I’m trying to be patient with my healing process under an unusually hot sun

As I walked outside and felt the heat and humidity envelop me, I realized that summer has arrived early here in Virginia. Summer humidity is sweltering, and so far this year, we’ve been breaking both heat and drought records, which is a really tough combo when, like me, you have Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) and live on a horse farm. Animals need care regardless of the weather, and the more extreme the temperatures, the more work there usually is.

Being in a drought this early in the summer means I have to feed hay, which I don’t normally do at this time of year. Generally speaking, an average horse needs about 10 to 20 pounds of hay per day. Multiply that by multiple horses, and suddenly I’m hauling a lot of hay each day in the heat.

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While I’m used to hauling hay, I usually do it in chilly temperatures, not with a heat index over 100 F. Heat can make my EDS tougher to manage, especially in terms of chronic fatigue.

I’m still not back to 100% after falling off a horse nine months ago, which resulted in a broken and dislocated rib and plenty of muscle damage that’s exacerbated by EDS. I think the heat is hindering my recovery.

I’ve been trying to be patient about rebuilding my strength and endurance, but it’s not easy. I’ve never been accused of being a patient person, but I’ve learned over the past several months that my usual habit of plowing ahead regardless of how I feel usually backfires spectacularly. I don’t have any choice but to take things slowly, which has been an important lesson for me to learn.

I’ve been trying to listen to my body more and reminding myself that I’ve made a lot of progress, especially with the help of physical therapy and fascial counterstrain therapy. Healing from such a significant injury is a long and slow process for anyone, but particularly so for someone with EDS.

So, as summer rolls in and the chores multiply, I’m trying to remember to give myself grace and be patient with my body as it continues to heal.

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.