I am discovering CTD may very well be a large player in my situation, and want to learn more.
Mitochondrial theories play in strongly, as well as liver function, methylation pathways, HPA axis dysfunction, impaired immunity, impaired digestive processes, etc. not to mention the kick-off factor many experience from a virus, sudden severe bacterial illness, or an accident. A bacterial infection followed by extremely powerful antibiotics kicked off fibromyalgia for me in 1990. In 1997, I had mononucleosis, and within a year, was experiencing ME/CFS in its full ugly entirety. It has taken years just to sort out what was what, with well-meaning doctors scratching their heads or misdiagnosing. This isn't the full story, of course... so many pieces.
I can easily read lists of lupus symptoms, Lyme symptoms, MS symptoms, etc. and relate to most of the listed symptoms. I seriously doubt that I would ever be diagnosed with every last one, and would very much worry about my own sanity if I thought I had all of them! That is seriously hypochondria at that point. I am very, very intrigued, however, at all the overlap, one huge Venn diagram that of course makes me wonder what is at the root of ALL of it. So much common ground, isn't there.
As for the possibility of EDS being an underlying factor for ME in some cases, I would not doubt that for a minute. However, I am not sure at all that it underlies all cases. There are too many unanswered pieces. It seems to be an interactive co-morbidity or co-factor, and it crosses my mind that it may actually be a random, genetic co-factor. Could be wrong. Don't know.
As I began to explore the possibility of connective tissue anomalies within myself (about two months ago), my first thought was "Oh, no, no more alphabet soup. Don't need another one..." Labels, if true, are only useful if life is improved in some way, or create an ah, ha! moment happens that brings one closer to function. Otherwise, just give me a straitjacket!!
Mitochondrial theories play in strongly, as well as liver function, methylation pathways, HPA axis dysfunction, impaired immunity, impaired digestive processes, etc. not to mention the kick-off factor many experience from a virus, sudden severe bacterial illness, or an accident. A bacterial infection followed by extremely powerful antibiotics kicked off fibromyalgia for me in 1990. In 1997, I had mononucleosis, and within a year, was experiencing ME/CFS in its full ugly entirety. It has taken years just to sort out what was what, with well-meaning doctors scratching their heads or misdiagnosing. This isn't the full story, of course... so many pieces.
I can easily read lists of lupus symptoms, Lyme symptoms, MS symptoms, etc. and relate to most of the listed symptoms. I seriously doubt that I would ever be diagnosed with every last one, and would very much worry about my own sanity if I thought I had all of them! That is seriously hypochondria at that point. I am very, very intrigued, however, at all the overlap, one huge Venn diagram that of course makes me wonder what is at the root of ALL of it. So much common ground, isn't there.
As for the possibility of EDS being an underlying factor for ME in some cases, I would not doubt that for a minute. However, I am not sure at all that it underlies all cases. There are too many unanswered pieces. It seems to be an interactive co-morbidity or co-factor, and it crosses my mind that it may actually be a random, genetic co-factor. Could be wrong. Don't know.
As I began to explore the possibility of connective tissue anomalies within myself (about two months ago), my first thought was "Oh, no, no more alphabet soup. Don't need another one..." Labels, if true, are only useful if life is improved in some way, or create an ah, ha! moment happens that brings one closer to function. Otherwise, just give me a straitjacket!!