Will you explain Ehlers Danlos Syndrome....

from a patient's point of view?  What is it?

[selmaS]

aiMelissa- I have a friend who has this condition....she has info on her blog  http://laurieyeh.blogspot.com/  below are symptoms of EDS:

JOINTS:
chronic pain
loose flexible or unstable joints
joints may dislocate or move out of place
eaarly onset osteorthritis
SKIN:
fragile skin -cuts easily often needing sitiches
servere tears may require plastic surgery
poor wound healing
wide streached out scars
streachy skin of varying degrees
soft or velvety skin
easy bruising
VASCULAR TYPE:
artery rupture, fragility or anerurysms
intestine, uterus, orinternal organ rupture
severe bruising
thin,translucent skin-pattern of blue veins is especially visable on chesr, belly and back
may have certain facial fetures- large eyes,thin nose, thin lips,lobless ears, small chin
OTHER SYMPTOMS:
chronic fatigue
bowel disorders-constipation, IBS,gastritis
autonomic dysfuction-low blood pressureor fast heart rate, especially upon standing
mitral valve prolapse
dental crowding or TMJ dysfuction
early bone thinning and ostoporosis


For more info please see Laurie Yeh's blog.

I hope this helps answer your question.

GOdspeed
"selma"

[aiMelissa]

So how do you check to see if you have this?  I have several of those, lol.  Not to sound neurotic or anything, I just want to know exactly what's goign on.

Is there a test for it?

[selmaS]

Diagnosis is based on symptoms as well as personal/family medical history. Your dr will do an exam of your joints and skin and ask some ?s. You may be referred t a geneticst for further eval.Hypermobility or classic types of EDS are dx by comparing your symptoms  and history with established diagnostic criteria.
Joint hypermobility test:
dr uses the brighton scale; little finger pulls back 90 degrees;thumb pulls back to touch forearm;elbow bends backward at least 10 degrees;knee bends backward at least 10 degrees;bend forward at waist and put hands flat on floor without bending knees.
Skin test:
dr pulls skin at a neutral site utill he feels resistance.
Vascular type EDS test:
bloodwork or skin biopsy.


Hope this helps,
"selma"