Columns

I’ve Found Some Success with a New Side Road

I’ve previously discussed how having Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) means that I often have to take side roads to reach my goals or engage in activities I enjoy. While I used to find that immensely frustrating, I now view it as another challenge to face head-on. In my work with…

My Disabled Parking Placard Has Expanded My World

In the not-too-distant past, I hated shopping. Walking across parking lots and winding my way through store aisles was incredibly tiring, thanks to my Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) and comorbid conditions. Prolonged standing and walking led to severe abdominal pains and vertigo. Sometimes I would have to squat in…

New Partners Celebrate October Success

It turns out the crazy busy week paid off. I spent last weekend at a horse show in North Carolina, and Cherry and I had an amazing time! It was our first time showing at the Beginner Novice level, where the jumps are a maximum height of 2 feet…

Surviving the Chaos of October

Fall in the college counseling profession is like running the proverbial rat race. There simply aren’t enough hours in the day for the amount of work that needs to be done. Students procrastinate and need help at the last minute. Students who don’t…

Let’s Dish About POTS

Many people with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) experience a form of dysautonomia called postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). Dysautonomia is a disorder of the autonomic nervous system, which controls the body’s subconscious functions including digestion, heart rate, perspiration, and breathing. Symptoms of POTS, predominantly an elevated heart rate, are…

I Manage Pain Flares with Physical Activity

I’ve made a lot of progress in learning how to manage Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), but I still experience pain flares. My most recent flare improved dramatically after a massage. I was mostly back to normal (at least my version of normal), but then I went to a conference. I…

How I Managed My Latest Pain Flare

The past few weeks have been a total whirlwind. I’m a college counselor at a local high school, so September and October are the busiest months for me. They lead up to Nov. 1, which is a major college application deadline. I’m slammed with work and also trying to train…