Podcasts about ehlers danlos

Too many diagnoses. Too many opinions. Too many tabs open. Not enough clarity. If you've ever felt overwhelmed trying to navigate Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS), Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder (HSD), POTS, MCAS, chronic pain, or other complex health issues, you're not alone. In this episode of Bendy Bodies with the Hypermobility MD, Dr. Linda Bluestein is joined by physician assistant Rebecca Gluck, PA-C, who brings specialized genetics experience from working alongside Dr. Clair Francomano and serves on the Ehlers-Danlos Society's Medical and Scientific Advisory Board and Road to 2026 Research Committee. Together, they discuss how patients and families can move from information overload to a clearer, more practical plan. They explore how to evaluate online communities, AI tools, direct-to-consumer genetic testing, and conflicting medical opinions without becoming even more overwhelmed. Rebecca and Dr. Bluestein explain why diagnosis is often the beginning, not the end, of the journey, and why there is no single "EDS expert" who can solve every problem in one visit. They also walk through how to prioritize symptoms, identify the most functionally limiting issues, avoid unnecessary "whack-a-mole" interventions, and build a collaborative care team. This conversation is for anyone who has too many diagnoses, too many opinions, too many tabs open, and no clear next step. If you are trying to make sense of EDS, HSD, hypermobility, mast cell activation, POTS, chronic pain, genetic testing, AI-generated health information, or proposed procedures, this episode offers practical guidance to help you pause, sort through the noise, and move forward with more clarity. Takeaways: • Information overload is real, especially for people with EDS, HSD, POTS, MCAS, chronic pain, and complex multisystem symptoms. • More information does not always mean more clarity. The key is learning what applies to you, right now. • AI tools and direct-to-consumer genetic testing can help organize questions, but they are not diagnostic and can make uncertain findings sound more certain than they are. • A diagnosis can provide validation and shared language, but it is usually the start of building a plan, not the finish line. • Hypermobile EDS (hEDS) and HSD currently do not have a confirmatory genetic test. • No single clinician can be the expert in everything. Progress often comes from a collaborative care team and a clinician willing to listen, learn, and help prioritize. • When multiple diagnoses and procedures are on the table, focusing on the most functionally limiting symptoms can help prevent unnecessary or poorly timed interventions. • Addressing underlying contributors such as mast cell activation, dysautonomia, sleep, nutrition, pain, and deconditioning may sometimes reduce the need for more invasive steps. • The goal is not to chase every possible diagnosis at once. The goal is to identify the next best step. Go to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code BENDY_ to get UP TO $300 off today! 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 Want to learn more about the UVA EDS Center? For Appointments and Questions: RUVAEDSCenter@uvahealth.org UVA EDS: https://www.uvahealth.com/healthy-practice/advancing-care-through-ehlers-danlos-clinic UVA EDS FAQ: https://www.uvahealth.com/support/eds/faq UVA Pediatric Integrative Medicine: https://childrens.uvahealth.com/specialties/integrative-health 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: ⁠⁠⁠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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Send Zorba a message!Zorba digs into a new study that shows taking vitamin D during pregnancy can lead to better cognitive health for the child. He also helps a caller with questions about Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. And he answers emails about rosacea, Raynaud's syndrome, and we get some listener-sourced Sven and Ole jokes.Support the showProduction, edit, and music by Karl ChristensonSend your question to Dr. Zorba (he loves to help!):Phone: 608-492-9292 (call anytime)Email: askdoctorzorba@gmail.comWeb: www.doctorzorba.orgStay well!

Dr. Deb Muth 00:03What if your diagnosis isn’t actually your diagnosis? What if the fatigue, brain fog, anxiety, and inflammation you’ve been told are normal are actually signals your body is reacting to something in your environment? Something no one ever tested.What if the reason you’re not getting better is because no one is asking the right questions?Today, we’re exposing one of the most overlooked drivers of chronic illness, and why so many people are being dismissed, misdiagnosed, and left without answers.You guys can insert, one of our ads in here, that’d be great.Welcome back to Let’s Talk Wellness Now, the show where we uncover the root causes of chronic illness, explore cutting-edge regenerative medicine, and empower you with the tools to heal. I’m Dr. Deb, your medical detective. And today, we’re diving into the hidden drivers of chronic illness through the lens of functional and environmental medicine.If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with a chronic condition or is struggling with unexplained neurological symptoms, like fatigue, brain