My wife Sue is the patient, and she has had CVS for 15 years, btu only diagnosed 5 years ago. She was tested for everything in the world, allergies, GI, MRI, etc. We finally found a doc who had treated a juvenile CVS patient who has since outgrown it. His attitude is that CVS in idiopathic (we're idiots-we don't know what causes it) and that everyone will respond differently so let's keep trying until we find something that works.
Sue now takes 10mg Compazine orally at bedtime, and when an attack starts I give her a Imitrex injection immediately and Zofran every 4 hours until things calm down. She averages one attack every 2 weeks. They are severe for 24 hours, then she gradually gets better in the next 24. With the medication the vomiting is eliminated and stomach pain eased considerably, but she's still a pretty sick puppy.
In between times she is completely normal. We keep hoping for a silver bullet that will find the cause, so in the meantime we live with it. We are in our late 50's and financially secure, but I have real empathy for
those folks who are juggling sick kids, non-supportive (or non-existant) spouses, and dwindling checkbook balances.
Best to all,
Ed, Sue's husband
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