In this Office Hours episode, Dr. Linda Bluestein tackles some of the most challenging questions from our listeners and dive deep into the overlooked intersections of hypermobility, surgical complications, and neurodiversity. What happens when five rectal prolapse surgeries fail? Dr. Bluestein breaks down why so many surgical interventions fall short for people with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS) and what you must consider before your next procedure, including essential imaging, anesthesia concerns, pelvic floor support, and mesh alternatives. Then, she explores a lesser-known but increasingly discussed connection: how vision dyspraxia and dyscalculia often go hand-in-hand with hypermobility, and why challenges with balance, motor planning, and even math might be far more physical than we think. Plus, you'll hear my own hypermobility hack for surviving the dreaded shampoo bowl at the salon. Whether you're navigating chronic pain, misunderstood learning challenges, or a body that just won’t follow the rules, this episode is packed with the nuanced insight you’ve been waiting for.

Takeaways:

Why rectal prolapse surgeries often fail in HEDS and the exact workup to request before considering another one.

The real risks of mesh, sutures, and tension-based surgical repair in connective tissue disorders.

How vision dyspraxia and convergence insufficiency can disrupt learning and quality of life and why they’re so common in EDS.

Dyscalculia explained: not just a math issue, but a brain-body mismatch often missed in neurodiverse bendy bodies.

Two hypermobility hacks worth stealing including a genius way to get your hair washed without neck pain.

Find the episode transcript here: https://www.bendybodiespodcast.com/rectal-prolapse-dyscalculia-dyspraxia-the-connective-tissue-connection-office-hours-ep-177/

Want more Dr. Linda Bluestein, MD?

Website: https://www.hypermobilitymd.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bendybodiespodcast

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/hypermobilitymd/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/BendyBodiesPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠

X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/BluesteinLinda⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/hypermobilitymd/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://hypermobilitymd.substack.com/

Shop my Amazon store ⁠⁠⁠ https://www.amazon.com/shop/hypermobilitymd

Dr. Bluestein's Recommended Herbs, Supplements and Care Necessities: https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/hypermobilitymd/store-start

Thank YOU so much for tuning in. We hope you found this episode informative, inspiring, useful, validating, and enjoyable. Join us on the next episode for YOUR time to level up your knowledge about hypermobility disorders and the people who have them.

Join YOUR Bendy Bodies community at ⁠⁠https://www\.bendybodiespodcast\.com/⁠⁠.

YOUR bendy body is our highest priority!⁠⁠

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Podcast Advertising/Business Inquiries: ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠

Part of the Human Content Podcast Network

FTC: This video is not sponsored. Links are commissionable, meaning I may earn commission from purchases made through links

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In this episode, Dr. Linda Bluestein sits down with Lara Bloom, President and CEO of The Ehlers-Danlos Society, for a revealing look behind the curtain of the Society’s ambitious global roadmap to 2026. What will it take to finally change the trajectory for people with EDS (Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes) and HSD (Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders)? Why have progress and awareness lagged for so long? And what is happening right now around the world that could shift everything?

Together, they unpack the systemic obstacles still tripping up patients, from years-long diagnostic delays and rampant misinformation to critical gaps in research, policy, and clinical education. Lara shares the driving force behind her vision for global change and the monumental international effort unfolding to move EDS and HSD into the spotlight they’ve long deserved.

If you’ve ever wondered why the system feels stuck, or what it might take to finally break through, this conversation offers rare insight and genuine hope.

Takeaways:

Lara reveals why global alignment across policy, education, and clinical care could be the missing key to major breakthroughs for EDS and HSD.

The episode exposes the hidden consequences of misdiagnosis and why early recognition, especially in children, may be more urgent than most clinicians realize.

Linda and Lara dig into how outdated terminology and dismissive provider attitudes continue to shape patient experiences in ways few talk about openly.

Lara shares how her personal journey fuels her global leadership and why patient voices are becoming impossible to ignore in research, advocacy, and policy.

The international symposium and roadmap point toward real momentum, but lasting change will require unprecedented collaboration across borders and specialties.

