Hi there! If you're here, you probably know me and know that I have some medical problems. However, you probably don't know the extent of it.

I have Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome as well as an autoimmune disease that causes my body to break out into internal and external hives. This causes my body great pain in my joints and swelling in my extremities. Often times, my joints partially dislocate, pressing on nerves and leaving me in pain or causing numbness so that I cannot use that limb normally. This is typical of my shoulders and hips; sometimes my ankles and wrists too.

I've included a snap shot of my symptom tracking app (run by and shared from my rheumatology office) that I share with my provider. It shows my most recent pain and fatigue scores for the last month. I've been stuck in a "severe" state of my condition since I started using it...

It's to the point where, despite all the anti-inflammatories I'm taking, the vitamins, the stretches, and resting where I can, it is now greatly affecting my ability to work.

Two and a half weeks ago, I worked one five-hour shift and have since been flaring so badly that most mornings I can barely walk. There has been more than one time I nearly fell down the stairs in my home because my joints either lock up or give out.

I'm taking all the medication and seeing all the doctors, following all their instructions and doing everything "right," but my body is still doing all the things.

I'm not asking for medical help. My providers are still trying, although it's looking more and more like this may be a disability case.

I'm still attempting to work, but it's been months since that five-hour shift and my bills are still due.

It kills me to ask, but I'm not sure what else to do, so here this is. Maybe it'll do something, maybe it won't. But I figure it doesn't hurt to ask...

08/29 Update: This week I was able to pay my car payment for the first time in 3 months and buy myself some actual groceries. I cannot express how much all of contributions mean to me. I'm going to cry

10/13 Update: I started DoorDash. So far this is the most promising job I've been able to hold, but also the lowest paying. It's more than $0, and I'm grateful for that. But it still just isn't enough.