The EDS Lass writes about life with EDS, articles on relevant topics including human rights, and blogs about lifestyle and her medical journey.
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Movement is generally good for health, while EDS can cause discomfort, pain and fatigue. EDS can feel counterintuative to movement. Like many aspects of living with EDS, I have, like many, tried to work out how to approach and balance my body’s wish for movement and what movement is not great for me.
Sports
I was, unsurprisingly, not a sporty child. I remember being curious as to why some other pupils loved sports, and specifically loved sports so much they enjoyed it despite the feeling of running and changing direction quickly. This was me, as a child, assuming everyone felt the same. Reflecting back, it is obvious that of course they were not in discomfort, like I and other EDS people are, when rushing around. Every PE (physical education class) was grueling. I knew I did not like it at the time, and came close to an EDS diagnosis when I was still at school.
Understanding it all only came with a my delayed EDS diagnosis years later!
Movement with EDS
I was delighted to find Jeannie and The Zebra Club. If you have not heard about her of her platform and app, I highly recommend having a look! https://www.thezebra.club/. She focuses on positive movement for the EDS and hypermobile person.
I loved, over the years, pilates, swimming (I LOVE being in water), walking and was an occassional member of the gym. After being particularly unwell with extreme fatgue, I was able to return to some exercise, which I am lucky to enjoy again.
After my EDS diagnosis, and after the long-term undiagnosed infection was finally treated, severe fatigue lifted, and I had the energy to move again. GI and vascular issues are prohibative to excersie, however, I have been working on moving more (in a positive way).
I have loved days on holiday where I have been able to explore, wondering around, all day.
Rest & Movement
Both rest and movement are important (and will mean different things to different poeple). I have previously, when I was particularly unwell, did not yet have a diagnosis and had been told to rest, become deconditioned. This in turn had a negative effect.
I have had to work out, over years, post EDS diagnosis and through various effects of EDS, find the right amount of rest and movement.
For rest, I have made home as comfortable and as lovely a space to spend time in as possible.
The EDS Lass 