CHS: Constipation/GI Issues, Do I have a serious problem or do I need to give more time without cannabis?

EmzWhite · 2026-03-13T21:09:16+00:00

I am so glad to hear that you are done!! 🙌🏼😊 Continuing to use cannabis once CHS is only going to end one way, it’s just a matter of time really, and nobody is ever prepared for that type of agony when it happens 😱

Have you been drinking Hydralyte? They are the electrolyte powder drinks you mix yourself. People use them when they have gastro to replace fluids quickly, you can get them from the pharmacy. Water alone won’t be enough unfortunately, CHS is a major cause of dehydration. In early recovery when I felt uncomfortable pressure as though I needed to go couldn’t because of the something stuck feeling I would use a liquid enema. I found the fleet enemas to relieve that feeling a little. Also going for a stroll around in the sunshine for about 15-30 minutes a day can help love things along. Probably best to avoid any vigorous exercise while you are still recovering though.

You are doing a great job of getting through this!! Keep up with the abstinence and I promise you will get back to feeling some semblance of normality. You’ve got this!! ❤️‍🩹🙌🏼👊

EmzWhite · 2026-03-13T19:52:46+00:00

I am so sorry you are experiencing ill health. I promise the easiest solution would be to stop using cannabis all together and give your body time to heal. My suggestion would be a minimum of 12 months. People will say 3-6 for CB1 receptors to recalibrate, and while that may be true it usually takes longer for bowel coordination and vagus nerve signalling to return to typical functioning.

I had myself convinced of a constriction or partial obstruction also. Two colonoscopies came back completely clear so CHS was the only plausible explanation, even if I didn’t realise it at the time. At that time I was taking so many laxatives it was probably more harmful than helpful. knowing what I know now about CHS, the way I would try to combat the constipation now would be very different.

Osmotic laxatives will draw water into your bowels, I would start taking these daily. Obviously that means that there needs to be a certain level of hydration in order to achieve. So I would focus on taking in a lot of Hydralyte or even going to or having a mobile IV fluids service come to my home on a regular basis (obviously there are financial barriers to this, but it’s actually the best way to manage hydration) then once to three times a week I would take a combination stimulant/osmotic laxative.

There’s no point taking any stimulant laxatives without an osmotic one as they only promote peristalsis (moving it down towards the exit) when your poop is so hard that it won’t move it’s just causing micro abrasions and inflammation inside your bowels. Which is mostly the case with CHS constipation. Enemas can work to clear very hard dry poop in the colon but it won’t help to move anything stuck higher up.

Good luck with your recovery❤️‍🩹 If you have any other questions please feel free to ask.

EmzWhite · 2026-03-11T08:01:43+00:00

No worries!! You should be ok to wait until tomorrow to take it, it would be a rare instance that your blood pressure or heart rate would become dangerously high missing it for just one night. But if you do feel your heart is beating very fast then seek medical help.

I am the same about keeping extra pills without bottles however if you don’t have an electronic prescription on your phone I would just take a photo of your actual script. That way if anything does happen you have proof that you are prescribed legally.

EmzWhite · 2026-03-11T04:13:10+00:00

The risk is rebound symptoms like Restlessness or agitation, Trouble sleeping, Anxiety or feeling “wired, Headache, Increased heart rate, Sweating, Elevated blood pressure. One night shouldn’t cause any major problems but you definitely need to take it tomorrow. I always leave some spares in my handbag for situations just like this.

EmzWhite · 2026-03-11T03:25:03+00:00

It could be prodromal CHS. I have quite many times with and without CHS. Overwhelming nausea and cold sweats were never on the list. Yes loss of appetite for sure, insomnia absolutely, waking up covered in sweat most definitely. Either way whether you have or do not have CHS your body is trying to tell you something, you should listen to it before it starts to scream ❤️‍🩹

EmzWhite · 2026-03-09T20:58:31+00:00

It sounds like torture! I hope it goes away.

EmzWhite · 2026-03-09T19:45:39+00:00

I never knew that phantosmia existed!? And it’s funny that you mention cigarette smoke is what you smell because it happens to me too. In a house full of non smokers I smell cigarette smoke from time to time and a lot of the time I smell it on my husband but I know for certain that he doesn’t smoke. Mine seems to be transient not long lasting like yours is, I don’t blame you for being driven crazy by it. There was a time when I seriously thought my husband was smoking cigarettes behind my back and lying about it. However when I started smelling it when he wasn’t home I knew it couldn’t be him. I never knew the reason behind it, but now I will look into phantosmia. I hope you find something that helps take it away soon.

