syrcaljirk

hEDS itself actually has a very narrow range of symptoms. the majority of the symptoms people ascribe to hEDS are either entirely unconnected or come from hEDS comorbidities (which are not particularly well understood- we know they're there but we don't have a good grasp on why they're there)

hEDS does not cause allergic reactions, MCAS does. many people with hEDS have MCAS but not all people with hEDS have MCAS and not all people with MCAS have hEDS.

hEDS symptoms primarily have to do with direct impact on collagen causing things like joint instability and prolapses. hEDS comorbidities cover a broader range but even then people ascribe some conditions to hEDS without a whole lot of research backing it up.

it's more harmful than just pedantics. sometimes people miss more dangerous disorders like lupus because "well, hEDS can cause inflammation from joint damage and arthritis from repeat injuries." this way of thinking has likely killed people.

are men really more likely to be antisocial or narcissistic, or are women just overlooked because ASPD/NPD are seen as too "aggressive" for them?

are women really more likely to be borderline or histrionic, or are they just seen as so "hysterical" that they have to be feminine?

are black people more likely to have schizophrenia or ODD, or are labels of "psychosis" and "defiance" simply used to further dismiss, oppress, and imprison BIPOC?

are white people more likely to have autism and ADHD, or are doctors just more willing to accept that white children are disabled and not just "bad?"

My first conversation about PCOS with my new endocrine/OBGYN was about weight management and how that could improve my fertility when I eventually wanted kids. It wasn't asked what my goals were for my health or if I wanted kids, just assumed.

I was a hormonal, depressed mess. I hated my body. My body dysmorphia was so bad that I cloistered myself away from so much. I wore hoodies and jeans in the 90°F, 80% humidity summers. This was considered fine. I was given metformin and birth control pills and told this was all that could be done. That PCOS wouldn't affect my life until I wanted to be pregnant. I wasn't asked if I wanted to be pregnant, just assumed.

I don't know how many PCOS groups I joined on my early 20s hoping to find community and commonality for body dysmorphia and symptom management, only to be bombarded with fertility treatments and tips and 'inspirational conception' anecdotes. They never asked if I was attempting to conceive, just assumed.

Me: My pills make me not want to die tho

They: You shouldn’t want to die, that’s not normal

Men made decisions to rape with fellow rapists. They decided sexual abuse and torture were bonding experiences.