My friend and work colleague Sarah has asked to use my CVS story for her assignment, I was honored to be considered for this and am so grateful for being able to share my story in another way.
#15- Motivation;
It has been a few months since I last checked in, so far 2018 has been quite a busy year. I’m still taking 30 mg of Amitriptyline nightly, and am starting the L. Carnitine and COQ10 supplements to see if I can further improve my symptoms. With Amitriptyline, I can safely say my CVS is already…… Continue reading #15- Motivation;
#14 – Events;
Wow, a lot has certainly happened during 2017. Along with my previous posts about the deaths of 2 amazing women, I also had a cancer scare in October/November. Early October I received my pap smear results which was something i had put having done for a while. I was told i had CIN3 which is…… Continue reading #14 – Events;
#13- Advocacy;
The month of August was a very unfortunate time. I lost 2 very important women who I looked up to and saw as the strongest women I knew. They both were fighting illnesses and have never lost their faith or smile and always put others first. Firstly I lost my Auntie Rhonda, she was fighting…… Continue reading #13- Advocacy;
#12- Remission;
Last time I wrote a submission, I was saying how it was 15 days since I last vomited. I can happily say that my puke-free streak lasted a full 34 days! my remission period lasted between Wednesday, May 3rd, up until Monday June 5th, Where I woke up feeling very fatigued. 34 days is the…… Continue reading #12- Remission;
#11- Improvements;
Tomorrow, May 18th, marks 4 months since I was prescribed Amitriptyline, so far the results have been quite fantastic. It has taken a month or two between my Dr and myself to get the dosage level right to ensure I wasn’t taking more than what was needed, but we believe we have finally found the…… Continue reading #11- Improvements;
#10-Relief;
My new Dr is incredible. Not only were they interested and knowledgeable about CVS, but he has prescribed me amitriptyline, and even in just over a week, I have certainly noticed a difference. Not only did he have the plan of putting me on this new medication, He also had a back up plan of…… Continue reading #10-Relief;
#9- Repeat;
I realise I haven’t been posting on here much lately. I have come to notice that November usually works out to be a bad month for my CVS. I was sick for 5 days from October 31st ( which fell on the 6 year anniversary for my partner and I) to November 5th. Then again…… Continue reading #9- Repeat;
#8- Reality;
I remember going through the stages after my diagnosis. 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…… Continue reading #8- Reality;
#7- Attack;
Having CVS, you wake up every day not knowing what your body will decide to do next. Some mornings you wake up feeling good, then a bit later on it creeps up on you. You feel nauseated, can’t stand upright, you start to sweat and cough. You need to vomit but you fear if it…… Continue reading #7- Attack;
#6- Definition;
Cyclic vomiting syndrome, sometimes referred to as CVS, is an increasingly recognized neurological disorder with sudden, repeated attacks—also called episodes—of severe nausea, vomiting, and physical exhaustion that occur with no apparent cause. The episodes can last from a few hours to several days. Episodes can be so severe that a person has to stay in…… Continue reading #6- Definition;
#5- Awareness;
After my official diagnosis, my main focus was finding myself a doctor nearby that has some knowledge of my condition. Unfortunately I found this to be a somewhat difficult task. I began at my local medical centre, where some doctors who didn’t just think I was making this all up knew my symptoms as something…… Continue reading #5- Awareness;
#4- Diagnosis;
I began reaching out online, speaking to others about my symptoms and what I had endured trying to get a diagnosis. A lot of people, like some of the doctors, basically just ignored what I was saying and mentioned a counsellor or therapist would be beneficial. That would really upset and confuse me, as by getting…… Continue reading #4- Diagnosis;
#3- Progression;
At this stage my anxiety was at its worst, every day was an uncertainty. I remember laying in bed each night trying to fall asleep and just hoping that I wouldn’t be sick the next morning, however it didn’t always work in my favor. With no diagnosis, naturally, I was fearing the worst, but I…… Continue reading #3- Progression;
#2- The testing, the treatment;
My H.Pylori was cleared, however the sickness continued. This was starting to become serious, and scary. I was waking everyday vomiting up nothing but bile and at times nothing at all. I’m hunched over the small plastic bin I usually had in the corner of my bedroom, however today it is clutched tight in my…… Continue reading #2- The testing, the treatment;
#1- Pilot- If only I were to be so lucky..;
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…… Continue reading #1- Pilot- If only I were to be so lucky..;
A Chronic Mind; 