I’m at a point in my life at which I have deduced I really am a medical anomaly of sorts. I recently said to my parents that when I was conceived, I’m pretty God said, “We’re gonna fuck this one up real good,” and that really is the only plausible explanation I’ve been able to determine regarding all of my weird and quirky bodily traits.
I was recently told by a doctor that I meet the criteria for Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, which I’ve suspected for some time now. I was grateful that this doctor confirmed my suspicions, but there is a tremendous lack of awareness pertaining to this condition in a general sense, so I figured I would provide some insight on the topic. The following information comes from mayoclinic.org.
“Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is a group of inherited disorders that affect your connective tissues — primarily your skin, joints and blood vessel walls. Connective tissue is a complex mixture of proteins and other substances that provide strength and elasticity to the underlying structures in your body.
“People who have Ehlers-Danlos syndrome usually have overly flexible joints and stretchy, fragile skin. This can become a problem if you have a wound that requires stitches, because the skin often isn’t strong enough to hold them.
“A more severe form of the disorder, called vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, can cause the walls of your blood vessels, intestines or uterus to rupture. Because vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome can have serious potential complications in pregnancy, you may want to talk to a genetic counselor before starting a family,” the web page explains.
On the one hand, being hypermobile, which is a common trait among those with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, is not such a terrible thing. I’ve dodged some gnarly injuries during which I absolutely should have broken something and instead tore muscles or experienced dislocations. On the other hand, it can lead to a plethora of problems down the road, so be sure to talk to your doctor if you suspect you might have it, too.
Photo by jana müller on Unsplash
ontheedgeofeverything 