Bendy Bodies with Dr. Linda Bluestein

In this episode, Dr. Linda Bluestein is joined by Dr. Eric Singman, a neuro-ophthalmologist who lives at the intersection of the eyes, the brain, and the complex symptoms so many people with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome experience. They dig into why EDS patients often struggle with vision even when everything looks “normal,” why convergence problems and visual fatigue are so common, and how conditions like POTS, mast cell activation, Chiari malformation, and cervical instability quietly affect how we see.

They also talk about dry eye, visual snow, glare sensitivity, elevated intracranial pressure without papilledema, and why so many EDS patients are sent down expensive treatment paths that may not actually help. This conversation is part science, part myth-busting, and part reality check for anyone who’s been told their symptoms don’t make sense.

If you’ve ever felt dismissed, confused, or overwhelmed by eye and vision issues in connective tissue disorders, this one’s for you.

Takeaways:

Normal eye exams don’t mean your vision problem isn’t real, especially for people with EDS.

Many vision symptoms in EDS are collateral damage, not primary eye disease.

Convergence issues are often blamed, but fatigue, cognition, and neck instability may be the real drivers.

Dry eye in EDS is more complex than “use drops”, especially with mast cell involvement.

The neck may be the missing piece in vision, brain fog, headaches, and reading difficulty.

Find the episode transcript here.

Want more Dr. Eric Singman?

https://www.umms.org/find-a-doctor/profiles/dr-eric-lowell-singman-md-1881654804

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

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In this expansive and deeply affirming conversation, Linda Bluestein and Shimi Kang explore a powerful idea: true healing comes from connection, not control—especially when living with chronic pain, nervous system dysregulation, or complex, overlapping conditions.

They unpack the neuroscience of emotional regulation and why chronic pain so often disrupts attention, focus, and cognitive flexibility—issues frequently labeled as “brain fog” or misattributed solely to mood or motivation. The discussion also dives into the growing recognition of overlap between neurodivergence and Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes, exploring how sensory sensitivity, pain, autonomic stress, and dopamine dysregulation may be biologically intertwined.

The conversation examines how constant tech stimulation and dopamine overload can further impair resilience, focus, and emotional regulation, particularly in already taxed nervous systems. They also explore emerging research on psychedelic-assisted therapies, including how substances like psilocybin may help unlock stored trauma, shift pain pathways, and support nervous system recalibration.

From the culture of medicine to the lived experience of chronic illness, they name the often-unspoken role of shame in blocking connection, care, and recovery—inviting listeners to rethink how we relate to our bodies, our brains, and what it truly means to heal.

Takeaways:


How chronic pain and nervous system stress impair focus, attention, and executive function


The emerging connection between neurodivergence (e.g.; ADHD, autism, dyscalculia, dysgraphia etc.) and Ehlers-Danlos syndromes


Why dopamine overload—from phones, apps, and constant stimulation—can worsen pain and emotional regulation


How psychedelic-assisted therapies may help release stored trauma and alter pain pathways


Why unspoken shame in medicine and chronic illness interferes with healing and connection


Why whole-person healing requires honoring the brain–body–nervous system connection

Find the episode transcript here.

Want more Dr. Shimi Kang?

https://x.com/drshimikang

https://www.instagram.com/drshimikang/?hl=en

https://www.facebook.com/drshimikang/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfqNKUKkxgM8M7Psn2f8fPA

https://www.linkedin.com/in/drshimikang/?originalSubdomain=ca

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

What if your chronic pain, bloating, or fatigue wasn’t in your head, but in your blood vessels? In this episode, Dr. Linda Bluestein sits down with vascular surgeon Dr. Robert Hacker, who’s on the front lines of diagnosing and treating complex conditions like MALS (Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome), Nutcracker Syndrome, May-Thurner Syndrome, and pelvic venous congestion syndrome, conditions that disproportionately affect women and often go undiagnosed for years.

Together, they dive into the frustrating diagnostic delays, the overlap between vascular compression and syndromes like POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome) and EDS  (Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome), and how new surgical approaches are offering hope. Whether you're navigating chronic pelvic pain, unexplained GI symptoms, or fainting episodes, this conversation breaks down the misunderstood links between your veins, nerves, and connective tissue—and what to do about them.

Takeaways:

MALS isn’t rare, it’s rarely diagnosed. Dr. Hacker explains the symptoms and scans to look for when your gut symptoms don’t match the tests.

Why so many women are misdiagnosed with IBS or anxiety. Pelvic venous congestion, Nutcracker Syndrome, and May-Thurner often mimic more common conditions—but require totally different treatments.

The surprising connection between vascular compression and POTS. It’s not just nerves, your veins might be compressing in ways that worsen dysautonomia.

Surgery isn’t a silver bullet, but it can be life-changing. Dr. Hacker shares what makes a good surgical candidate and how his team helps patients navigate workup and recovery.

When your connective tissue works against your vascular system. Hypermobility and EDS can make vascular compression more likely and more complicated to treat.

Find the episode transcript here.

Want more Dr. Robert Hacker?

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

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

Go to Cozy Earth now for a Buy One Get One Free Pajama Offer from 1/25-2/8! Yes, go to cozyearth.com they are doing a BOGO pajama promo. Just use my Code: BENDYBOGO

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 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!⁠⁠

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 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

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