A compelling case from the UK highlights Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), a rare connective tissue disorder that prevents a young woman from eating normally due to severe nausea and pain.
Renowned French anthropologist and EDS expert Claude Hamonet describes the condition on his online platform as the clinical manifestation of connective tissue damage, which makes up about 80% of the human body. Of genetic origin, it primarily affects collagen production and features a wide array of symptoms from its diffuse lesions.
As detailed in a November 26, 2019, Daily Mail article, 30-year-old Londoner Gemma Levy relies on a feeding tube for 22 hours a day. Even a sip of water triggers intense nausea and pain, making oral intake impossible.
In her testimony, Gemma laments the foods she can no longer enjoy and the exhaustion of constant hospital visits and homebound recovery. Diagnosis took years; symptoms began at age 13 with recurrent joint issues and unusual skin extensibility. It was only after her gastrointestinal symptoms escalated recently that EDS was confirmed. With six distinct types, the syndrome varies widely, often perplexing even experienced physicians.
In 2017, we covered Sara Geurts, a 26-year-old whose EDS aged her appearance dramatically. She gained recognition by sharing her photos on Love Your Lines, a Tumblr promoting body positivity.
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