Black and Blue Ribbons
— Karen Del Vecchio

I’m pretty sure that if I were an instrument, I’d be an accordion: stretched out on one side, squinched up on the other. Sometimes as I walk along, in fact, I can actually experience…

As a teacher and postgraduate counselor, I’m used to going nonstop this time of year, but I still try to at least glance at a number of publications to stay on top of what’s…

The past few weeks have been a roller coaster ride for me: I’ve been stressed at work and home and faced a pain flare to boot. But lately, things have been trending…

Sometimes my Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) manifests in unexpected ways. While dealing with a pain flare and a lot of stress at work recently, I started to notice more pain in my right…

After a tough couple of weeks, life is finally starting to settle back down for me. I’m less stressed, my bruises from a recent fall are healing, and I’m feeling better. It’s…

As I landed face first in the cold mud, I was at least glad that the ground was soft and not frozen. While I marveled at the lack of awareness that led to me…

Some weeks just don’t go how you hope they will. This past week was like that for me, and I can really feel it. Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) unfortunately means I have a strong…

Sometimes, when my back pain flares up, I know exactly what caused it. Other times, I have no idea. Last week fell into the “no clue” category. I knew that my back was sore,…

I’m back! I had a fantastic time at my recent work conference and learned so much from the colleagues I met there. Last week, I wrote that I was worried about dining options,…

I’m preparing for a work conference, and for such events my dietary restrictions are a new element I have to consider carefully. Between the general food sensitivities that come with my Ehlers-Danlos…

It’s the season for dry skin. Between the cold weather and frequent hand-washing, I can’t seem to stay ahead of it. I have a variety of heavy-duty lotions, but sometimes my skin still gets…

Back during that crazy cold snap in December, I remembered how amazing heating pads can be. Where I live, houses aren’t built with subzero wind chills in mind. So let’s just say that it…