I thought it was trapped wind – A&E said I could have died

I frequently dismissed my painful, debilitating symptoms out of embarrassment (Picture: Hannah Van De Peer)

‘You have gallbladder disease,’ a locum GP told me, matter-of-factly.

‘Your chances of developing gallbladder cancer are at an all-time high,’ she continued. ‘The gallstone you have is so big that the next time it tries to pass, it could perforate your bowel – and you’re a significant sepsis risk.’

She went ...