My Diagnoses

​     My illnesses are all chronic.  They are not going away.  I have hEDS, POTS, and Fibromyalgia.  All of these cause many different symptoms, so it’s not just simply joint pain.
     hEDS or Ehlers Danlos Syndrome Hypermobility Type, causes my body to be very flexible in some places, but also very tight in others.  It’s based in the connective tissues, but also has many other symptoms.  I have pretty bad IBS, and I have recently switched to an Anti-Inflammatory diet as well as probiotics to try and help this.  There is, of course, still always bad days with it, as with any chronic illness.  I also will get acid reflux which is mostly caused from anxiety or foods.  EDS also has symptoms of anxiety and depression.  My mental health has been around longer than the physical chronic pain, though.  I also have a pretty rapid heart rate with circulation issues that have just been discovered. 
       About a month ago I was diagnosed with POTS or Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome.  This is connected to EDS, and many people with EDS will also have POTS issues.  POTS causes dizziness and fainting symptoms when blood volume is reduced when standing up.  This especially happens when standing from a laying down position.  It makes it hard to stand or walk for long periods of time.  I also have great amounts of fatigue from it, but also from the Fibro, too.  I have a hard time exercising, although I am trying to still keep on top of small amounts of working out when I can.  I am going to a cardiologist in the fall to further discuss the issues related to my POTS and how serious it is. 
      Fibromyalgia is widespread muscle pain and tenderness.  It is much more common than EDS.  But this illness also just causes more pain around my joints.  There’s a lot of fatigue with this illness as well as affecting dozens of different places in the body:  muscular, gastrointestinal, menstruation, mental, sensitivity to light, sound, touch… The list goes on. 
       This post goes to show how much can go on in a body without anyone around being aware.

EDS Awareness Ribbon

Fibromyalgia Awareness Riboon

POTS Awareness RIbbon

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