Liam 'Gatsby' Blackwell has returned to the UK for "life-changing" surgery.
TOWIE star Gatsby returns early from US trip for an operation (C) Liam Blackwell/ Instagram (C) Li
The 33-year-old reality star - who is known for appearing on 'The Only Way is Essex' - had been over in the US visiting his mother and former co-star Nikki Blackwell, but he was forced to return early for surgery when a hernia and acid reflux left him unable to eat or drink
He said: "I would have still been in LA but the reason I came home was to have surgery I’ve been suffering with a hiatus hernia acid reflux for a few years now but it got to the point where I couldn’t eat food drink liquids at the same time without it coming back up. (sic)"
Liam - who is also best friends with former co-star Lydia Bright and is known by his nickname "Gatsby" - went on to explain that the stomach surgery he is about to undergo should change things for the better, but admitted he is "not looking forward" to the six-week recovery process.
Alongside a picture of himself in a hospital bed, he wrote on Instagram: "Imagine eating a meal being thirsty and not being able to drink a glass of water with it or the food you’ve just eaten will come back up. Also, the burning taste of acid in your mouth most mornings. This surgery repairing my stomach hiatal hernia will hopefully be life changing for me. not looking forward to the next 6 weeks on a liquid / soft food diet so any tips from people who have had this surgery it would be much appreciated x" (sic)
Gatsby concluded his post with a comment that read: "Swipe to see who has flown thousands of miles to look after me in my 2 month recovery", and a second photo revealed that his mum Nikki - who appeared on the show until 2017 before leaving Essex for a new life in Los Angeles - had returned to be by his side.
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