Typical pattern of a CVS episode
Individuals with CVS typically experience a pattern of feeling unwell, recovering, experiencing wellness, and then relapsing.
This cycle is made up of four phases:
1. Prodrome phase:
2. Vomiting phase:
3. Recovery phase:
4. Well phase:
Cyclic vomiting syndrome typically follows a regular and predictable pattern, with symptoms recurring at the same time of day and lasting for a consistent duration. However, these cycles can occasionally vary. During an episode, individuals may be sensitive to light, sound, temperature, or pressure. Some may feel a strong desire to bathe in warm or cold water. Others may experience a restless or stinging sensation in the spine, hands, and feet, followed by weakness in the legs. It is important to note that dehydration during an episode could contribute to some of these symptoms, rather than being solely attributed to the underlying cause of CVS.
Other symptoms of cyclic vomiting syndrome may include one or more of the following:
Individuals with CVS typically experience a pattern of feeling unwell, recovering, experiencing wellness, and then relapsing.
This cycle is made up of four phases:
- prodrome phase
- vomiting phase
- recovery phase
- well phase
1. Prodrome phase:
- feeling that an episode is about to start.
- intense sweating, Pain and nausea for a few minutes to a few hours
2. Vomiting phase:
- retching and vomiting that often starts in the night or early morning.
- vomiting up to 5 even 8 times an hour for at least one hour, for up to 10 days
- may not be able to move or respond.
- other possible symptoms: intense abdominal pain, diarrhoea, fever, dizziness, headache, sensitivity to light, extremely pale skin, drowsiness or unresponsiveness, drooling or spitting excess saliva.
3. Recovery phase:
- vomiting and retching stop, and nausea subsides.
- recovery is gradual or immediate.
4. Well phase:
- a period of little or no symptoms – until the prodrome phase starts again.
Cyclic vomiting syndrome typically follows a regular and predictable pattern, with symptoms recurring at the same time of day and lasting for a consistent duration. However, these cycles can occasionally vary. During an episode, individuals may be sensitive to light, sound, temperature, or pressure. Some may feel a strong desire to bathe in warm or cold water. Others may experience a restless or stinging sensation in the spine, hands, and feet, followed by weakness in the legs. It is important to note that dehydration during an episode could contribute to some of these symptoms, rather than being solely attributed to the underlying cause of CVS.
Other symptoms of cyclic vomiting syndrome may include one or more of the following:
- retching—trying to vomit but having nothing come out of your mouth, also called dry vomiting.
- pain in the abdomen!
- abnormal drowsiness
- pale skin
- headaches
- lack of appetite
- not wanting to talk
- drooling or spitting
- extreme thirst
- sensitivity to light or sound
- dizziness
- diarrhoea
- fever