Ehlers-Danlos Birds of a Feather

09/23/2026

Great info for Seasonal Flare ups with hEDS, EDS, POTS, MCAS, Connective Tissue Disease, Autoimmune Disease, Autonomic Nervous System, Fibromyalgia etc…

IF YOU HAVE CHRONIC Health Issues OCTOBER Literally becomes my LEAST FAVORITE TIME of year.

I am definitely starting to struggle and I am feeling my flares set in… my entire body is screaming in pain the last 3 days.

Many years ago I told my Drs something happens when the barometric pressure changes wherever I live, and they all looked at me like I was crazy, each time I mentioned this. Now they understand and I don’t sound crazy when I say it to a doctor nowadays.

I was the one that pinpointed that my migraines were affected with the barometric pressure change,  I didn’t care if the doctors didn’t believe me I knew better I know my body. I understand it. I go through the pain. He would think they would listen, but it took years and now the medical field has more awareness and stepping up to researching how these illnesses are directly affected by the change of seasons.

It’s no damn joke. This s**t is real and it fu***ng sucks.

There are days when I’d love to just give the people that think that my illness isn’t that big of a deal and the pain must be in my head. I would love to give them ALL my pain, all of it, for just ONE day! Just to
watch them endure what  I endure daily with a smile on my face it may not be a real smile, but at least I’m trying. To see them wimper and cry like useless babes in the woods…because thats the pain and this s**t ain’t fun to handle, and being around people that have no compassion, understanding, or concern, nor try to be supportive they just drain me further.

The pains will never leave me. But we all have people n friends that don’t try to understand or have no concern and this is where I steer clear of people that make my conditions worse. When you don’t feel good you deserve to be around people that show concern and care, this is why I reserve my healthy days for true friends and family…

Some good information below.

Sharing:
“”Seasonal shifts heavily trigger symptom flares in people with hypermobility, connective tissue disorders, Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), and other forms of dysautonomia.

These conditions frequently co-exist as a clinical "trifecta," meaning that environmental changes affect the nervous system, immune cells, and flexible blood vessels all at once.

And these illnesses never end with the season, just change to the pain and management conditions..

Why Seasonal Changes Cause Flares

Temperature Swings and Vasodilation: Heat causes blood vessels to dilate (open wider). Because connective tissue is extra flexible in hypermobility, blood vessels struggle to maintain tone, leading to blood pooling in the legs and a racing heart in POTS. Conversely, sudden cold or transitioning from hot outdoor air to cold indoor AC/heating forces an overtaxed autonomic nervous system into sympathetic "fight-or-flight" overdrive.

Seasonal Allergies and Histamine Loads: Spring and fall bring high pollen counts, while damp winter or rainy seasonal changes encourage indoor/outdoor mold growth.

For individuals with MCAS, whose mast cells are hypersensitive and cluster densely around connective tissues and blood vessels, these environmental antigens spike baseline histamine and trigger widespread inflammatory flares.

Barometric Pressure Drops: Sudden shifts in weather and barometric pressure put mechanical stress on flexible joints, increasing subluxations, body aches, and deep tissue pain, which in turn signals the nervous system to ramp up overall pain sensitivity.

Dehydration Cycles: People often forget to drink enough water or replenish electrolytes during cooler months because they do not feel visibly overheated, directly worsening low blood volume and orthostatic symptoms in POTS.

Strategies for Managing Seasonal Shifts

Proactive Hydration and Electrolytes: Keep high-sodium electrolyte packets accessible year-round, adjusting intake higher during heatwaves and maintaining structured fluid goals even in colder weather.

Strategic Layering and Compression: Use medical-grade compression garments (like leggings, socks, or abdominal binders) to help constrict blood vessels and assist venous return when moving between temperature extremes.

Air Quality and Allergen Control: Use HEPA air purifiers indoors during peak pollen and mold seasons, and track local air quality indices to minimize sudden MCAS triggers.

Paced Movement: Modify exercise routines to avoid overheating in summer or sudden cold-induced muscle tightening in winter, keeping core body temperature stable.””

