Given how expensive drinks are nowadays, the idea of your body creating alcohol for a buzz sounds pretty appealing. The reality for some, however, is far from ideal.
Auto-brewery syndrome (ABS) is a rare and quite poorly misunderstood condition that causes the body to produce its own alcohol. The condition occurs when yeast or bacteria in the gut ferment ingested carbohydrates into alcohol, causing the symptoms of drunkenness.
The gastrointestinal disorder can cause memory loss, aggression and liver damage, as well as feeling constantly hungover.
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Matthew Hogg has lived with the syndrome for almost 20 years. Whenever he eats sugar or carbs, his body converts them into ethanol, leaving him either tipsy or hungover.
Speaking to VICE, Hogg said he first felt the effects as a child.
"I suffered from digestive upsets throughout my childhood. I was initially diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome, but in my teens I experienced a severe worsening of symptoms, like bloating and gas after meals—so much so that I could feel the bubbling of fermentation occurring in my lower abdomen," Hogg explained.
He described his symptoms progressing into more 'frightening' ones where he would 'feel intoxicated' as well as experiencing 'chronic fatigue, muscular aches and pains, chronic headaches, mental impairment and mood disturbances.'
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By his late teens, the symptoms advanced to 'pounding headaches, severe nausea, occasional vomiting, dehydration, dry mouth, cold sweats, and shaky hands' that 'would be the worst in the morning.'
Hogg said: "It was as if I’d been out the previous night and drunk the bar dry, but I hadn’t consumed any alcohol."
The man went on to explain the 'huge and devastating' impact the condition had on his life.
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"Up until the age of 16, I was a straight-A student, and I found academic work enjoyable and rewarding. I was also a keen athlete and sportsman, and I had a great social life. As the auto-brewery syndrome began to assert itself, all of this changed," Hogg explained. "I found myself struggling badly at school when, in my mind, I knew I shouldn’t be having any problems. I also had to quit sports because I’d feel exhausted after a gentle run and found myself struggling to get up in the mornings. I felt frightened, not knowing what was happening to me, as well as frustrated and angry that I was unable to function at the high level I was used to.
"My social life suffered badly, and I felt alone and detached from my friends and lacked the energy and motivation to be a part of things."
Although he tried to attend university at 18 to study computer science, Hogg felt the impact on his well-being and decided to return home before his first year ended.
There, he applied for disability allowance as he had now 'amassed IBS, chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, and anxiety as diagnoses.'
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While he had other plans in life, Hogg said he is trying to focus on 'regaining his health' thanks to the support of his family and girlfriend.
He added: "I had ambitions to be an academic, a professional athlete, a scientist, an engineer, or an airline pilot. As it stands, I’m approaching 35 years old and spend my days at home, with every day being a struggle—though I do my best to stay positive and maintain friendships, and I believe that I will one day regain my health."