Since the age of four, Carrie has vomited 4-7 days per week–every week of her life. She has been seen by numerous pediatricians, neurologists, and gastro-intestinal physicians over the years. Carrie and her parents were told that she could be suffering from an array of disorders. She was diagnosed with a seizure disorder by a neurologist at the age of eight. However, this did not explain her nausea/abdominal pain/vomiting episodes. Carrie and her parents were informed that her symptoms were either related to anxiety, acid reflux, or severe 
post nasal drip and that she would eventually “grow out of it.” She did not. Despite her horrendous symptoms, Carrie has consistently maintained a cheerful, outgoing, and diligent attitude. She has been a leader throughout junior high and high school and participated on school as well as club volleyball teams. Although her episodes are often debilitating and have forced her to miss out on certain activities, she continually pushes through, and has consistently refused to let her condition get the best of her. During conditioning for her volleyball team, Carrie at times would have to run off course, discreetly vomit, and quickly run to catch up with her teammates. She took it all in stride, even when one coach falsely accused her of having an eating disorder and/or “being out of shape” in front of her entire team. In addition to her unbearable nausea and vomiting episodes, Carrie has experienced migraines, seizures, fatigue, heat intolerance and asthma. Because her symptoms most often occur in the morning, Carrie has been late to school or missed school numerous times, but has been able to maintain an above average GPA throughout school. Finally, at the age of 16, Carrie was referred to Dr. Boles, and she and her family received a much awaited answer to her mysterious symptoms. Dr. Boles diagnosed Carrie with Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome (also known as Abdominal Migraines) stemming from Mitochondrial Disease. Carrie also suffers from severe fatigue, heat intolerance, and migraine headaches.
In an attempt to minimize her vomiting episodes in the mornings, one of Carrie’s physicians has recently put Carrie on a regimen of consuming corn starch (uncooked) every night before bed. This treatment has been recommended in the hopes of maintaining her blood sugar at an equal level throughout the night. Carrie has been prescribed various medications, and under Dr. Boles’ care, her vomiting episodes have decreased. Carrie is currently a high school senior, and wrote one of her college essays about her journey with Mitochondrial Disease and Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome.
-Carrie’s Mom, Ainsley