#finally diagnosed

My rheumatologist believes it may actually be hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS), but due to the diagnostic overlap and current criteria, I’m officially diagnosed with HSD for now. I scored 7/9 on the Beighton Scale, and for once, a medical professional looked at my history and actually listened.

It’s incredibly validating—but also a lot to process. I had physical therapy today, and after I shared my diagnosis, my PT adjusted our entire approach. He introduced me to a low-impact strength training program made specifically for people with hEDS/HSD called Bending Without Breaking, I believe? (Which is such a good name, honestly.)

Turns out, my core is way weaker than I realized. I’ll definitely be feeling today’s session later… but it feels like the right kind of hard. The kind that means I’m actually working with my body now instead of fighting it.

Since I can’t take NSAIDs because of my bariatric surgery, the only medical treatment I’m on now is gabapentin; at six times the dose my psych originally prescribed for anxiety. It’s wild how pain management is often trial and error, especially with conditions like HSD.

I also have blood tests coming up, some routine, some autoimmune panels I’ve never had done before. I can feel my B12 is probably low, and my protein intake hasn’t been ideal lately. I’m anxious about what those labs will show… or won’t show. But either way, I’m doing what I can.

This diagnosis doesn’t change who I am or magically make things easier, but it does lift this unbearable weight I’ve been carrying, like I finally have permission to stop doubting myself. I shouldn’t need a diagnosis to feel valid, but after so long, it means everything.

Here’s to healing, to answers, and to not bending until I break.

I got a diagnosis!!!

Yeah, it was the thing I’ve believed I’ve had for years now. Yeah, I was right. Yeah, my medical team finally caught up to me.

Yeah, it’s finally official!

I’m only 24 but am so proud of myself for pushing though and getting this diagnosis, for not only this but my other diagnoses too. Advocating for yourself as a woman who is struggling is like a minefield everything explodes the second you mention mental health or personal lives. In a second they will dismiss your claims and blame you when you cry or beg for pain killers just so you can sleep without waking up in agony.

So I suppose I’m a pokemon master at this point right?

But yay go me!

Meredith, 29, former state government, former educator @ nonprofit. (Ask me how I feel about 47)

📍Boston, MA, by way of my native SC/WNC

Climate refugee from Hurricane Helene.

Standup comedy at bars and venues in and around Boston. 5 years of standup and I’m finally making it.

Socialist, radicalized by VeggieTales. Episcopalian and big Rt. Rev. (Bishop) Budde fan.

Engineer who’s respecting a period of burnout.

Reading goal: 25 books for 2026.

January: 4 books

February: 2 books

March: 3 books

April: 2 books

May: 3 books simultaneously: not great for my attention span

June: 2 books so far (6/16)

Chronically online, chronically forgetful, chronically ill.