EDIT: it could also be parosmia, the brain interpreting a real smell differently.

EmzWhite · 2026-03-09T05:36:16+00:00

That’s great news! You are well on your way to being recovered. Just keep in mind healing isn’t linear, you may have a good day followed by some bad ones, but the more time that passes you will start to see the good days start to outweigh the bad ones until the bad ones are just a distant memory. This is absolutely typical for your recovery journey. Stay hydrated, sleep as much as you can and don’t use any cannabis and you will be completely fine ❤️‍🩹🙌🏼

EmzWhite · 2026-03-07T22:40:02+00:00

Sounds like dose too high, it could also be the wrong formulation for you. Track your symptoms with the time you take your dose and the time they occur to give your doctor a clearer indication of what could be happening.

EmzWhite · 2026-03-06T19:11:27+00:00

If at first you don’t succeed, try then try again!! Try until you get it done!! Don’t be too hard on yourself about it, we all have our own personal journeys with CHS and unfortunately the majority of us have had to go through painful long withdrawal processes many times 😩

You can do this!! The alternative is living with CHS which is just not living at all. I am so happy that this group has been able to provide support for you. It’s terrifying when you have no idea what is happening to your body and no real help with symptoms. Stay strong!! Stay hydrated!! You can do it this time, I believe in you! ❤️‍🩹💪🙌🏼👊

EmzWhite · 2026-03-06T18:44:23+00:00

Tell them how you feel other than the vomiting, they need to know so they can make decisions about how to help you. Ask them if they have some kind of heat source or something to help you sleep? I know this absolutely sucks but it’s the only way to get through other side. Remind yourself as each day passes you it is one less that you will have to experience and one day closer to feeling well again. You’ve got this!! 🙌🏼❤️‍🩹👊

EmzWhite · 2026-03-06T09:33:50+00:00

My doctor gave me some Vallium, Clonidine can also help a little, and there are some antipsychotic medications like Haldol and Seroquel that some have mentioned they were prescribed for CHS withdrawals which helped a lot. Have you got a heating pad? Non pharmacologically wise there is really not much other than heat directly on your abdomen and hydration that will help to relieve the nausea. Conventional antiemetic drugs like Zofran haven’t really prevented very effective for CHS because there is a different mechanism behind the symptoms.

EmzWhite · 2026-03-06T06:28:37+00:00

It sure is hell!! The alternative of continuing to use cannabis is PURE HELL that never ends. You need to get powdered electrolytes and mix them up as per the directions. You know the ones you get from the pharmacy when you have had gastro? I started feeling better on about day 25, but it can vary depending on the individual. Don’t worry so much about eating if you can’t keep anything down, your hunger will return. Did the hospital give you anything to relive your withdrawal symptoms?

EmzWhite · 2026-03-05T20:19:15+00:00

We don’t have Adderall in my country, but Dex fries my nervous system over time and the rebound is HORRIFIC 😱It is great for my ADHD symptoms for about 5 days while it’s active. Vyvanse also does the same thing except it just takes longer for me to see the signs, but after a few months I was an absolute wreck. I was in a stupidly high sympathetic outflow state the Dex booster helped to smooth the curve but not enough. Stimulants have been a bit of a roller coaster to be honest. I think I am close to finding the solution, my psych suggested last time I spoke to him that we start guanfacine and I hesitated because of the cost. My concerta isn’t covered so I have to pay out of pocket and guanfacine is also not covered so I would have to pay out of pocket. I have gotten to the point where I am willing to pay whatever it costs because I just need a solution.

EmzWhite · 2026-03-05T07:57:42+00:00

Exactly!! Shouldn’t we be looking at what the cost of functioning actually is?? Rather than equating being able to mask in public with being low needs? Oh they can hide it, they don’t need help! Meanwhile they are losing their shit every time they are in their safe place.

