Sick of being sick!
I throw up 100 times a day…
Awave of nausea washed over me, and I made a dash to the bathroom.
I’d been sick more than 30 times that day already, and it wasn’t even lunchtime!
It was February 2012, and my vomiting episode had come on out of the blue. I assumed it was just a tummy bug.
But when the vomiting didn’t let up, I went to University Hospital of North Tees, where, weak and dehydrated, I had to spend nine days on a drip. Back home, I felt better. But a month on, the same thing happened and I was throwing up 100 times a day.
‘What’s wrong with me?’ I asked doctors. They didn’t know.
Then, a friend showed me an article online about cyclical vomiting syndrome (CVS).
It’s a rare vomiting disorder causing sufferers to vomit for hours, or days at a time.
There’s no cure or obvious cause for the sudden sickness.
‘I think I might have CVS,’ I told doctors.
But there are no specific tests for CVS, so it’s hard to diagnose.
For the next two years, I saw different doctors, and
underwent various tests.
Eventually, in 2014, a specialist confirmed I did have CVS, and a care-plan was put into place for me.
I was prescribed anti-sickness medication.
And whenever I felt an episode coming on, I’d try to ease my symptoms by taking those.
If the vomiting didn’t let up, I’d have to go to hospital, where I’d be hooked up to a drip, given fluids and stronger medication.
Sometimes the episodes would last a whole week and I’d throw up 100 times a day.
I couldn’t keep anything down. Even water and my own saliva would make me sick.
The acid from vomiting started to damage my teeth, too.
I had to have dentist check-ups every three months.
A few times, the vomiting was so bad I spent two weeks in hospital.
Over time, I & pinpointed that excitement, stress, anxiety and even hiccups seemed to set off my CVS.
In 2015, I was set to marry my partner Neil, 32, that September.
I’d met him after my CVS diagnosis, and he was very supportive.
I was excited for the big day, so it was hard to control my emotions. Just months before, I was struck down with CVS.
‘What if I have another flare-up much closer to the wedding?’ I fretted to Neil.
In the lead up to the big day, I tried to stay calm, and I took anti-sickness meds.
I take them daily anyway to try and prevent episodes.
Thankfully, I was OK, and the big day was great.
My CVS ruined other days and plans, though.
Last June, I had tickets for a Beyonce concert.
But the night before, I started throwing up. Excitement had triggered it, and I just couldn’t stop being sick. ‘Just go without me,’ I had to tell my friends. I was absolutely gutted. I’d been looking forward to the concert for ages, and it’d been ruined by my CVS.
Over the years, I’ve missed countless parties, christenings and weddings because of my condition.
But I refuse to let it get me down.
I volunteer for the CVS Association UK charity.
Speaking to other sufferers has really helped.
The charity organises family days where everyone supports each other.
‘We’re in this together,’ I tell everyone. Our next event is at Birmingham Children’s Hospital on 11 November.
It’s easy to feel lonely with CVS, as it’s a rare and misunderstood condition.
But I hope by sharing my story, it’ll raise awareness so other sufferers know they’re not alone.
I had to miss out on a Beyonce concert and was gutted!