Horrifying (Picture: SWNS)
This is a good example of why you need to advocate for your health if something feels off.
A mum who suffered a torn bowel – which led to her developing sepsis – says she was told she was anxious and to drink peppermint tea to help.
Farrah Moseley-Brown, 27, had ‘agonising pain’ in her stomach after she gave birth to her second child, Clay.
She had a caesarean in May 2020, but lost over two pints of blood and needed surgery to stem the bleeding.
The following day Farrah started complaining of constipation. Though she was treated, she was then discharged with no further examinations.
Farrah, of Barry, Wales, said: ‘Every single night they’d say “she’s anxious, she’s just anxious”.
‘I was just given tablets for constipation and was fed lots of peppermint tea.’
Two days later she called the hospital complaining of stomach pain and issues with keeping food down – then was re-admitted.
As happened before, she was sent home, then the next day needed to return due to hip pain.
Farrah in hospital (Picture: Irwin Mitchell / SWNS)
Farrah Moseley-Brown, Cohan and Clay (Picture: Irwin Mitchell / SWNS)
She had a fever, raised heart rate and was breathing rapidly.
Following tests, she was diagnosed with a perforated bowel and sepsis, where the body attacks itself in response to an infection.
She underwent emergency surgery and remained in hospital for three weeks.
The effects have been long-lasting, as she now has a stoma and still suffers from fatigue, stomach pain, muscle and joint pain, and is reliant on her family to help care for her and her children.
Farrah said: ‘Shortly after giving birth to Clay the pain started and as the days passed it felt like it was getting worse.
‘I had a feeling that I constantly needed the toilet but I couldn’t go.
‘When I was home the pain continued to get worse.
‘I was in absolute agony and spent hours curled up in a ball it was that bad and I knew I needed to go back to hospital.
‘Once back in hospital although I was in pain I felt slightly reassured thinking I would get the care I needed.
‘When I was told I could go home a second time I wasn’t sure as the pain was still there but I trusted what I was being told.’
Conan and Clay (Picture: Irwin Mitchell / SWNS)
Farrah Moseley-Brown’s stoma (Picture: Irwin Mitchell / SWNS)
She said that night at home ‘was the worst of my life’ and she ‘could hardly function’.
She added: ‘All I remember is an ambulance being called and the day after arriving back in hospital being told I was going to be put to sleep because I had a perforated bowel and without urgent treatment I could die.’
The Cardiff and Vale University Health Board have since admitted it failed to undertake further scans or arrange a surgical opinion to diagnose Farrah’s condition.
If it wasn’t for the breach of duty Farrah wouldn’t have developed a bowel infection, wouldn’t have suffered a perforated bowel and wouldn’t have needed bowel surgery or to have a stoma fitted, the Board admitted.
Farrah’s legal team and the Health Board are now working towards a settlement which will fund the ongoing care and support she needs.
James Pink, a specialist medical negligence lawyer at Irwin Mitchell’s Cardiff office, representing Farrah, said: ‘Constipation can be common in women after giving birth and in some cases such as Farrah’s can lead to incredibly serious and life-threatening conditions if not treated correctly.
‘The last few years and coming to terms with the physical and psychological impact of what happened has been incredibly difficult for her.’
Farrah said: ‘It’s more than two years since my operation but my life still isn’t what it was before this ordeal.
‘I try not to let it affect me but I’m conscious of my stoma and try and wear baggy clothes to disguise it.
‘I’m still living in pain and while I try my best I’m not able to look after my boys it’s sometimes a struggle. Even little things like picking them up to give them a cuddle can be difficult.
‘Nothing will ever make up for the hurt and pain I’ve been through and continue to face but at least I now have answers.’
She wants to share her story to help others, hoping they won’t have to go through the same horrifying experiences.
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‘Nothing will ever make up for the hurt and pain I’ve been through and continue to face.’