When it comes to EDS issues, there’s often no rhyme or reason
My recent flare-up of GI problems has no apparent cause
Written by |
Sometimes Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) just doesn’t seem to have a discernible pattern to me. While I’ve been doing much better overall recently, thanks to fascial counterstrain physical therapy (FCS), that doesn’t mean that I don’t have triggers or pain flares. It just means that hopefully they’re less severe and easier to calm down. EDS is something that can be managed, not contained, and recently I’ve been having an EDS flare that’s been giving me some gastrointestinal (GI) issues.
Many people with EDS have GI symptoms, and I’m one of them. As long as I can remember, I’ve had a relatively sensitive stomach, and I was apparently a terribly colicky baby (sorry, Mom and Dad!). I’ve always struggled with anything overly rich, like alfredo, or too much fried food. For example, if I had french fries, I would need a grilled entree — the classic chicken fingers or grilled cheese and fries would make my GI system very unhappy. So would eating highly processed foods, although that also happens to many people who don’t have EDS; they’re just not good for you!
For me, those sensitivities are compounded by the fact that several years ago, I developed alpha-gal syndrome, a reaction to a tick bite that makes a person reactive to the alpha-gal protein in mammals. That means I can’t have any mammalian or mammalian-derived products. While I’ve never been a big meat eater — I rarely ate steak or pork — cutting out dairy has been much harder. The benefit, however, has been that while I’ve always been a pretty healthy eater, I now cook almost everything from scratch and don’t eat out often because it’s simply easier for me to cook at home. That alone has made my EDS food sensitivities lessen.
In adjusting what I eat because of alpha-gal, I’ve accidentally stumbled into eating a largely anti-inflammatory diet based on whole fresh foods, healthy fats, and lean protein, while avoiding processed, sugary, and salty foods. When I was forced to avoid foods with additives and preservatives, even though I didn’t eat them all that often to begin with, it really helped my body feel better. It’s certainly not a cure-all, but I can definitely tell that it’s made a positive impact.
Eating changes aren’t foolproof
Unfortunately, though, even things that help aren’t foolproof, and recently I’ve been having GI upset for no obvious reason. This happens to me sometimes. It can occur seemingly at random, sometimes lasting a few days and other times a few weeks. It just depends (on what, I often don’t know). I’ve come to suspect that it probably relates to my body’s overall inflammation — when my body is in this state, it makes sense that it would impact my GI system as well. Additionally, I think it’s also affected by muscles that get inflamed due to my EDS, as I’ve found that bodywork that loosens tight muscles in my back can sometimes help.
Stress certainly plays a role in my EDS, and with the end of the school year rapidly approaching, it’s always a hectic time. I’ve also brought some more horses home to my small farm, which is a good thing, but still stressful. And sometimes life just throws you some curveballs, so overall, the conditions are right for my body to be in EDS flare mode. For me, pain and stress are certainly interrelated.
While it’s never fun to have GI issues, I’m at least thankful that the impact of the flare on my whole body hasn’t been as severe since starting FCS. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that, with the school year winding down, I’ll have time to recharge and get some bodywork in, and I’ll be able to get my system back on track in the near future!
Note: Ehlers-Danlos News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Ehlers-Danlos News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to Ehlers-Danlos.
Leave a comment
Fill in the required fields to post. Your email address will not be published.