Word of the Week - Gallbladder

A few weeks back I had the worse pain of my life. I'd had a bacon butty for lunch and 2 poached eggs on toast for my dinner and my gallbladder decided to turn on me.

After two hours and pain meds, heat and rest not sorting it as previously, I called 111 and was told to go straight to A&E.

6.30am Saturday.

Arriving in Worcester at 9pm I was seen and by 10pm I'd had a paracetamol drip. At 3.30am I had the second drip and at 9am I was transferred to Same Day Emergency Care, still in pain, although it had subsided and for the first time since going into hospital I was actually examined by a Doctor who confirmed it was my gallbladder, then seen by a surgeon who has arranged for me to go on the waiting list for surgery.

I was offered the surgical option earlier this year, but declined, the pain wasn't that bad and back in October 2024, our daughter died in theatre and going through those theatre doors, albeit at a different hospital, was an absolute no for me.

I'd already altered my diet after the first couple of attacks, but now it's no red meat, especially pork, no spicy food and no ice creams, cakes etc. Homemade cakes with no/low fat spread will be ok and I'm cutting back on sugar and down on milk.

Being gluten free, options are already limited, but it won't do me any harm. I'm also on new meds and my appetite had changed, craving sugar and fats. I haven't drunk fizzy drinks for almost 2 years as they tasted flat and syrupy on the previous meds.

I've got my first appointment with the surgeon on the 23rd July.

2021 Week 2 -Time for surgery

I cancelled surgery before the new year as Peter wasn't able to get back to Dubai from Saudi, we managed a whole week together then disaster hit last week with me spending 3 days in hospital with a slipped disc.

This week was the surgery went ahead, all good, hopefully getting on top of my iron deficiency anaemia through this route. Just the high white blood cell count, that's crept up again to deal with and I should be good to go for the next 50 years. I had a sore throat after being intubated during an hours surgery, how people who have been ventilated for days/weeks/months are coping I do not know, their recovery from covid must be horrendous.

I'm getting fed up with people commentating about the virus in Dubai, it's not Dubai I'm worried about catching it in. I was planning to isolate on my return to the UK anyway and have a food order delivery arranged for the day after I get back. Plus I'm required to take a PCR test before I can fly anyway.

Most people visiting Dubai are staying with family and friends or are being sponsored for long stays with work, regardless of whether people consider Influencing an actual job. Whilst their posting picture of their *hashtag Insta, glam, style etc I'm posting pictures of the ironing I've done that day.

Due to strict restrictions and the rules being enforced by law here in the UAE, that apart from wearing a mask other than when you've seated at a table, everything is pretty much back to normal. I've been in hospital, had surgery, been to a major sporting event (another is booked next week) been out for dinner, done the weekly food shop, the nail bar, hair cut, stayed in hotels, been on the beach, used public transport, got my covid vaccine and 2nd jab due next week and had 3 negative PCR tests. 

9 Saturday Still on bed rest for my back, where I spent the morning, then off to the hospital for surgery a couple of biopsies in an attempt to get to the bottom of my iron levels. Went well and home by 8pm, couldn't sleep and throat was as sore as anything after being intubated for an hour. Can't begin to imagine what it is like for people who have been ventilated for days, weeks and months with covid.

View from my hospital window

10 Sunday Up and about today and went out with Peter for a coffee. Feel incredibly nauseous and light headed though so back on the bed for the rest of the day, propped up on pillows sorting out banking and other issues.

View from my bedroom balcony at home

11 Monday Over did it today with 2 loads of washing and a short walk to the local shops for milk, so back in bed for the rest of the day.

Daytime view

12 Tuesday Peter dropped me at Mall of the Emirates so I could do some shopping. I managed a coffee then came home on the new metro route which opened last week. I'm alright walking and standing up, it's sitting down I struggle with. Home and into bed for the rest of the day.

New entrance at Mall fo the Emirates

13 Wednesday It took me all day to do the ironing, the first chore I've attempted since I hurt my back 10 days ago. We went out for dinner at the Polo Club and won the pub quiz.

14 Thursday I had an invite to meet a small group of women at Dubai Marina for coffee, had a lovely time and it had me reflecting on the fact it's been 10 years now since we started our expat journey. The rest of the day was spent in bed and the evening on the sofa.

Struggling to find Gluten Free products in the supermarket

15 Friday We went out for Brunch, slightly different as we're not allowed to select our own buffet food, it's now on a menu, so restricted options but still just as lovely. It saved me getting up and down and hurting my back. I finished the medication 2 days ago so a few drinks were in order and home to sleep the after effects off.

On the blog this week:

My Sunday Photo - The New Metro Line opens

Post Comment Love - A weekly linky I co-host

Reflections on 10 years an expat

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Biokineticist, chronic pain and migraines

I’ve been visiting a Biokineticist and physio since January after yet another referral from yet another doctor after years of medication and surgery to help with chronic neck pain and the side effects of migraines that see me in hospital for treatment at least twice a year.

