"Thanks for truly listening, understanding, caring and providing support."

It’s a long story.. as a little girl I always felt poorly, tired, in and out of hospital but no doctor/specialist knew what was going on with my body. No answers.

I was a great little dancer, I could bend my body in ways my friends couldn’t.

I would walk around on my knees which was a great party trick.

When I hit my teens I really struggled physically and mentally to keep up with education and unfortunately this impacted my final grades. During my college years (performing arts course) I thought everyone else felt poorly and it was normal to be in constant pain, tiredness and easily injured. I just tried my best to keep up but I physically could not and in turn this affected my mental health. I’d dislocated joints, suffer sprains and end up bed bound for a few days.

I ploughed on because I wasn’t going to give up on what I knew I was good at. My body had other ideas…

I remember having severe chest pain and I ended up in ICU with Myocarditis. I always felt like I’d ran a marathon just getting up from the chair.

Over the next 15 years symptoms progressively got worse. I was finally diagnosed 4 years ago. Thanks to Mid Hampshire Community Therapy Team Southern Health (special thanks to Bryony) for truly listening, understanding, caring and providing support. Also, thanks to MIND, Chronic Fatigue Society and my GP at Derry Down Andover.

I belive awareness needs to be raised for Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (Zebras) & Dysautonomia & all the co-morbidities that come with it. I also feel continued patient Occupational Therapy support is needed.

Thank you Bryony for going above and beyond, offering reassurance and offering your continued support should I need it in the future.