buzz62
Well-Known Member
Hi All, thought I would share my experience with this syndrome. I am in my late 50's, a lifelong daily cannabis smoker, and have had a few bouts of illness which I finally may have to admit is cannabis hyperemisis. I don't think my experience is typical, however most of the associated symptoms are there. If you think you are experiencing this syndrome, please add your story to the thread.
For the last 5 years I have had an attack of this usually starting in January to March, which is one odd thing as I consume the same amount all year, so there may be a stress element to it (Xmas?) or a vitamin D angle. My attacks always start in the morning, before I have smoked, and begin after a bowel movement, then severe salivating and sweating, then 10 minutes or so of violent retching. I do not continue with vomiting, which is not typical of the usual presentation of this syndrome. Then I get a very odd feeling across my abdomen, sometimes with nausea, along with the desire to continually stretch my limbs, and sometimes some mental confusion. Hot showers help to temporarily relieve the desire to stretch and distract from the abdominal discomfort, but eventually the hot water runs out, and the sensations return. Laying on my stomach with a pillow under it also helps relieve the pain a bit. I finally get to a point where I go to the local ER, and after MRI's, Cat scans, X-rays, two different internal medicine specialists, and a tube up both ends!! they have found nothing physically wrong with me, (I am so lucky to be in Canada where all that is financially covered for every citizen!).
What does stop the attack almost instantly is 1 mg dilaudid or morphine intravenously. It acts literally like a light switch and I am "cured" for the next 9-12 months, till the next winter season. Now the seasonal element of this I nor my doctors understand. They also have no explanation why an opiate stops it. This year my attacks increased a bit where I had to go to the ER twice in one week, and now after checking my records they finally just listen to my request for 1 mg dilaudid I.V. without a bunch of other tests and I'm fixed. The Er doc gave me a prescription for 2 mg dilaudid pills, and I have had about a 50% success rate of stopping the attack at home with them. Apparently it doesn't like the trip though the stomach so I dissolve it under my tongue. Morphine also works to stop it, but for me drops my heart rate to 40 which is not a good thing!
So I have stopped smoking entirely 2 weeks ago after my latest attack, and I guess if I can get through the next winter season without an attack I can be more sure of the diagnosis. My family doctor's knowledge of this is limited, other than telling me to stop smoking. As with most daily stoners, my entire social group are smokers, so it is hard at first to not be stoned along with everyone else, but I will persevere! I had stopped smoking for 6 months a few years ago for a different reason, and still had an attack 4 months after quitting, which I then used to convince myself that it couldn't be hyperemesis, and started smoking again! So this time I will increase the time off, and see what happens. If you are having symptoms like this, do not despair as it will not kill you, but it sure feels like it at the time! If its your first time definitely see a doc to rule out appendicitis, or an intestinal problem. The irony that its' finally legal here, and that I have been very successful growing my own is a bit of a kicker!
Buzz
For the last 5 years I have had an attack of this usually starting in January to March, which is one odd thing as I consume the same amount all year, so there may be a stress element to it (Xmas?) or a vitamin D angle. My attacks always start in the morning, before I have smoked, and begin after a bowel movement, then severe salivating and sweating, then 10 minutes or so of violent retching. I do not continue with vomiting, which is not typical of the usual presentation of this syndrome. Then I get a very odd feeling across my abdomen, sometimes with nausea, along with the desire to continually stretch my limbs, and sometimes some mental confusion. Hot showers help to temporarily relieve the desire to stretch and distract from the abdominal discomfort, but eventually the hot water runs out, and the sensations return. Laying on my stomach with a pillow under it also helps relieve the pain a bit. I finally get to a point where I go to the local ER, and after MRI's, Cat scans, X-rays, two different internal medicine specialists, and a tube up both ends!! they have found nothing physically wrong with me, (I am so lucky to be in Canada where all that is financially covered for every citizen!).
What does stop the attack almost instantly is 1 mg dilaudid or morphine intravenously. It acts literally like a light switch and I am "cured" for the next 9-12 months, till the next winter season. Now the seasonal element of this I nor my doctors understand. They also have no explanation why an opiate stops it. This year my attacks increased a bit where I had to go to the ER twice in one week, and now after checking my records they finally just listen to my request for 1 mg dilaudid I.V. without a bunch of other tests and I'm fixed. The Er doc gave me a prescription for 2 mg dilaudid pills, and I have had about a 50% success rate of stopping the attack at home with them. Apparently it doesn't like the trip though the stomach so I dissolve it under my tongue. Morphine also works to stop it, but for me drops my heart rate to 40 which is not a good thing!
So I have stopped smoking entirely 2 weeks ago after my latest attack, and I guess if I can get through the next winter season without an attack I can be more sure of the diagnosis. My family doctor's knowledge of this is limited, other than telling me to stop smoking. As with most daily stoners, my entire social group are smokers, so it is hard at first to not be stoned along with everyone else, but I will persevere! I had stopped smoking for 6 months a few years ago for a different reason, and still had an attack 4 months after quitting, which I then used to convince myself that it couldn't be hyperemesis, and started smoking again! So this time I will increase the time off, and see what happens. If you are having symptoms like this, do not despair as it will not kill you, but it sure feels like it at the time! If its your first time definitely see a doc to rule out appendicitis, or an intestinal problem. The irony that its' finally legal here, and that I have been very successful growing my own is a bit of a kicker!
Buzz