Hiya!

[Arinai]

I'm Katherine (or Kat if you prefer), and I'm 17 and from Oklahoma, USA.

I just stumbled upon a Facebook post linking to here a few hours ago and decided to check it out! I must say I'm happy I found this place, as its become difficult for me to post in the EDS groups on Facebook because certain family members think I'm a hypochondriac and when they see my posts claim I'm just looking for attention

Anyway, I have EDS Hypermobility. I just got diagnosed with that last August after my lil sister got diagnosed last May I think. My doctor had suspected, but didn't send me to the geneticist until I showed up one day with a dislocated shoulder that I got from rolling over in bed lol.

In addition to that I have GERD, IBS, anxiety and depression. I also heavily suspect I have SI joint dysfunction and chronic fatigue, but I doubt I'll ever get my doctor to diagnose me. Which leads me to my next point.

There are a lot of key figures when it comes to my health that don't really care or think I'm a hypochondriac. Among these are my parents and several of my siblings, as well as my doctor, and to a certain extent my boyfriend.

My boyfriend is actually quite supportive, but I think he gets frustrated with me a lot because to him it seems like no matter what he does I still hurt, and so he sometimes says mean things he doesn't actually mean. It's hard on both of us, but he's stuck with me since the beginning of this whole mess, which must count for something.

TinyBrooke (whom I did not realize frequented this forum until I started browsing), can you PM me your dr's information again. Perhaps after I turn 18 I'll be able to switch to him.

A bit more about me as a person? I love animals, computers, drawing, and music. I'm a musician and play violin and bassoon mostly, but others as well. Violin is a bit hard though because my fingers sometimes hyper extend and my mom won't let me get finger splints.

Um... what else..? (I can't seem to remember what I was going to say next )

Oh well. I hope to actually share with others here and gain information from everyone else... Sorry if this seemed a bit random lol. My mind is constantly jumping from one thing to the next.

[TinyBrooke]

Haha hey Katherine!
(we go to school together, those that don't know)
Yeah, it's often best to go to the secret groups where your friends cannot see the posts. I'm in a couple, but I'm thinking about letting one go because there's way too many people and it ALWAYS has to be about EDS or related disorders and never any fun. I'm in a couple MUCH smaller groups where i know almost everyone and the posts aren't always entirely sane. I'd be happy to add you to them (one is for "rainbow" zebras if you know what I mean, and allies of course) if you want.
Let me know if i ever need to kick some sense into your boyfriend, I haven't given a nice a**-kicking in quite some time.
I know I've mentioned this a couple times, but most of my family (save my sister) thought I was looking for attention until I nearly broke down into tears. After that my family and I sat down and had an open, honest talk. My dad is still a little on the fence, but has gotten much better about it. Maybe try that?
PS- Sorry this place is kinda dead. We're working on it. Sort of.
PPS- I love the quote in your signature. I have a strange feeling it's from an HP book. Am i right or am i getting my fantasy series mixed up again?

[Arinai]

Add me =)

And, yeah, he could do with a good butt-kicking right now, but for other reasons that are not EDS related. I'll leave ya'll out of that though.

I don't particularly get along with my family. They think I'm loony...

Nope, not from HP. Found it online one day looking up quotes... but 'tis awesome I love it. =)

[xxBrittany]

Hey Kat!
I'm Brittany, Administrator here at EDSkids!

You sound like a awesome person, as all of the people here are, and I am sure you will fit into our nicely tight knit family here at EDSkids very well.

Bassoon!? Was that hard to learn?! I've always wanted to play that since I know how to play seven instruments!

Hope to talk to you soon, feel free to add me on Facebook if you have not done so yet!

PS- If you ever have any problems and/or questions please feel free to ask!

[Arinai]

Um... Bassoon isn't too terribly hard (for me anyway), but I know a lot of people just don't have the patience to learn it.

[xxBrittany]

I really want to try it!

[Arinai]

Go for it! It's really a fun instrument to play! It is a bit hard having to learn to switch from bass to tenor clef in the middle of a piece though.

[xxBrittany]

I think I might take you up on this. I have always wanted to learn!