I am delighted to share with you my painful story about issues with my tissues. Yes I am a chronically ill persistent pain patient in pain for the last 40+ years and only now accepting it, learning to love it and telling my stories for awareness and to help others in pain.

Due to a rare genetic connective tissue disorder called Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome which affects my organs and my systems I live in pain. I also have a few other chronic conditions such as POTS, MCAS, progressive myopia, IBS, Endometriosis to name a few that have caused me so many health and wellbeing issues. And some of these aren't officially diagnosed - when I was told about the hEDS, the doctor told me that I likely have some of the others - and it was hardly any point getting an official diagnosis because it takes so much time. I know right!?

So what do you see in this picture? Me, smiling being a total Reina in the rain.

You cannot see from the image that I am in chronic pain and have been for over 40 years.

You cannot see that my vision is altered by my eye tissues ripping apart and x3 laser operations and several doctors steady hands to save my sight!

You cannot see that I am in also in acute pain in my right molar due to an encounter with an unshelled pistachio and on pain relief medication. It didn’t even take the edge off tbh.

You cannot see that I am painfully constipated due to the tooth pain relief medication. Another reason why pain medication really isn’t effective for me.

My aim is to share with you content about pain and how to learn to thrive. I am learning and loving as I go along and some of the tips and tricks I have learnt along the way have really helped me.

We live in a world with an ageing and longer-living population and "skills not pills" is the new look for this season. It takes work, it takes patience and it takes time. These are skills that will benefit us all. My mission is to provide you with some thoughts, concepts and tips to take those first steps towards Planet Pain without it being too painful.

I will be posting frequently about my condition and how it affects every aspect of my life. I have realised that my story, sharing my successes & challenges, my exceptionally silly videos on social media has helped others in similar circumstances.

Yours,

Lorraine in pain

xx

Image Description: Lorraine poses in Portugal in Pink Street, Lisbon with rainbow umbrellas suspended above the street. She is wearing a purple summer jacket, a lime blouse, grey patterned trousers, contact lenses, yellow cushioned trainers and a smile to mask the utter continual constant pain!

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Welcome to Planet Pain with Lorraine!