Sharon Williams

[Jo-Anne Smith @Jo_AnneSmith]

Genuinely shocked at the state of local #NHS mental health crisis support. Spent last night supporting my lovely son through a horrible time. Local crisis team has closed down, and police have stopped “dealing with mental illness”, so we were directed to NHS 111 and their supposed “mental health crisis line”. Sat for about an hour in a queue and no one answered!! In the end we managed to talk him out of taking his own life but only because we are both mental health workers! @UKLabour please, please make urgent changes to #saveourNHS

[The Ehlers-Danlos Society @TheEDSociety]

The HSD Spectrum.

#Hypermobilityspectrumdisorders (HSD) are connective tissue disorders that cause joint hypermobility, instability, injury, and pain. Other problems such as fatigue, headaches, GI problems, and autonomic dysfunction are often seen as part of HSD.⁠
⁠
A spectrum disorder refers to a condition that has wide variation in both the type and severity of symptoms people experience.

For example, people with HSD may have mild or severe joint involvement. They may also experience one, two, or many other symptoms, such as fatigue, dizziness, constipation, or headaches, and any of these problems may be mild or severe.⁠
⁠
Two different people with HSD may experience very different symptoms. For example, one person with HSD may have severe joint instability, fatigue, and autonomic dysfunction.

Another person with HSD may have mild joint instability but severe headaches and gastrointestinal issues. Both people experience HSD differently, but neither person has “more HSD” than the other. ⁠
⁠
The #hypermobility spectrum disorders can cause a variety of symptoms in different areas of the body. Therefore, people with HSD may require multiple providers in different specialties to manage their care.

There are no disease-specific treatments for #HSD, so HSD is managed by managing each individual’s symptoms. People with HSD may have very different symptoms and respond differently to different management strategies.
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Learn more here: https://t.co/I99GpOAi4y
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Images: We are grateful to all those illustrators who have worked within their own spaces, research papers, and with medical and advocacy organizations who have used visuals to explain spectrum disorders like this and what it means, almost all of which to date has been autism spectrum disorder. They have paved the way for people to be able to understand more effectively what a spectrum disorder is, for people to be represented and validated, and for understanding from society and professionals. We are grateful to the researchers creating 'The Spider' and other research using visuals to show the complexities of HSD and EDS.

#MyHSDChallenge #ZebraStrong #MedEd #MedTwitter

[Patients with Power @PtsWithPower]

I wrote an explanation of why people with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome can have so many other conditions, using a car analogy. I'm posting it here in case anyone else wants to use it to help someone in your life understand 🧵 #EDS #hEDS

[Jeannie Di Bon @jdibon]

Please stop telling EDS / HSD patients there is no cure, there’s nothing we can do for you or you’ll probably end up in a wheelchair. It is not helpful. The language is key. Education is key. In a few words you can take away hope or give hope.

[Giles Smart @smartgiles]

An obituary of my wonderful friend and client:

Oliver Emanuel obituary https://t.co/rVrixfnfhr

[Sharon Williams @Williams_Sharon]

This is worrying. How has someone’s private phone number been attached to so many orders?

[Claire Armitstead @carmitstead]

I haven’t posted on X since it was twitter but I’m so angry and upset that I will do anything to explain my atom of experience of this horrible, exclusionary new world. https://t.co/NLZEOvZPmE

[Jamie Trinidad @jamietrinidad]

My latest book, ‘The #WesternSahara Question and #InternationalLaw : Recognition Doctrine and #SelfDetermination ’, co-authored with the brilliant Dr Stephen Allen. Out in hardback and open-access e-book in Jan 2024 https://t.co/vPLQrrP6ZO

[George Stroumboulopoulos 🐺 @strombo]

Super Blue Moon Rising.

This incredible shot from the Temple of Poseidon in Greece. 📷 Reuters.

[Maria Popova @themarginalian]

"In forty years of medical practice, I have found only two types of non-pharmaceutical 'therapy' to be vitally important for patients with chronic neurological diseases: music and gardens."

