Scots teen suffered 'severe stomach pain' before life-changing diagnosis
A Glasgow teen has opened up about her shock rare condition diagnoses following spells of nausea and extreme abdominal pain.
Lucy Maine has told that her symptoms were initially thought to be linked to her autonomic nervous system disorder, Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (PoTS), which she was diagnosed with at age 14.
However, last summer, the now 19-year-old's symptoms worsened and she was rushed to hospital.
She told Glasgow Live: 'When I was admitted, I had low blood sugar. I was nauseous and I just kept throwing up. I was struggling to keep anything down and had excess saliva. It was put down to a virus because I had a high temperature, but the symptoms continued after I was discharged.
'After going back and forth to the GP, gastroparesis was mentioned as a possible connection to PoTS because they can both co-exist. I had such severe stomach pain and needed stronger pain relief, so I was then sent for testing.'
Lucy had never heard of the condition before her diagnosis and what living with gastroparesis would involve. That's before she stumbled across Guts UK, which helped her make sense of the condition.
'Guts UK was the first charity I came across when I was looking at information about the condition. The website explained gastroparesis in a really simple way, and there were pictures showing how food goes into your stomach and gets stuck, which made it easier for me to learn about it.
'I also read a woman's story, which connected a lot with mine. Although I saw she had a feeding tube, which I hoped I would never need. It was nice to see someone else with the condition, knowing that it wasn't just me, especially because she was close to my age.'
Lucy's initial treatment involved dietary changes, medication and nutritional supplements. However, not long into this year, Lucy was raced to hospital again after experiencing extreme weight loss, low blood sugar, nausea, and vomiting and she was fitted with an NJ feeding tube.
'There wasn't really a choice with getting the tube; I was barely able to speak and move in the hospital bed because I was so exhausted and weak", she explained.
"I just remember crying, I didn't want a feeding tube at all. I was really scared, and I didn't know anyone who had one. I thought a feeding tube meant I was going to be in the hospital all the time, which I've realised now, it doesn't mean that at all."
Lucy's NJ feeding tube goes to the start of her small intestine and bypasses her stomach, which is affected by her gastroparesis. Her tube is connected overnight and runs for around 13 hours.
Talking about life after her feeding tube, Lucy said: 'I have so much more energy. Even after a week of starting the feeds, I just felt so much more like myself. My weight has gone up, and my low blood sugar is much better controlled. I'm also about to start university, which at one point I never thought possible.'
National digestive health charity Guts UK is raising vital awareness of gastroparesis – a rare and often misunderstood stomach condition – as part of Gastroparesis Awareness Month this August.
The campaign aims to break down stigma, spark conversation, and provide reliable information about this debilitating condition that affects 14 in every 100,000 people in the UK.
Reflecting on why she wanted to share her gastroparesis story, Lucy said: "I think I just want to raise awareness of the condition because it's not that well-known. And share my experience so that if there's anyone else who's newly diagnosed, or suspects that they may have it, they may be able to relate and feel a bit less alone with it.
'I've learned to take each day as it comes, because there will be tough times, but also better ones ahead. It's so important to remember that. I always try to remember that this is my situation right now, and I don't know what the future will look like.
"I know there isn't a cure, and that can be scary. Also, try not to be afraid of having a feeding tube, it's there to support you, so try to accept it even though I know it's incredibly difficult.'
Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.
You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.
No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.
All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in!
If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'.
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like.
