Sian Irving, 29, travelled to Sharm El Sheikh with her partner Jack Jackson, 29, to celebrate his birthday on what was meant to be a 10-day break
A mum claims her appendix was wrongly removed after she fell seriously ill while on holiday in Egypt.
Brit Sian Irving, 29, had travelled to Sharm El Sheikh with her partner Jack Jackson, 29, to mark his birthday on what was supposed to be a relaxing 10-day getaway. But, midway through the £2,000 holiday, Sian suddenly developed severe stomach pain, vomiting and a fever of 41C.
Sian, from Paignton, Devon, claimed doctors initially suspected appendicitis and removed her appendix, before she eventually returned to the UK for further treatment. She lost a lot of weight when arriving home, with doctors fearing for her life.
UK doctors told her that her appendix removal had been unnecessary, and that her illness had most likely been triggered by food poisoning, she claimed. She now said shes been left with colitis; a condition which causes inflammation of the large intestine, meaning she’ll now struggle to eat many everyday foods, including chocolate.
Mum-of-two Sian said: “It started slowly. I began feeling really hot, and then the stomach pains came. The pain was unbelievable. It felt like my insides were being stabbed and ripped apart at the same time.
“I was vomiting constantly and whimpering like a little kid because it hurt so much. They did scans and said they couldn’t really see anything. At first they thought it might be gas and then they told me it was appendicitis. My temperature stayed at 41C and they were putting wet cloths over me trying to cool me down.”
The pair had travelled to Egypt between September 19 and September 26, 2025. Sian revealed she was hospitalised for four to five days in Sharm El Sheikh before finally being allowed to return home.
She said: “At one point, I was told I could die if my condition didn’t improve. After the surgery, I still had the same symptoms. I’d been in Egypt for a long time by then, and eventually they said I needed to go back to the UK.
“I can’t believe they took my appendix out, it’s left me in constant pain and also I hate my stomach now – I have no confidence anymore.”
Sian and Jack managed to fly back to the UK on October 5, six days beyond their scheduled return date. The homeward journey proved equally distressing.
Sian said: “I was throwing up on the plane as well. When we landed I was still in so much pain. I don’t really remember much because I was so unwell.”
Upon arriving back in Britain, Sian was admitted to Exeter Hospital on October 5, where she remained for five nights while receiving additional tests and treatment. She said doctors diagnosed her with ongoing colitis and treated her with intravenous antibiotics and steroids.
Sian said: “I’d never even heard of colitis before. It affects your large intestine and causes inflammation. You have pain, you need the toilet a lot and it’s embarrassing because it’s not something people really want to talk about.”
The condition has fundamentally transformed her everyday existence. Sian reveals she can no longer tolerate foods including dairy and gluten, and has struggled with significant weight loss and fatigue.
She said: “I’m getting a little better now, but it’s been really difficult. If I eat certain foods, I can end up looking nine months pregnant because of the bloating. Even things like egg on toast can make me sick. I’ve had to completely change the way I eat.”
The illness also took a toll on her ability to look after her children during the most severe stages of her recovery. Sian said: “There was a point where I couldn’t even pick my kids up.
“They now spend time with both their dad and me, and thankfully, I can do a lot more than I could before. But the tiredness is horrible, and I still struggle to sleep.”
She also reveals she has been left with a permanent scar from the appendix surgery. Reflecting on the harrowing ordeal, Sian said the holiday she had hoped would create cherished memories instead turned her life upside down.
She said: “I still have the scar and I still have the condition. I never imagined to have all of this. It’s nearly a year later, and I’m still dealing with it every single day.”
Sharm El Sheik International Hospital has not responded to a request for comment.