as all the Irish tend to be, and we were a little sad we hadn't discovered it on our first day.

We decided to go all out on our first evening and have dinner on the other side of the River Liffey in a place called The Winding Stair. After climbing the creaky staircase you reach the Cosy shabby chic restaurant with the perfect setting overlooking the river. For once I wasn't the one with food envy as I chose pork terrine followed by the most delicious roast chicken with polenta chips and gravy. Simple but perfect for the cold wintry evening.

The following night we ate at a burger place called The Counter where you can customise your own burger from scratch. Perfect for trying out something you wouldn't normally dare to add. It was a great little find, I just wish there were others around the UK. I was too engrossed in the food and completely forgot to snap some photos. You're going to have to believe me when I say it was good.

We couldn't go to Dublin and not visit the Guinness Storehouse. It was such a lovely sunny (albeit cold) day so we walked there and back from our hotel. Even if you don't like Guinness it was an interesting place to stroll round.

Please excuse the glare - There was nothing stopping that sunshine!

You each get a coupon for a free pint of Guinness (score!) and Jonny and I decided to learn how to pour our own. It was great fun learning how to do it the proper way and to top it all off we enjoyed it from the Gravity Bar which showcased a beautiful 360 degree view on the sunny day we lucked out on.

I would love to re-visit Dublin in the summer when we can make the most of St Stephan's Green and stroll around in the slightly warmer weather. It's such a beautiful, small and welcoming city and I would definitely stay at Temple Bar Inn again in the future.

Hello 2016!

Everyone loves a New Year's resolution and apparently I love to make the same promises to myself every January along the lines of; 'I will blog more often and eat less chocolate'. Seems straight forward enough but I am also queen of excuses.

I bought myself a new nifty camera - one that won't weigh me down when browsing exciting cities but one that takes non blurry photos, hurrah! So I will most certainly be putting it to good use on this blog and posting as regularly as I can!

I'm heading to Dublin next weekend and I can't wait to document it for you. Watch out for that!

 

TTFN x

Wonderfully Warm

Wonderfully Warm by yesrem featuring a forever 21 beanie

Afternoon Tea by the Sea

I love Afternoon Tea. What's better than having a pot of tea followed by sandwiches and scones and then more sandwiches if you're feeling particularly peckish and finally finished off with some mini desserts. All whilst served on pretty China with minute jam pots and a sweet little cake stand that I have to resist not taking home with me. It's ok, I settle with taking all the desserts I couldn't quite manage home with me instead. It's so quintessentially British and quaint. 

My Grandmother treated my mum on her birthday to Afternoon Tea at The Roslin Hotel by the sea. Luckily for my brother and I we were invited along too. It was during the heat wave we had last week and we had a perfect spot by the window with a beautiful view. Plus we decided to throw a bottle of champagne into the proceedings too. As my mum put it, 'it would be rude not to!'. 

 

If anyone lives in the area I would highly recommend this hotel especially on a sunny day with a glass of bubbly. The location and choice of food, not to mention the spa treatments is has to offer is brilliant. The only minor gripe I had with the selection of tasty miniature offerings was the raisins in the scones. My plate looked like a raisin graveyard. Please think of those who like their scones sans raisins - Thanking you kindly.

Afternoon Tea wasn't the only sweet treat of the day. I ensured my Mum started her day with cake too as I bought her some delicious Hummingbird Bakery cupcakes.  Red Velvet, Black Bottom and Carrot Cake. It's safe to say we were full to the brim by the end of the day but definitely worth it. If not on your birthday then when can you? 

On a fashion side note, I made the most of the unusually hot weather and wore a Topshop floral midi dress with tie side detail . Unfortunately I didn't get a successful shot of the dress (Mother dearest isn't too snap happy but as it was her birthday I forgave her!) so please excuse this candid photograph. It's slightly out of my comfort zone as I wouldn't normally choose something quite so bold but I absolutely love the side detail with the contrasting pretty print.

Where would you recommend I go to Afternoon Tea next? I've got my eyes on the Mad Hatter's Tea at The Sanderson in London.

