CVS

Ever heard of it? Nope, not the pharmacy! Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome.

Jared has CVS. He was diagnosed over 3 years ago after months of constant vomiting. Here's some basic info from the NDDIC (National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse):

In cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS), people experience bouts or cycles of severe nausea and vomiting that last for hours or even days and alternate with longer periods of no symptoms. CVS occurs mostly in children, but the disorder can affect adults, too.

CVS has no known cause. Each episode is similar to the previous ones. The episodes tend to start at about the same time of day, last the same length of time, and present the same symptoms at the same level of intensity. Although CVS can begin at any age in children and adults, it usually starts between the ages of 3 and 7. In adults, episodes tend to occur less often than they do in children, but they last longer. Furthermore, the events or situations that trigger episodes in adults cannot always be pinpointed as easily as they can in children.

Episodes can be so severe that a person may have to stay in bed for days, unable to go to school or work. No one knows for sure how many people have CVS, but medical researchers believe that more people may have the disorder than is commonly thought (as many as 1 in 50 children in one study). Because other more common diseases and disorders also cause cycles of vomiting, many people with CVS are initially misdiagnosed until the other disorders can be ruled out. What is known is that CVS can be disruptive and frightening not just to people who have it, but to the entire family as well.

For more in depth info, you can click here.

Luckily for us and Jared, his case is not that bad. In the past two years, we've only dealt with the cycles a handful of times. But poor Jared is often found complaining of "stomach aches." I always struggle with sending him to school when his tummy hurts. Usually, I do send him though because his cycles don't begin during the day--typically they begin in the wee hours of the morning.

Jared's CVS seems to be triggered by viral infections (sometimes just a cold) or over excitement (long fun trips). Sometimes it'll last just a day, sometimes several days and sometimes it'll be random days within a week or weeks of time. It's so up in the air. I guess we could let it confine us, but what fun would that be! Jared would be sad if he had to miss out on all the fun. And it's SO random.

Today, we will miss having to see The Clone Wars again (a secret "yippee" from me...shhhh) as we ride this cycle out--hoping that he's just "sick" this time.

Well folks, there you have it. Your lesson for the day. Maybe you can take this info, store it away into the corner of your mind and share it with someone who needs it one day (you'll seem so knowledgeable)!