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View fullsize Hello! Time for a re-introduction, as it’s been awhile since I posted & there are some new folks! I’m Tasha Searles, a clinical nurse specialist (similar to a nurse practitioner), and owner of Creative Thriving. I’ve been a cl
View fullsize Yesterday was Autistic Pride day, so I thought I'd share some of my favorite resources around autism and neurodivergence! What is autistic pride day? Autistic pride may mean slightly different things to different people, but to me it means a celeb
View fullsize Ehlers Danlos Syndrome & Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders (EDS/HSD) are so much more than skin & joint issues…and so much more than the diagnostic criteria! Here are some common symptoms in people with HSD/EDS… * Chronic pain
View fullsize Happy pride month! I hope you all are finding some joy 🌈✨ Did you know there is a huge overlap between EDS/HSD, Autism & ADHD, and being Trans/Nonbinary/Gender-diverse?  Why? we're not sure, but more research showing this overlap has come
View fullsize Going along with my last post, I wanted to talk a bit about compounding medications.  People with allergies or sensitivities to particular inactive med/ supplement ingredients may need to get some of their medications through a compounding phar
View fullsize Inactive ingredients in medications & supplements Meds & supplements contain more than the active ingredient. These "Inactive ingredients", sometimes called "excipients" have a variety of purposes.  〰What they are
View fullsize Often it can be challenging to pinpoint what may be triggering a symptom/ symptoms to flare. Here are a few potential triggers to consider… 🩺Stress, Fatigue, & Illness 🌡Temperature hot/cold/change 🦠Infections & Toxins 🕯Fragranc
View fullsize How to support the vagus nerve... Improving vagus nerve function can be helpful to more easily move back into a parasympathetic (rest & digest) state after a stressor has passed, instead of staying stuck in a sympathetic (fight or flight) state.
View fullsize I was going to share some about supporting the vagus nerve, but then realized I better share a bit more about the vagus nerve first… What is the vagus nerve? 〰The Vagus nerve is the longest nerve in your body that connects your brain to many
View fullsize Many conditions commonly co-occur with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome & Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders, and an important part of EDS/HSD management is identifying & treating any co-occurring conditions. This is one reason an EDS/HSD diagnosis is
View fullsize I am excited for another Portland Oregon queer health care provider meet up! This month Dani Allen, LMT (@daniallenlmt) & I will be leading discussions on Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)! I&rsq
View fullsize The last item under Criterion 2 feature A on the hEDS criteria is Aortic root dilation with a Z-score that is greater than +2 This is determined through an echocardiogram (an ultrasound of the heart) that looks at the aortic root, or the area of the
View fullsize We're almost through all 12 items listed under Criterion 2 feature A section of the hEDS checklist, but here's second to last... Unusually soft or velvety skin This, of course, is subjective. Does the skin look or feel soft or velvety? Patients
View fullsize Another item under Criterion 2 feature A is "Mild skin hyperextensibility" This just means stretchy skin, more than is typical. In Hypermobile EDS the skin often only mildly stretchy.  Extremely stretchy skin is a sign it could be a
View fullsize Another part of the hEDS criterion 2 feature A is… "Pelvic floor, rectal, and/or uterine prolapse in children, men, or nulliparous women without a history of morbid obesity or other known predisposing medical condition" This crite
View fullsize Mitral valve prolapse. This item is determined by having an echocardiogram, which is a type of ultrasound that looks at your heart. Mitral valve prolapse is when the leaflets/ flaps that are supposed to tightly close to maintain proper flow of bloo
View fullsize Crowded teeth? Teeth pulled due to crowding (including wisdom teeth)? Palate expander? Braces to help crowded teeth? High arched palate? Narrow palate? This criteria is looking for BOTH: Crowding ~And~ A high or narrow palate Reminder, Criter
View fullsize Another part of the hEDS criteria is atrophic scarring. These are thinned out, widened, or sunken in scars. However, they aren’t as papery, and don’t have the same often very wrinkled appearance, as is seen in classical EDS. Not ever
View fullsize Okay…let’s finish up this series I’ve abandoned…but already created 🙃 Stretch marks is another item under criterion 2 feature A of the hEDS criteria. This one can be a little tricky because we’re looking for stretch