A 21-year-old woman ignored constipation and severe bloating that “left me feeling like I was six months pregnant” and suffered dire consequences as a result.
Courtney Ingham suffered extreme symptoms for eight months and could only defecate once every three weeks.
But instead of seeing a doctor, the carer from Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, said she took laxatives daily and drank black coffee in a bid to reboot her system.
In June she heard a terrifying ‘pop’ and noticed she was bleeding after going to the bathroom; after taking a photo of her butt she realized ‘my insides had fallen out’.
After two failed operations, he is now awaiting specialist treatment and urging anyone experiencing changes in bowel movements to seek medical help.
Courtney Ingham, 21, suffered extreme bloating and constipation for eight months and could only defecate once every three weeks.
The caregiver confessed to being “six months pregnant” despite having undergone surgery twice
“I had very severe constipation for about eight months and I didn’t really think about it,” Mrs Ingham said. ‘I was only taking over-the-counter laxatives and painkillers.
‘It’s been really difficult. Before eight months I was someone who went to the bathroom regularly, it could have been up to three times a day.
“Then I noticed a bit of bloating, which was really worrying and then I thought my bowel habits had changed massively.”
Stomach cramps caused by her constipation left Mrs. Ingham in so much pain that she had to call in sick to work.
“Every day I used the regular Laxido sachets because that’s what we give our patients and they’re meant to really help, but I stopped taking them for a while because I didn’t feel like they were working,” she said. .
She tried natural remedies by drinking black coffee, lemon juice and eating more fiber without success.
Ms Ingham also reduced her portion sizes, thinking overeating was the cause, but even after eating less she still felt nauseous.
“I tried watching YouTube videos and things like lifting your legs, elevating your legs and rubbing your belly,” she said.
But when he tried to push himself a little, he felt a “muscle pop.”
‘When I was pushing I felt immense pain and felt like I had put something out of place. “This is what I imagine childbirth will be like,” she said.
‘When I wiped myself and there was blood, I was very worried because there was no faeces but it felt like there was.
“At first it was a little stained and then it was full of tissues. I knew something was wrong because the blood was fresh and came from some kind of wound.
‘I had to wear a panty liner in my knickers because of the bleeding, it was getting a bit heavy.
“So I had to bend down and take an unattractive photo and I noticed it was like I described it as someone’s organs. It was almost like meat. My insides had gone out.
Stomach cramps caused by her constipation left Mrs. Ingham in so much pain that she had to call in sick to work.
Ms. Ingham said she has been tested for irritable bowel syndrome and Crohn’s disease, but has not yet received the results; She has since been referred to a specialist and is awaiting an appointment in December.
Frightened, she quickly went toor A&E at Darlington Memorial Hospital where Doctors examined her under general anesthesia.
He was diagnosed with rectal prolapse, when weakness of the internal muscles causes the rectum to invert and fall away from the anus.
This usually presents as a lump protruding from the anus. Doctors performed an operation to correct the problem, but it was unsuccessful.
Rectal prolapse is rare: it is thought to affect 2.5 in every 100,000 people in the UK and predominantly affects older women.
Ms Ingham explained that she was left with anal fissures – tears in the lining of the anus that can cause pain and bleeding when defecating.
Following her surgery to repair the prolapse, Ms Ingham became “bedridden”.
‘I had to trust everyone to take care of me. I couldn’t shower alone. It was really discouraging.
Less than two weeks after the operation, on July 3, Mrs Ingham returned to hospital after experiencing a lot of pain and discomfort.
She said: ‘Obviously, because I was so constipated I couldn’t get anything out through my bowels, everything was coming up. I couldn’t keep any food down.
“And then there was dizziness, bleeding, pain and the injury itself.”
She had the surgery a second time in August, but said it didn’t help and has now been told she may need to consider a stoma bag.
‘That really affected me a lot. I remember just sitting down and crying because I thought I was 21, what are people going to think?
‘I spoke to my therapist and told her that I almost feel like I’m grieving for not being able to go to the bathroom. That’s what I felt.
‘I still poop once every three weeks. It’s still the same.
‘It has been very miserable, very depressing and it has prevented me from doing everyday things.
‘There are certain things I can’t wear anymore because they are too restrictive. It has affected everything.
‘I know it sounds really silly because it’s just a small thing, but to me it felt like it was taking over my life.
“I look like I’m about six months pregnant. My belly swells enormously, it’s huge. It hurts your confidence.
Ms. Ingham said she has been tested for irritable bowel syndrome and Crohn’s disease, but has not yet received the results; She has since been referred to a specialist and is awaiting an appointment in December.
She shared her story on TikTok in hopes of raising awareness about what happened to her, but regrets not going to the doctor sooner.
“If there is any change in someone’s bowel habits or they feel they can no longer go to the toilet effectively, I think seek advice from a GP straight away – don’t leave it for as long as I did.”
“I think if I had gone within the first eight months and spoken to a GP sooner, I could have avoided all of this.”