How do I know if I have Cyclic vomiting syndrome?

The only way to diagnose Cyclic vomiting syndrome is to rule out other illnesses with your medical proffessional by going through streneous testing.

If you have persistent nausea that is not relieved by vomiting, moderate to severe abdominal pain, and frequent vomiting lasting more than 24 hours that seems to come on for no reason and then disappear, then recur over and over, you should talk to your doctor about CVS. I was initially treated for a stomach virus twice before I realized that the exact same thing kept happening every three weeks. These symptoms may initially come out of nowhere, but pay attention to the amount of stress going on in your life. Big stressors seem to be a trigger for many of us even if it's good stress or just plain excitement.

See your doctor, a neurologist, and gi specialist.l for exclusion of other causes. Discuss the symptoms you are having and if this is in line with CVS with your doctors.

Work with a doctor. You will need every test possible. Endoscopy. Colonoscopy. Ultrasound, scans, blood tests. Need to rule out everything first!

Recurrent extreme nausea and vomiting, when there is found NO OTHER reason for this. A family history of migraines also can be a sign

A GP will take their patient's family and medical history, and a full account of their symptoms.

A child may be suspected to have CVS if the following apply:
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they have had at least five vomiting episodes, or three separate episodes over six months
the episodes of nausea and vomiting last from one hour to 10 days
the episodes are similar each time
they vomit at least four times an hour for at least one hour
the vomiting is not caused by another disorder
they are well between episodes​

Similarly, an adult may have CVS if they have had three or more vomiting episodes in the past year that have each been similar, with no nausea or vomiting between episodes.

The high frequency of vomiting, and the fact that it often starts at night or early morning, are clues that the cause may be CVS and not another condition.

Blood or urine tests may be carried out (to rule out infection or kidney problems), and scans such as an endoscopy or abdominal ultrasound, to see if there is an abnormality in the digestive tract.

Only after other conditions have been ruled out will a diagnosis of CVS be made. At this stage, the patient may have been referred to a gastroenterologist (specialist in digestive system disorders).

Pattern or cycle of symptoms in children
A doctor will often suspect cyclic vomiting syndrome in a child when all of the following are present:
at least five episodes over any time period, or a minimum of three episodes over a 6-month period
episodes lasting 1 hour to 10 days and happening at least 1 week apart
episodes similar to previous ones, tending to start at the same time of day, lasting the same length of time, and happening with the same symptoms and intensity
vomiting during episodes happening at least four times an hour for at least 1 hour
episodes are separated by weeks to months, usually with no symptoms between episodes
after appropriate medical evaluation, symptoms cannot be attributed to another medical condition

Pattern or cycle of symptoms in adults
A doctor will often suspect cyclic vomiting syndrome in adults when all of the following are present:
three or more separate episodes in the past year and two episodes in the past 6 months, happening at least 1 week apart
episodes that are usually similar to previous ones, meaning that episodes tend to start at the same time of day and last the same length of time—less than 1 week
no nausea or vomiting between episodes, but other, milder symptoms can be present between episodes
no metabolic , gastrointestinal , central nervous system , structural, or biochemical disorders
A personal or family history of migraines supports the doctor’s diagnosis of cyclic vomiting syndrome.
Your doctor may diagnose cyclic vomiting syndrome even if your pattern of symptoms or your child’s pattern of symptoms do not fit the patterns described here. Talk to your doctor if your symptoms or your child’s symptoms are like the symptoms of cyclic vomiting syndrome.

What medical tests do doctors use to diagnose cyclic vomiting syndrome?

Doctors use lab tests, upper GI endoscopy, and imaging tests to rule out other diseases and conditions that cause nausea and vomiting. Once other diseases and conditions have been ruled out, a doctor will diagnose cyclic vomiting syndrome based on the pattern or cycle of symptoms.

Lab tests
Your doctor may use the following lab tests:
Blood tests can show signs of anemia, dehydration, inflammation, infection, and liver problems.
Urine tests can show signs of dehydration, infection, and kidney problems.
Blood and urine tests can also show signs of mitochondrial diseases .

Upper GI endoscopy
Your doctor may perform an upper GI endoscopy to look for problems in your upper digestive tract that may be causing nausea and vomiting.

Imaging tests
A doctor may perform one of more of the following imaging tests:
Ultrasound of the abdomen.
Gastric emptying test, also called gastric emptying scintigraphy. This test involves eating a bland meal, such as eggs or an egg substitute, that contains a small amount of radioactive material. An external camera scans the abdomen to show where the radioactive material is located. A radiologist can then measure how quickly the stomach empties after the meal. Health care professionals perform gastric emptying tests only between episodes.
Upper GI series.
MRI scan or CT scan of the brain.