Stories

Nikki’s Story

“This too shall pass” 🩵 My story It’s crazy to me when I think back to how this all started. In 2010, I’d had the usual gallstones, attacks and hospital admissions, and finally my gallbladder got infected and it had to be taken out. I remember that pain and thinking, even after giving birth three

Wendy’s Story

Hi, I’m Wendy, Patient Stories lead of this wonderful charity. And where better to start than with my story, in the hope that it may give others the chance to have a platform to share their own, or to feel less alone by reading others’. This is my account, but everyone’s experiences will differ, as

Vicky’s Story

I am Vicky, and this is My Functional Biliary Disorder Story I was just 25 years old. I had given birth to my daughter only a few months earlier when I started experiencing constant pain. I was repeatedly treated for UTIs and IBS, but nobody seemed to know what was really happening. Then one morning,

Kat’s Story

In November 2019, I woke at 4 am with what I thought was a gallbladder attack. Instead, I found myself in A&E being diagnosed with acute pancreatitis. I had no idea that morning would change my life forever. In February 2020, I had my gallbladder removed in the hope it would solve the problem. Sadly,

Tracey’s Story

My Sphincter of Oddi journey started on 12th June 2017, when my partner called 999. I was in so much pain in my stomach and back. When I had a blood test, they told me I had acute pancreatitis and needed IV antibiotics and pain relief. While I was in, I had an ultrasound, a

Jade’s Story

My name is Jade Tallent-Saunders. I am 35 years old, married, and have two young children, aged four and two. I started having biliary colic pain soon after my first child in 2021. After a few attacks of this, I ended up hospitalised with acute cholangitis, cholecystitis and gallstones. My gallbladder was removed once the

Sharon’s Story

My Journey from Acute Pancreatitis to a Diagnosis My journey to being diagnosed with Functional Biliary Disorder began unexpectedly while on holiday in September 2025. I began having severe stabbing pains in my abdomen, and I couldn’t face food. I was extremely nauseous; I could barely eat and assumed I was experiencing one of the

Kellie’s Story

“I survived the worst. I got through to the other side.” Seven years ago, during pregnancy, I developed gallstones and had to have my gallbladder removed as an emergency. At first, I thought the surgery would be the end of it. But just nine weeks later, the attacks returned. The pain was frighteningly familiar; it

Emma’s Story

A career dedicated to healthcare Before founding the charity, I spent my career as a Registered Nurse before moving into healthcare regulation. Today, I work as a Clinical Lead, where I’ve dedicated my professional life to improving the quality and safety of healthcare services. My greatest education came through becoming a patient After years of