The diagnosis that makes it all make sense
By: Rachel
I’ve always been flexible–not my personality 😆–but flexible with my body. When I was little I could do the splits better than anyone else in karate class. I can reach a tenth on the piano, which other pianists are jealous of. My physical therapist always says how bendy I am.
When I went to my new rehabilitation physician (whom I’ve waited months to get into!), she thought I might have Ehlers Danlo Syndrome, which comes with a whole host of issues. I could tell she was testing me for that because I’ve wondered as well. However, I was a few points away from getting that diagnosis.
So she diagnosed me with Hypermobility Syndrome, which is similar. And get this, because the stuff in my body that’s “stretchy” covers so many areas in the human body, it also tends to come with mental health disorders, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, autism, Dysautonomia, ADHD, abnormal scarring, and other things that I have. It makes my random, overwhelming list of diagnoses suddenly make sense. It’s all related! I’m so thankful for diagnoses. Now I have to learn to do the lifestyle changes my doctor recommended so I get the most out of life.