May is Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome awareness month.

EDS is the condition that has affected my life since before I can remember. For years, I've struggled with chronic pain, joint subluxations, and lots of medical problems no one could explain. At 15, I suspected I had EDS, but it took me 3 more years and countless appointments to find a doctor who would listen and do the testing necessary to diagnose me. This is the reality for so many with rare diseases.

The average time a person with EDS goes from onset of symptoms to diagnosis is 10 to 12 years. I was diagnosed shortly after my 18th birthday, and I only got diagnosed after EDS triggered a different condition that left me unable to walk for months and sent me all the way to the Mayo Clinic. EDS is often understood and misdiagnosed, and that's why May is so important in the community- raising awareness helps more people get earlier and more accurate diagnoses.

So many things change in your life when you live with a chronic illness, and living undiagnosed is a pain I knew for years. This is why I want to bring awareness to EDS this May, and raise money to further research and support those affected by EDS.

You can learn more about EDS at the link in my bio, and donate to my fundraiser if you can- every little bit helps!