 

Alex x

Going to the Chapel

I'm not one of those girls that enjoys planning an outfit for a night out, in fact I dread it - Quite the opposite to Gemma, my YouTube partner in crime, as I'm sure she enjoys this part more than the night out itself! I find it all a bit stressful. Traipsing the shops with something in mind only to come home empty handed and disappointed is not my idea of fun. Last minute is more my thing.

Wedding guest shopping on the other hand, I ruddy love! I don't know if it's the novelty of dressing up for a different occasion or the wedding itself but either way I love scrolling my way through the 'occasion wear' section on ASOS and flicking my way through the rails in Topshop.

 

My friend Tasha married her fiancé last weekend in the most beautiful ceremony and seaside themed reception so of course I needed a suitable ensemble. I am of a, let's say, porcelain complexion and have never dreamed of being a bronzed goddess but for once I decided to embrace my auburn hair and freckle-a-plenty face and chose an orangey-red midi dress. Scrolling for hours paid off, hurrah! 

 

The midi style suited the formal occasion and the backless detail and bold colour added an edge. I was actually surprised at how comfortable I felt in it and I'm now eagerly waiting for another event to wear it to. 

 

I had been eyeing up the Aldo pointy heels for a fair while, adding them to my ASOS basket months in advance before plucking up the courage to part with the money. But I'm so glad I did as I absolutely love them. The metallic heel and nude leather worked so perfectly with the vibrant dress. Plus I was able to thriftily recycle the nude bag and fascinator that I wore to Gemma's wedding. Outfit compete! Did my feet feel the same level of affection for the shoes? Erm, no. 

Of course the only dress everyone was looking out for was the bride's and good heavens it was beautiful. Such a simple but elegant design and Tasha looked perfect. The bridesmaids looked beautiful in blue and mirrored Tasha's dress with the low cut v neckline. 

 

I'm sad the celebrations are over so I can only imagine how the bride and groom are feeling. Congratulations Tasha & Greg!

A Weekend in Edinburgh

In recent years I have been determined to see different countries and explore different cities but it occurred to me that I have barely seen the UK and what it has to offer. When I was little we would holiday in Devon or Cornwall almost every year so my summer holiday memories were quintessentially British but besides that I haven't ventured much further afield.

For our 3 year anniversary, Jonny and I decided to visit Edinburgh. A few people I  know plus a couple of bloggers had recently been and only had good things to say so we booked the short flight, a well-priced little hotel near the castle and we were away.

We took the tram from the airport to the city centre and luckily for us it stopped right outside our hotel, Cityroomz. We had booked this hotel on a bit of a whim, not really sure where the ideal location would be but we were pleasantly surprised. It was modern, right in the heart of the city and most importantly, warm. It turns out Scotland really is as cold as people make out - especially in January.

We took a stroll to Edinburgh castle. I say a stroll, I mean a climb. WARNING: Edinburgh is hilly. Unfortunately we reached the castle an hour before closing so we only had time to wonder around the main areas. If you are planning on visiting I would definitely recommend allowing 2 hours to see everything - The views are incredible and we were lucky enough to go on a fresh clear afternoon so could see for miles.

The following day we decided to walk down the Royal Mile to Arthur's Seat. As we turned the corner and saw the main peak of the group of hills which form Holyrood Park I started to question my Nike trainers. Walking boots seemed to be a more fitting choice of shoe on first glance. We didn't reach the summit but the views from half way were still very impressive and we enjoyed the scenery with a much deserved Mars bar.

The architecture really reminded me of Paris with its grand Georgian Terraces in the new town and the nooks and crannies in the old town. Behind Princes Street, in and amongst all of the higher end shops we stumbled across a really pretty looking restaurant called Gusto. It had fairly lights covering the outside and looked so pretty that we booked a table for dinner and I'm so glad we did. We sat upstairs above the kitchen so we could nosy at all of the orders going out. I had serious food envy though as Jonny had chosen pan seared duck breast with all kinds of delicious looking sides. We had such a lovely meal and it was even better that we had booked it on an off chance that it might be worthwhile and it definitely was.

Edinburgh is such a beautiful, friendly city and we have already planned to go back in the Summer for the Fringe Festival. I'm looking forward to re-visiting when the climate's a little less harsh!

