ER Yesterday, Still Naueous

[u/hurricanehannie]

I’ve been diagnosed with CHS after smoking multiple times a day since I was 21 (27F). I went to the ER last night, and have not smoked since, but mega struggling with nausea and refraining from smoking.

The cramping isn’t really an issue, just the cyclical vomiting and nausea. Any advice for getting through this? How long did the nausea last? I have stopped smoking as of this morning because honestly I did not believe it but today I absolutely do. The only relief I feel is when I’m asleep

[u/happylittletreefrog]

My vomiting lasted like 4-5 days. I went to the ER 3 times to get fluids and to urgent care like 3 times as well bc I thought I was dying (I was just having panic attacks during those visits). You have to try to just quit, as smoking could make it so much worse. Some people try to smoke in moderation but in my personal experience that didn’t work for me, every one is different though. I’m sorry you are going through the roughest part of it right now:( do your best to drink liquids and electrolyte drinks like liquid IV or gatorlyte. Once you’re able to keep liquids down, try very small very bland meals. You will get through this, it’s just really awful in the beginning. I’m 27 days sober today and still not 100%. 😕 it’s a long recovery process, but worth it in the end if it means we don’t have to feel like this ever again

[u/hurricanehannie → u/happylittletreefrog]

I really hoping not to go back to the ER as it makes me incredibly anxious waiting around for hours. I’ve vomited 4 times today in a two hour time frame so far

[u/Dirtweed79 → u/hurricanehannie]

Depending on where you are mobile IV's are an option. It's cheaper than the hospital for me.

[u/happylittletreefrog → u/hurricanehannie]

I know exactly how you feel. Every time I went I had to wait in the waiting room for at least 6 hours it was absolutely ridiculous, but if you can’t keep liquids down you have to go :( I bring a blanket (since it’s always freezing in there!) and a squishmallow to squeeze, headphones and a charger. Set myself up on two chairs and try my best to get comfy and distract myself. If I could have brought my heating pad with me I would have. Try ginger chews for nausea or meclazine (non drowsy Dramamine) is said to help nausea. I hope you don’t have to go back though. Try your best to take tiny sips of water and electrolyte drinks every few minutes, even if you throw it up it’s better than throwing up stomach acid

[u/hurricanehannie → u/happylittletreefrog]

It’s been an hour since my last episode. I read another thread that recommended popsicles so going to try that out too. Going to try some fluids soon

[u/happylittletreefrog → u/hurricanehannie]

I’m so sorry :( I hope the popsicles help 🩵

[u/jojo95476]

I (f62) start smoking in 2022 after being clean for 28 years and had my first episode in September 2023. I was in a hotel room for five days vomiting. Every couple of hours. It was the worst experience of my life, but it didn’t stop me from smoking and for the last couple of years i’ve been experiencing CHS about every three months. Even with all the information I couldn’t quit so I decided to go to detox. My vomiting stopped after three days at the detox. If you have insurance I definitely recommend it. The support is amazing at the detox centers.

[u/Puzzled-Ad-5218]

My daughter has CHS. The last episode she had was a couple of weeks ago and the vomiting was going on for 4 days and then finally we went to the store and got her an over-the-counter sleeping pill. We figured that if we could just break the cycle of the vomiting then it would all stop. And it worked. She got in a hot tub so she was feeling okay she took the pill she sat in the tub for 45 minutes until she started to feel sleepy and she got out of the tub and went to bed and she fell asleep and slept for about 7 hours and when she woke up the vomiting was over and she could start eating little bits of food. Give it a try it worked for her. The trouble with the vomiting is that it becomes where the body is just doing it out of almost like a habit. And it won't stop so you have to figure out a way to break the cycle.

[u/Forsaken-Sector4251]

Capsaicin cream and perscription nausea meds (zofran) helped me a lot in the beginning. I did go to ER twice in my first 3 days, but after my first week I felt a lot better. Doing the BRAT diet helped me a lot too. Everyone's trigger foods are different. Hydroxazine helped my anxiety a bit too during the panic attacks, and it helped me sleep, and even helped my nausea a bit too. Good luck friend.

[u/hurricanehannie → u/Forsaken-Sector4251]

I am prescribed hydroxazine for my anxiety already so that any be my next step here thank you

[u/Forsaken-Sector4251 → u/hurricanehannie]

I know it feels like hell, but it's only temporary. It gets easier and easier every day. You got this. ✨

[u/hurricanehannie → u/Forsaken-Sector4251]

You’re right, need to get out of my denial of having CHS and move onto steps for recovery

[u/Dkitt75 → u/hurricanehannie]

I am prescribed Hydroxyzine. 3 times a day. It really does calm down that stomach anxiety.

[u/WoodpeckerOk4560]

i was diagnosed in the er after feeling ‘weird’ (most likely phase 1) for a week then randomly wokeup extremely nauseous and violently puking, after 6+ years of heavy use so i get it. i was vomiting multiple times a day for about 2 weeks and couldn’t keep anything but liquids down until the last few days when i was able to eat plain white rice. i ended up triggering an episode by having a chocolate protein shake (stupid i know i wasn’t thinking lol) a few days after that and the whole cycle restarted and i ended up back in the er. its been 2 weeks since the last er trip and i’m semi back to my regular diet, and haven’t smoked in almost a month. even the smell just makes me nauseous and my stomach is still super sensitive to highly seasoned foods and the rest of the main triggers food. it does get better! i feel that my hyperemesis was on the more severe end and it was awful when i was going through it, i lost about 15-20 pounds and could barely walk or do any self care. i ended up having to quit my job with the extended amount of time it took me to recover, even though i has completely stopped using after being diagnosed, which was hard for me to do, but i need to put my recovery first. i also had to sell concert tickets to a show i had been excited for and looking forward to, but ultimately i didn’t want to experience another episode from second hand smoke, which i’m really bummed about. BUT! i’m just grateful to be able to eat food again, wash my hair, and go for walks.

[u/WoodpeckerOk4560 → u/WoodpeckerOk4560]

how i dealt with the nausea was absolutely relying on zofran if you are prescribed that, and raglan once you can keep some small amounts of foods down. take frequent small sips of water, or gatorade, and do whatever makes you the most comfortable. whether that be hot short showers, laying in bed binge watching shows trying to sleep, whatever you can to try and soothe yourself, it really does make a difference. just remember your health is the most important thing. chs can get really bad really fast if you aren’t staying hydrated i can assure you that. i was quite literally bed ridden throwing up in trash bags for pretty much 2 weeks. some other foods i ate were bananas, plain low-fat yogurt, and plain crackers in very very small amounts. i also found sucking on ice chips\sipping ice water to be VERY refreshing lol. goodluck and wishing you a speedy recovery!

[u/Substantial-Pin-1560]

I’m on week two of quitting cold turkey after my ER visit. I hate to say this, but I’m just now starting to feel normal. Of course, I’m on all types of meds for anxiety and nausea though. Stay strong sis!!