As I often talk about other people and diversity on this website, I feel that I should also give you my own picture.

As I’ve mentioned elsewhere, I’m neurotypical with high intelligence. An MMPI found me to be fairly middle of the road. No issues.

Physically, I’m fine with a few minor twists. I started running when I was still in primary school.

At the time of writing (June 2026), I’m not very fit and healthy, owing to circumstances.

There is a lot of cancer in my family, but they are all different cancers and nothing else stands out, so I have a lot of control over my physical health.

Spine

My genetic congenital spinal deformity was identified by a friend who was in nursing school and wanted to practice her massage skills on me. I was around 20, working at the Amsterdam Tourist Office at the time. “Weet je dat je scheef bent?” she asked. “Whatever,” I thought. I had no idea what she was talking about.

A chiropractor diagnosed it in my middle sister and our uncle Harrie had it too. I don’t know who else had it, but there must have been others. I don’t know whether my youngest sister has it. Probably.

Genetic = inherited, hereditary

Congenital = present at birth

This is what it looks like.

Source: https://www.physio-pedia.com/Congenital_Spine_Deformities

That looks about right. My spine simply doesn’t make sense at some point in my lower back. I’d say that “incarcerated” or “fully segmented” is the type that I have. The type “fully segmented” seems to be more pronounced; this is why I think that my type may be “incarcerated”, otherwise I would suspect “fully segmented”.

It reminds me of defects in crystal lattices… Dislocations etc.

Doing a few simple exercises for the spine in the morning (plus sleeping on relatively hard surfaces which helps keep muscles in good shape) makes a big difference.

Eyes

I’m nearsighted with astigmatism. I developed pigment dispersion syndrome in both eyes, which led to pigment flakes clogging my eyes’ drains and eye pressure slowly going up. My pigment dispersion syndrome appears have caused by running on my treadmill, as it went away later.

I also have dry eyes. I’m mentioning this because a) when an ophthalmologist tells you that you have dry eyes the information that this can do serious damage to your vision is usually left out and b) “dry eyes” doesn’t mean “burning sensation” but “blurry vision”. Use eye drops with a high level of hyaluronic acid.

Respiratory system

My weak spot. I use N-acetyl cysteine to keep my mucus thin and that makes a huge difference. My upper and lower respiratory issues are partly related to allergies. Dry air and rapid atmospheric pressure fluctuations also give me sinus issues that are much worse in the Netherlands but non-existent in Florida.

Allergies

Skeeter Syndrome, with blisters aka bullous lesions. Skeeter Syndrome is an allergic response to certain polypeptides (proteins) in the saliva of some mosquitoes.

Skeeter isn’t the name of the doctor who first described the phenomenon. It’s American slang for mosquito.

Hay fever, including strong effect on muscles and energy level, with oral allergy syndrome. Re the latter, I particularly respond to some wheat proteins, particularly when I’m in the Netherlands, where my hay fever is strongest. Flour decoratively brushed onto bread causes the strongest response. Throat ache, swallowing hiccups, sinus issues.

Dust mites.

Mould spores.

Lanolin.

The adhesive in some bandaids.

PPD.

Linolene.

Linalool.

Soy lecithin.

Sensitive to MSG (monosodium glutamate, E621). Muscle response, low energy, no headache.