AN Exeter University student has spoken of her 'new lease of life' thanks to a revolutionary procedure that changed her world, after years of suffering from a condition that left her depressed and too anxious to leave the house.
First year student, Kirsty Milne, lived with the devastating acid reflux condition, Gastroesophageal reflux disease, for five years before doctors were finally able to treat it.
The 18-year old Modern Languages student was unable to keep her food down and suffered constant discomfort since the age of 13. The condition, which left her with a weakened oesophageal muscle, meant she would regurgitate several times after eating, and take two hours to finish a meal.
At the age of 17, the once outgoing teenager who had become withdrawn and paranoid that people would watch her eat had to chew and swallow her food repeatedly to try and make it stay in her stomach. Eventually she had lost so much weight she was admitted to hospital.
Speaking of her ordeal, Kirsty said:
"Since my symptoms first appeared at age 13, I have undergone too many tests to count! At first, the symptoms weren't too bad; I would swallow food and then it would come back up undigested, so I would swallow it again. It wasn't like being sick; it was unpleasant but I was able to cope with it."
However, over the years the condition got worse, which left her dreading meal times.
She added:
"Food became my enemy. Despite numerous tests and various medications, nobody seemed to know what was wrong. It was affecting my family; food has always been a big part of our lifestyle, my mum would make everything from scratch and we would sit as a family and catch up with each other's days.
"When my symptoms got really bad, mum would have to make me separate meals and take into consideration that I needed two hours after each meal to digest my food properly."
Kirsty said her social life was non-existent.
"I was unable to go out socially and holidays were a nightmare. I lost a lot of weight at a time when I should have been growing. I can honestly say that it ruined many years of my life."
The groundbreaking device that has since turned her life around is made up of small, flexible magnets enclosed in titanium beads. It was implanted above her stomach to help keep the muscle closed and prevent her food from coming back up.
Kirsty's father, Robin Milne, said watching his daughter suffer for so many years broke his heart.
Mr Milne said:
"We watched her withdraw into herself, which was heartbreaking as she used to be such a bubbly, carefree and active girl.
"Since the procedure, her condition has improved immeasurably. She can now eat practically anything. She has gone off to university with confidence and is enjoying a fresh start. My daughter has her life back."
Kirsty said she is looking forward to the future and being able to socialise.
She added:
"Now I can pretty much eat what I want. My life has changed so much; I can go out with my friends from university and not worry about eating in front of anyone. The anxiety has lifted and the illness that plagued me from such a young age has finally been cured. It is a miracle."
