21/08/2025
I thought about sharing my thoughts on this at the start of the week, and then I got caught up with other things, but then after the release of my podcast yesterday with Dr Jason Lam where he acknowledged the medical gaslighting the hEDS/HSD population experience, I had to post it and give little Ashton the validation she deserved.
I was about 12 when I started having unexplained shoulder pains as a swimmer. I was told by the medical professionals, my coach and other adults in my life that I was making it up, that there was nothing wrong, that I just wasn’t doing my resistance band exercises, that it was all in my head and I was just “lazy”.
I know now this wasn’t true. I was an asthmatic, hypermobile kid who around the age of puberty started to become symptomatic. I have since been diagnosed with PCOS and I’m learning more about my Mast Cell Activation journey every day, which explains so many of my skin allergies and gut symptoms.
As healthcare practitioners in this modern day, we need to be better. We need to better. I can’t change the life of younger me, but I can do my part to help other people no matter the age, gender, ethnicity or sexual orientation be heard and get the help they need.
Practitioners, it’s not just up to patients to advocate for themselves, let’s do better, let’s be part of the change that promotes a collaborative healthcare system that support those who need our help
A message to my younger self: you won’t make the Olympic swim team, but trust me, it’s all going to work out 💪🏽
Let’s keep this a safe space and share our stories ❤️
*this post is for information purposes only and is not medical advice. The suggestions for patient advocation are suggestions only and these are not limited, we acknowledge not everyone’s experience will be the same and every EDS/HSD individual will require a unique approach