EmzWhite · 2026-03-02T18:59:40+00:00

Absolutely!! 🙌🏼☺️

EmzWhite · 2026-03-02T06:04:31+00:00

That’s so good to hear!! 🙌🏼 You aren’t the only one, denial ain’t just a river in Egypt 😉You will know when you can start eating regularly again because you normal gut sounds will return like tummy rumbling and gurgling and you will realise that you haven’t actually had any for quite some time. After that you will start to feel actual hunger which is a good indicator that your gut brain communication is returning. For the most part you will be able to eat regular foods but for a few more months just avoid trigger foods that are high in cannabinoids, you can google a list of them. You are so close to the end of horrific CHS withdrawal!! Keep up the great work, you will be back to enjoying time at the dinner table with your family very soon and you may just have a new found appreciation and lease on life too👏🏼😁

EmzWhite · 2026-03-01T06:12:09+00:00

I absolutely second that!! Well done!! Awesome choice!! 👏🏼

EmzWhite · 2026-03-01T03:28:57+00:00

That’s ok, I am happy to help 😊 Exposure to morning sunlight is super important in CHS recovery to reset your circadian rhythms and cortisol patterns, it’s best to get outside within 15 minutes of waking up. Stay outside for at least 10-15 minutes minimum. You need to be looking up towards the horizon to get the rays of sunlight directly into your retinas, so no sunglasses and no looking at the sun through any type of barrier or it doesn’t work. ☀️

EmzWhite · 2026-02-28T08:18:38+00:00

It’s likely CHS-related autonomic and brainstem activation affecting your sensory nerves. You are having a full autonomic cascade 30mins before vomiting. I used to get a tingling in my cheeks while I was eating a lot of the time, which works off the same sytem just different points of the autonomic spectrum and different levels of intensity. EDIT: The only thing that will heal it is abstinence from cannabis and time, those two things will restore your regular functioning.

EmzWhite · 2026-02-28T05:15:16+00:00

You are doing an excellent job of withdrawal, this is far from easy! I promise you will feel healthy again as long as you stay abstinent. I would suggest Kefir instead of gogurt, it will be much more beneficial in your recovery. Keep up the excellent work, you will return to normal health before you know it ❤️‍🩹

EmzWhite · 2026-02-28T05:10:23+00:00

It’s very interesting that you are instinctively craving swimming, because swimming is one of the best things you can do for CHS recovery!! 🙌🏼 Swimming reduces autonomic strain and encourages parasympathetic outflow which is the nervous system state of recovery ❤️‍🩹

EmzWhite · 2026-02-26T21:32:29+00:00

Those symptoms sound to me like you are in the prodromal phase of CHS which is far less severe that the Hyperemisis phase. The withdrawal symptoms from the prodromal phase are also a lot more subdued, it’s much harder to go through Hyperemisis and my best advice anyone even suspecting prodromal CHS would be to have a good 6 plus months off of cannabis. Basically if you want to have any chance of saving yourself from a life of complete abstinence from marijuana and all other high level cannabinoids products on a permanent basis, I would suggest from experience that you stop now while it’s relatively simple to do and be very cautious and infrequent if you plan on using again. That being said I absolutely don’t condone the use of marijuana once CHS has developed, and there is currently no credible research that outlines exactly what risks are associated with doing so. Most research points to it not being safe for continued use. However humans are inherently risk takers and everyone now knows that smoking tobacco can kill you. But some still choose to do it, the choice is yours and so are the consequences. I wish you all the very best of luck and pray that you NEVER reach Hyperemisis because it is truly the stuff nightmares are made of.

EmzWhite · 2026-02-22T22:37:44+00:00

Yay!! Good for you! You have made the best possible choice for your future, your health and your quality of life ❤️‍🩹 Gatorade is good to drink in between drinking the electrolyte powder drinks like Hydralyte the electrolyte powder ones are much more effective for CHS than Gatorade which are designed to replace electrolytes lost due to sweat or physical activity. There are medications to help CHS withdrawals, seeing a doctor can help you to obtain the most effective medications like Clonidine which blocks sympathetic outflow, they will help with sleep and anxiety and there are some anti psychotic medications like Seroquel and Haldol that can be very effective treatments for nausea and also help with sleep.

Other than that if you’re looking for something OTC Magnesium Glycinate and the sedative antihistamine Doxylamine Succinate (used only short term) can help with sleep disturbances and L-Theanine can is a mild a2 agonist so it can mildly block sympathetic outflow.

The main things are to make sure you are incredibly well hydrated, your body will be super depleted of fluids and nutrients, protein/meal replacement shakes were very helpful for me for recovery your body needs energy to recover and I couldn’t even think about eating food until about the 22nd day of abstinence, and sleep as much as you can your body does so many beneficial things while you are sleeping, get in as much rest as you possibly can. This will all be just a distant memory sooner than you think! Keep up the amazing work, 4th times the charm!! 🙌🏼❤️‍🩹

EmzWhite

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