When most people think of food allergies, they picture the immediate, dramatic reactions that define IgE-mediated allergies, such as hives, swelling, and anaphylaxis. These reactions are driven by immunoglobulin E, or IgE, a type of antibody that triggers a rapid immune response upon exposure to a food allergen. But there is another category of food […]
Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS), and the closely related hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD), are commonly thought of as conditions that primarily affect women. Walk into any EDS support group, online community, or clinic waiting room, and the overwhelming majority of people there will be female. But does that mean men are truly less affected, or does […]
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 […]
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 […]
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. […]
If you’ve ever coughed while eating, felt like food got stuck in your throat, or found yourself avoiding certain foods because they’re harder to swallow, you’re not alone. Many people with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) and hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD) describe these experiences, yet swallowing problems are often overshadowed by other symptoms like joint pain or […]
Living with EDS often comes with navigating an ongoing cycle of injuries, fatigue, symptom flares, medical appointments, unexpected setbacks, and uncertainty about what your body will do next. For many people, EDS-related stressors are cumulative, where each new experience adds to an already heavy emotional burden. Over time, this constant state of stress and adaptation […]
Have you ever clicked on the webinar section of our Chronic Pain Partners website and looked through the archives of the presentations featured? In 2013, our founder, John Ferman, started this highly popular educational series with a clear mission to provide free access to emerging research interpreted by experienced physicians. Wow, did he succeed! Looking […]