My daughter keeps getting sick — could it be CHS?

[Sarah_WorriedMom]

My 19-year-old daughter has cyclic episodes of severe nausea and vomiting every few weeks. She has lost weight and been to the ER twice. Doctors have not figured it out. She uses cannabis but downplays it. Has any parent been through this?

[Alex_EDNurse]

The cyclic pattern plus ER visits is very concerning. Talk to her doctor about the cannabis use even if she minimizes it. The episodic pattern plus cannabis history is often enough to suspect CHS and pursue that diagnostic pathway.

[Kelly_CHSSurvivor]

I was that daughter three years ago. Please be gentle with her — shame around admitting cannabis use in a medical context causes people to hide it even when very ill. Let her know she will not be judged, just helped.

[TomMedStudent]

Ask her one specific question: do hot showers or baths make her feel noticeably better during vomiting episodes? If yes, that is a very specific indicator pointing toward CHS. It is unusual enough to significantly narrow the diagnosis.

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