Introduction

Wow, it's been so long since I started a new blog =] The last blog I wrote was on Xanga, haha -- oh man, that makes me feel old =D

Welcome to my Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome blog ^_^

I have the Hypermobility type, with Classical features (skin and organ tissue problems). Thankfully, my heart is structurally okay, and I feel like I just missed the Titanic with that one, lol.

I live in Perth, Australia, which just happens to also be home to Dr. Kevin Murray, a fantastic rheumatologist who specialises in treating EDS. He diagnosed me when I was 17 and has been treating me ever since. I also see Natalie Bennett-Bremner, a physiotherapist who treats EDSers and REALLY knows her stuff. She held a seminar for medical professionals and sufferers in Sydney this month and the response so far has been awesome. Please look both of these people up if you're interested =]

At the moment, I'm recovering from knee surgery. Nearly 3 years ago, I fell while working at McDonald's and landed on my left knee, sending my kneecap half way up my thigh. I set it myself and my workplace handled it all really badly. It took them over 9 months to pay me my lost wages and their insurance company has been trying to get me to settle ever since. I'm absolutely not going to, since it took my (excellent) orthopedic surgeon, Anthony Geddes, all this time to decide on a lateral release with tibial tubercle transfer as the best option, after exhausting all other options, because of the risks involved -- along with the possibility that it may not even work.

So far, I'm healing well and the surgery was a complete success. He actually seemed suprised at how smoothly it went =D I've had a great deal of trouble with pain medication, as I'm allergic/intolerant to all the decent ones, including opiates and opioids. But I've found the pain very manageable. Recovery is slow and I've lost so much muscle in my left leg, I actually can't find it unless I tense like all hell and poke around for a while. But with such a great, EDS-friendly physio working with me, I know I'll get there, even if it does take me twice as long as it does a normal person, lol. The scars are already widening, only 6 weeks after surgery, but Natalie recommended some silicon pads that I can get from a hospital pharmacy, which will help to prevent that (note to self: for goodness sake, remember to get these!) and I've read about other EDSers having success with them =] Surgeons and doctors use them for patients with "difficult skin", as she put it =D

Anyway, my hands ae starting to rebel, so I shall wrap this up. Thanks for reading =]

<33 Kitty