Help Ella eat without pain

This fundraiser is managed by Ella's close family who support her every day and help her to organise her health care and treatments. We aim to raise £10,000 to support Ella to return to full physical and emotional health over the next 6 months. She urgently needs our help. Please donate what you can to support Ella

Hello, I’m Ella, and I’m reaching out for your help.

For over 13 years, I’ve battled debilitating gut symptoms that prevent me from eating normally and living my life.

After exhausting the limited resources of the NHS, I now need financial assistance for private health Neurogastric investigations and treatment to get my life back and stop the spiral of chronic gut pain and dangerous weight loss.

Over the last decade, I have had various gastric tests that gave no conclusive reason for my acute gut pain and nausea. Medications do not work consistently to curb my symptoms. They also cause me to either be semi-conscious or extremely anxious.

We have privately funded over ten years:

gastro tests, therapy, nutritional and dietic support, homoeopathy, herbalism, naturopathy, healing, allergy testing, osteopathy, hypnotherapy, EMDR, EFT and more.

All have been incredibly supportive and kept me alive but there has been no conclusive diagnosis of my gut problems so we have now exhausted our savings. Last month, we finally understood from a neurogastrologist that my long-term health problems are neurological, not gut by origin.

Neuro-gastrology is a new sector of gastrohealthcare, hence I have spent 13 years without a diagnosis for my condition.

Unfortunately, time is now pressing. The result of a recent gut biopsy showed 'Lympho plasmapsyic', this is produced in the body when there is cancer or celiac present, fortunately not in my case. But my brain believes this to be so

This is an example of the brain effect on the gut and why I urgently need neuro-gastric and other proven effective therapies to support my weight restoration and neurology.

My Journey

At 12, my health issues began, potentially after a bout of food poisoning, over the years this has escalated to severe gastric pain with constant nausea. Progressively my diet has got smaller and smaller, limiting eating in general.

These debilitating symptoms have stopped me from eating sufficiently for the last 5 years. My weight has plummeted to 32 kg at my lowest. Now all eating and drinking causes pain, this has affected my mental health massively.

I require constant physical and emotional care from my family. My mobility is limited as this burns calories and I suffer from anxiety panic attacks and PSTD from years of having to force myself eat with pain and nausea. Despite multiple NHS investigations, the response has been consistent: they lack the resources and answers to help me.

Prior to my dangerously low weight, I had an active life, living independently, creatively cooking and working as a mentor for vulnerable people, whilst studying for a degree in Psychology and counselling. I have not been able to use any of my knowledge and skills acquired, as all my energy is directed towards trying to eat and stay alive.

I have had a low BMI for 5 years now and I have not been able to restore my weight to a safe level, despite 5 months as an inpatient at an eating disorder clinic last year. I do not have an eating disorder.

Having a long-term low BMI leads to low blood pressure, compromised immunity, reduced mobility and increased risk of heart problems, infertility and osteoporosis.

Without correct medical and psychological intervention, I do not see myself being able to recover.

My Experience with the NHS

● Nutritionist Support Withdrawn: I failed to meet a weight gain target due to severe pain, despite my best efforts.

● Gastro Specialists: They’ve told me they can't help further due to lack of funds, only offering me medication that I find increasingly ineffective.

● Eating Disorder Clinic: I was admitted due to my low weight (not any disorder) but they could only offer weight restoration, not treatment for my gut condition. Meaning that my weight has dropped again since my discharge, as the root cause has yet to be found.

● Mental Health Support: Withdrawn because the NHS doesn’t treat patients with low BMI on an outpatient basis.

● My GP is fantastic and supports me in all the ways she can. Recently she has undertaken to learn more about Neuro Gastology but admits her options are very limited.

My Goals

Eat a meal without pain. Regain my weight and BMI to safe levels, and be able to improve it. To have enough energy to get my life back. Travel, work, socialise and cook for others, all without fear and hesitation, about being able to manage these simple things.

How Your Donation Will Help

● Functional Medicine Doctor: Specialising in gut function. £170 per month

● Hypnotherapy: To overcome PTSD from years of suffering. £180 per month

● Neuro-Gastro Investigations: To address chronic pain and nausea. TBC as awaiting GP referral acceptance.

● Specialist dietician and therapy support with 2 practioners who understands how to help clients with low BMI, weight restoration and gastric problems. £1,085 per month

Total Funding

Costs are £1,435 per month.

We are asking for 6 months of financial help for Ella to make significant changes to her health at £8,610.

Currently we do not know the cost of the Neuro-Gastrology treatment but we are budgeting here for initial consultations at £1,400 and will update as soon as we know this information.

Our target is £10,000.

In Summary

My family are unable to continue to fund these treatments privately themselves. All of their attention and energy is divided into maintaining a positive life for my 13yr old brother whilst meeting my daily care needs.

Your support will help me to start my recovery journey back to a healthy weight and life. Every contribution brings me closer to a pain-free future.

Thank you for considering my fundraiser. Any help is greatly appreciated. Please email Robert the organiser if you want a newsletter on my progress to recovery