"A team of wonderful professionals"

I am a reasonably fit man in my 70s who until earlier this year had never had any problems with gallbladder or gallstones to my knowledge.

That all changed one evening when after dinner I started having pain in my stomach just under my ribs which intensified over the next hour becoming unbearable until a miracle happened and the pain slowly began subsiding eventually going all together (the same event was to be repeated within the next six weeks!) Two days after first episode I awoke to find I was totally jaundiced (yellow ) and my urine was a dark brown colour.

Phone call to Doctor resulted in trip to A&E Monklands. I initially had bloods taken and after examination by doctor it was suspected I had infection caused probably by gallstones causing an obstruction. I was then admitted  and spent 3 days getting treated for the jaundice and infection before being allowed home .This exact scenario was to be repeated a number of weeks later. Ten years since I had spent any time in hospital and although Monklands is dated, the staff made up for any shortfall in the surroundings and in all 13 days I eventually spent I never had cause for complaint.

After second event it was decided I required surgery to remove my gallbladder as there was real chance of repetition of what had happened before.

I received the date for my surgery and Mr. Cheema was the surgeon tasked with my gallbladder removal (Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy ).This was performed as day surgery which amazed me that I could have 4 incisions in my tummy, my gallbladder removed sleep for a few hours and go home the same day? 

Mr Cheema came to see me prior to procedure and explained what he was going to do and was very reassuring, all anyone could ask.

I had arrived at day surgery at the allotted time 7:30 am, being met by a team of wonderful professionals who prepared me for surgery and kept me calm!

Stacey, Amanda, Martina and Michelle were but a few many thanks.             

Mr Chemma visited post surgery with the news all had gone well and I would be able to go home that evening.

Two days at home I felt fine and was out in garden chatting to neighbours.

Horror of horrors, woke up third morning for my wife to declare you're jaundiced! and actually my urine had looked a funny colour that morning. Although I felt fine it was back to Monklands where blood tests showed things were not as they should be. I was thoroughly investigated although the request for an MRI scan by the medical staff was refused as it would have been too soon after surgery.

I had already had a CT scan which was normal and eventually had an ultrasound scan of my liver which also looked normal.  My bloods were also recovering and it was thought that a rogue gallstone had blocked a duct although it was not seen on scans.  I was then given medication to hopefully dissolve any stone still present. 

I spent another seven days in hospital and feel that I was very well looked after by all medical and nursing staff and would now appear to have made a full recovery and am looking forward to getting back on the golf course.