Chronic illness may require you to budget your energy carefully—go over your limit, and your body sends the bill in the form of exhaustion, pain, or flare-ups.

POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome) doesn’t always give instant feedback—sometimes the effects show up a day or two later.

Mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) can make it difficult to sleep at night for many different reasons. Histamine levels in the body follow a natural daily rhythm, often peaking in the early morning (overnight) and decreasing throughout the day. For those with MCAS, a rise in histamine overnight can trigger symptoms and significantly disrupt sleep. 

People with hEDS (hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome) or HSD (hypermobility spectrum disorder) often experience joint subluxations, which are partial dislocations that can occur suddenly, painfully, and often with little to no warning.

For people with POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome), staying hydrated isn’t just a daily checklist…it’s a whole strategy. Hydration for POTS takes planning, timing, a lot of trial & error, and more than just a water bottle. Let’s take a closer look at why hydrating with POTS is not as easy as it sounds.

With MCAS (mast cell activation syndrome), recognizing symptom triggers is essential for symptom management, and can be tricky since they are not always obvious and are different for everyone. Symptom triggers I often see in MCAS:

Grief in chronic illness doesn’t just happen once—it recycles. People with chronic conditions often grieve the same losses over and over. How to offer support to someone experiencing grief from chronic illness:

Fatigue in EDS (Ehlers-Danlos syndrome)/HSD (hypermobility spectrum disorder) isn't just feeling tired. It's exhaustion that wraps around your body like dense fog. It can be there when you wake up, and even when you're doing nothing. Here’s what can be behind it:

POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome) is often misunderstood—even by healthcare providers. Misinformation about the condition delays diagnosis and care. Here’s what research actually reveals. 

MCAS symptoms are frequently misinterpreted as unrelated issues, when in reality, those issues can actually be overactive mast cells (type of immune cells) releasing chemicals like histamine that affect multiple organ systems throughout the body. 

Here’s the thing—people can’t manage illnesses that they don’t understand. Without a diagnosis, people often push through pain or dislocations, thinking it’s all in their head, just bad luck, or that their constant fatigue is just laziness.

Pelvic venous insufficiency (PVI), which is a condition where the veins in the pelvis are unable to properly move blood back up to the heart, leading to blood pooling in the pelvis, can sneak under the radar in some people with POTS.

11% of children and 6% of adults have been diagnosed with ADHD. MCAS has an estimated prevalence of 17%, although it is rarely recognized. It’s not uncommon for MCAS and ADHD to appear together. Let’s take a closer look at what recent research can tell us about this.

For many with POTS, tachycardia (fast heartbeat) is not the most bothersome symptom. In fact, some don’t even notice it.

With Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS)/Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder (HSD), it’s not just about being “flexible.” Pain with EDS/HSD can be complex and relentless. From abnormal collagen and joint instability to soft tissue damage, muscle overcompensation, and nerve issues, these conditions can impact your entire body. Let’s break down why pain happens with EDS/HSD—and what makes it so unique.