I’ve suffered with migraines since I was around 5 years of age, the first time I needed more than lying down in a darkened room and over the counter medication I was 15 years of age. The Doctor had to administer medication via an injection and it was put down to hormones and exam pressure. However the migraines continued every few months, until they became once or twice a month after an injury at work.

Over the past 18 years I’ve taken medication from painkillers through to antidepressants and muscle relaxants. I’ve had physio, pain killing injections, Botox, nerve blocks and the most aggressive intervention was the burning of the nerves in my neck under a general anaesthetic.

Migraines for me present with an aura, my vision becomes blurring for anything up to 24 hours prior to an attack, I become confused and my ability to think and do at the same time are diminished. I also feel extremely nauseous before ending up in bed for up to 3 days and often having to visit the hospital for medical intervention that has lasted up to 2 weeks in hospital as the migraines have presented as meningitis and been accompanied with high temperatures.

All treatment has worked, but the effects have worn off quickly and in most cases have been extremely painful, especially the Botox, which although the pain relief lasted the longest, the pain from the injections was unbearable.

The latest referral was as always viewed by me and hubby as ‘we don’t know what else to do with her, she refuses medication’ Having tried various medications and weighing up the side effects, it’s been decided that long term medication isn’t treating the problem, it just eases the pain.

The physio was very aggressive with her treatment of me and each session lasted an hour. This was after an assessment by the biokineticist.

I can’t really explain what a biokineticist is, does or even what qualifications they hold, but I do know that with her help, physical intervention, input from the physio, manipulations now once a week and exercises to do at home, which on paper look simple enough, but leave me exhausted, not only have I lost weight, my appetite has changed and I’m eating less sugary items. My body shape is altering, swimming has become easier, especially front crawl, my breathing has improved, I’m sitting upright, my whole body posture has changed. Long journeys in the car, flights, housework, using the computer for long periods of time have become easier, in fact what I would now consider to be normal, after 18 years of ‘normal’ being severe migraines after any of the above activities.

I’m the UK after 20 hours of travelling, sat in economy and I didn’t have a migraine, maybe a bit tired from lack of sleep but no migraine, the first time ever.  I’ve spent 3 weeks sleeping in different beds, on sofas, using public transport, dragging cases and a 15yo around with me and NO migraines.

I pay around R180/£10 per week to visit the biokineticist. The medical aid covers the cost, but at these prices its affordable and I’d recommend them to everyone suffering with chronic pain.

I received an email from the Biokineticist and she shared the following information:

If someone asks we study BSc sport science degree and then
we do a BSc Biokinetic Hons for a year. Then you have to work a year as an
intern and then you can qualify as a registered biokineticist.

Life without Pain

In September 2012 I had day surgery on my neck to have the nerves burnt off that have been giving me so much pain for the past 15 years after an assualt at work.



Living in constant pain has drained me, restricted my activites and actually prevented me from doing certain things.



I've suffered deliberating headaches and migraines and have been hospitialised on too many occassions when the migraines have mimicked menegitius. Migraines also knocked me out for 3-4 days twice a month. Visual disturbances, vomiting, sensitive to light and touch and the inability to operate above an immediate need.



I'm now in my third month of being pain free, not one migraine, even after a return trip to the UK, spending 12 hours sitting in a confined space, 3 weeks of lugging suitcases, sleeping on sofas and pull out beds.



The operation wasn't easy. I was in theatre under a general anaesthetic, had the most severe head pain imaginable then spent a week in bed unable to lift my head off the pillow.



I still can't use a tin opener or write for any length of time without severe cramps and pain in my wrists and fingers and working above my head is difficult(hanging out the washing) but I can sit in a car for 2 days and drive to Cape Town and back. I can sit in the cinema for 90 minutes to watch a movie without coming out in tears from the pain of sitting still. I can scramble over rocks without the fear of causing more damage if I fell, haul myself up using ropes on a ship.

Over Christmas I've experienced continious pain in my wrists and a niggle in my left shoulder, so I guess I made need to go back sooner rather than later for the next stage. Thanks to medical aid that wouldn't pay for the whole treatment in one go. I'm really not looking forward to going throat again, but compared to how I was for the past 15 years, it's a small price to pay, even if they can't cure the chronic pain, being migraine free is amazing.

