An avid equestrian and educator, Karen has been a columnist at BioNews — the publisher of this site — since 2019. She was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome in 2009 after years of searching for a diagnosis that explained her symptoms. Karen enjoys working with her students, riding and caring for her two horses (Cherry and Spotty), and connecting with others in the rare disease community through her writing.I wrote a column a few months ago about gaining a ganglion cyst on my right pointer finger when I dropped a six-by-six wooden beam on it by accident. While it thankfully doesn’t bother me much anymore, I know that sometimes gentle compression can help a cyst shrink, or at…
My last column on my Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) pain sparked many comments, and one of the most interesting discussions was about whether EDS is progressive. I’m going to share why I say it’s not, but also why I understand those who believe it is. When I said that…
I felt like a knife was stabbing me just above my eyes, and I groaned inwardly in frustration at the realization that my seasonal allergies were acting up again. Recently, I’ve experienced some of the worst allergy symptoms I’ve had in years, and coupled with my Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS),…
Every time I think that maybe I’ve figured some things out with my Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), it’s like my body says, Nope! Just kidding. Let me do something completely different! Since EDS generally isn’t progressive and varies for each person who has it, we can have trouble knowing…
As I stood in front of the new students during orientation last week, I tried to ignore my aching knees. Faculty and staff were lined up on the basketball court, where we took turns introducing ourselves to the freshmen and transfer students joining us this year. I tried to stand…
For teachers and students in much of the U.S., it’s that time of year again! As a teacher, I’m back to work already, getting ready for another school year to begin. While in some ways it’s nice to have summers off, I miss the routine that comes with the school…
When I felt the soreness in my back a few weeks ago, I knew it felt different. It was still muscle pain — I hadn’t injured my back in an out-of-the-ordinary way, at least not that I knew — but it didn’t feel the same. Usually with my Ehlers-Danlos…
While I’ve written before about tips for traveling with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), I learned some new things recently that were helpful for traveling internationally. I was surprised at how just a few items made a recent trip to Europe much easier. They include the following: A good travel pillow:…
Before leaving for my recent trip to Europe, I was worried about being able to eat properly while there. Given my food sensitivities from Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) and alpha-gal syndrome, it can be challenging to dine out in the U.S., even when I know the language. How would…
“We’re just going to take a quick run into town. Want to come?” my aunt and cousin, with whom I was staying while in Chamonix, France, asked. I knew we’d be walking, as Chamonix is a pretty small and mostly walkable area in the Alps. I was happy to get…
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