Hey everyone. First of all, I'd like to thank everyone for contributing to this thread. Unfortunately (especially being the natural skeptic I am) there are few scholarly articles to confirm CHS so we are stuck with only anecdotal evidence. That being said, I'd like to share my story in hopes that it will not cause any tension, but maybe help someone who is suffering from some very serious symptoms.
A Little Background Info
I'm 21 years old, I started smoking when I was 14 and was smoking daily by the age of 15. I smoked approximately three to five grams every single day with not a single break that was longer than a 24 hour period. I make a living off of music, so I have never needed to get tested for a job or really abstain for any financial reason. I have been a vegetarian for 7 years and am generally pretty conscious of my health, although I did mostly smoke and not vaporize. I never smoked cigarettes and rarely ever drink alcohol. I did have my appendix removed a little over a year before I ever felt any symptoms.
Description of Troubles
Up until about a year and a half ago I had no apparent negative side effects from using cannabis and in fact was a huge advocate (and still am) of this glorious plant. In May of 2013 I went to the hospital for the first time for what I believe to be CHS. At the time, I did not believe it. I was mostly unaware at the time but when brought up I thought: "I've been smoking for years and all of my mates smoke just as much if not more". "This is just some propaganda in order to deem the medicinal value of marijuana illegitimate." "People are prescribed marijuana for nausea why would it cause it?" After going to the hospital 26 times between May of 2013 and the end of April 2014, I was diagnosed with just about everything someone with healthy blood work and scans could be diagnosed with (CVS, anxiety, depression, panic disorder, PTSD, GERD, etc.). During this time I was waking up literally every single day and throwing up bile and experiencing symptoms almost identical to CVS. I tore my esophagus three times and threw up blood multiple times within that time frame. The last time I went to the hospital in April of 2014, the doctor told me about CHS and told me to do some research. After being on just about every medication possible, I was willing to try anything, including leaving my relationship with marijuana.
Within a matter of 6 days I had absolutely no more nausea. I decided that I would take 90 days off to assure that it was marijuana and not just a coincidence since I quit. I have abstained 4 months today from marijuana and have had absolutely no symptoms since. I've gained thirty pounds (I'm 5'8"; went from 99 lbs in May {yikes!} to a healthy 132 today). I hope that one day I can continue to use marijuana on a much less frequent basis but I wanted to post and share my story.
Closing
I'd just like to say thanks for reading if you've made it this far and I hope this can help anyone who is struggling with this. I have read many blogs of people being angry at people like me for posting about this and that is my last intention. I am a firm believer in the medicinal value of marijuana and would still recommend to anyone for a lot of different illnesses. I don't believe that everyone who smokes like I did will have these results but it can happen to some people. Please be open to accepting that marijuana could potentially affect people differently and sometimes negatively. I can relate to it being hard to swallow trust me, but please do not diminish other peoples health issues because it hasn't affected you or someone you know in the same way.
Much love,
Blueingreen
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