A woman who kept bringing up food and water every day for six months has found the cause – and it’s actually a common health condition. When Linda Kelly started experiencing frequent spells of stomach pain, she thought it was a simple bout of food poisoning.
But, over the course of a few months, it only worsened and the mum was left in “crippling agony” each day, coupled with rushing to the nearest toilet to throw up. Unsure what was going on, and doctors allegedly none the wiser , the 60-year-old decided to go private to find out the cause.
And it turned out to be gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD), which, according to the NHS, affects 1 in every 10 people in the UK. “I carried on feeling sick, tired and in pain, with no end in sight for such a long time,” said the retired business owner, from North Wales. “I felt utterly drained, like a shell of my former self.
“The constant pain and inability to eat left me physically and emotionally exhausted. As my family tucked into their delicious dinners, I was left taking tiny sips of water, as that’s all I could handle. And even then, that was sometimes too much for me. It was hell and I didn’t know what was causing it. I just wanted my old life back.”
Linda had to ultimately give up her career and take early retirement when her condition became unbearable. The decision was “heartbreaking,” but she had no other choice. GORD refers to a wide range of symptoms, from acid reflux and heartburn, but can also cause bloating, vomiting and tooth decay.
When receiving her diagnosis in March 2024, she was told her case was much worse than medics had thought. And so, she had to undergo emergency surgery immediately in a bid to save her life. She said: “It had completely wrecked my stomach to shreds. It was so bad, that it had started to destroy the oesophagus lining, as acid from my stomach was leaking into it.
“If untreated, this could’ve potentially led to life-threatening complications, such as organ failure or even cancer. I was terrified, as I thought I might not survive or regain my heath. The thought of leaving my family too soon was devastating.”
The operation, Nissens Fundoplication, aimed to tighten the joint between her stomach and oesophagus and prevent the acid from coming back up the wrong way. While successful, the mum’s battle was far from over. She said: “Thankfully, the vomiting stopped, but I was still in so much pain.
“I still struggled to eat and lost over two stone in three months. As a result, I was malnourished and was left dealing with extreme weakness, constant fatigue and poor immune function, which only made recovery harder. So much damage had been done, that could’ve been prevented, but now it was too late.”
Linda was determined not to let her condition hold her back, though. Instead, she took forward her passion for modelling and applied for an over-50s beauty pageant, in which she made the finals between May and December 2024. Now, despite still battling pain and struggles when keeping down food, she’s hoping her shift in mindset will keep positivity going strong.
But due to her limited diet, consisting of only soft and bland foods, it’s had an impact on her social life, such as going out to dinner, which is very difficult. She hopes to share her story in a bid to raise awareness, especially as so many people are living with the same condition completely unaware of how quickly it can develop.
Linda added: “I was fed up of feeling old before my time; and I wasn’t going to let this stop me from living life to the full. I’m waiting on scans to assess any ongoing damage to my oesophagus and stomach – and to rule out any further complications. My advice: don’t give up, physically or mentally. Remain confident, even with a chronic illness, as we’re all still beautiful on the inside and outside.“And mostly importantly, keep strong and never stop trying to get an answer. For now, though, it finally feels like the old me is back.”