Most people with Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome don’t recognize it at first.
It usually doesn’t start dramatically. It starts with nausea that feels unexplained. A stomach that never quite settles. Vomiting that comes in cycles. Mornings that are worse than nights. A sense that something is “off,” but no clear answer as to why.
For many people, cannabis was once the thing that helped with nausea, anxiety, or sleep – which makes the experience even more confusing when it seems to become the trigger instead.
The Part No One Warns You About
One of the most consistent experiences people describe isn’t just the physical symptoms – it’s the confusion and isolation.
- Being told it’s anxiety
- Being told it’s food poisoning
- Being told it’s a stomach bug
- Being told cannabis “can’t cause that”
Meanwhile, the vomiting continues. The pain escalates. Hot showers become the only reliable relief. Emergency rooms become familiar.
Many people don’t hear the term Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome until months or years after their symptoms begin.
Patterns That Keep Showing Up
Across thousands of shared experiences, certain patterns repeat again and again:
- Symptoms come in cycles, not constantly
- Episodes worsen over time
- Standard anti-nausea medications don’t help much
- Extremely hot showers or baths bring temporary relief
- Symptoms often return after resuming cannabis, even after a long break
For a lot of people, the hardest part isn’t the diagnosis – it’s realizing how long they were sick before anyone recognized what was happening.
“I Thought It Was Just Me”
A common moment for people with CHS is the realization that:
“Other people are describing exactly what I went through.”
That recognition alone can be powerful. It helps explain symptoms that never quite made sense and validates experiences that were often dismissed or minimized.
Many people only discover CHS after searching phrases like:
- “Why do hot showers help my nausea”
- “Vomiting after weed won’t stop”
- “Cyclic vomiting cannabis”
There Is No Single CHS Story
Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome affects people differently – there is no universal path.
Some individuals experience one severe episode and immediately stop using cannabis, never to relapse. Others go through multiple cycles over months or years, often misattributing symptoms to food poisoning, anxiety, or stomach bugs before recognizing CHS. Studies note that misdiagnosis is common, with delays in recognition averaging 4–5 years in some patient cohorts (National Institutes of Health).
Patients often describe stark differences in symptom severity: for some, vomiting occurs a few times a week; for others, it can escalate to several times an hour, accompanied by intense abdominal pain. Hot showers or baths provide temporary relief for many, a phenomenon noted in clinical literature due to stimulation of TRPV1 (capsaicin) receptors (PMC study).
Anecdotally, people share stories like:
“I had been vomiting for three days straight. The hot shower helped a little, but nothing else worked. I didn’t know what was happening until I found others online describing the exact same pattern.”
Another report from a patient community highlights:
“I kept thinking I was the only one who got sick like this after smoking. My doctor thought it was anxiety. It wasn’t until I read about CHS that I realized I wasn’t alone.”
Across all experiences, the consistent theme is isolation and disbelief. Many people feel misunderstood by healthcare providers, friends, and family – even when symptoms are extreme. This emotional burden, combined with physical distress, underscores why community support and shared experiences are so valuable. For resources on CHS recognition and patient experiences, see CHS Foundation and PubMed reviews on CHS.
Ultimately, while the path to recovery is cessation of cannabis use, the journey to that decision and the experience along the way can vary widely. Understanding and acknowledging this diversity is crucial for both patients and healthcare providers.
If This Sounds Familiar
If you’re reading this and recognizing parts of your own experience – the nausea, the vomiting, the hot showers, the disbelief – you’re not imagining it, and you’re not the only one.
Many people with CHS quietly carry these experiences without ever finding a place to connect, share, or compare notes with others who understand. While there isn’t a traditional forum here, the comments below are open for discussion.
If you feel comfortable, you’re welcome to describe what your experience has been like, what patterns you’ve noticed, or how you’ve coped. Reading and sharing these experiences may help someone else recognize CHS sooner, feel less isolated, and understand that they are not alone.
Please avoid sharing identifying details or offering medical advice – this is a space for supportive discussion and shared experiences, not medical consultation.
Important Note
This page is intended for shared experiences and general information only. It does not provide medical advice or diagnosis. If you are experiencing severe or ongoing symptoms, seek professional medical care.
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