I am not going to start this saying I intend to update this diary more often as who knows what will happen over the coming year but I thought I would do a quick recap of something that happened in 2025 and then look ahead to 2026. I know reading long posts is something we all struggle with these days so I will be so grateful to anyone who reads this. You might want to make a cuppa first!
The biggest thing that happened to me in 2025 happened in August. I had my first trip to an operating theatre to have my gallbladder removed. Most people would think something like this would be traumatising but it was actually a very positive experience.
I had been suffering with gallstones for 3 or 4 years (I fibbed to the doctors and said it had only been a year) and had managed the pain myself until July 2025. I had not called 111 or made an appointment to have it checked out with my GP as I figured I had a handle on it and I didn't want to bother the doctor when we are told that we shouldn't when things are not that serious. Therefore, I rarely bother my GP with anything. Anyway, the attack I had in July, my first in 6 months, was the worst one yet and caused me to call 111 (another first). The lovely lady I spoke to arranged an ambulance for me, I said I'd make my own way to A&E, she said "you're not driving!", I said "no, I'll get the bus", she said "no, I'm sending an ambulance". The ambulance arrived within 30 minutes and they took me off to SDEC (same day emergency care) which turned out to be a true blessing as I was seen within 15mins of arriving. I was triaged, had blood taken, saw the registrar all by 11am. They then wanted to take more blood to fully check my liver. Three nurses tried to get my veins to cooperate and eventually they did. An appointment had been made for an ultrasound the following day so I was told to go home after the blood had been taken so by 2pm I was walking out the door. I then got a call at 2.54pm from the registrar asking me to go back as they had just received a result they had been waiting on and that was higher than it should be so by 4pm I was back in SDEC. I was then sent for a CT scan and at about 5.30pm and I was told I had signs of pancreatitis and would need to stick around. I was hooked up to an IV (another first). There were no beds available but I couldn't stay in SDEC so I was sent to ED (an offshoot of A&E) and set up in a reclining chair where I stayed until they moved me at 10am the following morning to AMU (Acute Medical Unit). Still no beds so I was put in a chair at the end of a ward to wait for a bed to be vacated.
I was still booked in for the ultrasound at 11am but at 10.35am the doctors did their rounds and spoke to me. They decided not to send me for my ultrasound but to take more blood after which I could eat something, not that I really wanted to. I agreed to eat a banana and have a cup of tea. At 1.11pm two members of the surgical team came to talk to me and said I DID need the ultrasound and this would more than likely tell them my gallbladder had to come out but they couldn't fit me in that day (Thursday). They made an appointment for me on Saturday morning but said if I stuck around and didn't leave they would be able to get the ultrasound done on the Friday so I reluctantly said I'd stick around. At 1.46pm I was told I was getting a bed, at 4.50pm as was moved to another chair in another ward next to a bed that was waiting for a new mattress. At 5.38pm I finally had a bed to get into and at 5.45pm I was fed THE MOST DELICIOUS chicken dinner I have eaten in my life (I still dream of it). At 6pm 3 surgeons rocked up and said I would not be getting the ultrasound on Friday after all and it would actually be on the Saturday so I should go home! I had had a bed for 20 minutes! As it was I had to wait for my cannula to be removed and my discharge papers sorted so I had the bed until 7.50pm before the speediest taxi driver took me home and I was back in my own bed by 8.15pm.
The next part of the story is not that interesting so I'll just say, the ultrasound was done on the Saturday after which I had to wait in the "Hot Clinic" to speak to a surgeon. He said I had lots of tiny gallstones in my gallbladder and that he recommended having it out but first he wanted to do an MRI. MRI was booked for two weeks later and I had a pre-op appointment booked for the beginning of September. MRI happened (that was actually the bit I liked the least out of everything that occurred) and exactly 2 weeks later on the 19th August I had a phone call asking me if I could get to the hospital the following morning at 7.30am as they wanted to take the gallbladder out sooner rather than later and they happened to have a slot come up. I was in Fleetwood when I got the call but I was not going to pass up the opportunity for the surgery then as it was during the summer holidays and would mean I did not miss any work so I hot-footed it back to Croydon.
The following day I was first on the list so had it whipped out at about 8.30am that morning. I mentioned to the anaesthetist that I was a singer and could they be careful when inserting the tube they had to insert down my throat. He took this as a challenge and made sure he used a smaller tube and was very careful when inserting and extracting. I am SO thankful for this bit in particular as I didn't suffer afterwards with even the slightest sore throat. After I woke up, at around 11am, I went to recovery and there I stayed until about 5pm before I was sent home. I had to eat something before they discharged me and, once again, Croydon University Hospital came up trumps. I had THE MOST DELICIOUS chicken sandwich I have ever eaten (I threw it up again later but I think it was the anaesthetic that caused that not the sandwich).
And that was that really. I feel SO lucky that everything happened as it did. I wanted the operation to happen during the holidays and the stars aligned to make that happen. I had to be very careful for the next 6-8 weeks following the operation but I was well enough to start back at work 3 weeks after and for the first Christmas in 3 years or so, this year I could eat whatever I wanted without worrying that I would have a gallstone flare up. I had no time to worry about the surgery or to do any real research beforehand (partly because I had my head buried in the sand that it would ever actually happen). Since having it removed I have read so many horror stories about other people's experiences so I'm glad I didn't have time to think about it. That said, if this happens to you or anyone you know in the future, know that I have had zero problems since having it removed and the horror stories are only a tiny percentage of the overall amount of people who have this surgery.
Why are you telling us all this Claire, I hear you shout? Well, it's more for me than you, truth be told, I wanted a log of what happened. To be honest I still can't believe it actually happened. Most people are on a waiting list for ages for gallbladder removal but mine was sorted within a month. When the NHS works it is brilliant. I know it doesn't work this well for everyone all the time but I am very grateful that worked out for me (and didn't cost me anything, which I know is not the case for some in other countries. Another reason the NHS should be preserved, funded properly and encourage great people to work within it).
As I look forward to 2026 I firstly need to sort out my fatigue and lack of motivation (both partly perimenopause related I think). I'm sure the fatigue is linked, in part, to my gallbladder removal as there is nothing else wrong with me right now and I did have major surgery (routine, yes, but nonetheless major) only 4 months ago and I went straight back to work without a real break. I have had a fairly lazy Christmas and I have nothing I have to do until Monday so three more days of rest are on the menu. I think my motivation is returning a little as I did clean my bathroom and my bedroom properly yesterday, something I have been meaning to do for ages but could never muster the energy.
Finally, my mind is full of ideas for things I want to do (work-related) in 2026. These are my top 5:
1) Sort fabulous repertoire for my choir
2) Sort out my Golden Age of Musicals cabaret to take round local care homes and clubs for the elderly
3) Write/prepare more singing workshops
4) Do more research into singing to become a better teacher
5) See more theatre!
I will try to remember to come back and give you updates but I can't promise! Have a wonderful 2026 everyone, I certainly hope I will too.
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