To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Daily Record
Scots teen suffered 'severe stomach pain' before life-changing diagnosis
Lucy Maine thought her symptoms were linked to her Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (PoTS), which she was diagnosed with at age 14. A Glasgow teen has opened up about her shock rare condition diagnoses following spells of nausea and extreme abdominal pain. Lucy Maine has told that her symptoms were initially thought to be linked to her autonomic nervous system disorder, Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (PoTS), which she was diagnosed with at age 14. However, last summer, the now 19-year-old's symptoms worsened and she was rushed to hospital. She told Glasgow Live: 'When I was admitted, I had low blood sugar. I was nauseous and I just kept throwing up. I was struggling to keep anything down and had excess saliva. It was put down to a virus because I had a high temperature, but the symptoms continued after I was discharged. 'After going back and forth to the GP, gastroparesis was mentioned as a possible connection to PoTS because they can both co-exist. I had such severe stomach pain and needed stronger pain relief, so I was then sent for testing.' Lucy had never heard of the condition before her diagnosis and what living with gastroparesis would involve. That's before she stumbled across Guts UK, which helped her make sense of the condition. 'Guts UK was the first charity I came across when I was looking at information about the condition. The website explained gastroparesis in a really simple way, and there were pictures showing how food goes into your stomach and gets stuck, which made it easier for me to learn about it. 'I also read a woman's story, which connected a lot with mine. Although I saw she had a feeding tube, which I hoped I would never need. It was nice to see someone else with the condition, knowing that it wasn't just me, especially because she was close to my age.' Lucy's initial treatment involved dietary changes, medication and nutritional supplements. However, not long into this year, Lucy was raced to hospital again after experiencing extreme weight loss, low blood sugar, nausea, and vomiting and she was fitted with an NJ feeding tube. 'There wasn't really a choice with getting the tube; I was barely able to speak and move in the hospital bed because I was so exhausted and weak", she explained. "I just remember crying, I didn't want a feeding tube at all. I was really scared, and I didn't know anyone who had one. I thought a feeding tube meant I was going to be in the hospital all the time, which I've realised now, it doesn't mean that at all." Lucy's NJ feeding tube goes to the start of her small intestine and bypasses her stomach, which is affected by her gastroparesis. Her tube is connected overnight and runs for around 13 hours. Talking about life after her feeding tube, Lucy said: 'I have so much more energy. Even after a week of starting the feeds, I just felt so much more like myself. My weight has gone up, and my low blood sugar is much better controlled. I'm also about to start university, which at one point I never thought possible.' National digestive health charity Guts UK is raising vital awareness of gastroparesis – a rare and often misunderstood stomach condition – as part of Gastroparesis Awareness Month this August. The campaign aims to break down stigma, spark conversation, and provide reliable information about this debilitating condition that affects 14 in every 100,000 people in the UK. Reflecting on why she wanted to share her gastroparesis story, Lucy said: "I think I just want to raise awareness of the condition because it's not that well-known. And share my experience so that if there's anyone else who's newly diagnosed, or suspects that they may have it, they may be able to relate and feel a bit less alone with it. 'I've learned to take each day as it comes, because there will be tough times, but also better ones ahead. It's so important to remember that. I always try to remember that this is my situation right now, and I don't know what the future will look like. "I know there isn't a cure, and that can be scary. Also, try not to be afraid of having a feeding tube, it's there to support you, so try to accept it even though I know it's incredibly difficult.' Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
BBC News
10-08-2025
- BBC News
Do wellness drinks really do what they say?
Calm in a can. Relaxation after a few what some drinks companies are promising with beverages formulated specifically to help you chill and Serena swear by them. They're good friends who, like many, are juggling careers, the chaos of having small children, trying to stay fit, and everything else in between."These drinks aren't going to get rid of all my worries and anxieties," Serena says, "but if they give me a little boost - then I'll take it."Lucy finds them really useful too, especially when she's feeling a bit overwhelmed."If I get that low-level panic, then with a drink of Trip or something like it, I can bring it back round."But after an advert by one of the industry's best-known brands was banned for suggesting its drinks helped with stress and anxiety, there have been questions about whether drinks of this kind are quite as effective as they make News has spoken to nutritionists and dietitians who are sceptical the small amounts of supplements the drinks contain could really bring about that sense of psychologist has suggested that we might actually "create our own calm" when we set aside time for ourselves with something that feels like a treat. The "functional beverage" market - that's drinks with additional health benefits - is booming, with British supermarkets seeing sales jump by 24.5% in the last 12 months, according to one market research firm. Almost 30% of UK households now buy these functional drinks, Worldpanel by Numerator what's actually in them that's supposed to help you feel more mellow or give your health a boost? Well, that's where things can get complicated, as each brand takes a different with Trip's Mindful Blend, other companies like Rheal, Grass&Co, Goodrays and supermarket own-brands, advertise that their drinks contain supplements including:Lion's Mane extract – a type of mushroom found in east Asian countriesL-theanine – an amino acid found primarily in green and black teaAshwagandha – a herb cultivated in areas of Asia, Africa, and EuropeMagnesium – a mineral the human body needs to function properlyThese supplements are all commonly found in many health and wellbeing products and are associated with enhancing mood, boosting energy, supporting cognition, and helping with how robust is the evidence for that? It's tricky because there are many studies of varying credibility each suggesting different levels of advert, which suggested its ingredients were stress and anxiety busters, breached