Bláthnaid tells of surgery hell
In just three months, she underwent two operations, including the removal of half of her colon, or large intestine, in January.
Bláthnaid, a 41-year-old mother of four, who has just secured the main role in a television drama to be broadcast in the autumn, told Woman’s Way magazine: “If this show happened a few years ago I don’t think I’d have been able for it. The fact that I’ve dealt with several major health issues in the last few months; that pain I lived with for 30 years... But I’ve been fixed, my engine has been fixed. I just think this is for me.
“You don’t realise that when you’re living with pain, and I didn’t have excruciating pain, I had a constant pulling feeling, I think it really influenced my mood and unknown to me, it was affecting me.
“I just got a baby belt that mothers use in pregnancy to support their stomach. The stomach muscles aren’t there at the moment because I’ve been severed from my cleavage — all the way down I’ve been cut.”
Although on the mend, she admits her long-time stomach problem has taken its toll. “This is the second operation in three months. I’m knocked for six on one level; on an energy level I’m knocked but I’ve definitely got cabin fever. There’s only so many times you can clean out your cupboards.”
She said she is happy. “Maybe when you’ve been through a hellish experience you prioritise things. No matter what they say about you, or what is said about you — and don’t think that because you’ve been in the public domain you’re not affected by things that are said about you. Of course you are but inside my front door it’s not important.”
