Not medical advice. This page is for informational and educational purposes only. Always work with a qualified healthcare provider for your individual care.
Resources curated for the chronic illness community — finding care, understanding your conditions, and participating in the research that will change the future.
Complex chronic illnesses overlap a lot. That's why I cover all of them on Cort Does Science. Rarely does a patient just have one of these conditions in isolation, and that makes finding care, resources, and research even harder. Below you'll find resources for each condition including healthcare providers, patient advocacy organizations, community support, research opportunities, and relevant blog posts.
The Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes (EDS) are a group of heritable connective tissue disorders affecting the structural proteins that holds your joints, skin, blood vessels, and organs together. Hypermobile EDS (hEDS) is the most common type and the one most frequently seen alongside various comorbidities. Hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD) shares many features of hEDS.
Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) occurs when mast cells (a type of immune cell) release chemical mediators inappropriately, triggering a wide range of symptoms across multiple organ systems: flushing, hives, GI distress, anaphylaxis, brain fog, and more.
Dysautonomia is a dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system, which controls heart rate, blood pressure, digestion, temperature regulation, and many other automatic body functions. Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) is the most common form, characterized by an abnormal heart rate increase upon standing, among other symptoms.
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is a serious, multi-system disease characterized by profound fatigue, post-exertional malaise (PEM), cognitive dysfunction, sleep disruption, and autonomic symptoms. It is not "just being tired” and often follows a viral infection leaving many people home or bed bound. Long Covid resources are also included here.
Resources for other conditions. Looking for something that wasn’t mentioned? Head here to learn more.