fog, numbness, or chronic pain. This episode is for you. So, grab your cup of coffee, tea, or whatever helps you unwind.Settle in, and let’s get started on your journey to deeper healing.Today, I’m joined by Dr. Kelly McCann. A board-certified physician in internal medicine and pediatrics, with advanced training in functional, integrative, and environmental medicine. She’s known for her work in mold illness, chronic infections, MCAS, and complex chronic conditions And for helping patients who have been told everything looks normal. She helps them finally get real answers. Dr. Kelly, welcome to the show. I’m so excited to have you here. Share a little bit about what you’re doing these days, and who you are, and who you’re serving with us. Kelly McCann 02:42Thank you. So, my favorite patient population is patients who deal with complex chronic illness, and I didn’t set out to deal with these kinds of patients, but I kept… needing to be able to solve the puzzles, right? So they would come in, and there would be so many things that just didn’t add up and didn’t make sense, and it started with,it started with just doing functional and integrative medicine, and GI issues, and hormone issues, and autoimmune issues, and then it was mold as a driver, and then it was Lyme disease and the other tick-borne infections, and then all of those patients, many of those patients developed mast cell activation syndrome.Which I’ve now gone on and become an expert in, because they all have it.And all the related conditions with MCAS, the Ehlers-Danlos, hypermobility syndrome, POTS, postural orthostatic tachycardic syndrome, and… The one thing that really stuck out to me over the years of treating these patients is the ones who were willing to take a deep look inside. And see how their… their belief patterns, how their thoughts how they perceived themselves, different traumas that they experienced. If they were able to reframe some of the ways that they were thinking about their illness, about themselves, their relationship to themselves, they were the ones who really healed.And not only did they heal physically, they healed emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually. I have some patients who started out disabled, and now are running their own companies. One who, again, same thing, terribly disabled, lots of emotional issues, lots of ups and downs, food sensitivities, oxalate issues, and now she’s a medical intuitive. And she’s just doing fabulously, and has blossomed, right? So, this is a missing piece that we’re not really talking about. Dr. Deb Muth 05:04Yeah, I so agree with you. I see the same thing in my practice, and I treat a lot of the same people you do, and you are so right. Like, if we can get down to a deeper level with them, and address the trauma that happened.And it may be a trauma they never even remembered, right? It could be something that’s just seated in their cells and they don’t remember it. And you don’t directly think it’s causing the illness, but it is getting in the way of them healing. If you can address those things, those are the people that tend to do so much better, I think, versus the people who are getting some mileage out of their illness. That there’s a reason they stay stuck, there’s a reason they stay sick, they’re getting something from it, even though they don’t realize it in the moment.So let’s talk a little bit, before we hopped on the recording, you and I were talking about body, emotion, spirit. A little different than what we’re used to hearing with mind, body, spirit. Talk about your philosophy on this. Kelly McCann 06:01So what I’ve really come to realize is that the mind is getting in the way. And we have this perception that our mind is who we are. Right? We really think that who I am are the thoughts that I have every day. That’s me. And when I’m not getting better, it’s because my body is not… Falling in line with what my mind and my will want to do. So we set up this adversarial relationship. And this has been the philosophy in Western culture since Descartes said, I think therefore I am. Where the mind is supreme, and it is the all-knowing, and the body is just a vehicle for the mind. And every… Therapeutic intervention, from trauma-informed therapy, from, you know, wonderful people who have committed a lot of help and given great information. Bessel van der Kolk, The Body Keeps the Score, Gabor Mate, you know, all of these folks who have done such great work in us understanding trauma I think… The next phase is really recognizing that the body is actually not against us. It is not our enemy. In fact, it is… The body that is speaking to us as the voice piece of our souls and our spirits, that is saying to us, hey. you’re not listening. The path that you are walking down and the way that you are being in the world is not really working for you. It’s not who you are. It’s not who you’re supposed to be on the planet. And we’re trying to get your attention, right? Dr. Deb Muth 07:59Yeah. Kelly McCann 07:59I mean… Dr. Deb Muth 08:00this thing, so I’m gonna talk louder. Kelly McCann 08:02Exactly, exactly! It’s like a little toddler who only can speak in so many words, right? There’s only so many ways that a younger version of ourselves, or our bodies, like, how do our bodies communicate to us? Symptoms and