Find Episode Transcript here: https://www.bendybodiespodcast.com/the-roadmap-that-could-change-eds-forever-with-lara-bloom-ep-176/

Want more Lara Bloom?

Website: https://www.larabloom.com/

Twitter: @larabloom

Instagram: @lara.bloom

Youtube: @LaraBloom

Want more Dr. Linda Bluestein, MD?

Website: https://www.hypermobilitymd.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bendybodiespodcast

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/hypermobilitymd/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/BendyBodiesPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠

X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/BluesteinLinda⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/hypermobilitymd/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://hypermobilitymd.substack.com/

Shop my Amazon store ⁠⁠⁠ https://www.amazon.com/shop/hypermobilitymd

Dr. Bluestein's Recommended Herbs, Supplements and Care Necessities: https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/hypermobilitymd/store-start

Linda's favorite powdered Vitamin C Product: https://www.amazon.com/shop/hypermobilitymd/list/3PBOYTJKW5YIX?ref_=aipsflist

Thank YOU so much for tuning in. We hope you found this episode informative, inspiring, useful, validating, and enjoyable. Join us on the next episode for YOUR time to level up your knowledge about hypermobility disorders and the people who have them.

Join YOUR Bendy Bodies community at ⁠⁠https://www\.bendybodiespodcast\.com/⁠⁠.

YOUR bendy body is our highest priority!⁠⁠

Learn more about Human Content at ⁠⁠⁠http://www\.human-content\.com⁠⁠⁠

Podcast Advertising/Business Inquiries: ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠

Part of the Human Content Podcast Network

FTC: This video is not sponsored. Links are commissionable, meaning I may earn commission from purchases made through links

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In this info-packed episode, Dr. Linda Bluestein sits down with cardiologist Dr. Alexis Cutchins, an expert in pelvic venous disease (PVD) and POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome), to tackle one of the most misunderstood vascular conditions in complex patients. From treatment options and expected outcomes to what really happens after embolization procedures, they unpack the physiology and the myths. Plus, they dive into GLP-1 medications like semaglutide and tirzepatide, long COVID symptom overlaps, heat intolerance, and why certain movement strategies backfire for patients with hypermobility, POTS, and other connective tissue conditions. They also trade tips on hydration, travel, pelvic support, and how to build movement back into your life, even when your nervous system fights you at every step.

Takeaways:

Dr. Cutchins explains how PVD impacts the whole body, causing fatigue, pelvic pain, and even mimicking other disorders.

Weight loss drugs like semaglutide and tirzepatide can help, but only in the context of a larger strategy that considers joint instability, hormonal shifts, and gut function.

They discuss how patients with PVD or dysautonomia are especially sensitive to warm environments and what that teaches us about blood flow and pressure regulation.

From favorite exercises to subtle red flags, they explore how to reintroduce movement without triggering crashes or setbacks.

Compression, salt loading, movement timing, and cooling tools can turn a nightmare trip into a manageable one.

Want more Dr. Alexis Cutchins?

Find the episode transcript here.

https://www.instagram.com/drcutchins/

https://youtube.com/@DrCutchins?si=pNvR2A6eFOL4vS9m

Want more Dr. Linda Bluestein, MD?

Website: https://www.hypermobilitymd.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bendybodiespodcast

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/hypermobilitymd/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/BendyBodiesPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠

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LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/hypermobilitymd/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://hypermobilitymd.substack.com/

Shop my Amazon store ⁠⁠⁠ https://www.amazon.com/shop/hypermobilitymd

Dr. Bluestein's Recommended Herbs, Supplements and Care Necessities: https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/hypermobilitymd/store-start

Thank YOU so much for tuning in. We hope you found this episode informative, inspiring, useful, validating, and enjoyable. Join us on the next episode for YOUR time to level up your knowledge about hypermobility disorders and the people who have them.

Join YOUR Bendy Bodies community at ⁠⁠https://www\.bendybodiespodcast\.com/⁠⁠.

