EDS Awareness!! 💗

💗 May is Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Awareness Month, and I wanted to share a little more about one of the main conditions that impacts my daily life: hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS).

EDS is a genetic connective tissue disorder that affects the body’s collagen — the tissue that helps support joints, muscles, organs, blood vessels, skin, and more. Because connective tissue exists throughout the entire body, EDS can affect nearly every system.

For me, EDS causes chronic pain, joint instability, severe fatigue, dizziness, migraines, GI problems, nerve pain, sleep issues, and many other symptoms that most people cannot see from the outside.

It is also believed to be the underlying cause or major contributor to many of my other chronic illnesses, including POTS, MCAS, gastroparesis & other GI issues, fibromyalgia, neuropathy, chronic migraine, narcolepsy, CFS and many more comorbidities and symptoms.

Living with chronic illness affects every part of life. Things many people do without thinking — standing, showering, walking, getting dressed, eating, leaving the house, or making plans — often require significant energy and can worsen symptoms.

Most of my days are spent at home trying to manage pain, exhaustion, nausea, dizziness, and other ongoing symptoms. And when I do show up somewhere smiling, there’s usually a lot happening behind the scenes physically that others may never notice.

Invisible illnesses can feel incredibly lonely at times, which is why awareness and compassion matter so much. There are so many people silently fighting battles that others cannot see.

I encourage you to learn more about Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and invisible illnesses. Even small acts of understanding and kindness can make a huge difference for someone struggling quietly.

Thank you for caring 🤍