sensations. That’s it. Those are the ways that our bodies communicate. And if we don’t listen to sensations, well, it’s gotta turn it up, it’s gotta turn up the volume, and then we have more symptoms. And then if we’re still like, no, it’s gonna do it my way, it turns up the symptoms some more. And when… We are in this adversarial relationship, we can’t bridge that gap. Can’t bridge that gap, so… What… what happens is thatUnderneath the symptoms and the sensations are emotions. Emotions that have not been processed. Because we’ve been stuffing them down, we believe that they shouldn’t exist, we don’t want to face them, we’re afraid of them, they’re not acceptable, we’re ashamed of them, whatever the reason may be, and they’re stuck in the body. And so the way through is to actually just feel our feelings. Dr. Deb Muth 09:26That’s kind of scary for some people. Kelly McCann 09:28It’s… it’s scary for the… it’s scary for the whole planet! Dr. Deb Muth 09:32For all of this, right? Kelly McCann 09:33For all of us. When we start to feel our feelings, we don’t like it. We’ve been taught it’s not okay. Boys, it’s not okay to cry. Girls, don’t be loud, don’t be angry. You’re a B-I-T-C-H if you do that, right? So there’s so many taboos about feeling our feelings. I have patients who say, I can’t be mad at my father or my mother because I was taught to honor thy father and thy mother. Like, yes, but you’re angry, and guess what?] That ain’t going nowhere until you express it, so… you have a choice. Express it, or hold onto it, and then you just kind of stay here in this space where it’s never expressed. Dr. Deb Muth 10:19Yeah, except in your body, in your physical being, right? Kelly McCann 10:22Except in your physical being. And here’s the magic. Emotions are meant to move through us, right? Emotion. They don’t last for that long!60 to 90 seconds, really? Maybe a couple minutes? Yeah. You really, really feel them. Right? Dr. Deb Muth 10:44Yeah. Kelly McCann 10:46And we’re terrified of that 60 to 90 seconds. Dr. Deb Muth 10:50What might we do to ourselves or to someone in that 60 to 90 seconds, right? I may scream, I may cry, I may not be this person that everybody thinks I’m supposed to be. That person that holds it all together is there for everybody, holds everybody else’s space. So well put together, right? If you’re not that person, then who are you? Are you human? Kelly McCann 11:16Oh, you’re more than human. Yeah, I mean, the way that I would look at it is, I would say, well, you don’t have to put on a show, right? This is really for you. Close the door, lock the… close the windows, get out your pillow. Whatever you need to do. I mean, I have some patients who will write it out. There’s a way to just, like, freeform write, where you don’t actually read it, you just write it out, scribble it out, get it all out on paper, and then burn it, or shred it, or something like that. you can pound a pillow, you can, you know, scream, whatever it is, you can cry. I mean, I think crying is, at least for… for me. Crying is the easiest way to think about it. So, you start crying, you’ve got a few little tears, you know, it’s not too bad, and then it’s a full-on sob, and then at some point, you’re like, okay, I think I need a tissue, right? But it doesn’t last forever Dr. Deb Muth 12:22No, it really doesn’t. I had a physical therapy friend who, when I started my practice, and you know, you start your business, and everything’s just chaotic, because you don’t know what you’re doing, and you have all kinds of people that don’t know what they’re doing, and there’s always a problem. Computer, the phone, the this, the that, blah blah blah. And she brought me what was called a Dammit doll. And I had never seen one, I didn’t know what it was, and it was this really… sturdy doll that didn’t look like anything, that had two legs that you could grab onto, that you could just beat at the table whenever you needed to. And she’s like, this is how you do it. And I was like. oh my god, that’s amazing! And I would use it every couple of hours sometimes, sometimes every day, and I would just be like. And then it was over.Yeah, sure, but it was over, instead of me walking around all day long, carrying all this frustration and not having anybody to talk to about it, because you’re busy during the day. And then if you keep talking about it, it just gets worse. But I could do that, and then I’d be done, and I’d be like, okay, I got it out, let’s find the solution, now let’s move on. Kelly McCann 13:28Exactly! Dr. Deb Muth 13:29Coolest thing! Kelly McCann 13:31Exactly! That is exactly what I’m talking about, Deb. Exactly, that’s so cool. I love that. Yeah, I mean, anger is really taboo in our society. Very taboo. And, And, you know, I have a couple patients that struggle so much with expressing their anger, but it’s important. It’s important. We’ve all had so, so many instances. You know, and… of being disappointed. Dr. Deb Muth 14:08Yeah. Kelly McCann 14:08from our… from… All sorts of situations in our lives. And, you know, nobody gets out of life without any trauma. you know, little T traumas. Everybody’s got some. Even if you have the most wonderful, well-meaning parents, something’s gonna happen, and it might be the parents, it could be just life, but things happen that we misinterpret. And