“”🍂 The Curse of the Fall Flare: Why Autumn Triggers a Full-Body Shutdown for Those with Chronic Health Issues 🍂

The arrival of fall brings crisp air, cozy sweaters, and beautiful scenery. But for those living with autoimmune conditions, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), and migraines, it often marks the beginning of a challenging transition known as the "October slide”.

If you are feeling completely wiped out or flaring right now, you aren't imagining things. Here is exactly why your body is working overtime to adapt to the autumn shift:

🌩️ 1. The Barometric Pressure Drop

When a fall storm system approaches, atmospheric pressure dips. This allows your bodily tissues to expand slightly.

For EDS: This expansion increases internal pressure around vulnerable, hypermobile joints, causing a sudden spike in joint instability, pain, and deep physical aches.

For Migraines: Rapid pressure drops irritate the trigeminovascular pathway in the brain and alter sinus equilibrium, frequently initiating severe, multi-day migraine attacks.

For Autoimmune: Shifting weather fronts inherently provoke a higher frequency of systemic flare-ups across various autoimmune conditions.

🥶 2. The Internal Thermostat Glitch

Steep temperature drops add another layer of physical stress by causing blood vessels to constrict and reducing circulation to your extremities.

Vascular Spasms: For those managing autoimmune diseases like lupus or Raynaud's phenomenon, cold exposure triggers painful vascular spasms and intense joint stiffness.

Dysautonomia Trigger: Because EDS is tightly linked to autonomic nervous system dysfunction, sudden temperature swings make it incredibly difficult for your body to regulate its internal thermostat. This leads to adrenaline dumps, severe fatigue, and unpredictable shifts in blood pressure.

🌲 3. The Autumn "Histamine Flood"

The biological environment of autumn introduces unique inflammatory triggers that stack on top of the weather.

Allergen Peaks: Decaying leaves and damp environments cause a sharp rise in outdoor mold spores, while ragweed pollen peaks earlier in the season.

The MCAS Link: This surge significantly increases your body’s total histamine load. If you experience Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) alongside EDS, this histamine flood acts as a major amplifier for systemic inflammation, triggering both an overactive immune response and severe vascular migraines.

Sleep Disruption: Shortening daylight hours disrupt your natural circadian rhythm and sleep quality, which naturally decreases your body's threshold for handling pain.

🩹 Real Physiological Responses

If you are noticing a sudden shift in your health right now, remember that your symptoms are a measurable, physiological response to the changing world around you. Prioritizing strict pacing, keeping your body warm, and proactively managing your histamine levels can give your nervous system the stability it needs to navigate the season safely.”

The research - - -

https://www.paramotion.org/post/the-october-slide-understanding-seasonal-symptom-flares-for-eds-hsd-and-associated-conditions

https://sedsconnective.org/what-is-mcas-what-is-the-connection-to-hypermobility-eds/

https://www.manhattanpainmedicine.com/eds-pots-mcas-symptoms-connection/

https://drmichaelveselak.com/pots-mcas-hypermobility-trilogy/

https://sedsconnective.org/what-is-mcas-what-is-the-connection-to-hypermobility-eds/

https://www.painri.com/post/the-eds-mcas-pots-trifecta

https://jeanniedibon.com/eds-hypermobility-heat-intolerance/

https://www.connectivewellnessco.com/blog/autumnwitheds

https://www.connectivewellnessco.com/blog/autumnwitheds

https://youtu.be/C2FKMCAf4CY?is=-NOE_8X_YcSQH80W

https://drmichaelveselak.com/pots-mcas-hypermobility-trilogy/

09/23/2026

09/23/2026

There was a time when living with FND stopped me from doing things I wanted to do.

Not always because I was afraid of the symptoms themselves…but because I was afraid of people seeing them.

I was embarrassed. I felt humiliated. I worried about the staring, the pointing, the comments, and what people might think if my symptoms happened in public.

For a long time, that fear kept me home.

And eventually, I realized something had to change.

FND had already taken enough from me.

I wasn’t going to let other people’s reactions take my life too.

I was tired of hiding in my own house just to make other people comfortable.

Because I deserve to live too.

