Elise Baynard, 25, shares her struggle with achalasia, a rare swallowing disorder that makes eating a daily challenge.
Dover: Elise Baynard is facing a tough battle with a rare condition. At just 25, she has achalasia, which makes swallowing nearly impossible. This means she has to stand while eating to avoid choking. It’s a real struggle for her.
The trouble started in January 2020. Elise felt a tightness in her chest and had a hard time swallowing. At first, her doctor thought it was just acid reflux. But things didn’t get better, and she was still having issues.
She found it hard to eat things like bread and pasta. Even liquids would come back up. After a while, she was sent to a specialist for more tests. Finally, in November 2024, a doctor in London diagnosed her with achalasia.
Now, Elise is living on a limited diet of cereal and crisps. She’s lost a lot of weight and is waiting for a surgery that could help her eat normally again. It’s called peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM), and it could really change her life.
Elise shared how her life has changed since her diagnosis. She can’t sit down to eat, which is tough. She experiences painful spasms that feel like a heart attack. Some days are better than others, but she never knows what to expect.
After moving to her new flat, her health took a turn for the worse. She felt like she was being ignored by the healthcare system. It took a long time to get the right help, and she was frustrated with the process.
Elise wants to raise awareness about achalasia. She hopes that by sharing her story, doctors will take this condition more seriously and help others who might be suffering in silence.
