May is Ehlers Danlos Awareness Month!

Did you know that May is Ehlers Danlos Syndrome Awareness month?  Ehlers Danlos is considered a rare disease, but the truth is that it's not.  It's actually just rarely diagnosed.  A lot of people have never heard of it, and many doctors don't know much about it.

Ehlers Danlos Syndrome is a connective tissue disorder in which the collagen produced by the body is faulty.  Collagen is the glue that holds the entire body together and so, when it isn't working right, it affects every part of the body.  This results in loose, hypermobile joints that frequently dislocate, easy bruising and slow healing, chronic pain and fatigue, gastrointestinal problems, and much more.  A list of symptoms can be found here: http://invisibleillnessforum.com/index.php/topic,10.0.html 



Because Ehlers Danlos is so misunderstood and unknown, it's very important to raise awareness for it.  The more people know about it, the more understanding there is for those who suffer with it.  Ehlers Danlos is listed as a rare disease which means that it can be hard to get funding for it.  The more people that are diagnosed with it, the more research will be done.  If you've never heard of it and your doctor doesn't know much about it, it will be nearly impossible to get a diagnosis.  But if more people are educated on Ehlers Danlos, that scenario will become less common.  

In honor of Ehlers Danlos Syndrome Awareness month, I made shirts for me and my kids to wear.   They are also available in my Etsy shop.

Women's Pocket Tee

Child's Ehlers Danlos Awareness Onesie or Shirt

What are you doing to raise awareness for Ehlers Danlos this month? 

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