In this raw and reflective Office Hours episode, Dr. Linda Bluestein responds to listener feedback and dives deep into the cultural and clinical gaslighting faced by people, especially women, navigating complex health conditions. From the dismissal of perimenopause to the rise of so-called “TikTok diseases,” Dr. Bluestein explores the dangerous disconnect between lived experiences and clinical skepticism. She also unpacks a now-infamous comment involving tuna, and what it reveals about how the medical community sometimes chooses ridicule over reflection. This episode is equal parts fiery and thoughtful, a must-listen for anyone tired of being misunderstood.
Takeaways
Dr. Bluestein highlights how hormonal shifts in midlife are often misdiagnosed or dismissed, leaving women to suffer in silence or seek validation on social media.
What some label as “made up” or attention-seeking may actually be the first time many people see their experience reflected anywhere.
She unpacks the tuna-eating comment, how it went viral, what it says about health gatekeeping, and why it hit a nerve with her listeners.
Dr. Bluestein breaks down the psychological toll of being told your pain isn’t real—and how this dismissal shows up again and again in care for hypermobile bodies.
From eyebrow-raising symptoms to unorthodox diagnoses, Dr. Bluestein makes the case for listening without judgment in a world eager to label and silence.
Additional Information:
Red Flags: https://www.bendybodiespodcast.com/p/redflags/
Bobby Jones CSF Together We Thrive Summit Lectures: https://bobbyjonescsf.org/i-am-patient/patient-conference/
Road to 2026: https://www.ehlers-danlos.com/road-to-2026/
Registries:
Dysautonomia Project: https://thedysautonomiaproject.org/find-a-provider/
Dysautonomia
International: https://dysautonomiainternational.org/page.php?ID=14
Genetic Counselor Registry: https://abgc.learningbuilder.com/Search/Public/MemberRole/Verification
My Webinar ‘Hypermobility – Diagnosis and Treatment in the MCAS patient’: https://shop.ehlers-danlos.org/product/dr-linda-bluestein-the-hypermobility-md-hypermobility-disorders-specialist/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
MENS PMMS Approach: https://www.nursingcenter.com/cearticle?an=00587875-202304000-00001&Journal_ID=3402523&Issue_ID=6649307&utm_source=chatgpt.com
Curbsiders Episode: Gluten, MTHFR, Mast Cells, and More | Office Hours (Ep 155): https://www.bendybodiespodcast.com/gluten-mthfr-mast-cells-and-more-office-hours-ep-155/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
NIH article on mercury and mast cells: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2850891/
Dr. Mary Claire's Substack: https://open.substack.com/pub/drmaryclairehaver/p/what-nearly-1000-women-told-me-about?r=1vualn&utm_medium=ios
Testosterone is Essential for Women with Dr. Kelly Casperson (Ep 131): https://www.bendybodiespodcast.com/testosterone-is-essential-for-women/
Sex hormones and allergies: exploring the gender differences in immune responses: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/allergy/articles/10.3389/falgy.2024.1483919/full
Impact of progesterone on the immune system in women: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10024519/
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.
YOUR bendy body is our highest priority!
Join YOUR Bendy Bodies community at https://www.bendybodiespodcast.com/.
Learn more about Human Content at http://www.human-content.com
Podcast Advertising/Business Inquiries: sales@human-content.com
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
00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview
02:11 Listener Story: Kaylee's Diagnosis Journey
03:46 Challenges in Diagnosing Hypermobile EDS
06:55 Emerging Research and Diagnostic Criteria
16:07 Listener Story: Anne's Health Struggle
18:19 Mercury and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome
25:08 Navigating Menopause with MCAS and EDS
41:48 Hypermobility Hack: Zumba on an Exercise Ball
45:08 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
