Vanessa Feltz has shared a harrowing update about her emergency surgery following a sudden and excruciating health crisis in 2024. The popular TV personality, who is set to appear on The Chase Celebrity Special this evening (April 4), revealed the painful experience of being rushed to the hospital for a kidney stone that caused unimaginable agony.
Sudden and Intense Pain
Vanessa, known for her candid and down-to-earth approach, took to Instagram to share her story with her followers. She described how she went from being perfectly fine to being struck by an overwhelming pain. “There was nothing wrong with me at all, and then suddenly I got this pain and it was just absolutely extraordinary. I’ve never had anything like it, and I’ve given birth to two children naturally and never had any pain like that in my life,” Vanessa confessed.
The pain was so severe that she was unable to sit or lie down. “I was in agony, I couldn’t sit down, I couldn’t lie down, I didn’t know what to do, it was absolutely astounding,” she recalled.
After undergoing scans, Vanessa was diagnosed with a large kidney stone. “Scan showed big kidney stone. OMG! Astoundingly painful. Rushed into theatre,” she shared, expressing gratitude to the medical team for their swift action and care. “Very grateful thanks to my daughters, nurses, porters, anaesthetists, and wonderful surgeon. Thank you so much.”
The Laser Treatment
Days after the emergency surgery, Vanessa appeared on Jeremy Vine to talk about the ordeal in further detail. She explained, “I was felled by a kidney stone. Who knew? One minute I was fine, making lunch for the grandbabies, having a laugh, hungry, normal, everything. And the next minute, the pain was absolutely extraordinary.”
She went on to compare the pain to her experience of natural childbirth, which she had done twice. “I’ve had natural childbirth twice, I’ve got some idea of pain, but this was remarkable. Actually remarkable,” Vanessa said, still clearly shocked by the intensity of the experience.
The solution to her agony came in the form of a laser treatment. “In the end, I had to be nuked with a laser,” she shared, adding that the stone was large enough to require surgical intervention rather than just passing naturally.
The Kidney Stone Size That Led to Surgery
When Jeremy Vine asked if the kidney stone could have been passed naturally, Vanessa explained that it was too large. “They scanned it, it was five millimetres, just a bit more than that,” she explained. “When they said, if it’s over five millimetres, we’ll have to operate, I was praying, please let it be over five millimetres. Please let them operate, because I couldn’t bear the thought of having to endure it for another second.”
Vanessa’s relief at the thought of surgery was palpable, as the operation provided her with the solution to the immense pain she was experiencing.
A Grateful Recovery
Following the procedure, Vanessa expressed how thankful she was to be feeling better. “I’m delighted to be here, I can’t tell you,” she said, emphasizing her appreciation for the medical professionals who helped her through the ordeal. Her fans have sent their support, with many expressing relief that she is on the mend.
This painful experience serves as a reminder of how even the most unexpected health issues can strike and disrupt our lives. However, Vanessa’s resilience, along with her gratitude toward the medical team, highlights her positive attitude as she recovers.
As she makes her return to television, Vanessa continues to inspire with her strength and openness about the health challenges she faced.
