A mum with such severe bloating she ‘looked six months pregnant’ says she’s finally free of discomfort after finding out she was intolerant to milk, citrus fruits and wheat. 

Gemma Rowley, from Hastings, had her life turned upside down two years ago when she suffered a heart attack at just 42. 

Now living with stage two heart failure, Gemma was determined to find answers to the stomach problems that have been plaguing her life for years. 

But sick of hospital tests, she instead opted for a test with food intolerance testing company Supply Life and says the results have been ‘eye-opening’. 

Gemma, who works in a metal fabrication factory, said: “I had a scary, scary time two years ago. I’ve had problems with my stomach for years and about four weeks beforehand I had what I thought was indigestion. 

“I was very tired but I just thought it was because I was working 10 hour shifts and juggling family life. 

“The day I had the heart attack I knew something wasn't right. I was a bit breathless, went into work and the pain that I thought was indigestion wasn't going.”

Gemma’s pain got worse throughout the day and she went to A&E. 

She said: “The pain was going up into my chest and into my shoulders and the nurse said ‘we'll do an ECG just in case’ and that's the last thing I can remember. I woke up in a different hospital after having emergency stents fitted. If it wasn't for that nurse I wouldn't be here.”

The heart attack came out of the blue for Gemma who was fit and healthy, would regularly walk 10 miles with her dog and go to the gym twice a week. 

She said: “Life has been different since then. I'm on medications which have made me put on weight and I've had to cut hours down at work with a job that I absolutely love. But I'm still here and I'm grateful for every day.”

With health at the forefront of her mind, Gemma set out to finally tackle the stomach problems that have been causing her discomfort for years, including severe bloating and pain. 

She said: “I just needed to know if there was any other cause for this rather than go down the route of hospital testing, which I've had enough of.

“My stomach would look like I was six months pregnant and it was quite painful. I'd had that for years and doctors put it down to IBS but I always thought something’s not quite right.”

Supply Life specialise in tests measuring IgG antibodies in the blood which indicate a sensitivity to specific foods. 

After a test it was revealed Gemma was intolerant to dairy, nut milks, citrus fruits, barley, wheat and rice. 

She said: “Since I’ve tweaked my diet I don't get so bloated, my skin's not as dry and itchy and my hair is actually growing. It’s really helped. 

“The follow-up Supply Life did was amazing. I wasn’t just given a list of results. They made a meal plan for me which was fantastic.”