then we think.We make decisions about ourselves, or about our families, or about what’s okay and what’s not okay, and those things cause us to forget who we really are. Dr. Deb Muth 14:53That’s okay. Kelly McCann 14:55Because when you look at a 1-year-old or an 18-month-old, they are joy and love incarnate, right? Dr. Deb Muth 15:03Yeah, they are. Kelly McCann 15:05That’s who we are. That’s who we really are. But we forget. We forget, because of all the rules, and all the expectations, and all the disappointment, and all the misinterpretations, we forget who we really are. And… I think… A life journey, especially a health journey, is a way back to who we really are. Dr. Deb Muth 15:32It’s interesting, as we’re talking about this, because I think about people who have really traumatic life events, like life and death. They are so lucky that they’re alive. They were in an accident, or, you know, they had this horrible cancer that they survived, and they weren’t supposed to. And they come out very differently, oftentimes. Because they realize how precious life is, and it’s… they look at life now as a gift instead of whatever else we were looking at it before that time, right? But they do truly look at life differently. I… I’m curious always, like, how do they… how do they do that? But yet, if we have a chronic illness.It’s so much harder to do that same thing when there’s a chronic illness versus an acute thing, and you’ve got this second chance. Kelly McCann 16:20Right? I see it as, The chronic illness is this slow decline, right? And because it’s a slow decline, there’s never that. Wake-up call. Which people get in a car accident, in a cancer diagnosis, where all of a sudden, your life changes in front of you, and you have to really reflect. Where I think with chronic illness, it’s like, oh, this isn’t great, I don’t love this. Oh, this is a little worse. But we keep hoping… which is the part that’s connected to who we really are, right? We keep hoping it’s gonna get better. Keep hoping it’s gonna get better, but it’s getting worse, and it’s getting worse. And… And we… as a… again, as a culture, have an expectation that somebody is gonna throw us a bone or a line, and we’re… they’re gonna pull us back out. We’re gonna find the right protocol, we’re gonna find the right practitioner, we’re gonna get… have somebody else help us get out. And… As healthcare practitioners, we can help people get 50% better, 80% better, you know, sometimes 100% better, but not all the time, because it’s an inside job. Dr. Deb Muth 17:42Well, and I like to tell people, too, like, you’re never 100%, 100% of the time. there’s always going to be something that you’re not gonna like. You wake up, you’re a little more tired, you know, you slept wrong, you got a kink in your neck, whatever it is. But I think you’re really on to something here, too, because if you don’t deal with the emotional baggage, the trauma. the person who said something to you in high school. If you don’t deal with that, and you carry that around forever. you kind of keep inviting the same people into your lives to treat you the exact same way. So then you just kind of keep that same pattern going over and over and over again, and you just keep thinking, why am I the doormat? Why does everybody keep kicking me? And when we truly start to deal with what happened, you start to attract those people differently in your lives, and people aren’t walking all over you anymore. Kelly McCann 18:35Right. And… It’s very easy to get caught up in the whys. And that keeps us up here. Right, and what I’ve found with myself and, you know, many of my patients is that We have to stay in the body long enough with the sensations and the emotions to have it, you know, crescendo on the emotion, and then decrescendo. But when we pop out, and we start asking, well, why did this happen, and why am I a doormat, and why am I a victim, and why, why, why, or… or analyzing, or what have you, we… We stop the emotive process. Which halts the resolution, and we don’t actually get to where we want to be. So, you know, I was just talking to a patient today. She’s like, well, I’ve been feeling my feelings, and I’ve been feeling the fear. I’m like, yes, but did you actually stick with it the entire time, or did you start thinking about it? Because we do this, we pop into our thoughts, and we’re like… oh, yeah, I was emoting. You know, like, oh, that made me sad. And then come back up here, and then we realize, oh, we gotta, we gotta… we’re still stuck in it, we’re still stuck in it. And I’m like. Dr. Deb Muth 19:56Like, when we’re… annotate. Kelly McCann 19:59Exactly! Exactly! It’s kind of like that, yeah. And so we stay on this little, hamster wheel. Because we don’t recognize it. The solution is in the emotion. Dr. Deb Muth 20:15So how do people stay in the feeling instead of letting their mind escape to the grocery list, the kid’s to-do list, dot dot dot dot dot? How do we stay in that emotion long enough to kind of work through it? Kelly McCann 20:30It’s a good question. I think… Having the awareness that that’s what you need to do. is the first step, right? Is to really say, okay, I’m gonna, like, put my mind outside of the door, say I’ll be back in 20 minutes, and then really just give yourself the permission to stay with whatever