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Lunevicius et al. | Journal of Clinical and Translational Research 2024; 10(1): 9-17 17
Appendix
Patient’s Perspective

I have had what I believed to be severe trapped wind for at least 12 years. I was in extreme discomfort and pain whenever I overindulged
in rich food. I never visited the general practitioner to investigate; I just accepted this as part of life. The usual pain began at midday, and
by 6 pm, I was in unbearable agony. I visited the accident and emergency center, and after initial triage and assessment by the surgical
team, I was informed that I had an inflamed gallbladder and may need surgery. I was in the surgical assessment unit department for
another 4 days receiving antibiotics to manage the inflammation. As the pain was not subsiding and my temperature remained elevated,
it was decided that I would need surgery to remove the gallbladder. I was informed of the risks and was told that the surgeon would try
for a keyhole surgery but that it could also lead to open surgery. After the surgery, I was informed of the situation and that I needed open
surgery because my gallbladder was on the left side of my liver. I was in pain, but it was managed well by the doctors and nurses. I had
an episode where my blood pressure dropped, and my heart went tachycardic, which was very scary. It was dealt with promptly and
efficiently, and I have since been referred to a cardiologist for further investigation. My recovery has been smooth, with no complications.
My life postoperatively is much better, and I have not had the pain I previously experienced. Despite not knowing that I had gallstones, I
feel very lucky that it was diagnosed and the surgery was successful. I want to thank the surgeons for looking after me so well and bringing
me back to health.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.36922/jctr.00128