One of the worst things about being chronically ill, at least for me, is that being diagnosed with one condition has opened the floodgates for me to discover a bunch of other conditions. I wanted to take the time to briefly talk about my major conditions and how they affect my life, as a woman and a parent.

I was diagnosed with my first major condition, Chiari malformation, in 8th grade. I was diagnosed with my most recent condition, psoriasis and likely psoriatic arthritis, in early October, when we first moved to our new city to live near family and for my new job.

Chiari Malformation: When I was in 8th grade, I started passing out at school. After seeing multiple neurologists and specialists across the US, I was diagnosed with Chiari Malformation, which means my brain tissue extends into my spinal canal. There is no cure. Many have brain surgery to slow progression of symptoms. I have not yet because in my case my neurosurgeon is not sure it would help, so we are just watching it for now. It is often comorbid (co-occuring) with hypermobility disorders, such as GHSD, and POTS, both of which I have been since diagnosed with and both of which complicate surgeries and can cause them to fail. My symptoms with this include ever present head and neck aches and pressure and dizziness.

Generalized Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder: This disorder is in the same family as a condition called Ehlers Danlos Syndrome-Hypermobility type. According to the Ehlers-Danlos Society, “joint hypermobility is a term to describe the capability of joints to move beyond normal limits.” I am hypermobile throughout my body in many joints, thus the generalized. This hypermobility causes pain, dislocations, subluxations (partial dislocations), and other symptoms that can make moving very painful and my joints ache, especially when being coupled with my likely arthritis.

POTS: Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome is a condition I was diagnosed with this this summer when my ENT referred me to a cardiologist because my resting heart rate was 123 BPM. POTS relates to increased blood volume when changing position (such as standing up), causing symptoms like dizziness, blacking out, and rapid heartbeat.

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Psoriasis: This is one of my most recently diagnosed symptoms, but unsurprising because of strong family history: both my grandma and my dad have it. Psoriasis is an autoimmune skin condition in which skin cells build up and form scales and itchy, dry patches. I got my first outbreak all over my lower back, but regularly get it in my scalp and chin.

Psoriatic Arthritis: I am being evaluated for this right now, and it is very likely, due to my joint pain, psoriasis, and family history. Psoriaric arthritis is an inflammatory arthritis that affects 30% of arthritis sufferers.

Chronic Migraine: I had my first migraine in elementary school. I remember being on a family mission trip when I was in maybe third or fourth grade. I was in the kids’ dorm with all the lights off with a horrible migraine. Another kid came in, turned all the lights on and accused me of faking it. Migraine is more than just a severe headache. It is a neurological syndrome with many other symptoms. I often get abdominal migraines, which result in profuse vomiting rather than headache and is more often seen in children (but I was diagnosed as an adult).

Poor Immune System: My immune system works overtime. It fights my own body, with my autoimmune conditions (psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and potentially my Hypermobility/Connective tissue problems), and then seems to have nothing left to fight off colds and flus. I get sick a LOT with seasonal stuff. I’ve had pneumonia 3 times since I was pregnant with Snowy.

Random allergies: This is something I still need to investigate more and find a specialist for in my area (one of the difficult parts of moving: all new doctors and specialists!). I am allergic to 4 different classes of antibiotics. In addition, I will sometimes randomly break out in hives that are like my antibiotic reactions but that we have not yet discovered the cause for.

I also have IBS, chronic sinus infections, and chronic ovarian cysts. I probably have some other conditions here and there that I’m forgetting, but these are the major ones and what a laundry list it is!

So far, Snowy is a miraculously healthy almost-five-year-old kid. Her health conditions were limited to some early dog allergies that seem to have gone away and allergies to two antibiotics. At her well visits, her doctors always check for signs of my genetic hypermobility disorder and any of my other health problems that could have been passed on, but so far, she shows absolutely no signs. That is a definite blessing,  but it also makes it tricky to keep up with her!

Being chronically ill is a daily struggle. I never ever feel completely well; I have symptoms flaring up all the time. Once I feel like one is relatively controlled for the time being, another pops up. But I have learned how to live with them, and will continue to respond to their challenges the best I can.