Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, you just can’t get things moving in the bowel region.
Constipation is a common condition which occurs for a number of reasons and can affect people of all ages, but you might want to take heed of this woman’s horror experience before you brush it off as something and nothing.
Courtney Ingham, 21, hopes she can serve as a cautionary tale for others who are dealing with a severe lack of action in the bathroom after she was left constipated for a whopping eight months.
She explained that despite dosing herself up with laxatives on a daily basis, increasing her fibre intake and downing black coffee, nothing seemed to get things going.
Courtney said she ‘didn’t really think anything of’ the constipation at first, until she was also struck down by extreme bloating and stomach cramps which were forcing her to miss work.
It got to the point where the carer, from Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, was only dropping a deuce every three weeks – and it doesn’t take a genius to work out that this isn’t good.
As well as all of this, her stomach had started to swell to epic proportions.
Courtney Ingham has warned others not to ignore constipation like she did (Kennedy News and Media)
Courtney explained that while she was trying to answer natures call in June this year, she suddenly heard an alarming ‘pop’ after ‘straining a little bit’.
The young woman realised she was bleeding and decided to try and take a photo of the area, only to come to the horrific realisation that her anus and ‘insides had fallen out of her body’.
She recalled: “When I was pushing there was immense pain and it felt like I’d put something out of place. I described it as I could imagine labour being like.
“I could feel something there. When I wiped and it was blood, I was really concerned because there was no faeces but it felt as if there was.
“It was a little bit of spotting at first and then it was tissue filled. I did know something was wrong because the blood was fresh so it was coming from some type of wound.
“So then I had to squat and take an unattractive photo and I noticed that it was like… I described it as somebody’s organs. It was almost like flesh. My insides had gone out.
“It really did frighten me. I thought right, I need to go to A&E because this hasn’t been right for eight months now.”
Courtney had suffered a rectal prolapse, which according to the NHS, occurs when there is insufficient support of the rectum, resulting in it dropping outside of the back passage.
Doctors tried to administer a suppository to give her some relief after she sought medical advice, but the 21-year-old was in too much pain.
The 21-year-old’s stomach swelled drastically after eight months of being unable to go to the toilet properly (Kennedy News and Media)
Instead, medics examined her under general anaesthetic the following day and were able to correct the prolapse, while also evacuating her bowels.
Courtney was informed that the sphincter muscle around the opening of her anus was not retracting properly, so Botox was injected directly into the muscle in a bid to relax it – however, she said that this treatment was unsuccessful and she is still dealing with a large degree of pain.
Detailing what went on inside of her, the carer continued: “The rectal prolapse that I experienced was the organs had actually come out of the hole itself.
“Through being in A&E and sitting down it had eventually gone back up. So it fixed itself to an extent, but it didn’t fix itself as if to say it was back to normal. It created anal fissures which almost look like a big wound full of blood.”
As well as all the physical hardship she has had to go through, the experience has taken a big mental toll on Courtney, especially as she had to rely on her nearest and dearest to care for her.
Two weeks after undergoing the operation, Courtney was forced to return to the hospital as she was experiencing a lot of pain and was constantly vomiting.
The carer is still searching for answers after undergoing two unsuccessful procedures (Kennedy News and Media)
A month after that, her doctor recommended attempting the Botox surgery for a second time – but Courtney says this was also unsuccessful, and medics are now considering whether she needs a stoma bag.
“That really, really got to me,” Courtney said. “I remember just sitting and crying because I thought I am 21 years old, what are people going to think?
“I spoke to my therapist and I said I almost feel as if I’m grieving the loss of using the toilet. That’s what it felt like.
“I’m still pooing once every three weeks. It still remains the same.
“It’s been very miserable, very depressing and it has stopped me from doing everyday things. There are certain things I can’t wear anymore because it’s too restrictive. It has affected everything.
“I know it sounds really silly because it’s just a small thing but to me it did feel like it was taking over my life. It still is until I can get some answers.”
Courtney explained she has been tested for IBS and Crohn’s Disease but has not yet had the results back, she has since been referred to a specialist and is waiting for an appointment in December.
Now, she is sharing her story on social media platforms such as TikTok in the hopes of raising awareness of the consequences of experiencing constipation for too long.
Courtney added: “If there’s any change in anyone’s bowel habits or they feel that they can’t go to the toilet effectively anymore I think seek the advice of a GP straight away, don’t leave it so long.
“I believe if I went within the first eight months and I spoke to a GP sooner, I could have avoided all this.”