Articles

Book cover of The Chemistry Test, which shows a woman in a yellow dress who sits in a wheelchair with a cat on her lap. Next to her is a person with short brown hair sitting on a chair looking her in the eyes

Interview with Georgina Frankie: Author of “The Chemistry Test”

After the “Fourth Wing” book series, Chronic Pain Partners became aware of a new romance novel, “The Chemistry Test”, written by Georgina Frankie, which features a character with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS). In a genre where disabled characters are often either absent or reduced to stereotypes, Frankie brings a refreshing perspective: a love story that embraces […]

A view through some glass objects in a laboratory. In the background a person is pipetting things at a lab desk.

From Diagnosis Odyssey to Scientific Vision: A New Genetics EDS Lab in Norway Opens Its Doors

Most people living with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) are used to a long and straining path to diagnosis, full of prejudice and gaslighting. Davina Brigant knows this journey all too well. “As far as I remember, during my childhood, I always had some problems. I was very flexible. People always told me that about myself, because […]

CHristie, a woman with long dark blonde hair bound to a pony tale sits in a corner of her room on a gymnastic ball with her arms spread out widely. She smiles. Next to her, on a zebra-colored chair, is a black and white cat napping. In front of her is a small desk with another black and white cat looking straight into the camera.

AWOL Zebra Podcast: Building Community (and Laughs) Around EDS

When host CHristie was not able to walk and talk in 2021, she lost the career she had built as a radio DJ. What began as a personal way to process those changes—recording short reflections on living with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome—has since grown into AWOL Zebra, a daily podcast that has reached listeners across countries. AWOL […]

A patient and a doctor sitting on opposite sites of the table. The doctor examines the patient's eyes with a large machine.

Building a Supportive and Caring Medical Team No Matter Where You Live

Guest post by Jon Rodis, President of the Connective Tissue Coalition   Finding respectful, knowledgeable care can be difficult, especially for those living with complex or chronic conditions. After years of what I call “the doctor shuffle,” I discovered strategies that helped me strengthen my care and build a supportive medical team. Here are the […]

A woman with long blond hair in an aquamarine-colored top sits on a bed with a laptop between her legs. A small brown and white dog sits next to her.

Can I Pet It?: Understanding Animal Helpers

You hear a cat meowing as you walk past your neighbor’s apartment. Your lease says you can’t have any animals—she’s going to be in big trouble if the property manager finds out. You visit your grandmother in the rehab hospital, and she’s holding a bunny rabbit and smiling widely. At dinner that night with your […]

Title of the image: Research Round-up. Three children dressed in Western attire sit astride horses in front of a setting sun.

Research Round-up, Edition Five: Pediatrics

Welcome back to Research Round-Up. This time, we’re looking at research that focuses on Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder (HSD) in the young ‘uns, from birth to age 18. While some of the effects of EDS can be the same on adults as on the little ones, sometimes, the kiddos have more to […]

A hand holding a piece of glass reflecting the persons sad face.

The Quiet Weight of Chronic Illness Grief

Living with a rare, chronic illness is profoundly isolating—not only physically, but emotionally. Even when surrounded by others, I often feel like a ghost, disconnected from the world around me. I remember sitting at a party, listening to conversations that once felt familiar, and being hit with the stark contrast between their lives and mine. […]

A laptop on a wooden table. From the screen of the laptop, a doctor holding a stethoscope is coming out.

“Primary Care Without the Gaslighting”: How Chronius Health Is Rethinking Care for People with EDS and Complex Conditions

Accessing consistent and compassionate care as a person with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) and related conditions remains one of the biggest challenges in the healthcare system – no matter the country we live in. From delayed diagnoses to a lack of coordinated support, patients often find themselves piecing together care from multiple specialists—while simultaneously managing insurance, […]