gallstones?

9th August 2013

I came home from work as usual and didn't want my tea!! Very unusual. Went down the fields to see my donkeys and found I couldn't push a wheelbarrow without pain in my stomach area. Felt like I had pulled every muscle in my middle but couldn't work out how. my day job involves driving/computing, visiting people..........just didn't make any sense.

10th-11th August 2013

Spent the whole weekend moaning and whining that I felt unwell. Off my food, full after just a few bites. Found I could only manage soft food, so pigged out on Berrie pavlova x 2 for Sunday lunch

12th August 2013

Really important meeting to attend at work that I had spent almost 6 months securing with a practise manager. Felt dreadful, weak, and very uncomfortable but was determined to go to work. Took stomach settlers, went down the field to donks then showered and planned to go in. However, realised that I could hardly put one foot in front of the other. Overwhelming exhaustion, just could not go. Called the gp and arranged a call back from her to discuss. Duty gp rang and said she thought she ought to see me. Seen in the afternoon and provisional diagnosis of gallstones given! Signed off for a week, given metranidazole and amoxycillin, blood tests booked and referred for scan within 3 weeks..........result, how bad could this be??

15th August 2013

Ok it's a nightmare. Can't eat or be around food, nauseous, retching, exausted and losing weight. Called duty gp given prochlorperazine for nausea caused by anti bio tics.

19th August 2013

Still utterly exhausted and losing weight fast. Called duty gp. Signed off for 2 weeks rest, drink plenty of fluids, "if I had blood results like your I'd feel exhausted too"

Monday 26th August

Now showing signs of jaundice. Eyes and skin yellow. have lost 8lbs and cannot eat properly

Tuesday 27th August

Hooray.............my own gp back from leave. Arranged to see her. Took one look at me and said I needed admitting and we needed the ultrasound scan now. Sent into Derriford Hosp surgical assessment unit. Naively thought this meant a bed was waiting............oh no...........waited in day room from 3pm until finally getting a bed at 10.20pm. Was seen and bloods taken again, ran out of time for the "urgent" scan so was put to bed on a 1000ml drip x 2 of saline. Night nurse thoughtfully gave me anti clotting injection.............only to discover at midnight when the doctor tried to put a line in my hand the vein exploded causing huge bruising...........guess the heparin wasn't necessary.