emotion that’s coming up. And it’s practice. It is a lot of practice. This is not… it’s very, very simple. It is not easy for the vast majority of people, and especially if we’re really patterned. So, I actually started an online program to help people learn how to do this. Because it is… not easy. Dr. Deb Muth 21:16If it was easy, we wouldn’t have so many problems, right? We would just move on and keep going, but that’s where we got ourselves into a lot of trouble, is we just recognize, acknowledge, move on, and say, okay, I’m out of it, good, let’s go, next thing, next thing. Kelly McCann 21:32Yeah, which doesn’t work. Like, oh, I dealt with that. I, you know, talked to my parents before they passed, and we came to an understanding. Like, that’s not the same thing as feeling your feelings, because that 10-year-old, that 5-year-old who felt abandoned, or felt… Abused, or whatever it is that you’re feeling, they’re still in there. The adult you made this agreement with your parents that you’re gonna be okay, right? But that kid you still is upset. So…I think the first… the first thing is recognizing that emotions and thoughts are very different, and to learn the difference. So if I say, I feel like blah blah blah blah blah, that’s not a feeling, that’s a thought. Dr. Deb Muth 22:26Hmm. Kelly McCann 22:27Right? I feel like, this. I’m in… I feel embarrassed. No, that’s the thought. Dr. Deb Muth 22:34That’s not… Kelly McCann 22:35the actual feeling. Feelings are really often located in the emotions. They’re very simple. I’m afraid. I’m sad. I feel terror. I’m angry. I’m enraged. Those are feelings. I… I am mad that blah blah blah blah blah. You know, we don’t necessarily have to know why we feel the feelings. Eventually, we will understand where they’re coming from. But it’s actually just feeling the feelings, and then… oh, I love this one, too. It’s like, well, I’ve forgiven them. I’ve forgiven them for, you know, what they did to me. That’s here. Yeah. If you’ve really forgiven them. it comes from here, and it comes after the feelings. So, we still have to feel our feelings if we’re angry or upset about something, if we’re sad about something, we have to feel them first, and then the beauty is in what’s underneath the emotions. It’s quiet, it’s calm, it’s soft, it’s connected to who you really are. And at that point, then you have a much broader worldview and understanding of things, and you can have compassion for yourself. You can have compassion for other people and their choices. And when I… when it’s… when it’s held in that space, it’s… it’s such a different experience. Yeah. Dr. Deb Muth 24:18Do you think people can have compassion for others if they don’t deal with their own things? Kelly McCann 24:24It’s, again, it’s… it’s from the head, right? Dr. Deb Muth 24:28Not from the heart. Kelly McCann 24:29It’s not from the heart. It’s not from the heart. And it’s a good try, but it’s, like, a carbon copy of the real thing. It’s not really the thing. Dr. Deb Muth 24:39Hmm. What happens if people walk around thinking that they have all this, you know, great compassion and love for the world,but it is truly just coming from the head and not the heart? Kelly McCann 24:54Then, you know, they’re kind of circling and circling, and they’ll find that the thoughts and the beliefs and the things that cause them to be upset will still be there. Right? There’s a… I mean, I have to admit, I don’t really watch the news, because it is upsetting, right? Dr. Deb Muth 25:14I am. Kelly McCann 25:15And I have a number of patients who are very, very distraught about the state of the world.That’s… not seeing the bigger picture. It’s coming from here. Rather than here. And this is a really hard thing for people to grasp. But when we are triggered, By something outside of ourselves. That is because that upset exists inside of ourselves. So, for example, if I call you stupid, Deb, and there’s no part of you believes that you are stupid, it will bounce off you. You know, like you’re a rubber ball, right? Because it’s not true. It doesn’t resonate anywhere in you, so you can’t possibly be triggered by that.But if I say to you something that, you find hurtful, it’s not because of what I’ve said. It’s because that hurt, that upset, is still alive in you. And that… Opportunity, then, Is there for you to say, hmm… Clearly, there’s something inside of me that needs some attention about this.we’ve… we don’t really think about life that way. Right. We think… That person made me mad. Nobody makes you mad. It’s you. That inside of you. Right? I was talking on the phone last night with one of my colleagues whose daughter is in the hospital, and she’s been in the hospital in, like, the best Children’s Hospital, in Chicago for 2 months. Two months with gastrointestinal issues. And… They haven’t done a CT scan yet. Dr. Deb Muth 27:24What? Kelly McCann 27:25I know. I was talking with another, physician colleague of… colleague of mine last night, or this morning, at the time. How… that should have been done in the ER! Dr. Deb Muth 27:38Yeah! Kelly McCann 27:39At least… At least, or maybe the first day of the hospitalization, they didn’t do an endoscopy until Last week. 7 weeks in the hospital with an NJ tube. Dr. Deb Muth 27:53Oh my god. Kelly McCann 27:54Tube feeds. like, what is wrong