Opposition leader Robert Corbin yesterday revealed that he had his “dysfunctional gallbladder” removed and was treated for his malfunctioning digestive system.
And while his disclosures answered the questions about his health that have been bandied back and forth recently, he slammed some observations made about his prior non-disclosure of his diagnosis labelling them “baseless, distasteful and unethical.”
A smartly-suited Corbin yesterday addressed the media following the party’s weekly press conference, choosing to stand at the podium and speak instead of sitting at the table as is normally done.
He said he returned to Guyana on May 23 but could not meet the press earlier because of a sore throat owing to a cold he contracted shortly before his return.
“Let me state clearly, for the avoidance of any doubt, that but for my bout of influenza, I am in good health. I am feeling fine and energised,” the party leader said.
After his April 25 hospitalisation and later transfer to the US, followed by the announcement that he had to undergo surgery, there were several calls for the opposition leader to disclose his illness as he is not only a public figure, but also holds a constitutional office.
Yesterday Corbin said he had noted in the media the many views expressed about the nature of his illness, the need for full disclosure of the details of his complaint as well as the expenditure involved.
He said he had no problem with the full disclosure of his medical expenses paid for by the government whenever it became available, nor did he have a problem with disclosing the nature of his illness.
“However, I am convinced that the right of full disclosure on my medical condition is one to be exercised by me and no one else,” Corbin said. “I have read all the releases from the PNCR, my brother Charles and the reports in the local media during my period of illness and am satisfied that there was always full disclosure. There is therefore absolutely no basis for some of the comments and criticisms made. Some of those observations are baseless, distasteful and unethical.”
Recounting every step taken since his admission to the Woodlands Hospital where he had driven himself on the morning of April 25 after he experienced chest pains, Corbin said there was an initial belief by his physician that his chest pains were heart related.
He said while a heart attack was very early ruled out, his physicians considered it necessary to have urgent investigations done to evaluate the functioning of his heart. For that reason he was transferred to the Caribbean Heart Institute (CHI) but a request was later made for his urgent travel to the US because, although new facilities have been constructed for angiography, that procedure could not be carried out without the relevant specialist surgeons on location to treat any abnormality that might have been determined during the procedure.
He said on arrival in the US he was admitted to the Heart Centre, St Francis Hospital in Long Island where he underwent cardiac catheterization.
The angiography revealed normal LV Function and the coronary angiography revealed normal coronary arteries.
“In summary, they found me to be a person with chest pains, but with a perfect functioning heart. Con-sequently, they recommended further medical therapy to deal with my symptoms, the determination of which required several tests and evaluation,” Corbin said.
After undergoing several medical tests, including a complete abdominal sonogram, a HIDA/Biliary scan and an endoscopy, it was diagnosed that the pains arose from the “malfunctioning of my digestive system including a dysfunctional gallbladder. Surgery was determined necessary for the removal of the gallbladder to be followed by a course of medical treatment related to the stomach.”
The gallbladder is a small non-vital organ which aids in the digestive process and concentrates bile produced in the liver.
Corbin had a successful surgery on May 7 and is soon to complete postoperative treatment.
Meanwhile, Corbin expressed appreciation to the government for the assistance provided during his illness and also to all the medical personnel who played a part of his treatment both locally and overseas.
And the party leader dispelled rumours of him having prior heart problems.
He said since 2003, especially following the death of his brother, he has been having annual medicals done and there has never been any report of anything wrong with his heart.
He said he has his medical done every year in September and up to last September his heart was functioning well as was proven by the recent tests done.
However, he revealed that he has had problems with high blood pressure for a number of years and has been on medication to address the problem.
