Credit: Instagram/Vicki Gunvalson
Vicki Gunvalson revealed her recent surgery weeks ago after she was in “major pain,” as she shared what her doctor told her. The Real Housewives of Orange County star also addressed the rumor that she chose not to return next season.
On the new season, Vicki opened up about having issues with her knee, which caused her to move at a slower pace throughout filming. Some castmates labelled her a “Debbie Downer” in general, though Gina Kirschenheiter has hinted that Vicki was naturally feeling down about her medical issues.
“I had a knee replacement on September 11, so like two and a half weeks ago. … I just wasn’t feeling good. [I was in] major pain,” said Vicki on My Friend, My Soulmate, My Podcast. “[After an] X-ray, [my doctor] called and said, ‘Get back up here. We got to take that knee out and put a different one in.'”
“[It was] nothing he did wrong. My body was rejecting that knee or there was a lot of infection around it,” she said. “[My boyfriend] Michael, God bless his heart, drove six hours after work. We got there about 10 or 11 o’clock at night. Surgery was scheduled at 7 or 8 in the morning.”
She said the surgery lasted “four hours,” and she had a half day to recover before the reunion. “So I didn’t have much time to rest up,” she said. “Major surgery again. It was emergency.” Vicki said Bravo, however, took incredible care of her at the reunion.
Later on, Vicki addressed the rumor that she and Bravo came to the mutual agreement that she didn’t want to return next season.
“Do people just lay in bed or sit in their office or sit at their desk saying, ‘What can I do to lie about somebody?'” said Vicki. “I have zero respect for people that lie. … There is no conversation [about decisions for next season] with anybody [right] after the reunion. … [It’s] way after.”
New episodes of The Real Housewives of Orange County air Thursday nights on Bravo.