with these people, right? So, I was so mad on her behalf. And of course, what I realized, too, is then, okay, well, there’s stuff inside of me, like, I have really… I have some stuff about… what is expected of other people in the world, what is expected of other physicians in the world. Like, these are the worst physicians on the planet. They clearly don’t care. They should all be fired. But there’s stuff in me that is really being triggered by this, that I have… I have work to do about. And I still think it’s wrong. Dr. Deb Muth 28:36I had that same experience last week. I had a pharmacist tell my patient they didn’t need a prescription that I had ordered, because she… didn’t fill it frequently enough because she was using it differently than what we wrote it, which so many of our patients do. It’s a hormone, it’s not a big deal, right? Kelly McCann 28:53Yeah, right. Dr. Deb Muth 28:54And… and he said to her, well, I don’t think you need this anymore. Yes. Kelly McCann 29:00choice. Dr. Deb Muth 29:01Right, and that’s what I said, I’m like… I said, who the F is he? To tell you that he thinks you need this or not? He doesn’t know you, he doesn’t know your labs, he hasn’t been taking care of you for 20 years. I have, and you’ve clearly been using it. And so I called the pharmacy, and the conversation went a little differently on his side, of course, than what the patient explained to me, but I had to sit back, too, and I looked at that, and I was like, why was I so angry that he said this to her? And I understand, it was, you know, he was undermining my authority, my knowledge base, and I knew that right away, but I was still so triggered by it, and… and she was just kind of like. Yeah, I was really surprised he said that, but I figured he knew more than me, and I’m like, so I was coming to see you, I would just tell you, and you would tell me if it was right or wrong, and I’m like. okay, that was a good way to take it, but boy, that instantly triggered for me. But again, I recognized exactly why I was triggered with that, and had to calm down a little bit and all of that, but… I think there’s a lot of that that happens. And, you know, when you work hard to know what you know, and I work hard, and we see other people doing not even the basics, it’s kind of like, what is wrong with the world? Kelly McCann 30:18Yes, yeah, yeah, yeah, and there’s stuff there, right? So why is it that I worked so hard to become the best doctor that I could? Because I didn’t feel adequate. And so, when somebody else shows up as inadequate, or I perceive them to be inadequate, that triggers that… my own inadequacy, right? Especially since it was a man, so there’s a man under my your authority. Yeah, that would just really get to me. Yeah, so there’s something around that, so I know that, you know, for me, that might be where I explore it, but yeah, it’s, Life is a journey. Dr. Deb Muth 31:00Yeah, it really is. And I think, too, from a practitioner standpoint, like, we take so many of our patients home with us, like, it’s our job to be the medical detective, figure them out.Help them find the answers, make them feel better. And not that we do it from an eco perspective, because I think most practitioners don’t. They truly do it because they care and they want to make people better, and we have this knowledge and this expertise that other people don’t have. But, boy, it gets harder and harder and harder when you get more and more chronically ill people to help them find the answers and help them be well, especially if they don’t deal with their own house, right? We don’t… if they don’t deal with their house, it’s hard for us to come in and say, let me help you deal with your house. Right. So, how does that fit into some of this? Kelly McCann 31:51You know, that’s a really good question. I had to learn that over time to be able to use my own intuition to say, how much is this person willing to do? And really evaluate their… their willingness to change, their willingness to do the hard work. And… And I… and I had to hone my intuition in order to do that, and now I see… I will see there are people that… they’re happy. in their little merry-go-round, in their whack-a-mole game. And I will do my best, and I will kind of, you know, nudge where I think it’s appropriate, but when they push back, I gotta let that go. I gotta let that go, and recognize that it’s their journey, it’s their life, and I can’t be more attached to their healing than they are. Dr. Deb Muth 32:49That’s what I’ve done, too. That’s what I tell my practitioners, my young practitioners that come in by me, too. I say the same thing. Like, I have some that are really young, and we’re all green, right? And we want to just fix the world, and I’ve got so much I can give you, and so much you can do, and then when they don’t do it, you’re like. what did I do wrong that they’re not doing it? And I have to go back and tell them the same thing. This is their journey, not yours. You’re just here to give knowledge and hold space. And they get to pick and choose what they want to do, and if it’s not exactly what we want them to do, that’s okay, it’s their journey. And every time… and I laugh because I always see my younger self in them, too, but why don’t they want to do it? This is gonna make them so much better! We have