A man has revealed how he was ‘forced’ to leave his family behind to seek out treatment abroad after free healthcare service surgery left him ‘botched’.
Kevin Smith had been suffering with intense heartburn as an ongoing issue for years.
He had an endoscopy, which revealed that it was simply inflammation brought on by stress, and was told to keep an eye on his diet, as well as lifestyle habits.
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When he attended a follow-up appointment, though, a different doctor claimed the 40-year-old had a hernia – that needed to be removed immediately.
Kevin, who had his doubts, questioned the surgery, though he alleges he was informed that it was an “emergency” and the healing process would be “easy”.
But, three months later, he was unable to stand up straight, with his condition only going downhill from there.
As a result, he was “forced” to look for options elsewhere to undo the life-changing damage – and left his family, including wife and two young kids, behind in February to find the solution.
“I was alive, but not truly living,” the English teacher, from Douglas, told Need To Know.
“I feel like I was handed a prison sentence for doing nothing wrong.
“I lost so many years of my life for something that should’ve never happened.
“If I could go back in time, I would’ve told myself to look for other options first.
“It’s been so difficult being away from my family, especially my kids, as I’ve missed out on so many important milestones.
“It’s a living nightmare that I’m only just waking up from.”
Kevin claims the issue started after having the aforementioned follow-up with a doctor he had “never seen before” in August 2019.
He said: “He didn’t know my history or what was going on really.
“I had no signs or symptoms conclusive with a hernia, so I was stressed.
“But they said the surgery would be ‘in-and-out’ with no risks.
“When I woke up in agonising pain, though, I knew that wasn’t the case at all.
“It felt like I was dying, with a knife being twisted in my side.
“It’s not normal to wake up from surgery in this much pain.”
The dad-of-two, who had a mesh inserted, was left unable to get out of bed, unable to walk without hunching over and kept passing out due to the pain.
He went back and forth with doctors, whom he claims sent him away with painkillers only.
Daily tasks, such as going to the supermarket, carrying his son, and going cycling were no longer possible.
Then, the embarrassment hit.
Kevin said: “Friends would ask me to go out hiking or to attend social events.
“I couldn’t and so I had to make up an excuse that I was busy.
“I felt ashamed.”
He reached out to a variety of private doctors, who Kevin says were all “shocked” by the state of his surgery.
Unfortunately, as he lives on the Isle of Man, he was unable to get treatment on the NHS, and, as a result, it would’ve cost him in excess of £10,000.
And so, he did his research and came across a doctor in Taiwan.
If he got a job there, he would be covered by their built-in health insurance.
He spent three months training to get an English teaching certificate and then got offered a role immediately.
Within 10 minutes of being in the doctor’s office in Taiwan, Kevin was seen, had a CT scan and got the results.
It turns out the mesh was pressing against his bladder and was attached to his bowel, causing the difficulties.
In February 2026, he underwent life-changing surgery.
He said: “It was so professional.
“I woke up with no pain – to the point where I wondered if they had even carried out the surgery.
“Within two days, I was back on my feet with virtually no pain or issues.
“The restriction I had felt for so long had gone.”
In May, he’s due to return home.
Kevin added: “I won’t ever take the risk of stepping back into an Isle of Man hospital again.
“I’m worried if something were to happen, I wouldn’t get the care I deserve.
“Mesh should never be used.
“There’s too many stories relating to this.
“I feel like a victim.
“I was discharged, dismissed and forgotten about.
“Despite being alone in a foreign country, I had no choice.
“It was either do the surgery and make up for lost time.
“Or keep making excuses and not be a part of my kids’ lives in the way I want to be.
“I hope that my story raises awareness of the dangers patients can face when doctors don’t fully inform them of the risks or the other surgical options available.
“As for me, I’m just focusing on going back home and being the dad my kids deserve.”
A spokesperson for Manx Care said: “We can not comment on an individual patient’s care.
“We are deeply sorry Mr Smith has had the experience he has.
“Manx Care is committed to treating every patient with dignity and care, with this in mind we would recommend Mr Smith contact MCALS so that he may start a formal investigation into the care he received.”
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