Louise Stephenson, 55, says she has been given 'a new lease of life' after a simple blood test helped solve a health issue that had plagued her for years. She had spent years battling symptoms linked to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and was determined to find the root cause of her problems.
Despite a diet consisting of healthy, home-cooked dishes including her favourite Thai curries and satays, Louise would suffer from a sensitive stomach on a daily basis. Along with symptoms linked to an autoimmune condition, it left the mum-of-two feeling tired and uncomfortable.
Struggling with daily flare-ups
Louise, who lives near Ormskirk, said: “I had a lot of gut problems, lots of sensitivity, lots of irritability and inflammation. I was going through regular flare-ups and I thought it had to be something more than a bit of IBS or being in the menopause.”
Louise took a food intolerance test with Supply Life, an award-winning testing company, which determined she was intolerant to foods she would regularly consume including bread, pasta, mushrooms, sweetcorn and cashew nuts. She then overhauled her diet, eliminating the foods flagged as problematic, and says her health has since improved.
Dramatic improvement after dietary changes
She said: “I was absolutely amazed at the results. I’ve found that the symptoms of IBS and my whole wellness has really improved. I don't mean to sound dramatic but I have gone from having flare-ups on a daily basis to maybe having a flare-up once or twice a month because I'm able to avoid those foods.”
Louise, who worked in the sports and leisure industry for over 30 years, suffers from an autoimmune condition which means pain and fatigue have unfortunately become a regular part of her life. When the menopause hit in her early 50s she found herself in a rut, both mentally and physically, and was determined to make changes to improve her life.
Newfound confidence and future plans
She said: “I've always been a professional person and I've always wanted to be the best version of myself for my family and for my work. In my early 50s I thought I was going to be facing a hard slog. But now with my research and making those changes I actually feel better than what I did when I was 50. So things are really on the up. I'm feeling much more confident and much more in control of my daily life.”
Louise’s wellbeing has improved so much that she recently took a six-week trip to Australia to see her daughter, where they both went scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef. She said: “After a couple of years having a rough time I’ve started a bucket list. I'm a big advocate for travelling and eating well and taking every opportunity that is in front of you. I've definitely done that this last year.”
Louise has now set her sights on visiting Asia, Japan, Malaysia and New Zealand, as well as some adventures a little closer to home. She said: “I've got a five year plan of things I want to do before my 60th birthday and in the meantime I want to maintain the level I’m at. It’s really important to me that I focus on these things that I've been able to put in place and keep that going.”