YOUR bendy body is our highest priority!⁠⁠

Learn more about Human Content at ⁠⁠⁠http://www\.human-content\.com⁠⁠⁠

Podcast Advertising/Business Inquiries: ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠

Part of the Human Content Podcast Network

FTC: This video is not sponsored. Links are commissionable, meaning I may earn commission from purchases made through links

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Think EDS and pregnancy is a straightforward conversation? Think again. In this jam-packed Office Hours episode, I dig into everything I wish someone had told me and everything I’ve since learned from patients, research, and my own pregnancies. From racing heart rates and failed epidurals to postpartum complications and misunderstood mental health shifts, we’re laying it all out. We explore rapid labor, prolapse risk, anesthetic resistance, dysautonomia flares, pelvic floor fragility, and why some babies bruise easier than doctors expect. Whether you're prepping for pregnancy, navigating birth, or recovering afterward, this is your roadmap for a more informed journey.

Takeaways:

Pregnancy with EDS or HSD isn't automatically high-risk, but it comes with specific concerns like tissue fragility, anesthesia resistance, and prolapse that OBs may overlook.

Labor can be rapid and unpredictable in people with connective tissue disorders, making delivery planning (and backup plans) especially important.

Local anesthetics may not work as expected, so communicating prior resistance to meds like lidocaine is crucial for anesthesia teams.

Postpartum recovery often takes longer, with higher risk of complications like joint instability, slow healing, and mental health shifts, including postpartum depression.

Medical students with EDS should choose specialties with pacing and physical demand in mind, considering how residency schedules and procedures might affect long-term career sustainability.

Find the episode transcript here.

Want more Dr. Linda Bluestein, MD?

Website: https://www.hypermobilitymd.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bendybodiespodcast

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/hypermobilitymd/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/BendyBodiesPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠

X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/BluesteinLinda⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/hypermobilitymd/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://hypermobilitymd.substack.com/

Shop my Amazon store ⁠⁠⁠ https://www.amazon.com/shop/hypermobilitymd

Dr. Bluestein's Recommended Herbs, Supplements and Care Necessities: https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/hypermobilitymd/store-start

Thank YOU so much for tuning in. We hope you found this episode informative, inspiring, useful, validating, and enjoyable. Join us on the next episode for YOUR time to level up your knowledge about hypermobility disorders and the people who have them.

Join YOUR Bendy Bodies community at ⁠⁠https://www\.bendybodiespodcast\.com/⁠⁠.

YOUR bendy body is our highest priority!⁠⁠

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Part of the Human Content Podcast Network

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In this episode, Dr. Linda Bluestein is joined by Professor Tara Renton, a globally recognized expert in orofacial pain, to explore the nuanced world of facial pain, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction, and migraine disorders. Together, they unpack why so many patients suffer from persistent facial, jaw, or head pain despite “normal” scans and what magnetic resonance neurography (MRN) can reveal that traditional imaging might miss. They also dig into local anesthetic reactions, the limitations of pain scales, and how to distinguish between healthy vs. unhealthy pain. .

Takeaways

Professor Renton explains how magnetic resonance neurography (MRN) can detect nerve irritation that typical MRIs may miss, especially in TMJ and facial pain cases.

You’ll hear how migraine-related nerve dysfunction can present as jaw pain, facial burning, or unexplained dental sensitivity without classic migraine symptoms.

They explore how patients with conditions like mast cell activation may react to preservatives or delivery mechanisms in numbing agents, even if allergy tests are negative.

The conversation questions whether traditional 1-to-10 pain rating tools capture the lived experience of chronic nerve or facial pain and what alternatives might help.

Dr. Bluestein and Professor Renton discuss how to recognize pain that signals normal healing versus pain that points to long-term nerve dysfunction or central sensitization.

Find the episode transcript here.

Want more Professor Tara Renton?

Website: https://orofacialpain.org.uk/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKw1La6H5Dw

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tara-renton-a5999018/?originalSubdomain=uk

Want more Dr. Linda Bluestein, MD?

