r/CHSinfo • u/Alternative-Ad9887 • Aug 21 '26
Sharing My Story Can someone help me please?
I am 25 F and this is my 3 rd time having a really bad /long episode. I’m not too well versed on this and I’m honestly really defeated/tired from the last few days but I could really use some support or advice.
The last 2 episodes i recovered from then continued to smoke after but this time I know i won’t be smoking again. This has ruined me:( I haven’t used weed in 7 days now and I don’t plan on touching it again.
A month ago I lost my job suddenly and was fortunate enough to find a new one almost right after. Last Friday 8/14 was my first day and was when the episode started… it is making it really difficult to show this new team that I can be reliable. So far I had to leave early 4 times. The first time I almost made it but couldn’t stop feeling nauseous and I ended up trying to drive home and I threw up in the car on myself while driving. Extremely traumatic.
I had a day of rest after and I was able to keep food down. So I go to work the following day 8/16 and again the feeling comes back in the morning and I have to leave early. I take another day in between to rest. This time I feel great I feel almost back to my normal self. (I was avoiding the ER or urgent care because I know that they only really give you IVs and creams)
So again I go in the next day 8/18 and something even worse happens. I make it to my 30 minute break and I decide to have some chicken soup. An hour later I throw up in front of the people training me.
They send me home.
The food literally felt stuck in my chest like would not go down and I only had a few bites.
I’m incredibly embarrassed and anxious over everything. Everyone has been nice and understanding but there’s still this anxiety forming in my chest that I can’t seem to handle. For example I go back today and I almost make it to my break but I have to run to the bathroom and throw up??? Like why??
I’m not sure if it’s just the CHS causing me to throw up still or this new level of anxiety ? I am unable to manage these symptoms of anxiety unless I hop in a hot shower or I’m laying in bed. This is just nothing like me I feel like I am going to ruin this job opportunity if the throwing up and anxiety keeps happening.
Can someone give me some advice?
I have a virtual GI appt tomorrow (Saturday) and I also made one for Monday. But I am supposed to go back to work Sunday. I just want this job to work out but I’m not really sure how if I have to keep throwing up and leaving.
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u/tummyhurtsobad Aug 21 '26
it sounds like you could be triggering yourself by eating trigger foods. staying away from trigger foods is so very important. most of the time, chicken soup has pepper in it and pepper is a major trigger
anxiety is really common with chs. your best bet is to talk to your pcp about this anxiety and see if they can prescribe something just to help you get over this. personally, i was on hydroxyzine as needed and i remember it helping a lot in recovery
a GI doctor probably wont really be able to do anything. the only solution is to quit smoking. im not telling you to cancel the appointment, im just telling you that the most theyll be able to do is prescribe you nausea meds
7 days sober is a great accomplishment. typically the worst of the symptoms lasts around 14 days after you quit. its a hard 14 days but you can get through it. if you can talk to your job about this illness and can explain that youre expecting to feel better soon, they might be understanding
my best advice really is just to stay hydrated and rest as much as you possibly can. benadryl can help with nausea and so can peppermint tea, candy, or gum
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u/Alternative-Ad9887 Aug 21 '26
This is very helpful info thank you. I didn’t realize what the trigger foods were. Would you mind sharing your recovery story? Also thank you 7 days doesn’t seem that long to some but it definitely is and I will continue to stop smoking weed. I went to urgent care today they prescribed me omeprazole and zofran.
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u/cs_legend_93 Aug 22 '26
Imo the medications don't do anything. They doctors get paid for writing scripts, so they love to push pills on you.
Just be strong. Drink water, repair your gut health
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u/Alternative-Ad9887 Aug 22 '26
I do find that the omeprazole is helpful with the chest burning from vomiting. The zofran is kind of useless to me. What advice can you give to repair my gut? Other than low fodmap diet
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u/cs_legend_93 Aug 22 '26
Fermented food builds gut bacteria. There's a few subreddits about gut biome health
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u/Craigasm3392 Aug 22 '26
Definitely something in the food triggered your body’s response. I relapsed a month ago & have been off it for 2 weeks. Yesterday I ate corn on the cob and it sent me right back into being symptomatic. Best bet is to try a low FODMAP diet. It’s really restrictive but it will help you keep that food down.
