Client stories and testimonials

Prior to finding Bella, I had seen who knows how many doctors and practitioners, none of whom were much help with my gut issues. I was so frustrated, I decided I would have to educate myself so I could, in turn, identify educated practitioners. I learned of the major players and protocol-setters in the SIBO/IBS world. Googling them led me to Bella. In reading her blog, I could tell she was among the few practitioners on top of all the latest research and thinking from the forward-thinking doctors setting SIBO/IBS protocols. Bella is highly educated, diligent, vigilant of new science and research, and also impressively organized in the tools she puts together to guide clients through totally tailored protocols. She makes it so straightforward.

Of equal, if not greater, importance than her expertise, though, Bella is so compassionate and kind. Perhaps, when I found her, that was what I needed more than anything—just to feel heard, taken seriously, respected, treated gently, and genuinely cared for. I had been through so much when I came to Bella and had been brushed off by so many doctors, sometimes shown outright scorn if I challenged their take. I was desperate for compassion, and I would say that is a gift Bella have in spades. For that, I do thank her from the bottom of my heart.

Kelly (New York, USA)

“After being diagnosed with Coeliac Disease, IBS and (years later) Graves Disease, I had tried everything you could possibly imagine for over 15 years. Every diet, every doctor and every naturopath had helped a little but never fully addressing the issue.

Being told I would probably need to have my thyroid taken out was the last straw. I’d basically given up hope but set myself a goal of healing my gut, keeping my thyroid, reducing the constant bloating, gas and pain that ruled my life for 15 years, and to get my weight under control.

What I discovered after starting work with Bella was that my gut was so wrecked it was barely functioning, but that I could heal myself and that it’s not all just about diet. It’s been almost 12 months but my bloating is almost entirely gone, my weight just fell off (without any exercise), I am mentally much happier and my thyroid isn’t going anywhere!

Bella’s attention to detail, unwavering support, amazing detailed knowledge and the ability to just pinpoint what no doctor had been able to made all the difference. She is kind, compassionate, caring, empathetic, respectful, knowledgable.

You gave me my power back and I can’t thank you enough for what you’ve done for me. Your’e brilliant and amazing xx.”

Melissa (Alice Springs, Australia)

“I became unwell in November 2015 (on my birthday to be exact!) from suspected food poisoning but also not helped by everything else going on like extreme stress of work, bad eating habits because of over working and sugar cravings and then the antibiotics I got put on when I got the food poisoning.

Before finding Bella, I had tried four GPs and two GI Specialists who offered little more than a diagnosis of “post gastro IBS” and simply “go on the low FODMAP diet”, “it will pass soon” and one told me I wasn’t trying hard enough and also tried to prescribe me antidepressants (I wasn’t and never have had depression, only anxiety from the gut issues). Of the two GI specialists I saw, one told me to “take gastro stop when you have diarrhoea and take laxatives when you are constipated” while the other didn’t even know what SIBO was.

As a result, I was forced to leave the life I had made for myself in Australia and come back to New Zealand to heal with an unknown time of healing. And while I did get a bit of help from a naturopath and herbalist, who helped to compliment my treatment, my real success in the journey was working with Bella. I was so grateful that Bella’s consults were done over Skype so that I could contact her while I was in NZ and Australia. It made life so easy because when you feel like how I did, there’s no way you want to be travelling around and sitting in waiting rooms when some days you can’t even leave the house.

Bella is very, very caring she listens to everything you have to say, she takes everything on board, is non-judgmental, doesn’t let you feel bad about yourself if you slip up or let you feel yuck when you feel like your healing is taking longer and always ends a conversation on a high note, most of all Bella is very empathetic and that is quite hard to come by with a lot of medical professionals I have found out and I think its one of the most important things. You’re not just another patient to her she remembers things about you, like will ask how a holiday was etc.

I 100% would recommend Bella to anyone and everyone and I have actually already recommended her to a few of my friends and one has worked with her and found success as well.

She is very thorough and will do all the necessary tests to get to the bottom of why you’re body isn’t functioning and not just cover symptoms and mask them with a pill. It may seem expensive but it was all worth it to feel like me again.

Thank you Bella, you’ve given me my life back that I didn’t think would ever happen again. Even though I missed out on the last few years of my 20s I’m actually going to get to celebrate my 30th and not be in sickness lock down!“

Esther (South Island, New Zealand)

“Thank you for supporting myself – and others – the way you do. You are the first practitioner (for the want of a much better word) I have met in that awful labyrinth of sickness who I know can show me the exit. I still get lost sometimes and – boy – I would have liked a shortcut or two (and who wouldn’t?) – but I know I am finally on my way. You are my shining light I keep calibrating to. I so appreciate that you are open for me to introduce other modalities for support and that I can make the whole process fit me and my lifestyle.”

