Liam Gatsby from ITVBe's The Only Way Is Essex has been rushed to hospital.
He was admitted to a private hospital in Essex for a "life-changing" operation after suffering a secret illness.
The 33-year-old star now faces two months of recovery after suffering from a hiatus hernia, which has now been treated.
Taking to Instagram to update his 483,000 followers, Liam, who is known as just Gatsby, 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 and acid reflux for a few years now but it got to the point where I couldn’t eat food and drink liquids at the same time without it coming back up."
In the snap he could be seen laying down in his hospital bed while at The Holly Private Hospital in Buckhurst Hill, Essex.
With an unimpressed look on his face but his thumbs up, Gatsby appeared to be in good spirits considering he had just been through a session in the operating theatre.
The second snap saw him posing for a selfie with his ultra glamorous mum, who has flown back from LA to look after her son.
A hiatus hernia is when part of your stomach moves up into your chest, and is uncommon in the under 50s.
It is thought that the star would have undergone keyhole surgery (known medically as a laparoscopy).
According to the NHS this involves making small cuts in your tummy and is done under general anaesthetic.
In his caption, Gatsby then gave fans an insight into living with the condition, writing: "Imagine eating a meal and 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."
He then added: "Swipe to see who has flown thousands of miles to look after me in my two month recovery."
Friends and fans of the star were quick to comment on Gatsby's health update, with one fan commenting: "I have a hiatus hernia and it’s awful so totally feel you. No plans to have mine operated on yet as I manage mine ok on meds etc. hope you recover quickly!"
Another added: "Get well soon, nought like having your mum there."
While a third penned: "Get well soon Gatsby, your mum is 1 in a million bless her."
He later posted a snap on his Instagram Stories that saw him holding a remote control in his bed, while watching Channel 4's Four In A Bed.
Panning the camera around his room, Gatsby showed off the secluded and private bedroom and the view from his window.
Because Gatsby faces six weeks off of work, it is unknown what this means for his appearances in the next series of The Only Way Is Essex.
Gatsby joined TOWIE back in 2015, when he came onto the scene as Lydia Bright's pal.
He then went on to be become a permanent fixture and a part of the main cast – even when Lydia left the show.
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