I created an account JUST because of this page. Ill share my story, Chuck, ignore me because Im ignoring you.
Ive been smoking since 2007, in recent years ive been smoking pretty much everyday, multiple times a day. I very much enjoy smoking. I love smoking with friends out in nature, or just smoking by myself (I like the thought processes that it brings out in me). I have never smoked synthetic bullshit (as far as I know) and usually get decently good quality bud. Ive had some weird GI issues for some time now but nothing very serious that I thought needed attention (One weird thing that happens to me is RIGHT before I smoke, I have this urge to take a dump). After smoking this feeling goes away. I found myself taking a shit before smoking just so I wouldnt have to feel uncomfortable for a few minutes before the weed kicked in. Its as if my body knows I am about to smoke and makes me want to take a shit in anticipation of it. Really weird symptom that I thought I should mention in case anyone else has this (Please say so and ignore the trolls ITT).
Last wednesday I had to be admitted to the hospital. From 7 AM until 3 PM i was vomiting NON STOP. I REALLY didnt want to go to the hospital, I called my personal doc and told him what was going on, he told me I had to call for an ambulance immediately and that my life was in danger due to being severely dehydrated and loosing all my electrolytes from vomiting. Most of the time I waited, I was in the shower under very hot water. It was the only thing that seemed to give me slight relief. It came to my mind to jump in the shower because I was feeling very cold and sweating, shivering. The hot water helped a lot, but the pain was still incredible/unbearable and I was vomiting everything I drank. I began vomiting up bile. I felt intense acid reflux, burping and hickuping very frequently. Frequently the hickups and burps produced acidic vomit in my mouth. I also felt very bloated. It was very unpleasant. I got to the hospital in time and received emergency IV fluids and electrolytes (A LOT of them, I waited waaaaaay too long to go to the hospital). I got a ct scan and an xray. Everything was pretty much unremarkable except for an inflamed colon which the ct scan revealed (colitis). I was in the worst abdominal pain I EVER imagined. It was unbearable and came in waves. For moments you felt just a slight relief, and then crushing pain which no pain medication can help. You just have to endure until it is over. I have felt a lot of pain in my life, and believe me when I say this was incredible pain.
Anyway, as I said, I got in the hospital last wed. Thursday morning I vomited once (or twice, cant remember now) but was feeling a bit better. By thursday night I was feeling better so I managed to convince a doctor to discharge me. I enjoyed the night and celebrated by packing myself a nice bowl.
I awoke Friday at 5 AM. Initially I didnt feel completely horrible but I felt the acid building up. It quickly got worse. I started vomiting again. I vomited around 4-6 times that day. I do not know how I managed to do it, but somehow I kept myself from vomiting right after I took my medication (Cipro, flagyl, protonix and some anti nauseau med i dont recall and am to lazy to read off the label at this moment) and I managed to keep most of my water in. So I didnt feel I needed to go to the hospital again, I really didnt wanna go. Saturday, I felt good again, almost back to normal. Still nauseous and irritated stomach but amazing compared to the day of hell I had wednesday. Again, I celebrated at night with a bowl.
Sunday I wake up at 4ish. Oh shit... its starting again... I uncontrollably vomit till around 2PM. This time im loosing all my medications and fluids. Not holding anything down anymore, worst pain ever is back also. I lament, and again... go to the emergency room.
Ill hurry up the rest of the story now. Had an upper endoscopy done, was diagnosed with gastritis along with my colitis. Was told to continue medications, etc... was released finally on Wednesday afternoon (a full week after my first visit). It was my week of hell, the absolute worst week I ever experienced. In that past week alone, I lost 20 lbs.
I havent smoked since and am feeling more normal daily.
As much as I hate to admit it, I really think it was CHS.
I think a warning sign that you may be smoking too much is acid buildup... this was my problem for weeks before this incident. I took prilosec or other antacids to relieve it. If you find yourself having acid buildup in your stomach... SLOW DOWN on the ganj. Im telling you, you do NOT want to experience that pain. Enjoy the weed all you want but dont tell us who just had the worst experience of our lives that we are bullshitting, and look out for those signs yourself.
Note, I was smoking entirely too much weed and far too frequently. It got to the point where I would smoke primo bud and not really feel much of an effect. I think it has to do with some chemical buildup with sustained cannabis use, and potentially a physical withdrawl symptom (since you do not feel sick when you smoke... only after the bud wears off do you feel bad). But that last bit is just what I am currently thinking. I plan on looking into this much further.
Just as a side note, I also have a bachelors degree in neuroscience. Doesnt make me an expert in anything but Im not exactly ignorant to science or scientific research. Ill see what I can come up with (if anything) and post here possibly. But Im really interested in hearing other peoples experiences. I am considering doing some kind of basic scientific study to get more at the heart of CHS, what it is, and why we get it. So please, if you experienced any of this, dont let the trolls scare you away. Ignore them.
We all love pot here, I am COMPLETELY for legalizing weed and thats not going to change. I wish I could enjoy weed, and maybe one day I can again but Im not tempting that shit again for the moment.
My sympathies are with those who posted here earnestly because they also suffered an attack.
Last side note. Im keeping the last batch of weed I picked up and am going to try to store it securely... considering the possibility of contaminated weed by one compound or another as being the culprit of this. I JUST picked up from a new supplier (it was super sour d's) so maybe this is why? I am doubtful of this however because my friends have been using him for some time and are fine. If you experienced symptoms please tell your story. Reading this has saved me a ton of pain and money and it can for others as well (if they just slow down when the begining symtoms start). Did you guys also experience GI symptoms the weeks prior to the outbreak? This is something Im very interested in.
Much love, and I hope everyone feels better!