Website: https://www.hypermobilitymd.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bendybodiespodcast

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/hypermobilitymd/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/BendyBodiesPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠

X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/BluesteinLinda⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/hypermobilitymd/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://hypermobilitymd.substack.com/

Shop my Amazon store ⁠⁠⁠ https://www.amazon.com/shop/hypermobilitymd

Dr. Bluestein's Recommended Herbs, Supplements and Care Necessities: https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/hypermobilitymd/store-start

Thank YOU so much for tuning in. We hope you found this episode informative, inspiring, useful, validating, and enjoyable. Join us on the next episode for YOUR time to level up your knowledge about hypermobility disorders and the people who have them.

Join YOUR Bendy Bodies community at ⁠⁠https://www\.bendybodiespodcast\.com/⁠⁠.

YOUR bendy body is our highest priority!⁠⁠

Learn more about Human Content at ⁠⁠⁠http://www\.human-content\.com⁠⁠⁠

Podcast Advertising/Business Inquiries: ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠

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FTC: This video is not sponsored. Links are commissionable, meaning I may earn commission from purchases made through links

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In this raw and uncompromising conversation, Dr. Linda Bluestein and co-host Jennifer Milner sit down with Skylar Brandt, principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre, for a gripping look at what it truly takes to perform at the highest level. Skylar pulls back the curtain on the physical and psychological demands of elite ballet—the toll it takes, the constant adaptations required to avoid breakdown, and the pressure of sustaining a career where your body, your art, and your livelihood are inseparably intertwined.

She speaks candidly about navigating the challenges of less-flexible feet in an industry that glorifies extreme range, and why the dance world must rethink the “more is better” mentality. But one of Skylar’s most powerful messages is the importance of listening to your body—learning when to push, when to modify, and when to stop—wisdom that applies not only to dancers, but to anyone striving for longevity in a demanding field.

This episode dives into the high-stakes intersection of artistry, athleticism, body awareness, and survival, offering a rare and riveting look behind the curtain of one of the world’s most unforgiving professions.

Takeaways:

Skylar reveals how elite performers balance on the edge of injury, often compensating in ways that hide the real damage.

Despite growing awareness, the aesthetic of fragility still reigns and muscular dancers are often questioned, even sidelined.

Jennifer and Dr. Bluestein challenge the outdated idea that power ruins grace and Skylar proves it’s possible to embody both.

Skylar shares how her body learned to work around instability and what happened when those patterns stopped serving her.

From pelvic stability to core engagement, Skylar’s journey shows how science-backed support can extend performance careers.

Find the episode transcript here.

Want more Skylar Brandt?

Instagram: @skylarbrandt

Want more Jennifer Milner?

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennifer.milner/?hl=en

Want more Dr. Linda Bluestein, MD?

Website: https://www.hypermobilitymd.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bendybodiespodcast

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/hypermobilitymd/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/BendyBodiesPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠

X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/BluesteinLinda⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/hypermobilitymd/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://hypermobilitymd.substack.com/

Shop my Amazon store ⁠⁠⁠ https://www.amazon.com/shop/hypermobilitymd

Dr. Bluestein's Recommended Herbs, Supplements and Care Necessities: https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/hypermobilitymd/store-start

Thank YOU so much for tuning in. We hope you found this episode informative, inspiring, useful, validating, and enjoyable. Join us on the next episode for YOUR time to level up your knowledge about hypermobility disorders and the people who have them.

Join YOUR Bendy Bodies community at ⁠⁠https://www\.bendybodiespodcast\.com/⁠⁠.

YOUR bendy body is our highest priority!⁠⁠

Learn more about Human Content at ⁠⁠⁠http://www\.human-content\.com⁠⁠⁠

Podcast Advertising/Business Inquiries: ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠

Part of the Human Content Podcast Network

FTC: This video is not sponsored. Links are commissionable, meaning I may earn commission from purchases made through links

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this solo episode, Dr. Linda Bluestein brings on her producers to help unpack the hidden complications that can follow seemingly routine medical procedures. From the lingering effects of breast surgery to the controversial use of nitrous oxide, Dr. Bluestein explores how standard treatments can backfire, especially for patients with EDS, MCAS, or complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). She also dives into the surprising risks of cervical collars, and why something that feels stabilizing may actually worsen pain over time. If you’ve ever been told your symptoms “shouldn’t be happening,” this episode might finally connect the dots.

