Reading and Learning on Things Related to Chronic Illnesses
EDS Echo - Multidisciplinary team practice Australasia
Module 1: Introduction to EDS and HSD
A useful and affordable way of increasing knowledge related to hypermobility for myself and for clients. I liked that this was delivered by clinicians in Australia and New Zealand so had local connections and information.
Session 1: EDS and HSD: A focus on hEDS and HSD - overview of hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS) and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder (HSD); diagnosis, spectrum of hypermobility, things to look out for and rule out, common complications and co-occurring conditions like POTS and MCAS. Helped me to understand the role of muscles and ligaments and how the ligaments are softer and unable to provide stability so muscles take on the stabilising role
Session 2: Comorbidities and the Role of the MDT - need for multiple specialists due to the complex group of conditions that can con-occur with EDS/HSD, limitations of the current health system, need for building multidisciplinary teams and a call for improvements in services.
Session 3: Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes: Rare Types
Session 4: Assessment and Management of Pain – General Principles of Causation and Therapeutic Approaches - pain receptors, central sensitisation, tissue healing slower in EDS; management with exercise, medications, supplements, sleep, acupuncture, physio, massage, manipulative therapies, steroid injections, prolotherapy.
Session 5: Assessment/Management of Fatigue – General Principles and Lifestyle Approaches / Sleep Disorders - many things contribute to fatigue; The Spider as a symptom impact tool to unpack what it contributing; fatigue in hEDS/HSD from ligament laxity, dysautonomia, MCAS, non-restorative sleep, hormonal or autoimmune dysfunction, intracranial pressure, nutritional/GI issues, mitochondrial dysfunction.
Look at signals for safety and danger, pillars of health from movement/exercise, sleep/rest, nutrition/hydration, socialising, work/study/parenting, foundation is pacing
Tools - activity diary, energy triggers, slow morning rise, parasympathetic activity/green list, social battery
Mast Cell Activation Disease: Current Concepts - Presentation by Dr Arfin for POTS Unmasked 2022
Summary: history and development of the criteria, what mast cells do and their normal response, current criteria, MCAS as a chronic multisystem polymorbidity, what to look for/presentation, MCAS and POTS, treatment.
Reflection – learning more about this for my own health and to support clients as MCAS is common with POTS and hypermobility, which we see a lot with neurodivergence. Sometimes overly medical information but the presentation and treatment sections were useful in knowing what to look for and what to do.