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It’s been a rough couple weeks for Vicki Gunvalson of The Real Housewives of Orange County. The Bravo matriarch filed for divorce from her husband of 16 years, Donn, on Ocotober 18 and now she is recovering from a very serious surgical procedure to repair bleeding ulcers.
The 48-year-old blond mother of two checked into Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach, California Thursday night due to internal bleeding from ulcers in her colon. She has since been released and is currently at home confined to a wheelchair while she recovers.
“I’m not feeling good,” Gunvalson tells E!. “They said I’ll be OK. It could flare up again, but I’m very healthy and I didn’t do anything to cause this. People just get sick. I’m going to be OK.”
Initial speculation was that the stress from her separation from Donn may have had something to do with her hospital visit, but Vicki tells E! “It’s not due to anxiety,” says Gunvalson. “It’s not due to a divorce. I’m very sick. I was hemorrhaging. It was very scary. I have internal bleeding in my colon, and they fixed it.”
One of her staff members tells Radar Online that the bleeding was due to stress, but not from her recent separation:
“It was caused from work and is stress-related. She has tendencies to spend long hours at the office and not take any breaks,” her staff member said. “It was certainly a wake-up call that she needs to slow down.”
Donn paid Vicki a visit in the hospital, which seems to support the couple’s claim that the split is amicable.
Vicki posted on her Facebook profile about two hours ago with this status update:
Out of the hospital. Thank you for the prayers and thank you Cory L. for the flowers you sent.
She followed that up shortly afterward with a comment:
I actually was bleeding internally and had surgery this morning . Im so thankful for my beautiful daughter who made sure I had the best doctors and care. I love you so much Briana.
We’d like to send our get well wishes to Vicki Gunvalson – we hope she’s back on her feet kickin’ business and housewife a$$ soon!
UPDATE: Vicki is reportedly feeling better, and plans a trip to Palm Springs to “de-stress.” Get better Vicki!
Real Housewives was filming when Vicki was rushed to the hospital during this incident. Most of the other women were at a party for Alexis’ dress line. Tamra freaks out when she learns her friend is bleeding internally and requires surgery, but Gretchen is sceptical about Vicki’s motives of going to the hospital during the vent for Alexis.
