Health & Fitness

RAISING AWARENESS OF CVS

by JAMES PENN

CVS stands for Cyclical Vomiting Syndrome, which causes repeated episodes of vomiting and nausea which usually occur in cycles happening every five, six or nine weeks. The cycle varies for individuals. It’s a rare condition affecting around three in every 100,000 people. We spoke with Bromley residents Sushma and Chet Raval, the parents of 18-year-old Devina, who suffers from CVS, to find out more about the condition and how it has impacted Devina’s life as a teenager…

Q: When and how did you find out Devina had CVS?

It was May last year after a number of hospital visits. Devina undertook numerous tests and initially the doctors couldn’t figure out what was wrong. It wasn’t until they started to take multiple extensive tests that they eventually concluded that she had CVS. The disease is very hidden and is not something that always gets diagnosed straight away.

Q: How does Devina try and deal with her CVS?

She has a group of people that try to provide extra support for her including a therapist and dietitian who support her in dealing with her condition. Having a positive and holistic outlook and unconditional support and reassurance from family also helps her, as she finds her condition very challenging and exhausting to deal with. Since May 2021, Devina has had nine hospitalisations because of the condition.

Nutrition tips to fight fatigue

New research from nutrition and lifestyle experts found that over a third of Brits say their energy levels are the lowest they have ever been, so here’s some tips (courtesy of yfood) on how to stay energised…

Protein-rich foods

Protein is undoubtedly a game-changer for beating fatigue. This includes eggs, fish, sprouts, beans, chickpeas and dairy products such as milk and yoghurt. Try incorporating at least one protein source in each of your meals to give you the best slow release of energy whilst you're out and about. These protein-rich foods have been evidenced to improve memory retention, alertness and increase overall energy levels.

Up the magnesium

Being in a magnesium deficit is often correlated with lower energy levels. Great sources of magnesium include leafy vegetables (perfect for your summer salad), nuts and seeds as well as dark chocolate. Or spice up your

From the left: Chet, Sushma and Devina

Q: As a family, what practices do you put in place to cope?

We are mindful about the trigger factors that will make Devina’s condition worse, so we try our best to take these into consideration. Examples include making sure she gets proper rest, that she minimises her stress levels and that she avoids skipping meals and being in situations which will leave her exhausted. Taking away focus from what’s wrong and counting all our blessings, as well as encouraging Devina to live her best life and not feel like she is missing out, means that she can find the inner peace and come to terms with her situation.

Q: What treatments are available?

We have been told that currently there is no treatment for CVS, but the good news is that CVS can disappear altogether as quickly as it came, so we are holding onto that.

Q: What advice would you give to other people?

I’d encourage people to do their research and get as much help as needed. We are so grateful to the NHS - they do such an amazing job and the staff are so wonderful. We joined a CVS association recently (cvsa.org.uk), It’s good to know that we can talk with others and get ideas and suggestions – this goes for any condition that affects your child of course. And finally, it’s about knowing your child and being mindful of their triggers – and doing your best to avoid them.

usual toast in the morning and add some avocado. The avocado is an incredibly nutritious fruit and a tasty source of magnesium.

Keep an eye on your vitamins

Particularly vitamin B and B12. These help your body transform the food you eat into energy that your cells can use over a period of time. Some vitamin-B rich foods include seafood, poultry, eggs, dairy products and legumes. Another key one is vitamin C. Interestingly, vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin that needs to be supplied daily as it is not stored in the body. You can source this from citrus fruits, strawberries and blackberries.

Whole grains

These slow-releasing carbohydrates such as whole-meal bread, pasta and rice help maintain a healthy blood sugar level. Specifically, whole grains, compared with other types of grains, provide optimum sources of fibre, vitamin B, as well as potassium and magnesium for maintaining high energy levels.