A Scots mum has told how she almost died after her unborn son kicked her gastric band out in the womb. Nicola Campbell-Brisland, from Port Glasgow, was rushed in for emergency surgery when she was 32-weeks pregnant.
Doctors told the mum-of-three she was mere hours from death after son Stephen, now five, dislodged the band and she began to throw up a black like substance. She was quickly rushed in for emergency surgery to remove the band and save both of their lives.
Nicola, 38, lost over six stone when she had the gastric band fitted in 2014 after years of struggling with her weight as a result of Type 2 diabetes.
But since it was removed in 2017, she has regained all of the 40 kilograms she lost and now struggles with her mobility.
She told the Daily Record: "When I was 32-weeks pregnant, my wee boy kicked my gastric band inside me and dislodged it. I instantly started throwing up something that looked like black coffee grind.
"My sister convinced me to go to the hospital and when I got there the doctor said if I had waited until the next day I would have died. I had to have an emergency removal and I was terrified.
"My son and I were a few hours from dying but luckily he held on for another four weeks and was born at 36-weeks."
Nicola, who is also mum to Connie, 12, and step-mother to Amy, 17, and has since been diagnosed with a painful condition called Lipoedema which causes an abnormal build-up of fat in the legs. She has been told she will need to undergo liposuction to treat the issue due to the severeness of her illness.
She is now forced to rely on a walking stick or wheelchair to get around and has been left unable to care for her kids on her own.
Nicola also told how she has become a target for horrific online trolling, with social media accounts making comments about her weight and telling her to "stop being lazy".
Nicola continued: "Lipoedema has stolen my life from me and If I continue on this way I will be forced to have a double leg amputation. I need the treatment to avoid that but to get the treatment I need to lose weight but that is hard to do when I'm in constant pain. I am stuck in limbo.
"I can’t go out alone, I can’t be on my own with my kids and I need help with personal care.
"I just want to feel happy and alive again, I don't want to be a burden to anyone."
She added: "The online trolling has been horrible, so many people have called me fat and lazy and told me to just get up and exercise. It is not that simple and if it was as easy as that, I would have done it.
"I know it is likely just someone sitting in their house with nothing better to do but it still hurts."
Nicola was due to have gastric sleeve surgery in 2020 but her operation was cancelled when the country went into lockdown. She is currently still waiting on a date for surgery as the NHS deal with a backlog and "huge demand" on their services.
A gastric sleeve, which is usually a key hole surgery, is irreversible and involves the removal of most of the stomach while a gastric band is placed around the top of the stomach to trick the brain into thinking the stomach is full.
Nicola's sister Sophie Bradley, 26, is desperate to raise £3,000 for her sister to have private surgery to fit a gastric sleeve after witnessing the heartbreaking impact on both her physical and mental health.
Sophie said: "I set up the fundraiser as I want to do anything I can to help Nicola. She has never kept well and now her physical health is really deteriorating.
"But some people have now set up fake profiles to post abuse and it is really horrible. Nicola has really been affected by it.
"We have family helping us and I have a bit of a following online so I'm hoping we can raise the money to help her."
Nicola added: "A gastric sleeve is my only option and the surgery will be life changing. It is not about what I will look like, it is about my health.
"I am really grateful for everything the NHS has done for me but I just can't wait any longer."
A spokesperson for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said: "NHSGGC does not discuss individual case but would like to apologise to patients who have been waiting for an elective procedure which has been postponed.
"While our staff continue to deal with the huge demand currently being placed on our services, we will make every possible effort to offer patients an alternative date at the first opportunity."
Donations to the fundraising page can be made by clicking here.
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.
