hEDS

Minimalist illustration of a young woman with pale pink bobbed hair working at an accessible office workstation with an ergonomic chair, footrest, raised laptop, wrist support, desk lamp, fan, water bottle, and cane. Coworkers sit at desks in the background.

Workplace Accommodations for Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome

Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) is a complex chronic condition that for many patients comes with some level of disability. It also often comes with other comorbidities (health conditions that occur alongside a primary diagnosis) such as dysautonomia or mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS). As there are 13 types of EDS and symptoms often manifest differently in […]

Novelty disguise glasses with bushy eyebrows, a large plastic nose, a small mustache, and a drawn frown on a white background.

The Pressure to “Perform Wellness”

There’s a particular kind of exhaustion that has nothing to do with the joint pain, dysautonomia flares, or GI symptoms. It has everything to do with how you’re expected to present those things to other people, specifically your healthy, able-bodied friends or coworkers or strangers on the street. If you have Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) or […]

Minimalist graphite sketch of five towering stacks of administrative forms, folders, and clipped papers against a plain white background.

Beyond the Medical: Why Disability Is an Administrative Experience Too

For most of my life, other people told my story. As a teenager, I saw my story appear in newspaper articles, documentaries, and conference presentations, focused on my rare genetic condition, scientific discovery, and perseverance. The stories helped other families find answers and gave people hope, and I remain grateful for the community they created. […]

What Is “Neuro-EDS” and Why Are People Talking About It?

If you have hEDS or HSD, it probably isn’t news to you that these conditions are sometimes associated with neuro-related comorbidities such as postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), craniocervical instability (CCI), tethered cord, and intracranial hypertension, among others. However, a new concept paper, released as a preprint on August 10, 2026, suggests that there may […]

Illustration of a woman with EDS lying on a gray exercise mat in a bright, neutral-toned home workout space. Wearing a striped crop top, gray shorts, knee-high white socks, and sneakers, she holds two dumbbells above her chest. Kinesiology tape is wrapped around one elbow, with potted plants, folded towels, and storage baskets in the background.

Strength Training with Hypermobility: The Goldilocks Principle

There’s a good chance you’ve heard how important “getting stronger” is for bendy people. And it’s true: bendy people have been shown to generate about 30% less muscular force (i.e. be 30% weaker) at baseline than their non-bendy counterparts. And yet, the bendy body relies even more heavily on muscular support than others, thanks to […]

Illustration of a uterus and ovaries overlaid on a grid of white tiles with a red squiggly line around it all, symbolizing the shift from viewing PCOS as an ovarian condition alone to recognizing PMOS as a complex multisystem endocrine and metabolic disorder.

A Name Long Overdue: PCOS Becomes PMOS, and What That Means for the hEDS Community

  There is exciting news for the recently reported 17% of hEDS patients and 14.7% of HSD patients who experience polycystic ovary syndrome, now renamed to polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome.   On May 12th, 2026, a new article was published in The Lancet announcing the name change from polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) to polyendocrine metabolic […]

When Pain Is Real but Tests Come Back Normal: New Research Sheds Light on the Nervous System in hEDS

  For many people living with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS), one of the most frustrating aspects of the condition is pain that feels impossible to explain — burning sensations, widespread sensitivity, symptoms that seem to involve the whole body rather than just the joints. Standard neurological tests often come back normal, leaving patients without answers […]

Overhead view of multiple blister packs containing different prescription medications and tablets beside medication bottles and a tissue on a white surface, representing the complexity and emotional burden of starting and managing medications with chronic illness.

The Fear No One Talks About: Starting a New Medication When Chronically Ill

  “What if it causes anaphylaxis?” “What if it makes me sick?” “What if it doesn’t work?” “Once I take it I can’t undo it.” For most people, starting a new prescription is routine – pick it up, get generic instructions from the pharmacist, take it, then report back to your doctor in a few […]