this tool! And it’s like… they’re not ready yet. It’s okay for them not to be ready yet. We have to be okay with the fact that they’re not ready yet. And I think as a provider and a practitioner, that is one of the hardest things to do, is to sit back and go, okay, you’re just not ready yet. When you’re ready, we’ll be here to hold you and hold space. But right now, you’re not there, it’s okay. Kelly McCann 33:52Yeah, it is okay. Yeah, actually, one of the women that I mentioned earlier, earlier in the podcast, it took her 18 months to get to the point where I felt like she was ready, and it was one of those things, like. You’re ready! I got so excited, and that’s exactly what I said to her. I was like, okay, here, I want you to read this book. Dr. Deb Muth 34:14And he was. Kelly McCann 34:14finally ready, and I gave her the book called How to Heal Yourself When No One Else Can by Amy B. Share, which is just so awesome. And she took that book, and she was like, I am going to do this. And she wrote out journals and journals and journals, and… did lists, and then she would clear them, and then she would clear them. She got so much better, and then it was, like. Biofield tuning, and she did, Gupta, and Amya Piggin’s work, and, you know, so many other things. And then she was doing really well, 80% better, eating all sorts of foods, and there was still this little, like. Mmm, something’s still missing. Something’s still missing. Not quite where I want to be. I still have some mood issues. And then she came and joined my Unforgetting Project program. And that was the missing piece for her. This… whole thing that we’re talking about, like, just feeling the feelings was really her missing piece, because she was clearing, you know, with using EFT, but it wasn’t working anymore, because she actually was bypassing feeling her feelings. Dr. Deb Muth 35:38Hmm. Kelly McCann 35:39So I, you know, these programs, the nervous system programs, the limbic system programs, they are fantastic, and they’re super, super helpful. And then there comes a point in time where we have to shift gears, and we have to go deeper. But it… all of those programs get people, if they’re willing to put in the time and effort, get people to the place where, like, okay, now I gotta go in. Even deeper. Yeah. Dr. Deb Muth 36:07And that can be scary for people. That can be really frightening. I did a 10-day women’s retreat in Spain, with a priestess program, and I had no clue what I was doing. I was going to my first women’s retreat in Spain, no clue, but I had to do. Kelly McCann 36:23It sounds fantastic. Dr. Deb Muth 36:25Fantastic, right? And and when I got there, it was a lot of shamanic work, deep work, and, as we’re all… there’s, like, 30 of us women going through, and all different ages, going through things. And reliving our past as a child, and reliving all these different pieces of us as women that we’ve left behind someplace else. We’ve lost. And, And just sitting in… I still remember it to this day, you know, the crying, the sobbing, the anger, the screaming, the stomping. the silence. Like, everybody had a different way of dealing with those emotions coming out, and we had to be silent from, 10 at night till 10 in the morning. You couldn’t say anything to anybody. And, and that was a little challenging for a lot of us. But it gave you that time that after you went through one of these processes. you could process. You could just sit with those feelings, sit with what came up for you, journal. And it was a really incredible time to watch a lot of women just blossom into a new version of themselves, you know? Their old version, but a new version. A healed version of themselves, in a lot of ways, yeah. Kelly McCann 37:45So what… in the languaging that I’ve come up with, it’s the, unforgetting, right? So it’s actually the remembered self, because we have let go of the things that caused us to forget. So we have unforgotten who we really are, because As you’re right, it’s… it is not new, it’s just remembered, or unforgotten. Dr. Deb Muth 38:12Yeah. Yeah. That’s really awesome. For somebody that’s listening to us have this conversation, and they’re kind of thinking, this all sounds great, but I have no clue where to start with something like this, what kind of recommendations would you give to them? Kelly McCann 38:29Well, I actually have an online program. And… it’s, it’s a 9-week online program, and…What you’re doing in community is learning how to Feel your feelings, and how to understand them, and different access points in to them, and doing it in a community, which is terrifying for some people when they start, but at the same time, it is the most loving container Because these people are also on their complex chronic illness healing journey. And they have chosen themselves, and chosen to show up, and chosen to show up for 9 weeks, which is a long time, but it’s also this beautiful, sacred time. And, half of the class is lecture, sharing, and then half of the class we spend in trios. Which means, my staff divvy up people into groups of three, and then there… each trio goes through a process. They all do the same process.And you do it 3 times, so you have a chance to be, a different role in each iteration that you go through. So one role is the explorer. Those are the people