I deserve to go out.

I deserve to laugh.

I deserve to spend time with my family.

I deserve to make memories.

I deserve to be seen, even on the days when my body is doing things I cannot control.

Symptoms come when they come. We do not get to schedule them for convenient moments.

And yes, people may stare.

They may point.

They may whisper.

But I cannot control how other people respond to my disability.

What I CAN control is whether I allow their response to make my world smaller.

And I refuse to keep making my life smaller because someone else is uncomfortable with something they do not understand.

FND is part of my life.

It does not get to define all of it.

And neither do the people staring.

If you have ever hidden because you were embarrassed by your symptoms, that may be the first one to tell you…You deserve to live too.

Keep living. Keep showing up. Keep choosing courage. ❤️

Together, we RISE above FND.

09/23/2026

09/23/2026

💜 FIBRO & ME 💜

🌻. DO PEOPLE REALLY UNDERSTAND WHEN WE SAY THE WORD “FLARE”? .🌻

💜 💙 💚 💛 🧡 ❤️ 💗 💜

When we say “I’m having a flare,” do people really understand what we mean?

Because a flare isn’t simply having a bit more pain than usual.

A fibromyalgia flare can feel like our whole body has suddenly decided it has had enough.

Pain can become louder.
Fatigue can become overwhelming.
Brain fog can make simple thoughts disappear.
Sleep may stop feeling restorative.
Our senses can become unbearable.
Our muscles can feel heavy, tender and exhausted.
Even the smallest everyday tasks can suddenly feel enormous.

💜 💙 💚 💛 🧡 ❤️ 💗 💜

And sometimes, from the outside, we still look exactly the same.

That’s one of the hardest things to explain.

We might cancel plans.
We might need to rest.
We might take longer to answer messages.
We might struggle to shower, cook, tidy or even get dressed.
We might need help with things we normally manage ourselves.

It isn’t because we’re being lazy.

It isn’t because we don’t care.

And it certainly isn’t because we’ve simply “given in.”

💜 💙 💚 💛 🧡 ❤️ 💗 💜

A flare can take away energy, independence, concentration and confidence all at once.

And sometimes the most helpful thing someone can say is simply:

“I understand. Take the time you need. I’m here.”

Because when our body is screaming for us to slow down, kindness matters.

So perhaps when someone with fibromyalgia says “I’m in a flare,” we can remember that those three little words can represent an awful lot.

You may not see the flare…
but that doesn’t mean we aren’t living every second of it.

💜 💙 💚 💛 🧡 ❤️ 💗 💜

09/23/2026

09/23/2026

Most people with BPD spend years being treated for something else first.

Depression. Anxiety. Bipolar. An eating disorder. Each one true enough to be worth treating and never quite the thing underneath it.

Why it takes so long:

The symptoms borrow from everything. Low mood, panic, mood swings, impulsivity — every one of those belongs to three other diagnoses too.

Clinicians are reluctant to say it. The label carries so much stigma that some services genuinely avoid using it, which is well-meant and leaves people with no idea what is happening to them.

Under-18s often will not be given it at all, so the years it is at its loudest are the years nobody names it.

And it presents differently depending on who you are. The loud version gets noticed. The version that turns everything inward — quiet BPD — gets read as shy, sensitive, a bit anxious, and gets missed for a decade.

If you got here late: the years before the diagnosis were not wasted and you were not making it up. You were doing it on hard mode with no instructions. 🖤

09/23/2026

09/10/2026

Amen…

The basic premise of communication is that the only way you know how anyone feels is if they tell you.

Yet time and time again, we have people going to Doctors offices and emergency departments saying ‘there’s something wrong with me,” only to be dismissed, ignored or gaslighted.

It’s only when the disease has progressed to the point where severe and irrefutable damage can be clearly seen that they start being believed.

Even then, some people die before a diagnosis is finally given by autopsy.

No one should have to reach a major health crisis in order to be believed.

Remember, if you are struggling to deal with the emotional issues of chronic illness, my online therapy/coaching programs can help you and you will always be believed and supported.

Book your free online discovery session with me 💕