Pseudocyst

The adventures and life of a Specialist Nurse in Upper GI and Bariatric surgery. If you then double and triple this by having a primary school age child AND being married to another Nurse then you have double the trouble….aehm I mean fun. Hobbies are playing chess, board games and being taxi for our son!!!

Unless otherwise indicated, all the names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents in this blog are either the product of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

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  • Running on Coffee and Suitcases: Romania Trip Complete!

    The hiatus is officially over – we survived Romania and made it back safely on Tuesday morning. “Safely” is a relative term of course, because I then had to drag myself into work for 7am on about three hours of sleep. My wife wasn’t far behind, back at work yesterday, and now the adrenaline of Read more

  • Pseudocyst on Tour: Romania Awaits

    Disclaimer: This blog entry contains references to NHS work, family life, and my inability to speak Romanian beyond “mulțumesc” and “ciorbă de burtă.” Any resemblance to peace and quiet during the holiday is purely aspirational. It’s official – the blog is going dark for the next 16 days. From Saturday morning onwards, the Pseudocyst household Read more

  • The Great Slide Faceplant of 2025

    What started as innocent playground fun ended with swelling, scans, and a 3am discharge from the ED. Disclaimer All characters in this story are real, but some judgement calls (like walking up slides) may have been questionable. No fractures detected – unless you count the crack in our evening plans. It was an ordinary weekday Read more

  • Pancreatitis in a Young Woman on Tirzepatide: Gallbladder Sludge, Pharmacotherapy, NICE Guidelines, and Sex‑Specific Considerations

    Disclaimer This blog reflects my personal and professional analysis as a registered healthcare practitioner. All patient details have been anonymised to protect confidentiality in line with NMC guidance. The views expressed are my own and do not represent those of my employer, colleagues, or any NHS organisation. This post is intended for educational and reflective Read more

  • Grade 3 Reality Check – Blackbrook Pavilion, Taunton

    Disclaimer: As with all my posts, these are the ramblings of a slightly frazzled Upper GI nurse practitioner moonlighting as a junior tennis parent. Any resemblance to professional advice on hydration, nutrition, or parenting strategy is purely coincidental. For actual medical advice, ask your doctor. For actual tennis coaching, ask literally anyone at Blackbrook Pavilion Read more

  • Annual Leave… But No Rest for the Sporting Parent

    Disclaimer Parenting advice in this blog should not be taken as clinical guidance. Tough love may work in tennis, but it is not yet NICE-approved. Opinions are solely mine (and occasionally contradicted by my wife). Despite being on annual leave, life doesn’t exactly come with a pause button when you’ve got a child — especially Read more

  • Annual Leave, Strikes, and the Joy of a Too Good To Go Bag

    Disclaimer: These are my personal reflections and observations, not those of my employer, the Upper GI team, or the NHS at large. No patients were harmed in the making of this blog — although several colleagues may have been mildly traumatized by my coffee consumption levels. So: I’m officially on annual leave this week — Read more

  • Junior Parkrun: The Day Our Son Left Us in the Dust (Literally)

    🩺 Disclaimer: All opinions expressed are my own and not those of the NHS, the NMC, or the Upper GI team—who, while excellent at managing perforated ulcers and bile leaks, remain strangely uninterested in my 2k split times. No scopes were delayed, no patients were harmed, and no MDT WhatsApp threads were consulted before publishing Read more

  • Upcoming Postgraduate (“Junior”) Doctor Strike in England

    Disclaimer: This blog entry is provided for academic and professional discussion only. The views expressed are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of the NHS, the author’s employing organization, or any affiliated professional bodies. No patient‑identifiable information or confidential material is included. The content complies with the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC) Read more

  • When a Quiet Weekend Turns Into Cricket Mayhem

    Disclaimer:No cricket stumps were harmed in the making of this blog. Any technical inaccuracies about the rules of cricket are entirely the fault of the author’s nationality and complete bewilderment at the concept of “overs,” “wickets,” and why everyone claps politely when someone gets out. Please direct any corrections to the ECB or possibly Legoland. Read more