A mother was floored when doctors revealed that her daughter’s suspected gluten intolerance was actually caused by something far more unusual.
Jodie Collins learned that her 14-year-old daughter Erin’s persistent stomach pain stemmed from a specific and surprising culprit, not food-related issues.
Since November last year, Erin had been dealing with painful stomach aches. Initially, Jodie thought it might be due to food sensitivities or menstrual cramps.
Life continued normally after early tests showed nothing abnormal, but by May, Erin’s cramps grew more severe and frequent, raising alarm.
Determined to find answers, Jodie took Erin to their local hospital, pushing doctors to dig deeper into the cause of her daughter’s pain.
A shocking discovery followed: a large, hard mass in Erin’s stomach was identified, and it wasn’t food—it was entirely made of hair.
Known as a trichobezoar, this condition involves swallowed hair accumulating in the gastrointestinal tract, forming a solid mass over time.
Erin was transferred to Bristol Children’s Hospital, where specialists found an 8.3-inch hairball—roughly the size of a melon—requiring immediate surgery.
The five-hour operation removed the massive blockage, which had caused anemia and nutritional deficiencies in the 14-year-old.
Jodie noted that Erin had always loved twirling her hair since childhood, but she never saw her daughter ingest it, possibly doing so unconsciously, perhaps in her sleep.
Now recovering, Erin’s story prompted Jodie to warn other parents about the risks of seemingly harmless habits like hair-twirling, which can lead to dangerous health issues.