Stefanie (Victoria, Australia)

“I have suffered digestive complaints for decades and only decided to do something about it when I realised how it was impacting not only my health and energy, but my mental capacity, as it was sometimes all I could think about. It was all consuming and I became so frustrated by the fact that elimination diets, the apparent answer for IBS type illness, only lead to more confusion, and as many symptoms as before. Other health professionals, including multiple naturopaths, could not get to the root cause so my symptoms persisted, despite best efforts.

At my wits end, I found Bella online and she quickly became my favourite person because as soon as we went through my history and concerns, (which was a fairly long laundry list and had been bothering me for as long as I could remember, with no letting up), she made me realise my symptoms, of which were wide ranging (constipation, bloating, headaches, body aches, skin issues, etc.), weren’t as random as I thought and that I could be well.

A couple of tests gave her and I the answers I had been searching for for years. Why hadn’t I done this years ago? The healing protocol was clear and straight-forward, but detailed and well thought out and, importantly, specific to my needs. At this point I realised that I did need help as I was never going to be able to do it alone.

She gave me a way to control my symptoms that had been controlling me for as long as I can remember. Relief and sense of freedom is an understatement! I am more regular than ever before and I can finally exercise better and partake in other activities because I have more energy and less digestive troubles.

Bella is friendly, warm, caring and dedicated, as well as extremely knowledgeable and well researched – clear expert at the next level. Plus always being available for questions or concerns and providing real insight in these responses. Helping me understand the reasons why things were happening, even in the easy/quick questions, what to expect and letting me know that most of the things I was going through weren’t unexpected.

Bella is a real life saver, thankfully I don’t ever need to imagine where I would be without her!“

Emily (Victoria, Australia)

“I became unwell over a period of about 3 years. My journey first started with high levels of stress at work which unbeknown to me showed up as skin rashes, significant bloating, stomach cramps after eating, constipation and my energy levels were on the decline. I sought help through an environmental GP who diagnosed me with 7 food intolerances. His only advice was to follow a very restricted diet for what would probably be the rest of my life. This definitely helped in the short term but after 2 years of avoiding all my intolerable foods I still didn’t feel 100% better. In fact I had a new swag of seemingly unrelated conditions to add to my basket – anxiety, late onset adult acne, no periods, ongoing digestive issues and constipation, no libido, night sweats, insomnia, zero energy and difficulty losing weight.

I had tried a restricted diet (cut out all intolerable foods), I quit sugar diet, taking a swag of different supplements, colonoscopy, endoscopy, eating paleo, working with a naturopath and intensive exercise programs. None of which made me feel any better. My biggest fears were continuing on a restricted diet forever and that I wasn’t ever really going to work out what was wrong with me and that it was all in my head.

The first thing I learned through working with Bella and truly appreciated was that it wasn’t all in my head. My friends and partner had labelled me a hypochondriac and had become incredibly frustrated with me. Hearing Bella share her own story made me realise I wasn’t the only one with the issues and that healing was possible. Bella very clearly and accurately explained all the body’s processes that had lead to me feeling the way I was. She showed me how things were linked and the true root causes of my illness. This was the first practitioner that I had been to who looked at me holistically and didn’t just treat one of my symptoms.

Bella’s understanding and empathy right from the start of our journey is what truly made a difference for me. Before I met Bella, I was at rock bottom and I was beginning to think I just had to accept my broken body and that was life. I had been to the best endocrinologists, naturopaths, psychologists and GPs, none of which truly understood what I was going through nor gave me the empathy that Bella did.

My biggest changes to date are that my energy is back!! It took some time, hard work and a lot of patience but with Bella’s support and guidance I finally feel like I can make it through one whole day without a nap. My digestive issues have eased, bloating is now a rare occurrence not a daily struggle, my lady hormones are back in balance and I am significantly less anxious.

Bella’s ability to clearly map out the path to healing gave me both confidence it would work and that it could be achieved. She is an incredibly caring individual that has the perfect combination of empathy and intelligence to truly make a difference in people’s lives – I would most definitely recommend Bella’s services.”

Tessa (NSW, Australia)

“I first started having digestion / stomach issues when I was 17 and my Granny chalked it up to me being a “nervous” person! I basically started with constant pain and cramping, feeling sick and no real appetite for eating. During the next 10 years, I was tested for everything under the sun with no real diagnosis or comfort with one doctor saying that, given I was a young female in her early twenties that it was all in my mind.

Finally, at 27 I was “diagnosed” with IBS – what they diagnose you with when you have nothing else medically wrong with you. By this time, I was feeling sick all the time, cramping with no relief, fatigued and generally not eating. I ended up have a phobia of food as I was so afraid of being sick after eating and I also had issues going out socially – again, fear of being sick / feeling sick after eating or drinking. I pretty much only ate small tins of soup, plain potatoes and olives.

I managed to get myself to a point where I started eating again and just lived with feeling sick all the time as, after a while, you just get use to not feeling well and being tired all the time.

