cyclic vomiting syndrome and morphine

[mooya]

my partner has what is believed to be cyclic vomiting syndrome - some days he wakes up and
starts vomiting and is unable to stop. This has been going on for almost 5 years now - he has
just turned 28.

They have diagnosed him with cyclical vomiting as everything else they test him for comes back clear (irritable bowel, allergies, crohn’s disease etc etc)

He has had pretty much every test under the sun (including gastroscopy, endoscopy, small bowel
series, cat scan, MRI, infra-red scans, blood tests), all of which are always clear.

The strangest thing about these attacks is that the only thing that stops them is if he is given
an injection of maxalon and morphine. Maxalon alone does not work, neither does anything else
that they have ever tried (including tramal, stemitel (??), valium etc etc alone or in any
combination).

Because morphine is such a strong narcotic and so addictive, Dr’s are reluctant to give it to him
in the long-term, which means we are desperately searching for an answer or an alternative.

Most people who are given morphine vomit, it seems really strange to me that with my partner
it does the opposite. I am hoping someone out there might be able to suggest why this is the
only thing that works for him and any alternatives. Either that or an alternative suggestion to the diagnosis of cyclical vomiting which almost (but not quite) fits in with his symptoms

Thanks very much!

[shojihamada]

Has neurological compromise in the brainstem or other areas where there is vomit control been ruled out? If not have a specialist do that for you.

[mooya]

yes, that has been ruled out through an MRI and a cat-scan - there is no damage to his brain that anyone can find.

He had three wisdom teeth removed last night and as they were messy we are hoping that this might settle down his condition.

thanks for your reply!