The Chicken and the Egg

In conjuction with all of this, Alex has experienced frequent and often severe stomach related ailments. We started wondering and assuming the two issues to be related. But in addition to the chronic stomaches, she seemed to get the stomach bug more often and far more severe than one might consider typical.

So with this last episode, we really began to question whether something else was going on. A typical child will get a stomach bug, maybe once or twice a year. It may last 12-24 hours. And maybe they even vomit once or twice. Then by the next they are are usually feeling better and back to their normal activities.

Not Alex. Alex's symptoms will come on fast and furious. We usually see about 12 hours of violent vomiting, and by violent I mean scary, as in poltergeist. During its peak, which can last upwards of 4 to 5 hours, Alex will typically vomit every 5 to 7 minutes...continually. And she bursts blood vessels all over her face. After the vomiting subsides, it is followed by another 12 hours of violent diarrhea. As in, it comes on so fast and furious, she rarely makes it into the bathroom. After the initial 24 hours, the next 5 to 7 days are accompanied by constant waves nausea as well as more diahrrea. This is a physically and mentally exhausting process. And it's been happenning about every other month these days.

So some googling and another trip to the peds led us to a possible diagnosis: Cycling Vomiting Syndrome.

CVS is usually triggered by an illness or stress. The stress is often something positive, like a holiday, vacation or anticipated event. I cannot tell you how much this describes our life. Remember Alex being discharged from the hospital only hours before getting on a plane for Disney??? And the multitude of holidays that were ruined by her poor little tummy.

She pretty much fits everything it describes. Unfortunately the only way to diagnose is to rule out all other potential issues.

Which leaves us where we are currently.

Alex lives in fear of getting sick and throwing up. She is terrified of driving in the car for more than 5 minutes (as she gets car sick). She's been afraid to go out to eat, for fear of getting sick at a restaurant. If she feels the least bit sick to her stomach, it brings on an anxiety attack. The likes of which are truly heartbreaking.

Which leads us to the million dollar question. Which comes first? The Chicken or the Egg? Is she getting sick and then having an "episode of anxiety"? Or is the anxiety and worry bringing on the stomach issues? Honestly I think its just a vicious cycle of both.