EX-EASTENDERS star Melissa Suffield has revealed she's a step closer to discovering the cause of her long-lasting nausea and dramatic weight loss. For six months Melissa , 31, has had bouts of vomiting and ill health and has spent more than £1,500 on private appointments to get to the bottom of it all. Last night she took to Instagram to explain she'd been diagnosed with small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), though doesn't actually have many symptoms for it.
According to the Mayo Clinic , the condition occurs "when there is an abnormal increase in the overall bacterial population in the small intestine — particularly types of bacteria not commonly found in that part of the digestive tract." Former Lucy Beale actress Melissa's lack of symptoms have led medics to believe it could actually be another symptom of what may be a vitamin B12 deficiency. Earlier this year tests found her to be at the very base of a wide-ranging scale of what is considered normal B12 levels.
However, she had already been taking supplements at that point and her real score was likely much lower. Next month Melissa will travel to Cambridge for an appointment with a B12 specialist to receive an iron infusion and a B12 injection. She will also be taught how to self administer the jabs as she will need to maintain them at home.
Explaining the importance of B12, Melissa said: "Now B12 isn't just as IV we get when we're hungover or tired - it's a hugely important vitamin. "As it relates to me, B12 .
