All of the wrinkling threads!
I think that maybe you are micromanaging to the point where your snake is throwing it back at you!!
You are a very good snake keeper and are asking all of the right questions and are just going through a bit of a steep learning curve right now. Just calm down so that your snake can calm down too!
Don't hold your snake or do anything with your snake for the next 2 weeks (14 days). Clean the environment and give clean water, but other than that, leave the snake alone. Make sure the snake is in a quiet, non-traffic area and that the sides of the tank are covered dark (except the front).
Leaving your snake alone allows tow things to happen: Your snake gets better and chills out, and you get to stay on this forum and read and learn and ask
Again, you will succeed!!!! And so will your snake!!!!