A BRAVE grandmother fighting cancer has described her shock at waking up in intensive care 24 hours after experiencing a severe allergic reaction moments before she went under the knife.
Michelle Jackson, from Newby Bridge, was due to undergo breast reconstruction surgery at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary last week after having a mastectomy.
But mere moments after a muscle relaxant and general anaesthetic were administered, she turned blue and her body swelled as she had an anaphylactic shock.
Health professionals said such reactions are extremely rare and Ms Jackson, a registered aesthetic practitioner, is due for tests with specialists in Manchester to determine what caused the reaction.
“I think the shock was that it happened so fast,” she said.
“I was having a laugh and a joke with them and then five minutes later I had the reaction.
“I was already intubated for the surgery and that’s what saved me.
“They said with anaphylaxis all your periphery blood vessels shut and so does your throat and that’s why people generally die because they can’t get the tube down.
“My first thought on waking up in ITU was: 'I’ve no lives left'.
“The surgeon rang my daughter and they said I was critical.
“Afterwards, I had so many people coming in; nurses, surgeons, anaesthetists, because they said if you see one of these in your career then you’re an unlucky anaesthetist.
“They’re always prepared but it just rarely happens.
“I’ve had eight surgeries since I found out I had this cancer.”
Ms Jackson was diagnosed with breast cancer in December 2020.
In May last year she had a mastectomy and a total hysterectomy in February this year.
She is now cancer free on her left breast but is due to soon have a mammogram on her right breast.
If that is clear she will have further reconstruction surgery on both breasts.
After spending 48 hours in intensive care Ms Jackson was able to leave the hospital.
“I’ve recovered now but I still have that awful feeling that I’m not invincible,” she said.
“I’ve got a medic alert red wristband because they said it was that severe.
“They said I turned blue and I was all bruised.”
The 50-year-old has praised the staff at the hospital and also thanked her daughter Lauren for her care.
“The staff acted so quickly,” she said.
“An intensive care nurse called Mark stayed with me for two days and answered all my questions.
“They were all so sorry and it’s not their fault, these things happen.
“I would really like to thank my daughter and pay huge tribute to her. She has looked after me after mastectomy and was tenacious in finding out how and why this happened.”
It is not the first time Ms Jackson has experienced serious medical incidents.
In 1992 she had three ectopic pregnancies, one of which ruptured.
And during Storm Arwen last year a tree fell into her home, almost hitting her and her grandson.
Ms Jackson is now looking to the future after achieving a master’s in medical sciences.
“I don’t want this to define the next 25 years of my life, I’ve just completed my master's and I want to relax,” she said.
“I need this surgery and I know I’ll be frightened.
“I just want to feel better and I want the surgery over.”
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