What It’s Like Having Connective Tissue Disease

Shamekka* may appear “normal” on the outside, but like so many others with connective tissue disease (CTD) — a broad term for disorders that affect the body’s organs, joints, and structural systems — she is very often living with a great deal of pain.^1,2 The 43-year-old mom of three tells Refinery29 she feels like a “hot mess” internally, with multiple symptoms (think fatigue, rashes, swelling, weakness, joint pain, and more) affecting multiple areas of her body almost constantly. Life, she adds, can be unpredictable, complex, and frustrating.