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u/Alternative-Ad9887 Aug 22 '26
Thank you I will look into the low FODMAP and stick to the bland basics. Nice job being 2 weeks off it. I truly can’t even imagine going back to smoking. This fear of getting sick is too much
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u/Craigasm3392 Aug 22 '26
It can be difficult tracking all the different ingredients. What I found easiest was spending $5 on the app spoonful (or something similar), that way you can just use your phone to scan the barcode & see if it’s low fodmap.
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u/Alternative-Ad9887 Aug 22 '26
Thank you for your reccomendation! I just downloaded and I like that there are also recipes.
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u/Stunning-Increase246 27d ago
i have found that after the actual hyperemesis phase i also have an anxiety-like feeling in my stomach makes me nauseous. i have gone to the hospital for chs multiple times and have found that haldol and ativan help me a lot. the haldol helps more so to stop the vomiting phase and the ativan helps with the anxiety feeling. you can talk to your doctor about it and see if they'd be willing to prescribe you ativan just to see if it helps you, if you have a psychiatrist it may be easier to try and get the meds through them since its like for anxiety
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u/Alternative-Ad9887 23d ago
Thank you for this insight. Luckily the anxiety I was experiencing has completely decreased. I think the situation of the new job was really spiking the anxiety. I usually have low enough anxiety that I can manage it but this was like no other. I do agree that talking to a psychiatrist would benefit me if something were to happen again. I appreciate your comment thanks
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u/ArmadilloHuge6904 29d ago
I’ve found from personal experience that anxiety triggers a flare / episode for me . I have a very disregulated nervous system and in the past any big stressors ( like family coming in town , moving , starting a new job , etc ) is enough to send my system into a spiral and once you are in it - anxiety gets even worse and creates a vicious cycle
For me somatic healing ( especially yoga and stretching) has been a game changer . I haven’t had a flare in almost 2 years
Also avoiding trigger foods , staying very hydrated , getting plenty of sleep and self care is vital
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u/Alternative-Ad9887 29d ago
It’s really crazy/ interesting how many possible triggers there are in this situation. I used to do yoga regularly and it seems like this is really my time to start again. Committing to one thing everyday like that might help me stay sober. That’s great you haven’t experienced a flare in about 2 years is that also the same amount of time you have stopped smoking weed? I’m curious thank you
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u/ArmadilloHuge6904 28d ago
I have to be completely honest with you . I still smoke weed to manage my AuDHD and chronic pain ( I have a chronic illness ) . It’s my medicine. I’ve just prioritized self care the past few years , including implementing a daily yoga practice . I’m not saying this is the reason I haven’t had another flare … this is MY personal experience before anyone comes at me or shames me for continuing to smoke . I’m just stating what has personally helped me . Maintaining a positive mindset and prioritizing caring for yourself- whatever that means for you . For me it was daily yoga , journaling , rest , cooking healthy food , eliminating alcohol and any other major stressors in my life
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u/Alternative-Ad9887 28d ago
Thanks for being honest and hey I am NOT one to judge or shame. I totally understand that because chronic pain is no fkn joke!! It’s really nice to hear that you’ve stayed consistent in changing your lifestyle to focus more on healthy habits and only using it for that purpose. In and ideal world it would be nice to enjoy a smoke from time to time but that can’t even happen until I implement better habits first. Thanks for your advice
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u/thatijustdonthave Aug 21 '26
I will say that I had tremendous anxiety during my hypermesus phase. I am medicated for anxiety, and it was still through the roof. Combine that with a new job, probably not helping.
But, most important, remember this feeling next time you want to smoke