Woman left bedridden after ‘simple’ surgery

What began as a visit to hospital to ease the agony of gallstones has turned into a month-long ordeal for a 32-year-old woman who says she has been unable to keep down food since undergoing surgery.

The woman, whose identity is being withheld, said she sought treatment early last month at a public hospital in western Jamaica after experiencing recurring abdominal pain. Instead of finding relief, she said complications following the procedure have left her battling constant vomiting, pain and uncertainty about what comes next.

“I did the surgery the Thursday. I came back, but I was vomiting. They had to rush me back the Friday and give me a big cut in my belly,” she recalled.

According to the woman, doctors later inserted a tube through her side, but her condition has not improved.

“From that, I don’t stop vomit. I cannot keep down anything. I went in for a simple procedure and now I can’t eat or keep down anything,” she said.

Nearly a month after entering hospital, she says her greatest wish is something many people take for granted.

“Mi caah even eat a piece of food?” she asked.

She alleged that a doctor informed her that something had gone wrong during the surgery and that an area that should not have been affected had been impacted.

Her brother claimed the family was later told that her bile duct had been accidentally clipped during the operation.

“They accidentally clipped her bile duct and, from that time to present, she is in the hospital, can’t eat anything. As soon as she eats, she throws up,” he alleged.

Medical experts warn that a clipped bile duct can unleash a nightmare of complications, with patients suffering relentless vomiting, severe infections, malnutrition and even permanent liver damage if the injury is not quickly corrected. International surgical guidelines describe bile duct injuries as a dangerous complication of gallbladder surgery, carrying significant risks to a patient’s health and survival.

While still being in the dark about their loved one’s prognosis, the family said they are becoming increasingly frustrated by what they describe as a lack of clear answers regarding her condition, ongoing treatment, and prospects for recovery.

According to the woman, doctors visit regularly and medication is administered, but she says any relief is short-lived.

“Every day, one doctor just come, ‘How I feel?’ They give me pill, pill, pill. It works fi one hour or two and it just wear off, and I just keep on vomiting,” she said.

She further claimed that attempts to get detailed explanations about her condition have proven difficult.

“When I ask questions, is like they barely want to talk,” she said.

Her brother echoed the concern, stressing that the family’s issue is not with the care being provided but with understanding what is being done to restore her health.

“There is no delay in her receiving medication. All we are asking them to do is to see what treatment can get her back to normal,” he said.

The woman also said she has requested a transfer to another medical facility because of her ongoing symptoms but has so far been unsuccessful.

“I asked for a transfer and they don’t want to give me. I just want to go somewhere I can get better,” she said.

Adding to the family’s anxiety, she recalled a conversation in which a doctor allegedly mentioned a period of up to one year while discussing her situation. She said, however, that she was left uncertain about what that time frame meant.

“I don’t know what that one year will include,” she said.

Meanwhile, the patient’s brother described her as a healthy, energetic woman whose only complaint before the surgery was abdominal pain.

“She’s not a sickly person, very, very active,” he said.

Now, he said, she spends much of her time in discomfort.

“Most of the time, she is there feeling pain, throwing up,” he said.