Daisy Ilchovska had just turned 26 when she received the devastating news.

She had the debilitating autoimmune disease rheumatoid arthritis.

Doctors told her she would be disabled within eight years.

Daisy was given strong medication, including a weekly chemotherapy drug which she had to inject herself for years.

But a three word answer from a consultant – “I don’t know” – to a question about her condition set Daisy off on a path of discovery.

She said: “I started researching the foods I needed to exclude and supplements that helped with the inflammation.

“Within a few years, the symptoms were disappearing, and I slowly phased out the medications.”

Inspired by her own experience Daisy, who came to the UK from Bulgaria in 2004 to study communication and media at Bournemouth University, decided to do a second degree.

This time in personalised nutrition and while working full-time as Marketing & Communications Manager at Dorset Community Foundation.

Over five years Daisy completed her Masters of Sciences (MSc) degree and 1,400 clinical practice hours helping clients with different health goals.

They ranged from managing depression to losing weight.

And now Daisy, who is a registered nutritionist and qualified neuro linguistic programming (NLP) coach, has launched a virtual nutritional therapy clinic.

Optimal Health Nutrition helps people struggling with chronic conditions such as diabetes, arthritis and hypertension.

It is also for couples who want to optimise their health before pregnancy and anyone who wants to upgrade their diet and lifestyle.

Daisy, 35, said: “I have a passion for helping people optimise their health through food, lifestyle and supplement changes.

“For me good health and vitality are the foundations for a happy and purposeful life.

“Although it was a shock to be told I had rheumatoid arthritis, it was a relief in other respects to find out what had been the cause of my various health issues.

“But it was the words from my consultant – ‘I don’t know’ – that I felt put the ball in my court.

“I thought to myself: ‘I need to know’.

“If I decide to do something then I can be quite determined.

“I slowly started cutting out gluten in foods like bread and pasta.

“It made an immediate and lasting difference and things went on from there.”

Daisy, who lives in Westbourne, started working for Dorset Community Foundation in 2011, initially as Business Development Manager.

She left after two years to join a marketing agency but rejoined in 2014 as Marketing and Communications Manager.

Studying for her MSc degree with Middlesex University began two years later.

She said: “I was working full-time and then doing another four or five hours in the evening.

“It was hard work but also very satisfying.”

Daisy, who contracted Lyme Disease last year, officially launched her new business in October.

She works on a one to one basis and has already secured clients in the UK and as far afield as Greece and Bulgaria.

Daisy said: “I am passionate about spreading the word about healthy living and diet.

“I produce a lot of free health related content, such as videos, articles and recipes, on my website – www.optimalhealthnutrition.co.uk – which I hope people will find very useful.

“My dream is to, one day, bring out a book on my experiences, including contracting Lyme disease.

“I recognise it’s going to take time to build up my client base but I’ve been very encouraged by the positive response I’ve received since starting.

“My partner, Jag, has been my biggest cheerleader.

“I couldn’t have done it without him.”