Misdiagnosed as Migraine, Rare Disease Revealed... How a Woman Who Vomited 15 Times an Hour Overcame Her Struggle

Production of a Black Comedy Film Based on an Autobiographical Story

A story has emerged of an American woman with the rare disease cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS) who transformed her rare illness into a comedy.

A woman with cyclic vomiting syndrome wrote and directed the screenplay for the film "Nothing Solid" based on her own story. Poster of the film "Nothing Solid"

On June 27 (local time), the New York Post reported on the story of Charis Jerunian, a 29-year-old living in Massachusetts, USA. She suffered from symptoms of vomiting continuously for several days whenever she felt stress, anxiety, or premenstrual symptoms. In severe cases, she would vomit up to 15 times an hour. While she occasionally experienced indigestion since childhood, these severe vomiting symptoms only began in 2021. The cycle of symptoms stopping and then recurring for several days the following week led to weight loss and loss of employment. She experienced extreme anxiety and suicidal impulses, which in turn triggered further vomiting, creating a vicious cycle.

She was initially misdiagnosed with migraines. However, after two years of searching for answers, she was diagnosed with the rare disease "cyclic vomiting syndrome," a condition caused by improper communication between the brain and the gut. Cyclic vomiting syndrome affects 2% of the general population. It is more common in women, young adults, and people with a history of migraines. The main symptoms include vomiting episodes that start at similar times and recur at least three times over similar durations. Just before vomiting, patients experience severe nausea and sweating. Other symptoms can include abdominal pain, diarrhea, headaches, and dizziness. Identified causes include stress, excitement, and consumption of certain foods and drinks. Foods such as alcohol, caffeine, chocolate, and cheese can trigger symptoms, as can menstruation, motion sickness, overexertion, and overeating. Treatment primarily focuses on managing symptoms and improving lifestyle habits to avoid triggers that induce vomiting.

Jerunian began medication, and fortunately, her symptoms improved compared to before. Although she still vomits weekly, the episodes now last only one to two days instead of four to five. Sometimes, her symptoms are so severe that she can only swallow water and jelly, and there are days when she must stay home for fear of vomiting in front of others. Nevertheless, Jerunian decided to channel her experience in a positive way. She chose to create a black comedy film based on her own story. She wrote and directed the screenplay for the film "Nothing Solid." Jerunian said, "When I first heard the diagnosis, I felt mostly ashamed. I was worried that people wouldn't understand this is a real illness and would think I was just making excuses to skip work," adding, "It was much harder when I tried to hide this disease. I found great comfort in opening up to the world and making a film about it."