When Bay Burdett first experienced 'excruciating' cramps, irregular bowel movements, fatigue and bloating, she decided to ignore it.
The 35-year-old mum suffered with mystery health issues for many years, but everything came to a head in 2015 when she hit the limit of debilitating pain and discomfort while on holiday in Cyprus.
Bay, from Cheltenham, wasn't able to join her sister and nieces who were swimming in the sea, as she was crippled with pain.
After an emergency visit to the GP when she got home, she was finally given an IBS diagnosis. It transpired Bay's IBS, which one in five people suffer from, was triggered by an extreme diet she tried in the hope of achieving rapid weight loss ahead of her sister's wedding.
Because she had cut out multiple food groups from her diet, it stripped her stomach of essential acids and enzymes, which created a severe imbalance in her gut biome.
When she started eating normally again after the wedding, it triggered intense pains in her gut.
As well as chronic IBS pain, it also triggered extreme anxiety and lack of confidence which severely impacted her life. She found dating difficult due to bloating which "made her look pregnant," and the nerves would trigger an even worse flare up.
Bay, who would also stress about restaurant menus and public toilet locations, would often have to cancel due to feeling physically unwell, and was single for eight years.
Speaking about being diagnosed with IBS, Bay said: "I was definitely one of the 82% who ignored my symptoms until it became too late. I experienced stomach cramps, bloating, back pain, fatigue and irregular bowel movements over several weeks, but I didn't want to cause a fuss or take up valuable NHS time.
"And quite frankly, it's pretty embarrassing having to talk to someone you know about your dodgy bowel movements! But I left it way too late, the pain became excruciating, my bowels became uncontrollable.
"I actually needed a change of pants on more than one occasion which was not only highly embarrassing but emotionally scarring, and something I will have to live with for the rest of my life."
After finding out her diagnosis, Bay said she wasn't offered a clear treatment plan and was confused about what to do next. She left the appointment having been prescribed some medicine and was given a recommendation to try the Low FODMAP diet – something she'd never heard of.
Bay started taking the medicine, but as she didn't want this to be a life-long solution, she started researching the Low FODMAP diet.
Fodmaps are short-chain carbohydrates and sugar alcohols which are poorly absorbed in the gut. The four main groups are lactose, fructose, oligosaccharides and polyols.
IBS sufferers are sensitive to one or more of these groups, with some of the most common foods garlic, onions, dairy, lentils, artificial sweeteners and wheat.
Feeling overwhelmed because doctors "refused to refer her to a dietitian", Bay, who lives alone and works long hours, felt the diet was "unachievable".
However, she decided to take matters into her own hands and create Bay's Kitchen – a range of certified Low FODMAP foods for IBS sufferers featuring delicious soups, pestos, condiments, sauces and stock.
Bay felt creating the company has been her "saviour," as the products provide an alternative route to drugs, as has empowered her to manage her symptoms – and alleviated all her anxieties about leaving the house.
She is now in a relationship and feels she can speak openly about her IBS to her partner.
Bay added: "Thankfully Bay's Kitchen has been my saviour and I'm super proud to be delivering a service that has life changing implications to all those IBS sufferers in need of support."
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