ABS!!

Written by Ojieonweya Ruth (Ardent researcher)
Edited by Irene Chy O.

I never knew I could be convicted of a crime that I never committed. Strange but funny as it is, I was arrested and detained for a whole week in jail. This was because I was intoxicated with alcohol and I was driving on the major road too.

Even after I pleaded innocent, I wasn't heard. When I contacted my doctor, he arrived with my medical history and proved that I had a syndrome. The ABS. The rare syndrome, which no man in your village has been diagnosed of. I have lived with the Auto Brewery Syndrome and I know you do not know about it. I will tell you afterall. 

Auto brewery syndrome is a rare medical condition like I mentioned above, in which intoxicating quantities of ethanol is produced through endogenous fermentation within the digestive system. This happens right inside your body. I didn't have to pay for the alcohol, my body produced the alcohol and forced me to take it by diffusion. 

Auto brewery syndrome can occur in patients with short bowel syndrome. Short bowel syndrome is the malabsorption disorder caused by a lack of functional small intestine. Yea, there are people whose small intestines are that way.

Symptoms 

During the period of diagnosis, it was hard to recall that I had the symptoms below, but they are seen in almost all of my kind.

*Excessive belching: every 5 minutes was gas release. 

*Dizziness: you can't imagine. 

*Dry mouth: even with the daily mls of distilled water. 

*Hangovers: all the time.

 *Delusion.

*Irritable bowel syndrome.

 *Chronic fatigue syndrome such as depression and anxiety. I almost lost my mind.

Diagnosis

Alcohol can be detected by testing blood or the breath. My physician used special kits to detect traces of alcohol in my blood sample and used some strips for my breath. This was carried out and repeated multiple times in the same day.

Treatment 

Since the auto brewery syndrome is principally from the action of fungi on carbohydrates, the use of antifungal medications can help alleviate the symptoms. More so, I cut down carbohydrates in my diet since it's better to be safe than sorry. You don't want to get arrested like I was done right?

Thanks for reading. 🌹🌹

Fifty year olds and Menstruation.

What if I tell you, that I really like you.

What if I tell you, that my grandma still gets her sanitary towels for each month.

Sounds strange. 

Fifty year olds are termed menopausal. The average Nigerian woman reaches menopause at 45. This reproductive decline comes as we progress in age so it is medically ok that at the age of 50, one does not menstruate normally. 

For some, it comes earlier, for others, it could be delayed. There are variations based on the body's makeup.

Except the 50 year old likes to take fish oil and calcium supplements like I do, she should not worry about any medications for treatment. 

Be happy, fellow Nigerians. 🌹🌹