Tomorrow (Thursday), I will have an initial consultation with a specialized neurosurgeon in Rhode Island who may be able to address some of my health issues and would appreciate any prayers or good vibes you feel moved to offer. ❤
Join us for Linda’s One-Liner Wednesdays! Find out more here: https://lindaghill.com/2026/07/29/one-liner-wednesday-nothing/
Sometimes, I remember what I used to know and be able to do.
Sometimes, I can’t.
The brain fog from the cerebellar ectopia is perhaps being made worse by my decline in kidney function.
Or maybe by the summer weather.
Hard to say.
It’s scary, though, especially because it’s been going on for over two years now. There is hope for untangling all the underlying factors and treating them – or, at least, some of them – but probably no guarantee of getting back all my lost functionality.
Sometimes, I manage to be hopeful in a realistic sort of way.
Sometimes, not so much.
Today, not so much.
*****
Linda’s prompt for Stream of Consciosness Saturday this week is to begin the post with “Sometimes.” Join us! Find out more here: https://lindaghill.com/2026/07/17/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-july-18-2026/
I’ve had a major uptick in my fatigue level so I haven’t been able to manage writing the couple dozen of posts that I wish I had over the last few weeks, but my health care team is working on a new batch of tests, a med change, and probably an additional diagnosis that may eventually lead to improvement, so stay tuned…
Join us for Linda’s One-Liner Wednesdays! Find out more here: https://lindaghill.com/2026/06/10/one-liner-wednesday-you-know-youre-tired/
May is EDS & HSD Awareness Month. EDS stands for Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and HSD for Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder. They are a group of inherited connective tissue disorders that remain under-diagnosed and under-treated. Case in point: I was diagnosed with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS) in January at the age of 65, making sense of decades-worth of unexplained symptoms.
The Ehlers-Danlos Society uses the zebra as a symbol of the EDS/HSD community because there is a saying among the medical community that “when you hear hoofbeats, think horses, not zebras” but, sometimes, there really are zebras. Zebras also each have their unique stripe pattern, in the same way that people with EDS/HSD have their own unique presentation, depending on how their collagen and connective tissue is impacted across different body systems at that particular time in their life. The medical system in the United States and in many other countries tends to divvy medical care to specialists who only look at one body system but connective tissue disorders are easier to recognize if one takes a more integrative approach.
And a fun zebra fact: A group of zebras is called a dazzle, which leads to the Ehlers-Danlos Society saying, “Together, we dazzle!”
As I’ve continued to research hEDS, I’ve been engaging in personal forensic diagnostics. So many things I have experienced in my life make sense now that I know of my genetic inheritence of hEDS. For example, I developed tendon problems in my elbow as a young teen which impacted my abilities as a pianist and organist. When I eventually had to resort to surgery in my thirties, the outcome wasn’t as expected and I had to give up playing. I now understand that this was due to my hEDS inherited collagen defects.
My IBS, IC, endometriosis, vulvodynia, pre-term labor, allergies, mast cell activation disorder, cervical instability, near-sightedness, depression/anxiety, cerebellar ectopia, sleep apnea, early gall bladder disease, hiatal hernia, acid reflux, chronic fatigue, diverticulosis, chronic kidney disease, sensitive skin, joints that bend more than expected, and more all have a connective tissue component and are more likely in people with EDS/HSD.
Daughter T gave me the zebra unicorn pin as a gift. While the zebra is the symbol of EDS/HSD, adding the unicorn element helps to play up the uniqueness of each individual.
And it’s super cute!
The point is that another person with hEDS could exhibit a totally different set of symptoms from mine or we could share some symptoms and not others. It just depends on which connective tissues are compromised and how much at that particular time. Other factors are involved, too, like age, activity level, hormone and endocrine function, etc. It adds to the zebra-unicorn element and takes a thoughtful and informed practitioner to pick up on the possibility of an underlying connective disorder behind all the symptoms of different body parts.
In December, there will be an update to the EDS/HSD diagnostic guidelines. My hope is that the medical community will use these and the best practices guidelines that will follow in spring 2027 to finally look more comprehensively at their patients and diagnose and help them at much younger ages than currently.
