- Cyclic vomiting syndrome
- Interviews
Elizabeth's interview
How did all start?
When I was a young child in kindergarten, about 4 years old. Originally heat, physical exertion and illness were my triggers. The older I got the more stress became my biggest trigger.
Migraines started daily about middle school.
Do you already have a diagnosis? How long did it take you to get it?
I was diagnosed at 27 years old. This happened after I got horribly sick due to insane amounts of stress. I decided to go to the er during bad episodes as I couldn't ever get to my Dr. After a few months of going at the same time, roughly 20 times a month, unable to walk from being so dehydrated and nothing helped stop the vomiting. They eventually put everything together with my normal labs and tests as well as my medical history that it was cvs.
For what medical specialties have you been treated? What has been the most useful specialty for your?
A neurologist has helped the most. Treatment from the migraine variant stand point helps reduce both migraines and CVS episodes.
What has been the most useful thing for you so far?
Learning about it and ways to cope. Mainly though just knowing what I'm dealing with helped more than I expected..... To just know that I am not alone in this mess and something was really wrong.
What have been your biggest difficulties?
Recovering from years of daily episodes. Also staying hydrated.
How has your social and family environment reacted? Have your social or family relationships changed?
My family has been great as a lot makes everything finally fit together. My in-laws couldn't understand or care to so blamed drugs and all sorts of stuff until we kicked them out of our lives. My health improved tremendously after we did.
What things have you stopped doing?
Working, got too sick and can't find a suitable job yet.
What do you think about the future?
That I probably won't live as long as I would without CVS..... But I hope to go back to college and work at some point.
So far, which years have been the best years in your life? What have you done during them?
17-22 yrs old..... Working full time and going to college full time. Before I started getting super sick again... Would go hiking and to the beach frequently. Just able to do anything I wanted to.
What would you like to do if you didn’t have your condition?
Work and school..... Just have a "normal" life again.
If you had to describe your life in a sentence, what would it be?
Just going with the flow of life.
Finally, what advice would you give to a person in a similar situation?
Learn everything you can about your illness.... Research Dr's before hand, call office's and ask questions about their knowledge on your issues. Don't ever be afraid to tell a Dr flat out they are wrong! Piss off the Dr's who blame other things by showing them you not only know your body but your diagnosis... Break it down for them as to why they are wrong. They will give you the right care after even if it's with a grudge.... In my experience at least.