2014 - A Year in Photos

A New Year often starts with big ideas that usually don't flourish into concrete plans. But, for once, 2014 exceeded my expectations and it was a very busy year. It was one of travelling from cold climates to humid along with some lovely catch ups with old chums.

January

2 years with Jonny was celebrated with a weekend away in Paris. We did all the classic touristy things, saw the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, had chocolate crepes... It was such a lovely 2 days exploring the city - or should I say walking for miles and getting lost. But what a beautiful city to get well and truly lost in.

February

A slightly more unusual venture this month to Iceland with my travel buddy, Ness. As previously mentioned I wasn't sure what to expect on this long weekend away as we had jam packed it full of adventures and exploring from seeing the Northern Lights to snorkeling in 2 degree water. It was the most incredible 4 days and I am dying to go back. Since we have been a few of my friends have also visited and felt the same love for it as we did. Maybe another visit will be on the cards soon.

March

I turned the grand old age of 23 and spent the day in Brighton with Jonny. I had only been once before on a fleeting visit and drive along the seafront so this time we got to explore The Lanes and the penny machines on the pier. I decided then and there that I'd like a little (huge) house along the seafront one day. I can dream, right?


July

My lovely friend Gemma tied the knot with her husband Mat in the prettiest of ceremonies (and most gorgeous dress might I add). Such a lovely day and the rain even held off for photographs. Perfect.

Also in July, my bestest pal Ness started her year off around the world and 2 weeks later I joined her in Vietnam. At the start of the year I never would have imagined that I would be brave enough to board a flight on my own to meet my friends half way across the globe. I was so proud of myself - even though I did shed a little tear saying bye to my parents fearing that I'd get lost going through security at Heathrow let alone make it in once piece in Hanoi.

We traveled all the way from the North, along the East Coast down to Saigon in the South. It wasn't a 5* getaway with 18 hour bus rides, long ferry journeys and trekking for what felt like miles trying to find a hostel, but I wouldn't have changed it for anything and it has made me want to see more of Asia and explore that side of the world.

Vietnam is such a beautiful country, filled to the brim with the most friendly of people and hundreds upon thousands of scooters. I'm so grateful that I was able to visit and see it for myself.

September

A little getaway to Majorca at the end of this month was an added bonus to an already travel busy year. It was an ideal holiday to finish off the Summer months on a very picturesque little island, regardless of the rather temperamental weather we experienced.

This post is mainly a little reflection for me as the year went by in a flash so it's nice to see that I actually did something with the 12 months! Here's to 2015 being equally as exciting and memorable.

Bimbling in Bath

My boyfriend was treated to a weekend in beautiful Bath by his parents for completing his Masters degree and luckily for me he couldn't really go alone.

We stayed at The County Hotel and I can't begin to explain how lovely it was. From the location to the view from our window, everything was perfect.

It was only a 5 minute stroll to the main part of town and there we were spoilt for choice on places to eat. Having said that we ate at Bill's which although now a trendy place to dine, neither of us had been before so we decided to give it a go! The burger (surprise, surprise) didn't disappoint and neither did the sneaky little glass of wine.

It was a beautiful evening and we saw Bath in all it's pretty glory. The next day it poured down so it's a good job we took photographs when we did.

The following morning we went to the famous baths. They were right in the centre of the town which isn't at all how I imagined them. They didn't disappoint though and we spent hours wondering around listening to the audio describing each section of the historical setting. It's crazy to think that they haven't yet discovered all of the baths and they could still be lying beneath the streets of the city. I'd like to go back in years to come and see what else has been excavated.

We couldn't go to Bath and not walk to see the Royal Crescent. I didn't realise it would be such a climb but it was worth it as the Red Arrows flew over in formation just as we collapsed on the green in the photo above. I didn't manage to get a photo of them but they seemed to arrive just in time as the sky took a turn for the worse.

That night we went for a dinner at a place called The Stable which had been recommended to us. They have a few restaurants that are mainly located on the South Coast. Heading downstairs into what felt like a cosy basement we were lucky enough to get the last table. Jonny was over the moon at the idea of getting 5 randomly selected ciders to taste while I was more interested in the crazy pizza toppings on offer. In the end I went with roast lamb with sweet potato and caramelised onions. Pretty much a roast dinner on a pizza, it doesn't get much better than that.

