Trichobezoars

Shared by a fellow trichster

Just wanted to share some recent steps to dealing with my trichophagia (hair eating). On Sunday, January 25, 1998 I found the Fairlite BB and realized for the first time in my 27 years of hair pulling that I was not alone.   Like all of you, it was such a relief, but an incredibly sad realization that there were others suffering to a much greater degree than I. Since that time, I have been trying to come to terms with this disorder. Aftermuch studying, I realize that ttm is pretty much a chronic (lifetime) issue and that diet, medications and behavior modification therapy are the only options at this time, and nothing really works too well. I decided that I needed to learn how to live, and live happily, with this disorder. Finding love and support from friends like you have made an incredible difference. I went to my doctor this week and discussed the ttm. It was scarey and embarassing, but oh well. He wanted me to try 20 mg. of Prozac for six weeks to see if it helped at all. I said I would, but don't really feel it will help. He handled it with complete professionalism and referred me to an internist (to check for trichobezoars -- indigestible hairballs in the stomach). After speaking to the internist, again, very embarassing and humiliating (but oh well), he handled it very professionally and matter-of- factly. He did ask me a question that surprised me, He said, "Are you sure you do this behavior?" I had to ask him to repeat the question because it took me by surprise. I don't know why he would think anyone would make something like this up. In his years of practice, he has never had anyone come to him and tell him of this behavior. The danger in bezoars is that if the hairball encompasses a large portion of the stomach, it can cause loss of weight, stomach irritation, etc. and if it happens to pass through to the intestines it can causes blockages that can be life threatening. The other danger is that if you have bezoars is if you throw-up, the bezoar can come up and get lodged in the throat and therefore cause choking.  Basically, the stomach just continues to roll the bezoars around and around, and they never pass through the stomach because they are too large. They continue to collect other debris and grow in mass. I will be going in to the hospital this week for an out-patient procedure where I will be more or less put to sleep with demoral and they will go in (down my throat) with a scope to check for bezoars and if they find any they will cut it into small pieces and remove it. If they don't find anything,  he feels I will never have to worry about bezoars again (I chew the hair into tiny pieces before swallowing so bezoars might not be a problem). I am so sorry if I am totally grossing any of you out. I gross myself out when I think too much about this bizarre disorder. I apologize if I have offended anyone. I am (once again) embarrassed to be sharing these private behaviors with anyone, but I do so with the hope that it might be helpful to others. The point is, for me, it is important to get this part of the disorder taken care of. If any of you feel this could be an issue for you, I would encourage you to be brave and be strong and seek some help. This disorder is annoying and maddening and frustrating, but it shouldn't be deadly. I don't want to frighten anyone, but perhaps it is information we should share. I will keep you posted on what the internist finds. I don't think people that eat roots only need to be worried, but I truly don't know for sure.