Constipation - a crappy condition to endure. Perhaps no person knows this better than a man over in Sri Lanka who had to have his entire colon removed after suffering for three long months.
The unnamed 36-year-old developed the rather unfortunate condition known as 'megacolon' - an abnormal dilation of the colon causing tumour-like growths in the gut lining that affects bowel movements.
As reported by the Daily Mail, in this rare case it led to the patient being bunged up for three months and suffering growths that spread all the way to his tongue.
When he made it to the National Hospital of Sri Lanka, Colombo, doctors reported that the man was in severe discomfort (we're not surprised) and claimed to have been for a number two less than three times per week.
Advert
In a case report, the doctors wrote: "The patient only presented when he developed absolute constipation with worsening abdominal distension (ballooning). He had no other features of bowel obstruction including associated vomiting or abdominal pain."
The report went on to describe how an X-ray revealed the patient had a 'grossly dilated large bowel' measuring 7cm across, while his caecum - a pouch that acts a junction between the small and large intestine - was 12cm (when it's normally less than 9cm).
Not only did the guy have growths on his tongue, but also on his eyelids and lips, as well as atypically long fingers and elongated limbs - all common symptoms associated with the condition, also known as MEN2B.
Due to the patient 'responding poorly' to previous MEN2B management, the doctors decided the best option was to remove the man's large intestines altogether. Luckily, the treatment worked and it's reported that he made a fully recovery after being fitted with a stoma pouch.
Advert
Before you go adding this to your list of neuroses, apparently this man's experience is a particularly extreme case of the condition, which studies suggest affects around one in every 600,000 to four million people. Usually, people with it suffer from extreme constipation as babies and have their colons removed earlier on in life.
Featured Image Credit: PA