the Advertising Standards Agency's (ASA) code, with the ASA ruling that Trip's claims their drinks could "prevent, treat or cure disease" were a step too told BBC News the ruling related to "a single page on the website" and it has made the "changes requested". It says it's confident it's ingredients permit the use of the word "calm" which is "widely and lawfully used by many brands". Dietitian Reema Patel is concerned the amount of supplement in these drinks may not give consumers the emotional balance, feelings of calm, or stress relief that is advertised across the industry. She highlights a growing body of evidence around the funghi Lion's Mane, but says there are no conclusive findings about whether it can have any impact - as yet."The research is still very much in its infancy," she says. "In one of the more advanced clinical trials, a small number of participants were given 1800mg - that's at least four times more than what is in some of these drinks."Studies suggest women are more likely to consume these kinds of supplements, but they're not always front and centre in the research. The lack of research that includes female participants is partly down to menstrual cycles and fluctuating hormones, making it more "complicated to track", Ms Patel these drinks can make a good alternative to drinking alcohol she says, and she has clients who have made the switch from having a wine or a gin and tonic every night to opening a can of one of these drinks to help them unwind."I think you can take a lot of the claims with a pinch of salt, but they are definitely giving people that other option." Dr Sinead Roberts, a performance nutritionist, says supplements can make a difference, but they tend to work for certain groups of people in specific circumstances - such as high-performing athletes who want that extra edge, or people who are deficient in a certain nutrient - not necessarily for the general you enjoy the taste, "crack on", Dr Roberts says, but if you want to reduce stress and anxiety you're probably best saving your £2 or £3 and putting it towards a "therapy session or a massage at the end of the month"."A trace of Lion's Mane or Ashgawanda in a fizzy drink is not going to make any difference," she May, 25, first discovered these drinks at Glastonbury a couple of years ago. She's not overly bothered about trying to reach a state of zen through them - she just likes the taste."I'm ADHD," Emily says, "so I would definitely need a lot more than one of those drinks to calm me down." There is a fine line between advertising that a product will give you a feeling of calm and quiet, and claiming these kinds of drinks will help with mental health Natasha Tiwari says mental health and well-being are "increasingly conflated" in the wellness sector, creating a "toxic mix". There can be a positive - yet temporary - change in mood and consumers might feel a buzz, she says, not because of the ingredients necessarily, but because "everything around the experience of the product is real"."So you've bought a drink which, let's say, is a little bit pricier than the alternatives in the market. Therefore you make a commitment to sit down quietly and enjoy it nicely," she says. "You look at the branding - which is lovely and calming - you're processing your environment in the moment, and then actually what you're experiencing truly is a calm moment in your otherwise busy day. That's not fake."And it's that little window of peace that Lucy and Serena yearn for - and for a few minutes a fizzy drink in a can gives them that, whether the science really agrees, or News contacted all the brands mentioned in this article. Grass&Co told us it's their mission "to deliver high-strength natural adaptogen and vitamin-packed blends formulated by experts... which are supported by approved health claims."
Daily Record
09-08-2025
- Daily Record
Gran left shaken and too scared to go out alone after horror fall at shopping centre
Helen Taggart was left bloodied and in shock after tripping on 'dangerous' paving in the Asda car park at Glasgow's Forge Shopping Centre on Sunday, June 27. A Scots gran has been left shaken to the core and too frightened to go out on her own after she suffered a fall on uneven paving. Helen Taggart, 78, was left covered in blood and in shock after she tripped on a raised slab in the car park of the Forge Shopping Centre's Asda store on Sunday, June 27. The NHS receptionist had just loaded her shopping into the back of her car when she was sent crashing to the ground after her foot caught on a paving stone while stopping her trolley from rolling away, reports Glasgow Live. Helen, who has worked at her local health centre for more than 40 years, was left with horrific injuries including deep cuts inside her mouth where her teeth almost burst through her lip, and multiple gashes and abrasions to her face. Helen told Glasgow Live: "I was in a terrible mess. I'm still not right. I was putting my shopping bags in the back of my car when the trolley moved. I took a couple of steps to catch it, and I felt my feet clicking on the slab, which was up from the rest of them. "I had nothing to catch onto. I threw my arm out so my face partially landed on my arm. I was lucky. If I had hit that, I honestly think my whole head would have burst. The amount of blood was unbelievable." Shocked shoppers and a passing staff member rushed to help the pensioner, but she was too stunned to stand. She added: "I'm held together with metal because I was hit by a bus quite a long time ago, which is why I have a disabled badge. I'm not a complainer, I just take a paracetamol and get on with it. But I just couldn't get up and keep going. "People were all around me, and one of the guys who does the trolleys came over and gave me a cloth. They helped me to my feet. I can't thank them enough. They were amazing." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Helen then drove herself to her health centre, only for colleagues to send her straight to hospital. Doctors couldn't stitch her mouth because of the amount of skin lost, leaving her unable to speak for four days. She survived on drinks through a straw for fear of reopening the wound. Speaking about the impact of the fall, she added: "I don't feel the same anymore. I'm taking dizzy spells. "When I'm walking, I feel like I'm going sideways. I'm really shook up. Most of the time, I have someone with me when I leave the house now. It really hits your confidence." Helen is now considering giving up her job at the health centre where she has worked for over 40 years. Following the fall, Helen's niece Sandra tried to get in contact with the Forge Shopping Centre, but says that all attempts at contact have fallen on deaf ears. Sandra told Glasgow Live: "We're just looking for someone to acknowledge what happened. Helen is a typical wee feisty Glasgow woman and this has knocked her back. We feel completely ignored."