Remembering Oliver Sacks, who left us 8 years ago today: https://t.co/YG2b7CcQJL

[Midge Gillies @MidgeGillies]

Thrilled that #Piccadilly is non-fiction book of the month @Hatchards - such a fantastic shop with such nice staff. @TwoRoadsBooks @johnmurrays @pew_literary @eleanorbirne Can't wait to pop in & sign some more copies, like a proper Piccadilly Johnny https://t.co/4kpp81N6Q8

[Sahil Bloom @SahilBloom]

My mom hired a writer to sit down with my 95-year-old grandmother in India and document stories from her life.

They met weekly for two years.

The process brought my grandmother immense joy—the result will bring my family joy for years to come.

I think everyone should do this:

My mom found the writer through an elderly care service in India.

Her request was for someone who would record and transcribe stories from my grandmother.

The writer was a recent university graduate named Raika Sengupta.

The process began shortly after the pandemic lockdowns ended in India.

Raika would visit with my grandmother every week.

Depending on my grandmother’s energy, they would meet for an hour or less.

Each time, they would pick up where they left off on her life journey.

Raika would record the conversation and then transcribe the recordings—mostly in my grandmother’s own words, with some stylistic improvements where necessary.

My grandmother is an AMAZING storyteller, so the writing naturally flowed.

The weekly meeting became a beautiful ritual.

During a time when there wasn’t much to look forward to because of COVID lockdowns and a diminished social life, my grandmother looked forward to these sessions.

They made her feel important again—such a powerful thing at her age.

Once the writing was complete, my mother—a beautiful writer herself—took the pen on editing and converting the stories into a book.

She worked with my grandmother on the flow and filling in the gaps.

They added chapters on special people in her life—siblings, friends, etc.

We wanted to add photos to the book, so the whole family got involved.

When I was in India in January, I got to sit with my mom, dad, and grandmother and go through old photos to include.

We uncovered some real gems. It was beautiful.

The book is almost complete. We will have enough copies made so that all of her family can have a copy to remember her by when she is gone.

I really believe everyone should do this.

One of the saddest things is seeing our grandparents feel they are no longer “important” to anyone.

The process reminded my grandmother how much she is loved and how much she still has to offer the world.

If you enjoyed this or learned something, follow me @SahilBloom for more in the future.

[Brian Cox @ProfBrianCox]

I keep being asked what I make of the UFO thing in Congress yesterday, so here it is: I watched a few clips and saw some people who seemed to believe stuff saying extraordinary things without presenting extraordinary evidence. Therefore I have nothing more to say, other than: It would be great if true - it would take a bit of the pressure off our civilisation if we weren’t the only means within the Milky Way by which the Universe understands itself. Sadly, as of today, I still feel that pressure, so can we perhaps focus on not messing our world up rather than hoping that, to paraphrase Sagan, someone will float down to save us from ourselves.

[Sharon Williams @Williams_Sharon]

@lizziespeller @helen_bolter I’m so sorry to hear your family has been touched by this untimely loss and sadness.

[Mike Fenton Stevens💙 @fentonstevens]

Saying good bye to work colleagues during lockdown. Essential, apparently? Saying goodbye to loved ones at a funeral during lockdown. Unnecessary. In fact, illegal.

[Sharon Williams @Williams_Sharon]

@nathanfiler Fantastic. Also Foster.

[Sharon Williams @Williams_Sharon]

@SorayaJones12 @HomertonCollege That’s wonderful news - congratulations!

[Midge Gillies @MidgeGillies]

Nice to see #Piccadilly in the window of @Hatchards and on a plush piece of carpet too! @TwoRoadsBooks @johnmurrays

[Charlotte Levin @tinycharlotte72]

When you go to Asda next Thursday you may not be able to buy any tomatoes, but you will be able to buy my book which is the colour of tomato’s so please consider popping it in your basket instead 🍅=📕

[Sarah Sultoon @SultoonSarah]

#Dirt on tour - the Old City edition #jerusalem @orendabooks @JontWood