Black and Blue Ribbons
— Karen Del Vecchio

Summer means I have a break from teaching, which is great for rejuvenating myself for the next school year. But it’s also easy for me to do too much because I have more free time. That must mean I…

Over the years, I’ve found a few things that help me manage Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS). Readers of this column likely know that one important thing is getting massages. It’s really the only thing that seems to…

Sometimes the pain from Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) is just weird. I don’t have a better way to describe it. A specific area may hurt when I’m in a pain flare, but it mostly feels like a vague “pain…

While driving to work recently, I realized I was in one of my Ehlers-Danlos syndrome “twisted pretzel” phases. That’s what I call it when my body feels out of whack. I often notice it when I’m driving and…

A few weeks ago, I wrote about how I wound up with a massive bruise on my left arm, courtesy of a grumpy horse. As much as I dislike the huge bruises I get, I also find them…

Sometimes I wonder what my life would be like if I didn’t have Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), specifically how it shaped my life choices before I knew I had it. Undoubtedly, my life would be radically different. Prior to…

Even though I’m aware of my physical limitations, I’m often bad about respecting them when doing so would keep me from completing the task at hand. I’m probably a good Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) patient in the sense that…

Some weeks just feel eternal. It’s like you’re clawing your way along until Friday, desperate for a chance to get some rest and downtime to prepare for the next week. Sometimes, though, weekends aren’t a break and one week…

Apparently, I’ve been compiling an unintended list of stupid things not to do when you have Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS). First I fell out of a Kubota tractor while driving through a field. Then I was bitten on…

Over the years, I’ve tried a variety of ways to make myself more comfortable at work, where I’m a teacher and college counselor. With my Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), too much time in any one position, whether sitting or…

Last week, I was surprised when building a ramp for my dog didn’t cause my pain to flare up. This week, I’m shocked because I’m in the middle of a pain flare, and I don’t know why! That’s…

Just when I think I know how my Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) will react in certain situations, I’m always surprised at what actually happens. My dog Pepper has recently been having trouble climbing stairs. She’s 13, and I’ve had…