Woman's Four-Year Battle with Rare Condition: From 60 Vomits Daily to Life-Changing Surgery
Elise Baynard, a 26-year-old care worker from Dover, endured a harrowing four-year struggle with a rare medical condition that left her unable to eat or drink normally, vomiting up to 60 times daily and shrinking to just over six stone in weight. Her journey highlights the challenges of diagnosing and treating obscure health issues, culminating in a transformative surgical procedure that restored her ability to consume food, albeit with ongoing complications.
The Debilitating Symptoms and Delayed Diagnosis
Elise first began experiencing symptoms in January 2020, including difficulty swallowing and a tightness in her chest. Local doctors initially failed to recognize the severity of her condition, delaying a referral to specialists in London for years. It was not until November 2024 that she received a definitive diagnosis: type one achalasia, a disorder that narrows the oesophagus, making it incredibly difficult to swallow both food and liquids.
The condition forced Elise to stand while eating and drinking, as this position provided minimal relief. She described being unable to consume even basic items like soup, bread, or pasta, as they would become stuck and lead to immediate regurgitation. On one particularly severe day, she was sick approximately 63 times, highlighting the extreme nature of her daily suffering.
Life-Altering Surgery and Its Aftermath
In August 2025, Elise underwent POEM (peroral endoscopic myotomy) surgery, a minimally invasive procedure designed to open her digestive tract. This operation required six weeks of tube feeding both before and after to ensure success, but it left no external scars and resolved the major issues of severe pain and regurgitation. For the first time in years, she could eat and drink normally, experiencing emotional moments like crying when a sip of water reached her stomach without obstruction.
However, the surgery did not come without new challenges. Due to the dramatic weight loss caused by her achalasia, Elise developed Superior Mesenteric Artery (SMA) syndrome, where her stomach dropped below its normal position due to loss of fatty tissue. This complication led to bile buildup in her digestive system, impairing nutrient absorption and causing delayed pain after meals, particularly with heavy or carbohydrate-rich foods like pizza and pasta.
Current Struggles and Future Hopes
Despite the ongoing pain, Elise remains optimistic and determined to live fully. She now aims to consume 3,000 calories daily, never waiting more than 30 minutes between snacks to avoid hunger. Her ability to enjoy favourite foods such as pizza, pasta, and even a birthday steak represents a significant improvement, though she acknowledges that eating sometimes results in three days of subsequent pain.
Elise is currently under the care of specialists in London, seeking to manage her SMA syndrome without further surgery. She is also focusing on personal growth, learning to drive and studying business administration to enhance her career prospects. Reflecting on her ordeal, she stated, "I'm really doing things to make my life worth it. When I thought I was going to die, I was like, I need to stop being a worrier and start taking life by the horns."
Her story underscores the importance of timely medical intervention for rare conditions and the resilience required to navigate complex health journeys. While Elise continues to face dietary and pain management challenges, her progress from constant vomiting to enjoying meals again marks a profound step toward normalcy.
