Laura's CVS Story
It all started around the age of 18, one morning after I awoke from staying at a friend’s house. We were Planning a trip to Sydney as I was going to be a model for her photography assignment, however we had to make a detour, my friend had to stop multiple times on the way up due to me being physically sick. The vomiting got so bad she ended up dropping me off at St Vincent’s hospital in Sydney. The plan was for my parents to come and collect me from there. While in the waiting area of the hospital, the lady at the reception desk noticed I wasn’t well, after all I did ask her for a bag or something I could vomit into. She ended up calling a nurse and I was wheeled into a room with a bed.
The doctors came and went, multiple blood tests, urine test, X-rays and more were performed, and all came up normal. They put it down to a bad case of gastro and pumped me with fluids, then they sent me on my way home. The next day I was tired, but fine. However, that didn’t last long. Every day I would wake up vomiting and have absolutely no appetite. My parents were becoming worried as we had a family history of eating disorders and depression, so they took me to a doctor nearby for further testing.
The doctor I saw sent me for a test for Helicobacter Pylori (a bad stomach infection). The test involved me swallowing a special pill, waiting for around 10 minutes and then blowing air through a straw into a silver balloon. After sending it off for diagnosis, the results came back positive. I remember the doctor telling me if I had H.Pylori, the levels in my blood would be at 50. When reading the results, the levels I had were at 200. Luckily, she seemed highly knowledgeable about the infection. “A quick answer to this problem, that’s good” I thought to myself, as it was only 2 courses of strong antibiotics and self-care to get rid of this and be well again. If only I were to be so lucky.
Little did I know this was the start of something else. Something that won’t be cured with pills. Something that would really, (as little as I realised at the time of diagnosis) would change my life drastically.
I remember going through the stages after my diagnosis, which took 4 years to finally get the answer of "cyclic vomiting syndrome". Denial, depression, anger and acceptance (one I am still working on). Although there is still so much to be discovered about CVS, one thing that I have learned about having a chronic illness is that you lose more than just your health.
You find yourself cancelling plans with friends and family due to “having a dreadful day”, you find yourself calling in sick to work far too often. You begin to worry that they will start to get tired of hearing the same old excuse, you begin to worry if they even believe it anymore. The feeling of anxiety arises about having to call them and explain, and you become frustrated with yourself that it has once again come to this.
With this condition I have had to come to the realisation that at the age of 23, I have a lot of limitations regarding what can be done. Certain job opportunities I once had high aspirations towards now became impossible due to my condition. Overnight trips away from home concern me for I fear of waking up and having an attack somewhere away from home, not only would I be away from my usual medications, I would also feel the embarrassment of being so ill in front of others. there have also been times where your own mortality becomes a huge reality, you realise you aren’t as strong as you used to be, and that there are many complications with CVS that can be lethal.
I’ve lost many friends due to my illness and have also have had trouble with employment. I have finally now found a doctor in my area who is somewhat knowledgeable on CVS and has started me on amitriptyline which has made a huge decrease in the level, severity and consistency of my symptoms.
now at the age of 25, I have slowly learned my triggers, my main ones being a cold/flu or my menstrual period. These are times I'm very wary of what I eat or do to try and lessen the chances of me having an attack. I hate no having the life I had before this dreaded illness, but with the support of my friends, family and my fellow CVS warriors, We will get through this.. one day at a time.
you can read my full CVS story on my blog https://achronicmind.wordpress.com/
The doctors came and went, multiple blood tests, urine test, X-rays and more were performed, and all came up normal. They put it down to a bad case of gastro and pumped me with fluids, then they sent me on my way home. The next day I was tired, but fine. However, that didn’t last long. Every day I would wake up vomiting and have absolutely no appetite. My parents were becoming worried as we had a family history of eating disorders and depression, so they took me to a doctor nearby for further testing.
The doctor I saw sent me for a test for Helicobacter Pylori (a bad stomach infection). The test involved me swallowing a special pill, waiting for around 10 minutes and then blowing air through a straw into a silver balloon. After sending it off for diagnosis, the results came back positive. I remember the doctor telling me if I had H.Pylori, the levels in my blood would be at 50. When reading the results, the levels I had were at 200. Luckily, she seemed highly knowledgeable about the infection. “A quick answer to this problem, that’s good” I thought to myself, as it was only 2 courses of strong antibiotics and self-care to get rid of this and be well again. If only I were to be so lucky.
Little did I know this was the start of something else. Something that won’t be cured with pills. Something that would really, (as little as I realised at the time of diagnosis) would change my life drastically.
I remember going through the stages after my diagnosis, which took 4 years to finally get the answer of "cyclic vomiting syndrome". Denial, depression, anger and acceptance (one I am still working on). Although there is still so much to be discovered about CVS, one thing that I have learned about having a chronic illness is that you lose more than just your health.
You find yourself cancelling plans with friends and family due to “having a dreadful day”, you find yourself calling in sick to work far too often. You begin to worry that they will start to get tired of hearing the same old excuse, you begin to worry if they even believe it anymore. The feeling of anxiety arises about having to call them and explain, and you become frustrated with yourself that it has once again come to this.
With this condition I have had to come to the realisation that at the age of 23, I have a lot of limitations regarding what can be done. Certain job opportunities I once had high aspirations towards now became impossible due to my condition. Overnight trips away from home concern me for I fear of waking up and having an attack somewhere away from home, not only would I be away from my usual medications, I would also feel the embarrassment of being so ill in front of others. there have also been times where your own mortality becomes a huge reality, you realise you aren’t as strong as you used to be, and that there are many complications with CVS that can be lethal.
I’ve lost many friends due to my illness and have also have had trouble with employment. I have finally now found a doctor in my area who is somewhat knowledgeable on CVS and has started me on amitriptyline which has made a huge decrease in the level, severity and consistency of my symptoms.
now at the age of 25, I have slowly learned my triggers, my main ones being a cold/flu or my menstrual period. These are times I'm very wary of what I eat or do to try and lessen the chances of me having an attack. I hate no having the life I had before this dreaded illness, but with the support of my friends, family and my fellow CVS warriors, We will get through this.. one day at a time.
you can read my full CVS story on my blog https://achronicmind.wordpress.com/
Click here to SHARE this story on Facebook
