'Struggled to eat without regurgitating', how this woman with a rare condition struggled to survive

When Jessica Herrala struggled to swallow she thought she had a tumour in her throat. Concerned with the condition, she visited a doctor who sent her back saying she was fine. 

But the struggle persisted and she was regurgitating food constantly, making it difficult to have a social life. 

“The GI specialists were completely confused by the whole thing. They told me that it was probably in my head, that it was all mental and suggested that I had bulimia. That sent me to therapy and suggested a hypnotherapist," said Herrala to TODAY.com. 

Visibly confused and tired of going through various consultations and tests, the condition had now started to affect her mental health. Eating and drinking were miserable for her and each time she tried, she regurgitated seven times or more.

Finally, she found the answer to her depressing condition, after she visited a motility specialist, a gastrointestinal doctor who specialised in conditions where the muscles of the GI tract fail to work properly.

She was diagnosed with achalasia

Achalasia is a swallowing condition that affects the tube connecting the mouth and the stomach, called the oesophagus. Damaged nerves make it hard for the muscles of the oesophagus to squeeze food and liquid into the stomach. Food then collects in the oesophagus, sometimes fermenting and washing back up into the mouth, as per Mayo Clinic. 

Experts say people with this condition manage their symptoms with the help of some medications and some others like Herrala undergo surgery. 

According to TODAY.com, Herrala underwent an esophagectomy, where doctors removed her oesophagus and 75% of her stomach. The remaining stomach became her oesophagus. Later it was learnt that she has a condition called gastroparesis where the stomach becomes paralysed and she underwent another surgery. 

After a series of surgeries and medical interventions, Herrala is now leading a healthy and normal life. 

Health