Black and Blue Ribbons
— Karen Del Vecchio

I’ve said many times that chronic fatigue is one of the toughest parts of living with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS). It’s so tough to wake up just as exhausted as I was when I went to sleep.

“Hey, how did you get that bruise on your face?” I’ve probably gotten that question at least a dozen times in the past few days, and I’m sure many more wanted to ask me but didn’t. It’s not a…

Over the past year and a half or so, my horse Cherry has been through a lot. Back in December of 2021, we found out she had some pastern arthritis going on, but that wasn’t unusual for a…

Heading back to work at school at the end of summer is always an adjustment. As a college counselor and high school history teacher, having summers off is great, but it means quickly getting back into the swing of…

A few weeks ago, while walking through the barn at the farm where I live, I felt a twinge in the bottom of my right foot. I ignored it, figuring I’d probably just taken a funny step. But…

It’s hard to believe that I head back to work soon as a college counselor and history teacher in high school. I enjoy my job, so while it’s great to have time off to recharge over the summer,…

I was able to take a few days recently to visit my extended family. It’s always nice to see my aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents, and while we don’t typically plan any big outings, we always enjoy spending low-key…

Note: This column describes the author’s own experiences with anti-inflammatories. Not everyone will have the same response to treatment. Consult your doctor before starting or stopping a therapy. For someone who daily manages chronic pain, courtesy of Ehlers-Danlos…

I’ve mentioned before that I’ve never met anyone else with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) in person. That’s one of the reasons I’ve enjoyed writing this column: It’s allowed me to connect with others managing similar health issues. Recently, however,…

After reading my column last week about a grueling high school soccer match that ended with me collapsing in exhaustion, unable to breathe, someone asked if my coaches had pushed me too hard. The answer is no. Actually,…

I remember wishing the final whistle would just blow. I wasn’t sure how much longer I could force myself to keep running while being unable to breathe. I’d already run to the sideline for my albuterol inhaler several times,…