Takeaways

Dr. Bluestein explains how this commonly used sedative can trigger or worsen neurological symptoms in vulnerable patients and why you might want to avoid it.

From scar sensitivity to chronic nerve pain, Dr. Bluestein explores the challenges many face but few anticipate.

You’ll learn when collars are truly helpful and when they might prolong instability, weakness, and pain.

This condition affects the nervous system in ways most clinicians miss. Dr. Bluestein breaks down how to recognize early signs and advocate for better care.

Dr. Bluestein reveals the disconnect between standard protocols and what EDS/MCAS patients actually experience in the OR and during recovery.

Find the episode transcript here.

Want more Dr. Linda Bluestein, MD?

Website: https://www.hypermobilitymd.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bendybodiespodcast

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/hypermobilitymd/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/BendyBodiesPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠

X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/BluesteinLinda⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/hypermobilitymd/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://hypermobilitymd.substack.com/

Shop my Amazon store ⁠⁠⁠ https://www.amazon.com/shop/hypermobilitymd

Dr. Bluestein's Recommended Herbs, Supplements and Care Necessities: https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/hypermobilitymd/store-start

Thank YOU so much for tuning in. We hope you found this episode informative, inspiring, useful, validating, and enjoyable. Join us on the next episode for YOUR time to level up your knowledge about hypermobility disorders and the people who have them.

Join YOUR Bendy Bodies community at ⁠⁠https://www\.bendybodiespodcast\.com/⁠⁠.

YOUR bendy body is our highest priority!⁠⁠

Learn more about Human Content at ⁠⁠⁠http://www\.human-content\.com⁠⁠⁠

Podcast Advertising/Business Inquiries: ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠

Part of the Human Content Podcast Network

FTC: This video is not sponsored. Links are commissionable, meaning I may earn commission from purchases made through links

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this solo episode, Dr. Linda Bluestein brings on her producers to ask your most pressing questions about what it’s really like to live with and treat Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes (EDS) and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS). From the pitfalls of internet misinformation to the hidden ways MCAS impacts medication tolerance, Dr. Bluestein shares her unique perspective as both a physician and a patient. With honesty and a touch of humor, she tackles everything from her least favorite diagnosis to how she manages confusing or contradictory advice. Whether you’re new to these conditions or deep in the weeds, this conversation brings clarity to complexity.

Takeaways:

Dr. Bluestein dives into why some patients need significantly more, or less, medication to stay under, and why it’s not your fault if things felt “off.”

She explores how connective tissue disorders can affect everything from wound healing to joint positioning on the table.

Learn how dysautonomia, MCAS, and EDS can complicate anesthesia depth and pain perception during and after surgery.

Linda reflects on how emotional trauma and sensory overwhelm can turn recovery into a mental marathon and why that deserves more attention.

From advocating for specific anesthesia plans to bringing your own blanket (really), Dr. Bluestein shares what patients can do to stay safer and more comfortable.

References & Resources: Find all articles mentioned in this episode at bendybodiespodcast.com.

Want more Dr. Linda Bluestein, MD?

Website: https://www.hypermobilitymd.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bendybodiespodcast

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/hypermobilitymd/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/BendyBodiesPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠

X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/BluesteinLinda⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/hypermobilitymd/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://hypermobilitymd.substack.com/

Shop my Amazon store ⁠⁠⁠ https://www.amazon.com/shop/hypermobilitymd

Dr. Bluestein's Recommended Herbs, Supplements and Care Necessities: https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/hypermobilitymd/store-start

Thank YOU so much for tuning in. We hope you found this episode informative, inspiring, useful, validating, and enjoyable. Join us on the next episode for YOUR time to level up your knowledge about hypermobility disorders and the people who have them.

Join YOUR Bendy Bodies community at ⁠⁠https://www.bendybodiespodcast.com/⁠⁠.

