She vomited 15 times a day. It took doctors 2 years to diagnose her with rare neuroendocrine illness. What is Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome?

Time of India

4 days ago

Dealing with stress is difficult enough as it is. If you have to deal with bouts of nausea every time you get the jitters, then life can become a continuous challenge. A woman diagnosed with a rare brain disorder recently revealed she throws up at least 15 times a day whenever she feels anxious or has her period.
In an interview with
Today.com
, 29-year-old
Sharisse Zeroonian
said that she would feel absolutely fine one week and end up rushing to the toilet multiple times in the next.
The first signs of illness began to surface in 2021, yet it would take two full years before Zeroonian finally received an accurate medical diagnosis. During this time, she went through numerous evaluations—including an endoscopy and a gastric emptying scan, a procedure designed to determine how quickly the stomach processes food. She also underwent extensive blood tests.
Despite all these examinations, the results revealed no clear medical issue. Still, Zeroonian found herself repeatedly overwhelmed by persistent vomiting that would last for several days every week. Her condition was so severe that she often needed emergency medical care. However, ER physicians routinely dismissed her symptoms, attributing them to migraines.
As her health deteriorated, Zeroonian shed 16 pounds, was unable to maintain employment, and felt completely drained by the relentless nausea and bouts of vomiting. In a cruel twist, many people admired her thinner appearance, unaware that the weight loss was a visible sign of her declining physical and emotional well-being.
At last, following yet another emergency room visit in 2023, doctors were able to identify the root cause of her suffering—she was diagnosed with
cyclic vomiting syndrome
.
Understanding Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome (CVS)
Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome, often referred to as CVS, is a medical condition characterized by recurrent episodes of intense nausea and vomiting without a known immediate cause, according to data from the
Cleveland Clinic.
These episodes may persist anywhere from several hours to multiple days. The symptoms can become so severe that individuals may be confined to bed during these episodes. In some cases, emergency medical care or hospitalization is necessary to administer intravenous fluids to combat dehydration. Interestingly, between episodes, individuals typically feel completely healthy and resume their regular activities with no lingering symptoms.
What Triggers CVS?
While there's no singular cause behind CVS, experts believe it arises due to a mix of physiological and neurological factors. Multiple systems in the body may be involved:
Disruptions in Brain-Gut Communication
The brain and digestive system are closely connected, often referred to as the
brain-gut axis
. When signals between the brain and gastrointestinal (GI) nerves are misfired or disrupted, it can lead to involuntary vomiting. This dysfunction has led some researchers to categorize CVS as a brain-gut disorder.
Dysfunction in the Autonomic Nervous System
This part of the nervous system oversees automatic bodily processes such as heart rate, blood pressure, and the vomiting reflex. When there's a malfunction in this system, it may result in recurrent vomiting episodes without any apparent cause.
Connection with Migraines
There's a strong correlation between CVS and migraines. Up to 80% of children and about 25% of adults diagnosed with CVS also suffer from migraines. These are not just regular headaches — migraines are intense, often accompanied by warning signs that mimic the early sensations of a CVS episode. Additionally, a family history of migraines is common in individuals diagnosed with CVS.
Mitochondrial Dysfunction
Mitochondria are cellular structures that generate energy for the body. If the DNA within the mitochondria becomes damaged—due to genetic disorders, infections, or exposure to certain toxins or medications — the cells in the digestive tract may not function properly. Since gut nerves rely heavily on energy, impaired mitochondria can trigger vomiting spells.
Common Signs and Symptoms of CVS
People with CVS often experience a distinct set of physical symptoms, including
Intense stomach pain
Repeated bouts of vomiting
Episodes of diarrhea
Lightheadedness or spinning sensations
Excessive salivation or spitting
Persistent and overwhelming thirst
Reduced desire to eat or loss of appetite
Skin that appears unusually pale
Severe fatigue accompanied by headaches
Heightened sensitivity to lights and sounds
Mild fever, generally not exceeding 101°F (38.3°C)
Dry-heaving or retching—the sensation of vomiting without producing anything.