A rare disease causes women to vomit up to 15 times a day; 2% of the world suffers from it.

Sharisse Zeroonian, a 29-year-old from Massachusetts, USA, has struggled with one of the most enigmatic and rare conditions in the medical field : cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS) , an ailment that affects only 2% of people globally.

Her diagnosis came late, after many years of hospital visits and incorrect diagnoses linking her symptoms to migraines or tension.

In an interview with Today.com, Sharisse shared that, at the height of her illness, she could vomit up to 15 times an hour. This condition affected not only her physical well-being, resulting in a loss of seven kilos, but also her emotional and social balance: she avoided going out for fear of vomiting in public and experienced thoughts of suicide.

Relief came in 2023 when she received a precise diagnosis. Although she initially felt some shame, she discovered that her experience could serve to inspire and educate others. Thanks to appropriate treatment, she now deals with less severe weekly episodes, which has allowed her to partially improve her quality of life.

What's truly remarkable is that Sharisse turned her experience into an art form. She's the mastermind behind Nothing Solid , a dark comedy she describes as the first "vom-com" in the film industry, inspired by her own struggles. The film will be released in August and has garnered interest due to its bold approach to highlighting a disease that often remains hidden.

According to the Mayo Clinic, cyclic vomiting syndrome is characterized by severe, repetitive episodes of vomiting that occur without a clear cause. It often begins in childhood but is increasingly seen in adults. Diagnosing it is complicated because it presents symptoms similar to other digestive problems. Treatments include a combination of antiemetic medications, therapies to manage migraines, and lifestyle adjustments to minimize triggers.