Here Goes Nothing!

Hello everyone! Please be gentle with me, lol, I am totally new to this whole blogging thing! I have been involved in online communities for well over a decade now, am an active member on many digital art forums and on facebook, but this is my first real leap into the blogosphere. So what pushed me over the edge, you ask? Fair enough question!

I have been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia for almost a decade now. I am passionate about educating people about this disease that so deeply impacts the lives of so many people..Well, recently, I learned that I also have Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Type III (hypermobility type) also known as EDS, or Hypermobility Syndrome. EDS is genetic, so I was born with it, but often you dont display severe and troubling symptoms until your 20's or 30's, which was the case with me. Turns out, the EDS has been there all along, hand in hand with the Fibro causing me pain and many varied health complications. EDS and Fibro have many symptoms in common.....overwhelming fatigue, debilitating pain, sleep issues, etc, and where so many dont understand Fibro, I am now finding out that almost no one seems to even hve ever heard of EDS....not even most of the health professionals I deal with....So....a friend suggested I blog my way through the experience of learning about this new and unusual thing that turns out has been my companion since my conception. At first, I thought...."no.....its too hard to talk about myself....I dont want to be a whiner, etc" but then she reminded me about all the people out there that have this pain every day and arent lucky enough to have the support system that I have. That was the kicker for me....because honestly, I cant imagine going through something like this alone...even having all the loving, supportive people I am blessed with in my life...sometimes I feel unbearably alone and trapped in this defective body. So...if I can open only one persons eyes, or reach out to one person who hurts and feels alone...then I can get over my "Blog fright" and put it all out there, so to speak, lol. Hopefully, some of you will stick with me and we can learn, laugh, and make a tiny difference together! Signing off for tonight!! Sweet dreams!