I've raised £10000 to fund life changing Gastroparesis surgery

Organised by Pat Ferady

Story

Thank you for visiting my page.

I have lost 4 stone in the last 18 months and my Consultant advises that I need a gastric electrical stimulator (pacemaker) which NHS England will not fund. There are no other viable treatment options. The only alternative is to self-fund and I am looking to raise £10,000 towards the total cost of £17,357.

I cannot digest any solid food and I am on a liquid food supplement of up to 600ml a day. This alone cannot maintain my weight. If I try to eat, I will be sick within a matter of hours. I am now being sick even with only having liquids. I suffer from pain, bloating, nausea or sickness daily and feel totally exhausted. I was diagnosed with idiopathic gastroparesis in 2010 and the condition has continued to deteriorate.

Gastroparesis has a severe debilitating effect on my quality of life. As well as the physical symptoms which persist, it affects my general health and well-being. I am becoming more and more isolated. I am unable to socialise with friends and family. I can’t remember the last time I was able to participate fully in a celebration such as a birthday or Christmas. I dream about not feeling sick or being in pain and sitting down at a table and eating the same food as everyone else. The tiredness means that I am limited to what I can do. I just want to feel normal again.

2018

Gastroparesis is a long-term (chronic) condition where the stomach can't empty itself in the normal way. Food passes through the stomach more slowly than usual. It is the result of a problem with the nerves and muscles controlling the emptying of the stomach. Gastroparesis cannot be cured. A gastric pacemaker will stimulate the muscles in the stomach to allow food to pass through into the bowel.

My consultant at Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford is one the top experts in gastroparesis and sees patients from all over England. He works tirelessly to help his patients. He has carried out this procedure successfully many times. In a recent television interview he stated,

I have been a cancer surgeon in the past and I’ve done many other operations and this is the one operation that gives me the greatest satisfaction. The reason for that is it certainly changes people’s lives.

If you feel you can support me, please make a donation, however small. I will be extremely grateful. I would also like to raise awareness of gastroparesis. We cannot be left without treatment options!