The Diagnosis

Well, almost ten years after she was born, and seven years since we first went to the hospital with her painful knees, Lucy finally has an official diagnosis. Elhers Danlos Syndrome.

It's a little ironic that it should arrive in May, EDS awareness month.

She will still be seeing the rhuematologist at the hospital and possibly have physio therapy, but she's had that before and it didn't help.

As it is Elhers Danlos Syndrome Awareness Month I will tell you a little about Lucy's condition. In fact there are seven types of EDS, Classical, Vascular, Hypermobility, Kyphoscoliotic, Tenacin-X deficient, Arthrochalasia and Dermatosparaxis.
Lucy's type is is Hypermobility.

• She has hypermobile joints
• she has suffered dislocations/subluxations
• she has reflux
• she has gastro symptoms
• she bruises easily
• she has joint pain
• she takes longer to heal

There are also implications for the future with autonomic problems such as POTS.

As always getting a diagnosis is a bitter sweet experience. It's good that you have an answer, a reason for your child's problems. It's also good that the medical professionals are recognising the problems and will do what they can to help. It's never good finding out that your child is ill, particularly with something incurable.

I also have some good news. I posted back in February about Lucy's alopecia. Well, it seems to be stopping, her hair loss is very little now and the growth is doing well. This is a photo of brand new hair grown from her being completely shaven last June.