I would definitely recommend The Stable if you're visiting Bath, great location and even better grub.

All in all a beautiful city which I would recommend to everyone and I'm hoping for another visit next summer.

Vietnam #1

South East Asia was on my bucket list, as I think it is for a lot of people but I never imagined I would have the chance to visit quite so soon. My best friend is off travelling around the world for 15 months beginning in Asia so I couldn't ignore the idea of visiting her along the way. Vietnam was thrown into a conversation one evening and it was set, I would be flying out to see her for 2 weeks to explore the country from Hanoi all the way down to Ho Chi Minh City in the South.

On previous trips we have organised everything down to a T from transport to hotels to day trips. This time we decided to be more relaxed and we planned as we went, booking sleeper buses and hostels from recommendations we heard along the way. This meant that if we wanted to stay somewhere for longer because we loved the city or wanted to put off a long journey for lazy purposes then we could.

It was the most fun (and most humid) two weeks so I wanted to jot down a few pointers for people thinking of traveling to this side of the world. Things that I found helpful and things that I wish I had taken!

1. Injections
Arrgghh. Not what you want to be thinking of when you're planning an exciting holiday. Going to Vietnam I needed a Hepatitis A and Typhoid inoculation. These were done on the NHS free of charge and I was lucky enough not to need to splash out on Malaria tablets as we were sticking to the East coast. Make sure you read up on what you do and don't need, different nurses may give you different options.

2. Rucksack with a front opening
Ok, so this is more of a luxury than a necessity. Rummaging around in a 6 person dorm at 2 in the morning trying desperately trying to find your toothbrush and toothpaste is not the one. I invested in a rucksack which I could open from the front so I could see everything in the bag. I like to think I'm a patient person but not being able to locate something in my bag easily and quickly is something I like to avoid. I bought this lovely Lowe Alpine number. God bless you little huge bag.

3. A good camera
My biggest regret is not taking my Canon 500D D SLR. I decided to pack light and was worried that my camera would get damaged or stolen as we were staying in hostels and had numerous sleeper bus journeys. If I could go back I would definitely pack this camera - The quality absolutely outweighs the pain it would have been to carry around everywhere. If like me you love taking photographs and documenting your journeys then don't even hesitate to take the best camera you own!

4. Write down & listen to recommendations
Going without a plan is exciting and spontaneous. That is until you have to decide the next stop and have no idea where to go or stay. We chatted to a lot of people we met in our hostels who had already done the journey we were planning to do and this was a great opportunity to get recommendations of great places to stay and where to avoid! This is not only a sociable way of meeting people but it also saves time and attempting to find WiFi for researching purposes.

5. Money App
Getting money out for the first time in Vietnam there was slight confusion to say the least. The currency is so huge with 35,000 dong equating to £1 so paying 100,000 dong to get a bus to our hotel I felt like I was being robbed. To save time and embarrassment in restaurants and shops I used the XE currency app which meant I could work out how much I was spending with the click of a button.

A few handy hints and tips here to make your trip that little bit smoother!

L'Amour

Sweatshirt - H&M (similar)

Blouse - Pull & Bear

Jeans - Topshop

Vans - Schuh

Bag - Zara (old)

British Summer Time, you devious little thing. One minute there's blue sky and no breeze the next there's gale force winds and a weather warning. Ok, I joke - slightly - but the British weather is definitely something you have to get used to. 

Take this particular morning for example, I initially went for a skirt and blouse combo but stepping out of my front door I realised that bare legs just wouldn't cut it. It did however, give me a chance to debut this sweatshirt from H&M. Whistles have a number of these slogan sweatshirts on the go at the moment but the price tag of this H&M one was far more suited to me. I rarely wear white due to my 'Casper-like' complexion but paired with dark jeans and a collared blouse it works well. Perfect for a Summer evening layering piece too.

The chilly weather didn't stop us from eating al-fresco and devouring this amazing Meatball Focaccia from Strada. Not the best choice of meal given the colour of my jumper. Live and learn!