Student lost almost half her body weight in six months after waking up unable to eat

Student undergoes drastic weight loss due to rare stomach condition

A student named Shannon Dunbar-Dawe experienced a significant weight loss over a span of six months after waking up one day unable to eat. Shannon, who went to bed feeling healthy, found herself unable to consume food without feeling ill, due to a rare medical condition. Initially, she attributed her symptoms to excessive coffee consumption but soon faced severe stomach swelling, bloating, and nausea, making it unbearable to eat more than a few digestive biscuits. Despite her struggles, doctors dismissed her symptoms as anxiety or an eating disorder. It wasn’t until Shannon sought help from a private doctor and was diagnosed with gastroparesis, a rare disorder that affects digestion due to paralysis of stomach nerves and muscles.

Now weighing just 5.6 stone and relying on a feeding tube for nutrition, Shannon described feeling like a ‘shell’ of her former self. Her sister Charelle has started a fundraising campaign to collect funds for a gastric pacemaker that could enhance Shannon’s quality of life and potentially eliminate the need for the feeding tube. Shannon shared her frightening experience, stating, “It was really scary. I just woke up one day and never felt well again.” She described her symptoms as intense nausea, stomach pain, and extreme bloating, leading to a drastic weight loss from 64kg to 40kg within six months.

After struggling in the hospital for ten days without any answers, Shannon had to discontinue her studies and cope with constant nausea and weight loss. It took months of suffering before she was finally diagnosed with gastroparesis and had a feeding tube surgically inserted to aid with nutrition. Despite facing excruciating pain from the surgery and ongoing discomfort, Shannon remains hopeful that a gastric pacemaker surgery, which isn’t available on the NHS for non-diabetic patients, could improve her condition. With her sister’s support, they aim to raise awareness about gastroparesis and provide Shannon with a better quality of life.

Insights and Summary:
Shannon’s story highlights the challenges faced by individuals with rare medical conditions that often go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. The emotional and physical toll of such conditions can be immense, impacting daily life and overall well-being. Shannon’s journey towards finding a diagnosis and potential treatment showcases the importance of perseverance, seeking second opinions, and advocating for one’s health. The support from her sister and the fundraising efforts symbolize the strength of familial bonds and the power of community in times of need. Awareness about rare conditions like gastroparesis is crucial to ensure timely and accurate diagnosis, leading to better treatment outcomes for affected individuals.