A young woman from Dover, Elise Banyard, 26, who was facing challenges with eating and drinking due to a rare condition, has undergone life-changing surgery. Elise suffered from type one achalasia, a condition that causes a narrowing of the oesophagus, making it extremely difficult to swallow food and liquids. This condition led her to stand while eating and experiencing frequent regurgitation and vomiting up to 60 times a day, resulting in significant weight loss to just over six stone. In August 2025, Elise underwent POEM (peroral endoscopic myotomy) surgery to alleviate her swallowing difficulties.
Following the surgery, Elise has gained two and a half stone but developed another condition called SMA (Superior mesenteric artery syndrome), which caused her stomach to drop below its normal position due to the loss of fatty tissue. While the surgery successfully resolved the major issues she faced with severe pain and regurgitation, she now encounters delayed pain after meals. Despite the challenges, Elise is grateful for the improvement in her condition and can now enjoy her favorite foods like pizza and pasta.
Elise’s journey began with symptoms such as difficulty swallowing and chest tightness in January 2020, but it took years for her local doctors to refer her to specialists in London. She received her diagnosis in November 2024 after experiencing daily vomiting and severe dehydration due to her inability to eat properly. The surgery in August 2025 enabled her to eat normally again, although she now deals with delayed pain after meals, especially with heavy, carbohydrate-rich foods. Elise is currently under the care of specialists in London to manage this issue without further surgical intervention.
Despite facing challenges post-surgery, Elise is determined to enjoy life to the fullest. She has regained the ability to eat her favorite foods like pizza and pasta, and even celebrated her birthday with a steak. Elise aims to consume 3,000 calories daily, spacing out her meals and snacks to avoid feeling hungry between meals. She is also focused on personal growth, learning to drive and pursuing studies in business administration to enhance her career prospects.