Voice, breathing, swallowing, and cough issues are far more common in people with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) than many realize — but too often, they’re overlooked. In today's episode of @bendy_bodies, Mayo Clinic speech-language pathologist Stacey Menton shares how patients with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder (HSD) often go unseen…
Speech-language pathologist and vocal specialist Stacy Menton joins Dr. Linda Bluestein to expose the surprising links between connective tissue disorders like EDS and common (but misunderstood) issues with voice, breathing, and swallowing. From overlooked diagnostics to cutting-edge therapies and startling new research, this conversation peels back the curtain on symptoms…
In this clip, Dr. Theoharis Theoharides (@dr.theoharides) shares why it’s better to say mast cell activation rather than mast cell activation syndrome - because not everyone has elevated tryptase, and too many people are dismissed because of it. Don’t let a normal lab result be the reason you’re sent home…
What if your brain fog, fatigue, and hypersensitivity weren’t “just anxiety”—but signs of a much deeper immune malfunction? In this episode, Dr. Pradeep Chopra co-hosts a rare and revealing conversation with Dr. Theoharis Theoharides, the scientist who first discovered that mast cells communicate with microglia in the brain. Together, they…
We’re on The Road to 2026 - a global initiative sponsored by @ehlers.danlos, working toward an update to the 2017 International Classification of EDS. That 2017 publication was a major milestone. It shaped how we understand and diagnose hEDS and HSD - but we’ve learned so much since then. This…
You asked. I answered. In this solo Q&A, I tackle some of the biggest and most misunderstood questions from our Bendy Bodies community. From toddlers flagged for autism to adults fighting for an EDS diagnosis, from altitude flares to functional neurologic disorder, this episode pulls no punches. I talk low-dose…
On today’s episode of @bendy_bodies, Dr. Eva Nagy explains how Breast Implant Illness (BII) can look a lot like hEDS (hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome), HSD (Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders), POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome), MCAS (Mast Cell Activation Syndrome), and other systemic disorders. Here’s what you’ll learn: 💡 Common signs of BII…
What if your breast implants were silently fueling your fatigue, anxiety, rashes, or brain fog—and no one believed you? In this powerful episode, Dr. Linda Bluestein speaks with renowned breast surgeon Dr. Eva Nagy who’s become a global voice for patients suffering from Breast Implant Illness (BII). Together, they uncover…
Do you have chronic pain "down there"? Is intercourse painful? Do you have difficulty wearing tight pants or sitting? On today’s episode of @bendy_bodies, Dr. Andrew T. Goldstein (@andrewtgoldstein and @the.cvvd) dives deep into vestibulectomy—a surgical option that’s often misunderstood in the world of chronic pain. Here’s what you need…
What if the pain you’ve been told to ignore… was actually coming from your hips, your spine—or your immune system? In this deep-dive episode, Dr. Linda Bluestein is joined by Dr. Andrew Goldstein, an expert in sexual pain disorders, to unravel the misunderstood causes of vulvar and pelvic pain in…
On last week’s episode of @bendy_bodies, Dr. Victor Montori (@patientrevolution) shared why we need to stop blaming “noncompliant” patients or “burned out” doctors — and start looking at the system making it impossible to thrive. 🐦 When someone can no longer show up — whether it’s a clinician or a…
What if your rushed, robotic medical visit isn’t just frustrating, but a symptom of something much darker? In this powerful episode, Dr. Linda Bluestein sits down with Dr. Victor Montori, author of Why We Revolt, to explore what’s truly broken in healthcare and why patients and clinicians are suffering on…
I’m opening up about something personal on today’s episode of @bendy_bodies; I used to have severe kinesiophobia—a deep fear of movement—because I would get injured doing the smallest things. 😣 For those of us with Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes (especially hEDS), POTS, MCAS, or hypermobility disorders, movement can feel risky. But avoiding…
What if your symptoms weren’t isolated… but signals in a much larger system breakdown? In this wide-ranging solo Q&A, Dr. Linda Bluestein uncovers the hidden threads connecting uncontrolled pain before surgery, unexplained eye issues, MCAS, multiple chemical sensitivity, Alpha-gal syndrome, and even autism risk. From the scar tissue no one…
In today’s episode of @bendy_bodies, integrative pediatrician Dr. Pejman Katiraei explains why the increase in autism diagnoses isn’t just due to better testing. He explores potential root causes—including environmental stressors, immune system imbalances, mast cell activation (MCAS), and the body’s deeper responses to modern life. This is a powerful, nuanced…
What if the diagnosis was just the beginning—and the root cause was hiding in plain sight? In this riveting episode, Dr. Linda Bluestein welcomes pediatrician and integrative medicine expert Dr. Pejman Katiraei, whose work with children struggling with autism, mold exposure, and mast cell activation reveals a shocking truth: many…
In today’s episode of @bendy_bodies, Isabel Ramirez-Burnett shares the emotional weight of living with a connective tissue disorder like Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and the added challenge of being told your symptoms are psychosomatic—by both doctors and family members. For many living with EDS, Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders (HSD), or ME/CFS (Myalgic…
What if your body’s collapse wasn’t burnout… but a system crash no test can catch? In this episode, Dr. Linda Bluestein welcomes Isabelle Ramirez Burnett, systems engineer, health coach, and founder of Renegade Research, to reveal the silent breakdowns behind ME/CFS, long COVID, and hypermobility-related illness. Diagnosed with ME/CFS at…
⚡ What if your patient wasn’t "just anxious" — but actually living with an undiagnosed connective tissue disorder? On today’s episode of @bendy_bodies, Dr. Audrey Kershaw shares how she approaches patients who show subtle (but serious) signs of conditions like Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes (EDS) or HSD, mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS),…
What if your dental history held the key to a complex diagnosis no one’s caught? In this gripping episode of the Bendy Bodies Podcast, Dr. Linda Bluestein welcomes Dr. Audrey Kershaw, a trailblazing oral surgeon who’s uncovered hundreds of hidden Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) cases—starting in the dental chair. From patients…
🌍 Did you know there’s a growing conversation around the link between hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS) and transgender or gender-diverse identities? Recent research suggests that neurodivergence (especially autism and ADHD), connective tissue disorders [like EDS and hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD)], and gender diversity may intersect in fascinating ways. What are…
What if the very things you do to feel or look better are quietly making you feel worse? In this solo episode of the Bendy Bodies Podcast, Dr. Linda Bluestein answers listener questions—but what begins as a practical Q&A quickly dives into rarely discussed truths about cosmetic procedures, EMFs, neuroinflammation,…
On today’s episode of @bendy_bodies, therapist couple Melissa Dickinson and Tom Query get real about what it takes to build a strong, successful relationship while living with EDS (Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome) and neurodivergence. 💬💕 From open communication to adapting daily life, they share the tools that help them stay connected—and the…
What happens when illness hijacks your love story? In this raw and revealing episode, Dr. Linda Bluestein sits down with therapists and real-life couple Melissa Dickinson and Tom Query, who know firsthand how Ehlers-Danlos syndrome can test—and transform—a relationship. From secret diagnoses to unexpected intimacy challenges, they open up about…