I met Bella while travelling in Turkey and continued our friendship when I moved to London. We had a strange bond linked to our digestive issues and I jumped at the chance for her to help me after understanding her methodology and approach. I commenced my programme in February 2016 and by November 2016, I was a new person!! I no longer feel sick, am not afraid of eating out, my fatigue levels have improved and am generally feel so much better! The programme was challenging at times particularly during the die off phase as I had a parasite but Bella’s reassuring calls helped me through it. I was on an intensive course of supplements but, once you get into a routine, they become part of your everyday. Importantly, Bella clearly explains why you are taking each supplement and what you can expect in terms of side effects. Generally, I had no issues. Unlike other alternative therapies, a huge positive from my perspective was the progressive introduction of the supplements as opposed to taking them all at once like others recommend. I had never experienced this before and can honestly say, it makes the whole process so much easier on you both mentally and physically.

Bella’s enthusiasm, knowledge and dedication to helping you feel better and get to the root cause, is something to be experienced. Her approach is one of caring and genuine concern but, importantly, one of understanding. As a client, knowing Bella has experienced digestive issues herself and has also personally tested a number of treatments she recommends, made the process so much better as she can give you honest feedback on how she found the experience / side effects etc. She was always available to me even though the time zones are difficult as I live in London. I can’t thank Bella enough as she has honestly made my life so much better it’s hard to put into words how I feel. Not only is she a good friend but she has become my healer!!“

Susie (London, UK)

“It's been a real blessing, after years struggling with chronic gut issues, fatigue, abdominal pain and extreme bloating, to finally find an institute where I truly felt listened to and understood.

Working with Christina has been a smooth journey, despite the roller coster the protocol she implemented for me made me feel: because bear in mind that, like everything in life, health and especially recovery isn't linear. It's been lots of ups and downs to finally heal (for real!), but what's been consistent has been Christina's support and ability to provide me with good advice along the way.

I'm now in my stabilisation phase, and we keep working together because something about The Functional Gut Health Clinic's approach is that they won't gaslight you with a quick fix or a magical pill to cure your chronic issues: they will guide and support you to first understand, and then rebalance what's been dysregulated in your body, by changing not only your diet, but your lifestyle. I couldn't recommend them enough!”

Léonie (Paris, France)

“I have never been fat but I had always had this layer around my middle that wouldn’t shift. On top of all that I had always suffered from chronic constipation my whole life. It was ‘normal’ for me and I didn’t worry about it too much. I had heard from Bella about seriously looking into my diet especially my sugar addiction but had been slow to act. Then, after eating out with friends I had a disastrous day of bloating and gas that was so bad – in a public museum – that I knew I had to take my diet more seriously. Since then I discovered a candida overgrowth, food sensitivities and hormone imbalances. And dragging my husband along for the ride discovered parasites, candida, food sensitivities and hormone imbalances in him as well!

Fast forward 6 months and we are like new kids! Bella was patient and generous with her time. She took the route we wanted to take, in our case full on with full testing, diet changes, supplements, the lot. I wanted to be well, and now I am. Oh, and that persistent middle layer is gone, along with my constipation. Who would have thought?

We now live in Arizona, but the distance hasn’t been an issue. Lucky we all have FaceTime! I would love to recommend Bella to anyone who is having gut issues – and I have. “

Cath (Arizona, USA)

“After a very stressful year I started to feel unwell with occasional abdominal pain, bloating and diarrhoea. I decided to take an overseas holiday to see friends and have a rest. While I was there I contacted a stomach bug, but after a few days I felt ok again. I wasn’t home long and my occasional stomach symptoms became daily and very severe where I couldn’t leave the house.

My GP did a few tests and then sent me on to a gastro specialist, and after three months of tests and scans he found no abnormalities. On my last visit he said I had IBS and gave me advice on how to treat the symptoms with different drugs and other over the counter medication. I felt very alone and a little confused.

I decided IBS was not going to be my life, so I started my own research and I came across Bella Lindemann’s website and I knew she was who I needed to help me.

Bella was excellent. She has so much knowledge about digestive health and how to heal my gut. I phoned her and we started with a few tests and when she had the results back she talked me through the whole process of a natural healing protocol. Bella provided me with a tailor-made plan, resources, assistance and email support throughout my healing journey.

I cannot thank her enough for helping me get my life back. I would highly recommend Bella to anyone needing digestive help.”

Jen (QLD, Australia)

“This clinic and Mark have really changed my life and I have never found this kind of help before.

The best part about working with Mark is the incredible attention to detail and thorough step by step methodical process he takes me through to address my conditions. All other gastroenterologists and doctors I have worked with have just pumped me full of antibiotics and sent me on my way and that was it. 

I have never found anyone who is willing to do the actual work it takes to help me heal. It’s a slow but steady process and doctors today just don’t seem have the bandwidth or patience to really help with these issues. 

Everything we work on together has a specific reason and I really appreciate how much care and thought that has been put into my protocols and appointments. 

And at the end of the day, the results matter the most and my symptoms and my life are already greatly improved from working with you and we aren’t even done yet. 

I have every confidence that I will totally recover based on all the knowledge and skill you have already shown me and my results so far. Thank you!”

Marissa (California, USA)