YOUR bendy body is our highest priority!⁠⁠

Learn more about Human Content at ⁠⁠⁠http://www.human-content.com⁠⁠⁠

Podcast Advertising/Business Inquiries: ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠

Part of the Human Content Podcast Network

FTC: This video is not sponsored. Links are commissionable, meaning I may earn commission from purchases made through links

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this eye-opening conversation, Dr. Linda Bluestein sits down with psychiatrist Dr. Janet Settle to unpack the medical mystery that is mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) and why it may be hiding in plain sight as depression, anxiety, panic attacks, or even psychosis. Together, they explore how immune system dysregulation can masquerade as psychiatric illness, and why so many patients are misdiagnosed, medicated, and misunderstood. With deep expertise in trauma-informed psychiatry, Dr. Settle explains how MCAS and other overlooked conditions could be the real cause behind persistent mental health symptoms and what it takes to finally get the right diagnosis.

Takeaways:

Dr. Settle explains how MCAS can present as psychiatric symptoms like panic, depression, or brain fog—long before classic allergy symptoms appear.

The conversation explores how common psych meds can actually exacerbate MCAS-related symptoms in some patients, leading to confusing outcomes.

Learn how past trauma and immune dysregulation may work together to create a complex feedback loop—affecting mood, cognition, and inflammation.

Many patients are labeled with mental illness for years before MCAS or other immune-based conditions are considered. Dr. Settle shares why this misdiagnosis is so common.

Discover how identifying MCAS and understanding its psychiatric presentations can open the door to treatments that actually work—and a life patients didn’t think was possible.

Find the episode transcript here.

References & Resources: Find all articles mentioned in this episode at bendybodiespodcast.com.

Want more Dr. Janet Settle?

https://www.linkedin.com/in/janet-settle-md-b2666142/

www.janetsettle.com

www.Gateway2Healing.com

Want more Dr. Linda Bluestein, MD?

Website: https://www.hypermobilitymd.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bendybodiespodcast

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/hypermobilitymd/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/BendyBodiesPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠

X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/BluesteinLinda⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/hypermobilitymd/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://hypermobilitymd.substack.com/

Shop my Amazon store ⁠⁠⁠ https://www.amazon.com/shop/hypermobilitymd

Dr. Bluestein's Recommended Herbs, Supplements and Care Necessities: https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/hypermobilitymd/store-start

Thank YOU so much for tuning in. We hope you found this episode informative, inspiring, useful, validating, and enjoyable. Join us on the next episode for YOUR time to level up your knowledge about hypermobility disorders and the people who have them.

Join YOUR Bendy Bodies community at ⁠⁠https://www.bendybodiespodcast.com/⁠⁠.

YOUR bendy body is our highest priority!⁠⁠

Learn more about Human Content at ⁠⁠⁠http://www.human-content.com⁠⁠⁠

Podcast Advertising/Business Inquiries: ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠

Part of the Human Content Podcast Network

FTC: This video is not sponsored. Links are commissionable, meaning I may earn commission from purchases made through links

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this emotionally charged episode, Dr. Linda Bluestein talks with Tilly Rose, the founder of That Oxford Girl and the author of Be Patient, about what it’s like to face palliative care as a young adult and come out the other side fighting for change. They explore how Tilly transformed her private pain into public advocacy, why chronic illness is so often misunderstood in young people, and what happens when you rewrite your identity in the face of a diagnosis. This is a story of resilience, reinvention, and the radical act of showing up when the world doesn’t know what to do with you.

Takeaways

What happens when a diagnosis rewrites your life story and how can you reclaim the pen?

Tilly shares the moment that inspired Be Patient and the raw honesty behind turning medical trauma into a memoir.

Learn how she balanced life at Oxford with hospital stays and how those parallel worlds reshaped her idea of “achievement.”

Why do so many young people with chronic illness feel unseen and what does Tilly believe needs to change?

Discover how That Oxford Girl evolved from a quiet act of self-expression into a global movement of validation, empathy, and empowerment.

Tilly reveals why sharing her story became both a lifeline and a catalyst for a more compassionate future.

Find the episode transcript here.

References & Resources: Find all articles mentioned in this episode at bendybodiespodcast.com.

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