I haven’t been on Tumblr for a long time and I felt like sharing tonight so here goes…… I have Ehlers Danlos type 3 and classic. I am in pain 365 days a year 24 hours a day. I use a non pharmaceutical approach to manage my pain 99 percent of the time. There are times when I overdo it then I cannot tolerate anything, not even clothes can touch me without making me want to scream. My body flips out so I end up with a fever and lay in bed (crying) for hours, (feels sort of like having a bad flu, aches pains chills etc) so I will take something for the nerve pain. I use homeopathic remedies mostly. I cannot tolerate most medications without bizarre side effects. Yay me! Whatever. Since May 2011, I’ve been on a strange odyssey of seeing doctors, changing doctors, therapists and bobbing around like a cork in an 80 degree therapy pool with 70 year olds. I get too sea sick to do the aquatic therapy thing. If I take the anti sea sick pills I pass out. It’s so fun. Not. I really wanted the aquatic therapy thing to work out. I need non weight bearing exercise to save my joints. I found a new acupuncturist. The last time I went, I had cups on my back. (look up cupping/ oriental medicine.) The cups suctioned so tight, they drew blood up from little circular hickeys all over my back. They bled a tiny bit for 2 days and scabbed up. TMI. I recently got handicapped license plates for my car. Woo Woo! This is exciting! I don’t have to remember to put up that plastic card thing unless somebody else is driving. I do try and park in regular spots when I can. There a lot of handicapped  peeps in my area. Lets see, what else is new? Oh, I am doing this food combining thing and can’t eat meat with bread or fruit with anything. Everything has to be timed correctly or my intestines will organize a riot and land me in the hospital again. Eating this way and having so many food allergies and intolerances has really limited my food intake. I’ve lost about 30 pounds since May and I like it, but if you know anything about Ehlers Danlos, you know my skin is not liking the lack of fat. Saggy baggy ugh. I am 40 something, look like i’m 65 and feel like i’m 80 most days. Damn it. My intestines are generally happier and knock on wood, no diverticulitis since May. I do like the benefits of therapy because I feel stronger and am more aware of things in my body. But it’s a sketchy deal sometimes. You know, one step forward, three steps back. I think i’m making progress, then my muscles, joints and nerves overreact, freak out, thus rendering me crippled temporarily. Hips pop in and out of socket, shoulders, knee caps, wrists etc… I gimp around a lot. If I keep moving things are cool. When I stop, all hell breaks loose. Sometimes I use crutches, a cane or even a motorized wheel chair at the store. I am really flexible and can put my body into many unusual positions. I always pay for it later. My doctor told me pilates is a great exercise regimen for Ehlers Danlos 3 people. I am trying to find a yoga class that won’t push me beyond my boundaries of safe stretching and a pilates class. I saw those Cadillac Pilates machines online and wish one would magically appear in my home gym. They’re like 3500 dollars. Maybe if I dig in the couch cushions I can come up with enough change for one. Anyway, that’s whats been going on with me lately. I look and feel like a freak most days, so the “What are you looking at?”  blog title fits perfectly. I brought up my EDS because I thought I’d put it put there in case anyone doesn’t know what EDS is, why i’m a freak, and sick a lot and if there are any other EDS’ers out there, HELLO!!! That’s all for now. 

Peace…………

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this studio is heaven