The teenager who looks nine months pregnant when she eats

Rachael Harley is trying to raise money for an operation. Picture: Rachael Harley, Facebook Source: Supplied

RACHEL Harley is a bubbly 19-year-old photography student, with a rare and agonising health problem.

Every time she eats, her stomach becomes so swollen that, in her own words, she looks nine months pregnant.
She has been diagnosed with abdominal adhesions, which are bands of fibrous tissue between her organs, the Daily Mail reported.
Her problems began when her stomach suddenly became swollen in April this year. She was taken to hospital where she underwent tests but doctors couldn't figure out what was wrong.
She was released from hospital and seemed to get better but later in the week was readmitted, again with crippling pain and swelling.
An investigative operation in July finally showed that she was suffering from bands of fibrous tissue on her appendix and bowel, which were removed.

Rachael Harley suffers from a problem with her digestive system. Picture: Ross Johnston / Newsline Scotland Source: Supplied

She felt "fantastic" for a while and started eating again, but it wasn't long before the symptoms returned.
"My weight's gone up and down in a very small space of time," Rachel said.
"I put on weight after surgery, but it did get down to six stone at one point because I couldn't eat. My mum couldn't bring herself to look at me. I was just bones.
"But every time I do eat, I look about nine months pregnant.
"My stomach doesn't empty fast enough so it just swells up. I can eat little things like snacks but when it's really bad I can barely even take in water because I just feel sick."
Explaining the condition to others is difficult.

Rachel has been suffering from the condition since April. Picture: Rachael Harley, Facebook Source: Supplied

See a photo of her swollen stomach here.
"Somebody in the hospital canteen actually asked me how far along I was.
'I didn't even know what to say. I felt so awful that I lied. It's horrible. It feels as though my stomach is about to stretch open."
She was put on a range of medications and even tried nerve-blocking injections, without luck.
In October Rachel was taken back to hospital, this time to Scotland's Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. Doctors still don't know how to treat the condition and are worried that more investigative surgery could worsen her condition.
"Unfortunately, now a little down the line we are back to square one," Rachel said. "We believe that the adhesions have returned and are day by day possibly causing damage to my bowel, stomach, gallbladder and fertility organs.
"I am unable to eat much and am deteriorating again. We are losing faith in the NHS doctors and in the care that I am receiving here in ARI."
Rachel is trying to raise money for a treatment with a private adhesions specialist in London. She has already raised $3600.....READ MORE