The phrase "went down with" typically refers to a negative or undesirable situation that someone experiences, such as getting sick, losing money, or encountering a setback. Some synonyms for this phrase include "suffered," "endured," "experienced," "underwent," "encountered," and "confronted." Alternatively, one might use more specific language to describe the situation, such as "fell ill," "took a financial hit," or "faced a setback." Regardless of the phrasing chosen, it's important to clearly convey the situation at hand and any relevant details that might help others understand what happened.