A SIMPLE sip of a beer during a fishing trip has caused Caboolture's John Macdonald more than a year of hell, with no sign of relief.

In March last year he ventured out on to the Brisbane River for a fishing trip with a mate when he dropped his beer in the water.

Without a second thought, he fished it out and continued to drink it.

Just a few hours later he was violently ill and has had to endure countless hospital visits since to try and fix a large mass growing from his stomach.

Initially Mr Macdonald was operated on at Caboolture hospital after antibiotics prescribed to him failed.

Instead of fixing him up, the situation worsened and he had to undergo another surgery which also failed.

Mr Macdonald was transferred to Royal Brisbane Hospital for a third operation which was deemed a success, however, he woke up with a large hernia-like mass on his stomach which made him appear pregnant.

He said he was then told he would need further operations to fix the unusual growth. On May 8 this year, Mr Macdonald was once again admitted for surgery at the RBH to remove the mass, an operation he thought would be his last.

"They operated and I was left with a flat stomach," he said.

However his road to recovery was shortlived.

During recovery in June Mr Macdonald coughed and split his post surgery stitches, a move which saw further drama unfold.

"When you can see what you had for tea you know something is wrong," he said. "On that day I knew it was back."

Mr Macdonald was admitted for surgery once more.

By July, Mr Macdonald said he was told he could go home but he was far from fixed.

The large mass had returned but he said he was told by doctors that there was nothing they could do for at least 12 months.

"I'm told we have to start the whole process again," he said.

Queensland Health declined to comment.