Facts about Ehlers-Danlos

As we travel through this month of May and bring awareness to this chronic syndrome, I thought it would be interesting to share some facts of this rare condition.  You can read even more on EDS here.

Not much is known to the general public about EDS.  As we learn more and more about it, we can share what we know and educate the general populous.

I am only starting to learn how important collagen is in all our lives. We need it for so many things.

This is so true as we can stand up and start having popping and crackling galore.

I battle being tired all the time. It seems one thing that has helped me is to not napping during the day and getting to sleep before 9pm. Consistency is key as well as turning the brain off and realizing tomorrow is a new day to get things accomplished.

I have never been one to suffer from anxiety but I am learning stress can send me into flu like symptoms quickly. Remaining calm, trusting God and walking away from stress is the best way to feel better quickly.

Loose joints mean even brushing one’s hair can become an adventure as you can sprain a thumb just working your hair brush.

It seems like daily I find a new bruise that I don’t remember getting. It’s all part of my life and as long as I’m careful about cuts and bruises and keeping my skin healthy, it will be fine.

I’m learning that what I eat is as important as how much I sleep. I’ve learned this so much more now with the stomach issues I have developed. This means less processed and more natural foods. I am blessed to have girls that love to cook and make new meals daily for us.

I am bendy and flexible and while this can be fun, it also leads to a lot of pain so I try not to show off my talents too often.

I hope this has helped you understand this syndrome better. For a more technical explanation there is a great article you can read here. Dr Knight is the doctor I saw when I went to the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville. He was really nice and knew a lot about this condition. Have you been diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome?  Comment below and let’s start a dialogue!