Some people are also under the mistaken impression that it doesn’t do any good to give a diagnosis when you can’t cure the disorder. While it’s true that we can’t current treat the genetic cause, there are treatments to help alleviate many of the symptoms. It’s also imperative for practitioners to know the EDS/HSD status for anyone who is contemplating surgery. Surgeons need to know about connective tissue differences so that they can compensate for that during the procedure and the recovery protocols or, perhaps, decide that surgery is not appropriate. Many EDS/HSD patients also need long-term physical therapy to help them function; it makes a huge difference if physical therapists are knowledgeable about connective tissue disorders so that they help rather than hurt.
As I continue my journey with hEDS, I will keep you posted here at Top of JC’s Mind. If we are super-lucky and we find effective treatment for my brain fog and fatigue, I may even post more regularly.
I will, though, always remain my unique, zebra-unicorn self.
May is Awareness Month for Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder so I got a shirt!
Join us for Linda’s One-Liner Wednesdays! Find out more here: https://lindaghill.com/2026/05/20/one-liner-wednesday-summer/
My favorite foods are sweet.
I know that humans’ first taste preference is for sweetness. It’s why breast milk is so sweet.
Most people, though, go on to develop preferences for additional flavors. I, though, am not very tolerant of foods that are sour or bitter. Strong flavors are often physically painful for me and I’ve learned that something that most people perceive as mild are often overwhelming for me. This is especially true for hot/spicy foods, like peppers. I also don’t drink coffee or tea, which are just too bitter for me.
I wonder if this taste preference for sweet and intolerance for sour and bitter is a natural defense. One of the conditions that I have is interstitial cystitis, also known as painful bladder syndrome. (It’s probably also related to my hEDS and mast cell activation disorder, but I digress.) One of the ways to help reduce IC flares is to reduce acidic foods as much as possible. Most sour or bitter foods are also high in acid, so maybe my intolerance of those flavors is a self-defense mechanism.
By the way, salty foods are also bad for people with IC so I eat low-salt, as well. I don’t find salty foods physically painful, though, unless it is really, really, really salty, which feels like burning in my mouth.
I’m such a delicate flower!
And sweet! 😉
*****
Linda’s prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday this week is “sweet.” Join us! Find out more here: https://lindaghill.com/2026/05/15/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-may-16-2026/
New favorite analogy from The Daily Show moment of Zen earlier this week: COVID is to wildfire as hantavirus is to a wet log in a cold fireplace.
Join us for Linda’s One-Liner Wednesdays! Find out more here: https://lindaghill.com/2026/05/13/one-liner-wednesday-an-oldie/ (Sorry that I couldn’t find the proper citation.)
One of the many things about which I have to be careful is the use of contrast with CT or MRI scans.
We think the reason is that my kidney function is kind of flaky and the contrast agents are hard on kidneys.
The wild card is that my kidneys may be stressed because of a vascular problem related to my hEDS. I have an appointment with a specialist in NYC later this month to investigate.
Stay tuned…
*****
Linda’s prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday this week is “contrast.” Join us! Find out more here: https://lindaghill.com/2026/05/08/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-may-9-2026/
May is EDS & HSD Awareness Month and I promised to do some posts on it. I had hoped to get this first post out earlier in the month but I’m having some difficulties with an hEDS flare, which has slowed me down a bit.
Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder (HSD) are heritable connective tissue disorders. There are 13 types of EDS. In 12 of those types, the exact genetic cause has been identified. Some of these types are very rare, affecting less than one in a million people. The most common form of EDS is hypermobile (hEDS), which is known to be inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern but appears to have a more complex genetic profile. The prevalence of hEDS is unknown because it is very often missed diagnostically. Case in point, I was diagnosed at age 65.
HSD is related to hEDS, usually involving fewer hypermobile joints than most people with hEDS. While some clinicians and researchers look at HSD and hEDS as separate disroders, others look at hEDS as occupying a certain segment of the hypermobile spectrum. In December, 2026, updated diagnostic criteria will be published, with best practices to follow in spring ’27. It will be interesting to see if hEDS and HSD will be merged into a single diagnosis.
