Simon Henderson, 49, from Liverpool, dismissed a sudden stomach pain in mid-2025 as a food-related issue, but months later he found himself curled on the bathroom floor in agony. The pain, which he described as being kicked in the stomach by the devil, led to a diagnosis of acute pancreatitis. Despite multiple hospital admissions and scans, doctors could not identify the cause until a specialized endoscopic ultrasound revealed microlithiasis—tiny gallstones often called sludgy sand—hidden in his gallbladder.
From Dismissal to Emergency
In September 2025, Henderson experienced a sudden, unbearable pain just below his rib cage. He tried to power through it, but after two hours curled up on his bathroom floor vomiting, he called an ambulance. He was diagnosed with acute pancreatitis, an inflammation of the pancreas that can cause severe abdominal pain and require emergency treatment. In adults, around 80% of cases are caused by gallstones or alcohol consumption, with gallstones being the most common cause.
Repeated Hospitalizations
Over the following months, Henderson suffered repeated flare-ups and was admitted to hospital seven times. By the end of January 2026, he had spent 32 days in hospital. Each admission brought more scans and tests, but doctors could not identify the trigger. At one point, they suggested he might have idiopathic pancreatitis, meaning no identifiable cause. Henderson said: "The uncertainty was incredibly frustrating. The doctors wanted to help, but they couldn't treat a cause they hadn't found."
Breakthrough Discovery
The breakthrough came in January 2026 during a hospital admission. Because Henderson's claustrophobia prevented him from completing an MRI, doctors performed an endoscopic ultrasound instead. This revealed microlithiasis—tiny gallstones so small they had not appeared on previous scans. Henderson said: "The doctor told me and I burst into tears. I sat there in the ward, I was in a bed next to the window. It was genuinely one of the happiest moments of my medical life because now I knew what was causing it, and I had an outcome."
Urgent Surgery
With the cause identified, doctors placed Henderson on the waiting list for gallbladder removal. However, before the operation, he suffered another major pancreatitis attack after more than three months without symptoms. He recognized the pain while on his way to a GP appointment and was rushed to hospital. Doctors decided his gallbladder needed urgent removal, and in May 2026, he underwent keyhole surgery. Henderson said: "I was quite lucky with mine because pancreatitis can go necrotizing, which is life-threatening. It was my first major operation, and although I was nervous, the surgical team was fantastic."
Recovery and Awareness
Now recovering, Henderson is optimistic. He said: "While there is always a possibility that previous pancreatitis attacks may have caused lasting damage to my pancreas, the cause has been removed, so in theory it should never come back." As part of Guts UK's Let's Talk Guts campaign (July 13–19), he encourages people to take digestive symptoms seriously and seek medical help. He said: "One doctor told me that pancreatitis causes some of the worst pain a human being can experience. If you have severe pain under your ribs that leaves you doubled over, vomiting or unable to function, get medical help straight away."
