A girl in the U.K. who lives with Rapunzel Syndrome, had to undergo stomach surgery to remove a 19-inch long hairball.
Â
Rapunzel Syndrome is a mental health condition that causes a person to compulsively consume their own hair, resulting in an intestinal blockage.
Â
In this teenager\’s case, she suffered a tear in her stomach after the hair ball tore her stomach lining, according to ScienceAlert.
Â
After two fainting spells left the 17-year-old with a bruised face, she was administered to a hospital where professionals ruled out head trauma because of her enlarged abdomen and her complaints of belly pain.
Â
A CT scan found a large mass inside her \”grossly distended stomach\” and a tear in the lining.
Â
Doctors also discovered that the girl had a history of trichotillomania, which causes one to pull their own hair out, and trichophagia, which is the compulsive eating of hair.
Â
Both conditions are extremely rare, according to the outlet. 0.5% and 3% of people experience trichotillomania and only 10% to 30% of those cases will develop trichophagia. And only 1% of people with both will suffer Rapunzel syndrome.
Â
After doctors removed the hairball, which had \”formed a cast of the entire stomach\”, they repaired the tear. She then received psychiatric care and was sent home seven days later.
Â
Â
She is now reportedly \”progressing well with dietary advice\” and help from a therapist.