Beth’s story – Gastroparesis

Beth never expected a stomach bug to change her life. But when her symptoms continued long after the illness had passed, she found herself facing an unfamiliar condition and a new way of living. Now, Beth wants others with digestive conditions to know that their diagnosis doesn’t have to define who they are.

Note: At Guts UK, we want our stories to be easy to understand for everyone. If any medical terms in Bella’s story are unfamiliar, you can find definitions in our medical glossary  below.   

Tell us a little about yourself, Beth

“I’m based in Kent and I’m very much into theatre. I’m a performer and a writer as well.”

When did your symptoms begin?

“My symptoms started in May 2024. I was performing in a play and someone suddenly came down with a stomach bug. A couple of days later, I came down with it too and was very ill for about 48 hours. 

But after the stomach bug, things didn’t get much better. I started experiencing nausea, reflux, pain, sickness and really severe fatigue. I could only eat a couple of bites of food. 

It felt like someone had a hold of my stomach and was squeezing it from the inside. I could feel the pressure of my stomach when I was breathing because of how full it felt all the time. 

I knew there was something really wrong and I knew it wasn’t just anxiety or stress.

I had absolutely no idea what was going on because it seemed to have come out of nowhere. I would try to eat something and suddenly be hit with this wall of fullness and nausea.  

Eventually, I realised I wasn’t getting better and needed to find out what was going on.”

How long did it take to get your diagnosis? 

“I initially waited about a month before going to the doctors because I thought maybe I would just get over it. 

I had to see a few different doctors because they didn’t really know what was wrong with me. The first GP brushed me off quite a lot and said, ‘It’s just anxiety, it’s just stress,’ but I knew there was something really wrong. 

I pushed to see other GPs and ended up having what felt like every test under the sun. I had lots of blood tests, stool samples and other investigations. I even went to the doctor with two A4 pages of symptoms because I was thinking, ‘What is going on with me? Please help.’ 

I was sent for an endoscopy procedure in hospital but had to stop halfway through because I developed tachycardia during the procedure. 

Eventually, I found a consultant who referred me for a barium swallow and a gastric emptying study. Those tests confirmed I had gastroparesis.”

How did you feel when you received your diagnosis? 

“It was a very mixed feeling. Part of me was incredibly relieved to finally have an answer and to know what I was dealing with. But I also had to face the reality that I did have a chronic condition and that it wasn’t necessarily going to be easy to manage or live with. I knew there would have to be some significant adjustments to my life, and that was quite a daunting prospect.”

How has gastroparesis affected your everyday life? 

“I’ve changed my job to accommodate my condition. I’m now in a more desk-based role, which means I can eat at my desk when it suits me rather than being pressured to eat at certain times. I can eat little and often throughout the day, which works much better for my body.  

Gastroparesis has also affected my ability to make plans because it’s unpredictable.  You have to give yourself grace and work with your body. You shouldn’t feel guilty about cancelling plans if you’re too unwell to go out. The right people will understand. 

Food also plays such a big part in socialising. If I’m meeting someone and it involves food, I have to look at the menu in advance and make sure there is something I can eat.” 

What treatment and support have you received? 

“I’ve tried a few different medications. I also use nutritional supplement drinks. I’ve had appointments with a dietitian to look at making changes to my diet and see what might help. 

I still have symptoms every day, but these things have definitely helped me. I’ve managed to regain some of that weight since having the right support.”

What have you learnt about managing your condition?

“I’ve learnt that you have to find what works for your individual body. When I was first diagnosed, I was given lots of suggestions about what I should and shouldn’t be doing. It’s important to listen to that guidance, but it’s not necessarily the be-all and end-all. Everybody is different. 

I initially cut out so many things from my diet that it actually made me feel worse. I think it’s important to take advice as guidance rather than feeling that you have to follow everything literally.” 

What would you say to someone who has just been diagnosed? 

“Firstly, you know your body better than anyone. If you think something isn’t right or feels abnormal, challenge people and push for the answers you need. 

At the same time, listening to your body and allowing yourself guilt-free rest is incredibly important. 

You can still achieve so many things whilst having a digestive condition. Don’t allow it to take away from how you feel about yourself or your identity. 

You’re still a person who contributes amazing things to the world and can achieve lots of amazing things. Just because you have a digestive condition, it doesn’t have to mean that that is your life.” 

Why are you sharing your story? 

“I don’t actually know anyone else who has gastroparesis, so it can feel quite isolating sometimes. 

I think it’s really important to talk about it so that if there are other people going through the things I’m going through, they can feel like we’re able to learn and connect with each other. 

I hope it makes people feel less isolated when they’ve been suddenly diagnosed with something.” 

Beth’s little tip

“I know not everyone can tolerate this, but I really like a boiled sweet when I need a little pick-me-up. I keep a little jar next to my desk. I’ve found they don’t fill you up as much, but they give you a little bit of joy.” 

Why did you choose to fundraise for Guts UK? 

“When I was given my diagnosis, I had absolutely no idea what to do with that information or where to go. I found that I could get information and support through Guts UK. 

The support for research is also really important to me. Hopefully, in the future, there will be more treatment options available. 

Fundamentally, I really appreciate the work Guts UK is doing. It’s genuinely one of the only places I’ve been able to find information that has been really useful to me.” 

Glossary of medical terms

• Barium swallow: a test that involves drinking a barium liquid and having X-rays. This shows up the oesophagus, stomach and first part of the small intestine on X-ray.
• Endoscopy: a thin tube with a small camera on the end, inserted via the mouth to look inside the body. 
• Gastric Emptying Study (GES): a medical test that tracks how long it takes a meal (or drink) to move through your stomach and empty from it.
• Tachycardia: a fast heartbeat.

About Guts UK

Guts UK is the national charity for the digestive system and the only UK charity funding research into the whole digestive system.

We provide information and support for people affected by digestive conditions, including a dedicated Helpline.