I was diagnosed with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS) when my youngest child was seen and diagnosed. I wasn’t sure if I should be excited to finally know why! But I was scared for us both. I bruise easily, will be 50 in several weeks, and live in constant pain of some degree. My hip and
View page
Adjusting expectations of myself has been the hardest part of coping with EDS. Just like many people with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, I remember my childhood as a series of hospital, physiotherapy, and orthodontist appointments. I was forced into wearing kids’ Birkenstocks and doing foot-strengthening exercises I never really liked. It wasn’t until my mid-teens that the
View page
TW: Contains mention of suicide. I was 5 years old, excitedly cheering on my mom at her softball game, City Park ball fields, Fort Collins, Co. Mom hit the ball, I jumped and cheered with the others in the bleachers, slipped and fell through the bleachers, and life changed. Climbing back up, lifting my pant
View page
My childhood was a blur of activity. I was, in every sense of the word a tomboy, which for that time period meant a rough and tumble girl. I’m from a small town in Kansas, and my grandparents lived on acreage there. My happiest moments were spent feeding chickens, gathering eggs, caring for horses, picking
View page
Bailey’s story from puppy to lifesaver. For 10 years I battled with life-crippling symptoms and dealt with so many dismissive doctors that I truly had started to give up. I had to go to a doctor purely by chance due to a chest infection that couldn’t shift and I reluctantly went to a new doctor.
View page
According to my doctors, I have had hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS) since I was a baby, but I was not diagnosed with it until I was 13. Before this I pretty much lived a normal childhood, hanging out with friends both in and out of school, shopping, cinema, and much more. I was, however, very
View page
I have lived my whole life with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), I don’t know what “normality” is. My whole life has revolved around my disability, my friendships, my relationship, and everyday life. Growing up, I was always that odd one out because of my disability; I had to wear special shoes at school that mostly got
View page
CW: Contains discussion of self-harm When I was 15, my mother took me to a pediatric gastroenterologist. I had been struggling to keep down food for two years: I had been diagnosed with gastroparesis and I had started to struggle with body dysmorphia. When the Gastroenterologist came into the room, I was pulling at my
View page
I had spent most of my life so far being very active. I lived to help others. I cared for the elderly, children and disabled. I taught gymnastics for 20 years. Now the tables are turned. It’s me who needs the care and I struggle with this new role. It feels foreign to me, this
View page
My greatest barrier with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome has been finding my own voice. Symptoms started as a young child with unbearable leg pain at night. Then, in high school, I began having many gastrointestinal issues. I still wanted to participate on my school’s cross country team; one day while running alone I lost consciousness. Once I
View page