NHS versus Private Medical Aid

For 39 years I was only aware of the NHS. Yes, there was private care available at a cost in the UK, but it usually came with a benefit package or the rich used it. Despite needing hospital care in the UK the private scheme was only ever used the once by hubby as in the past treatment needed hadn't fallen into the right category. I've had a few stays in hospital with viral meningitis and pneumonia and other things and all of them were 999 calls/emergencies so never really stopped to think about using the private care and apart from service in the NHS being slow, there's never really been an issue. On moving to South Africa less than 2 years ago, our only option is private medical care, so we've been told and although its part of a benefit package hubby still has to contribute 50% of the monthly cost and it's a taxable benefit. There was the cricket ball in the throat incident, pay cash up front, claim back from med aid, bills sent directly to us to pay, but not receiving them so issued with court orders to pay as the med aid wasn't linked to the emergency hospital son was taken to. Emergency surgery after the heelies accident, now apart from the cast being too tight, that all worked out well, from A&E to surgery, to ward to discharge, less than 24hours. There's been a CT scan after I was dehydrated, numerous dental treatments and doctor’s appointments. We've certainly had our monies worth from it but what has been the real cost? I personally think Private medical care is a waste of money, time and effort and so far it has caused me more stress than any of the treatments, surgery and emergencies that have happened so far. When admitted to hospital you have to set up an account, so your child is separated from you while you complete paperwork, provide copies of ID and med aid, know your hubbies works number off the top of your head as in any emergency you're never prepared. Did you know you can request which hospital you want the ambulance to take you to? Then the hospital will ask you after they've carried out initial treatment what scans/tests etc do you want? You're the bloody experts, you tell me. Do you want to be admitted? I don't know how much does that cost? Then of course you say yes to the tests and no you'll take child home if the hospital say it's ok to discover that now you have to phone your med aid and ask permission for the tests, you discover the hospital you are at doesn't meet with the med aids agreed prices and you have to then hand your bank card over for them to take the necessary payments, because they don't tell you this until afterwards or unless you ask, keep the receipt and spend next 6 months arguing with the med aid for a full refund...It was an emergency. Oh and don't forget the payment gap you'll end up in, the what? Exactly. You go to the Doctors or are half way through dental treatment and your funds run out. Yes seriously and the first you know about it is when a bill arrives or you get a phone call demanding payment. It's even more annoying when you explain to the med aid that you don't know how any of this works, as you are only used to free treatment as you're from the UK, you finally get informed that there's a drop in centre nearby where you can ask to speak with someone to explain all of this to you. So you visit every time you ne something or you get a bill and they are very good at reading off the computer, emailing you cut and paste and putting you on the phone to someone above them who is more qualified to answer your question, when all they then do is read off a piece of paper. This week I was admitted to hospital for day surgery. It was 6 weeks from referral by doctor to appointment and the actual procedure. Which compared to the NHS is bloody brilliant, but the stress of organising it was immense. R500 payable on initial consultation, claimed back from med aid. Completion of consent forms for surgery and all med aid details including car registration numbers for both myself and hubby (no parking permit was issued) details of next of kin in South Africa and as we are immigrants, contact for family members in the UK. Then there was approval from the med aid, the hospital contacted me to say I'd need to pay R3500 towards the treatment, so a visit to the med aid drop in centre, a phone call to discover that they won't pay for two treatments in the same year. But I wasn't having two treatments in the same year, but according to med aid level 1 injection were the same as level 2 injections. The physio and anaesthetist come to see me, told to refrain from driving for 48hrs and my neck may be sore for a week. At the consultation I was informed I'd be sedated and a needle would be inserted into my nerves on both sides of my neck from C1-7 and an electrical pulse would stimulate the nerves. I was put under and the procedure lasted 90 mins, I came round and my blood pressure was 57/40 something, I was dehydrated and it took 2 hours for the drip to pass through and I was discharged at 5pm. On arriving home I stepped out the car and collapsed on the drive, I've been in bed ever since with this (sat pm) being the first time I've been able to sit up for more than a few minutes without incredible neck pain. On calling the hospital on Friday I was told I had to have complete bed rest till Tuesday, take the meds as prescribed, despite instruction on box saying 'when needed' and to drink caffeine, coke and eat chocolates to keep my blood sugar levels up, my feet elevated and not to attempt to stand unaided and not to be left alone. Now hubby wouldn't have gone to Cape Town Thursday till Saturday had we been given that information at the hospital. And thanks to med aid company I now have to go through the whole procedure level 2 again in January when the New Year starts which will mean with the costs that we will be in the payment gap sooner than we want. In the meantime I'm trying to find a perodontist that works within the med aid figures and despite requesting that the med aid company find me one, I'm still waiting for the surgery I need to resolve and slow down the bone degeneration I have and prevent my teeth from falling out. I'd rather have the NHS any day, thank you very much. I may have to wait longer but from previous experience, there is less stress prior to the event and after. My father had a heart attack in June, the only option he had was the NHS, their care during and after was fantastic and the help he receives now is amazing. No wonder I'm suffering from depression, most of it caused by my lack of knowledge and the medical aids lack of understanding in response to 'I don't know how this all works, please help'