Mum claims she 'woke up' during gall bladder operation 'screaming in her head'
A mum claims she "woke up" during her gall bladder operation, "paralysed and screaming in her head".
Natasha Japhet, 33, has recounted her traumatic experience while under the knife at Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor, north Wales. Officials from the health board will meet with Natasha and her family next week to discuss her complaint.
The mum of four, now back home and recovering from her ordeal, said: "I went to get my gall bladder removed on Tuesday, September 19. All I remember was I woke up during the operation. I was aware and I heard voices around me asking for the camera. I felt like I couldn't breathe."
The chef told North Wales Live: "I was 'screaming' in my head but I was 'paralysed' because I couldn't move. But I couldn't tell them. I think I passed out with the pain that I had because I could feel everything that they were doing. I passed out when they inserted two rods into my stomach."
Natasha says she regained consciousness again later: "There were voices around me and then I heard 'Oh my God - she's awake. Do something," the mum, from Llanaelhaearn, Gwynedd, claimed.
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"I think they must have done something then to put me back to sleep properly this time. And when I did come round in recovery the anaesthetist started questioning me straight away," she said.
She alleges that the medical staff asked her, "What do you remember under anaesthesia?" To which she chillingly responded: "I remember lying there and not being able to breathe, not being able to move and 'screaming' in my head that I was awake and for you to stop."
Approximately half an hour later, Natasha found herself back in the ward, where she was asked to provide a statement about her ordeal. By 6:30pm, she was on the ward and by 8:30pm, she was discharged. Despite the traumatic experience, her gall bladder removal operation went as planned. She is currently recuperating at home, supported by her partner Matthew Morris. However, Natasha's friends and family are reeling from the shock of her ordeal. "They are quite upset, shocked and angry. It (waking up during the operation) should never have happened and they wanted me to put a complaint in straight away," she revealed.
Natasha, who is currently on maternity leave following the birth of her fourth child, confessed, "I feel a little bit traumatised. I haven't been able to sleep. Every time I fall asleep I feel like I can't breathe again." She now bears staples and stitches from the operation, but has been instructed not to remove the dressing for three days post-op. The staples are scheduled to be removed within nine days. Stay tuned for all the latest Gwynedd news by signing up to our newsletter - sent every Tuesday.
Adele Gittoes, the interim executive director at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, extended an invitation to Ms Japheth to address her concerns directly. Gittoes stated: "We would urge Ms Japheth to contact us directly to discuss her concerns."
* This article was crafted with the help of an AI tool, which speeds up The Mirror's editorial research. An editor reviewed this content before it was published. You can report any errors to [email protected]
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