A woman who spent months believing she’d finally put a name to years of debilitating stomach episodes says one direct message from a stranger sent her back down a very different medical path—one that ended in emergency surgery.
Tori Mosser (@torimosser), 23, a content creator and filmmaker in Dallas, Texas, posted a note of gratitude on TikTok that drew more than 101,000 likes and 2.6 million views after she said a woman in her DMs urged her to consider that her “worsening” symptoms might not be cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS), but an appendix issue instead. Mosser told Newsweek she’d been documenting the episodes online when the stranger—who she said was named Ella—reached out and suggested Mosser ask doctors to take a closer look at her appendix.
Mosser said she had been diagnosed with CVS in September 2025, after what she described as a lifelong pattern of sudden, severe episodes of “stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting” lasting hours. “For as long as I can remember, I have had these random episodes of severe stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting that would last for hours with no relief,” she told Newsweek, adding that earlier episodes had often been dismissed as a “stomach bug.”
She said the episodes were typically infrequent—“one to two times a year”—until 2025, when she experienced six. Mosser said the pain became “unbearable,” sending her to the ER multiple times before she was referred to a gastroenterologist who diagnosed CVS.
A DM That Changed The Questions She Asked
Mosser said Ella reached out through TikTok DMs after watching the videos Mosser posted during her episodes. According to Mosser, Ella speculated the pattern might be related to Mosser’s appendix, and told her brother had experienced similar episodes that stopped after his appendix was removed. Mosser said they messaged back and forth for about a month, with Mosser updating Ella on what doctors said.
After an episode on December 25, 2025, Mosser said her gastroenterologist ordered a CT scan that showed her appendix was “slightly enlarged,” and referred her to a surgeon. But Mosser said the surgeon believed the appendix was unlikely to be the culprit, telling her it would likely have ruptured by the time they were meeting.
Mosser said she raised the possibility of chronic appendicitis anyway, but was told it was extremely rare and didn’t fit her long history of recurring episodes.
Another ER Visit—And Surgery
On February 23, 2026, Mosser went to the ER again for what she assumed was another CVS episode. She said she told doctors about her medical history and expected the same outcome as previous visits. “I told the doctors my medical history and was ready for the usual ‘we don’t know how to help’ treatment,” she told Newsweek.
This time, Mosser said the ER team ordered another CT scan and found her appendix looked more concerning, prompting surgery to remove it. “Honestly, I was in so much pain I didn’t care what they did, and when I woke up from surgery, the stomach pain was completely gone,” she said.
Mosser said she was diagnosed with “acute appendicitis,” and is still waiting on pathology results that could indicate whether there were signs the inflammation had been building over time—something she said would help clarify whether the earlier “chronic” label fit.
How She’s Doing Now
Mosser told Newsweek her recovery has been difficult but she is hopeful the surgery solved the underlying problem. “Surgery recovery has been a bit rough, but I am so thankful to have hopefully solved the problem,” she said. She added that she’s personally using a 100‑day symptom‑free milestone to feel confident she’s in remission from the episodes.
“Ella you are the BEST and possibly saved my life,” she wrote.
Ella Compton, the stranger in question, commented: “I’m SO happy that I could help.”
What CVS and Appendicitis Are
Cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS) is a functional gastrointestinal disorder marked by sudden, repeated episodes of severe nausea and vomiting that can last hours to days, separated by stretches of relatively normal health. Episodes often follow a stereotyped pattern for a given patient—starting around the same time of day, lasting a similar duration, and recurring with similar symptoms and intensity.
Appendicitis is inflammation of the appendix. It is most often an acute condition that can worsen quickly and may require removal of the appendix (appendectomy) to prevent rupture and serious complications.
Chronic appendicitis is considered rare and less well understood. Some clinicians describe it as long‑term, intermittent irritation or inflammation that may not escalate as dramatically as acute appendicitis, which can make it harder to recognize.
‘Women Sharing Information’
Mosser’s post prompted a wave of comments from viewers sharing times social media nudged them toward medical answers. One user wrote: “TikTok made me realize I needed therapy. Working through my CPTSD and now formally diagnosed as ADHD at 51.” Another commenter, Beth, added: “Everyone is saying that TikTok made them realize something but I think it’s actually women sharing information to help each other on a global scale. But also I hope you and Ella become friends now.”
Another user, Neev, shared: “Girl this HAPPENED to me. A girl reached out privately and said she thought I had skin cancer on my lip and I DID.”
Read the full article here