One of the difficulties with obtaining a diagnosis with EDS or HSD is that they present in different ways in different individuals and can vary with age. All forms of EDS/HSD affect connective tissue, making it stretchier than is typical, often due to genetic impacts on the proteins involved in collagen production. Symptoms appear throughout the body and in different body systems. The charts at the top gives you some idea of how wide-ranging the symptoms can be. Thankfully, no one has all the symptoms but when tends to happen in the medical systems in most countries is that you see separate specialists for different body systems and there is no one with enough knowledge to integrate all the information and realize that connective tissue is the common denominator underlying it all.
Because EDS/HSD are genetic in origin, treatment revolves around symptoms. Physical therapy is often a big part of the treatment plan. There are medications, vitamins, and supplements to help certain aspects of the disorder, too. For example, I have a mast cell activation disorder as part of my hEDS and take several medications to help relieve respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms.
Having an EDS/HSD diagnosis also allows your care team to keep an eye out for conditions that may develop, such as heart valve problems. It’s very important for surgeons to know if your connective tissues are not typical, as this may impact how a procedure is done or if it should be done at all. How well medications work and the dosages required can also differ. For example, my hEDS diagnosis explained why topical anethetics, like lidocaine, don’t work well for me.
I am hoping that, when the new diagnostic criteria are published, there will be increased awareness of inherited connective tissue disorders among both the medical community and the general public. For too long, symptoms have been dismissed as unrelated, idiopathic, stress-induced, hormonal, anxety-induced, unimportant, or imaginary. Like autoimmune diseases, these disorders are more prevalent in females than males, adding to the burden of being taken seriously and the dearth of studies.
The Ehlers-Danlos Society is an important organization spearheading study, training, education, and treatment of EDS/HSD internationally. Their website is a great source of information for patients and their families, as well as for clinicians and researchers. This month, as we raise awareness, my hope is that more people will learn about EDS/HSD and help those affected get the diagnosis, treatment, and validation they deserve.
Vote for Democrary #56
While May 1st is observed around the world as International Workers’ Day, it’s usually not a big thing in the United States, which observes Labor Day the first Monday in September.
This year is different.
Indivisible and other organizations are spearheading May Day Strong, calling for no work, no school, and no shopping today. There will be rallies in some places for those who are able with others, like me, participating from home. I’m wearing my “Presidents are not Kings” shirt and refraining from shopping today. (No work and no school are every day things for me.)
One of the messages today is “Workers over Billionaires.” The hope is that a show of economic power will draw attention to the unfair tax structure in the United States and the undue influence that wealthy individuals and corporations have over our government. This is also tied to current abuses of power by the government, trying to strip rights and protections under the law and interfere with elections.
As it happens, May 1st is also observed as Law Day in the United States. The Amercian Bar Association explains this year’s theme:
The 2026 Law Day theme is “The Rule of Law and the American Dream.” The rule of law—the idea that no person is above the law—is what ensures the rights of the people to live their lives as freely as possible and to pursue their dreams. The ABA encourages all Americans to recognize Law Day on May 1, 2026, and to reflect on how the rule of law ensures all Americans have the ability to fulfill their dreams.
This dovetails well with the May Day actions and No Kings, Hands Off, and other rallies that have been happening during Trump’s second term. Law Day seems even more urgent this year with the lawlessness of immigration enforcement and detention/deportation without due process, election interference, the gutting of the Voting Rights Act, and the decisions of the Supreme Court that fly in the face of precedence and the Constitution.
I don’t know what the impact of this May Day and Law Day will bring but I am looking at it as another step in the movement to restore the rights and freedoms of the American people, taking back the power from the corrupting influence of autocrats and oligarchs.
There is a third thing about May 1st that is important to me. It’s the first day of EDS & HSD Awareness Month. (EDS is Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome; HSD is the related diagnosis of Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder.) I was diagnosed with hypermobile EDS (hEDS) in January, although as a genetic connective tissue disorder, it has always been there. I hope to do several posts this month to continue to raise awareness and to update my readers about my current treatment trajectory.
Of course, there will be more posts in my Vote for Democracy series, too. The caveat is that there will never be as many posts as I would like, unless/until I can clear the brain fog and get more energy back. There will be other topics popping up, as well. You can never tell what might be at the top of JC’s Mind!
Or maybe you can….
Joanne Corey 