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cleom

Updated 1y ago

Cautionary Tale: My Experience with Cannabis and CHS

i want to caution anyone who is currently using or thinking about using cannabis to help with their pain and/or mental state. by no means do i want to discourage anyone from doing so, if that’s what works for you then that’s fantastic but because of my experience with smoking i do want to warn anyone who may find themselves in this situation as well. i used weed for almost 3 years before i got horribly ill. i was vomiting uncontrollably, unable to keep anything down including water, having the worse stomach cramps i’ve ever experienced, cold sweats and so much more. i was so dehydrated and sick i went to the ER and i was diagnosed with something called cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome(CHS). CHS is something that occurs in daily users, like i said earlier, i smoked for years before i got sick but man did i get super sick. i was throwing up so much i was critically dehydrated and vitamin deficient. this went on for months after i stopped smoking and i quite literally almost died because my body was so depleted. symptoms can include vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, cold sweats, chills, dizziness, sensitivity to light, headache, retching or gagging and much more. please don’t hesitate to message me privately if you think you may have CHS and i would be happy to talk more with you about it and provide you with resources that have helped me through my recovery.

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spoonkingg

1y

oh wow that’s horrifying! i am so sorry you went through that! i use cannabis nightly to aid with pain, insomnia, and anxiety… how do you avoid CHS? besides, well, quitting cannabis.
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cleom

1y

unfortunately there’s really no way to prevent CHS but not everyone is affected by it. when you look up the definition of CHS it does say that it’s a “rare” condition but i’m currently in a facebook support group that has 20k members and from what i’ve heard from the nurses and doctors i’ve encountered at the ER it seems to be way more common now. i would definitely say that smoking all day every day will increase your risk of developing this condition and smoking very high percentages of THC also increases your risk. my favorite thing to use was dab pens and wax which are super super highly concentrated amounts of THC. my best advice to you would be to be aware of the early symptoms of CHS which can include stomach pains, cold sweats, chills and nausea that is helped by taking a hot bath or shower. one of the biggest signs that you may be suffering from CHS is having stomach pain and nausea that get better or go away when you take a hot bath or shower.

The content in this post is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

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