who are actually just feeling the feelings. And exploring what’s going on inside of them. One person is what we call the companion, they’re kind of like the… the, not really the guide or the therapist, but they’re just holding space with them, maybe giving some prompts to help them work through the process. And there’s a handout that works through the process, and then there’s the third person whom is the anchor. And the anchor is holding that loving battery. And it just sets up this…situation where you’re held in such an embrace that you’re able to express your feelings. And one of the things I learned early on was that vulnerability leads to intimacy. And so, when you’re vulnerable with somebody else, they feel… closer to you, and they feel more capable of being vulnerable with you, because you’ve trusted them, right? So, it builds this level of vulnerability, intimacy, and trust in the community, and then each time you do your trio with somebody, with new people, often. Dr. Deb Muth 41:16time. Kelly McCann 41:17And it’s a really, really special program where you’re practicing this, and you’re doing homework, so you take the things that you learned from the class, and then you go home and you practice it with yourself. So that’s what I have come up with to help people start to really learn how to do this. And then it’s gonna grow from there. So I have a foundational class right now. We’re on… we just started our second cohort, And then eventually there will be a second-tier class, and workshops, and the other thing that I’m doing is one-on-one, trainings with… what one-on-one… I call them unforgetting journeys with people. So, you know how you go to a therapist, and you’re in the middle of a story, in the middle of sobbing, and they’re like, oh, well, that’s 50 minutes, it’s Here’s your tissue, we’ll see you next week. Dr. Deb Muth 42:12Yes. Kelly McCann 42:13Yeah, so painful. Dr. Deb Muth 42:16Oh, bad. Kelly McCann 42:16So painful, and I understand, like, we have the same thing, too, as physicians, like, oh, I’m so sorry, your time is up, I gotta go, I have more patients waiting. The unforgetting journey, I don’t have a clock. Dr. Deb Muth 42:29Mmm. Kelly McCann 42:30It’s… we go until you feel complete. And for most people, it’s two and a half, three hours. Dr. Deb Muth 42:37Wow. Kelly McCann 42:37To really process through the emotions that are coming up. Dr. Deb Muth 42:43to get… Kelly McCann 42:43To the point where you’re… they feel… Okay. I feel… I feel complete for today. Dr. Deb Muth 42:52For now. Kelly McCann 42:53For now. Dr. Deb Muth 42:54So the next layer, kind of. shows itself, right? Yeah. Kelly McCann 42:59Yeah, yeah. And for now, the Unforgetting Journeys are for people who have gone through the program, or are in the program, because you really need to… you have to have the skills. Dr. Deb Muth 43:11So, if somebody’s interested in your online program, how do they get in touch with you? Kelly McCann 43:17The website is unforgettingproject.com. And you can sign up right there. The next cohort will start May 20th. It’ll be a Wednesday evening. From 4.30 to 6.30 Pacific time, so I tried to make it so as many people on both sides of the continent could make it. I know it’s a little late for East Coast, but, yeah. And then, you know, every month or two, we’ll start a new cohort, so if you’re interested, and if those… that time doesn’t work for you. You know, I did Fridays initially, I’m doing Mondays, this iteration. We’ll try, other dates and times for people, and try and get a few more dates, on the calendar, so that people have some options. But yeah, that would be my suggestion. You can sign up for our email list, and we’ll be sure to let you know all the happenings at the Unforgetting Project. Dr. Deb Muth 44:17That’s awesome. And for those of you who might be driving or didn’t catch that, we will have it in the show notes as well, so that you can jot it down, check it out, if it sounds like it’s something that really resonates with you. Dr. Kelly, thank you so much for your time tonight. Is there any last words you want to leave with our listeners? Kelly McCann 44:35Of course, of course. There’s always hope. And that hope that burns inside you, that…There is a different life… a different life waiting for you. That is your spirit. That is your soul. Talking to you, and spurring you on. And my encouragement is to really listen to that. Because then you will find your way to people like Dr. Deb, and other practitioners who have heart, who have the tools and the capacity to help you on the physical world journey, and then… You know, my other encouragement would be, really listen to your body. Consider the possibility with curiosity that it is on your side. And if it’s on your side, and it’s talking to you and communicating to you, what might it be saying that it needs from you? Dr. Deb Muth 45:43I love that, that’s awesome. Thank you so much for your time today. Kelly McCann 45:47You’re welcome, my pleasure. I’m so happy to speak with you and to talk with your, audience. I think it’s wonderful. Dr. Deb Muth 45:54Thank you. Boom. Wow, what an episode we just had with Dr. Kelly McCann. This is incredible. It’s a completely different way for us to think about chronic illness, and think about what our body’s actually going through, and how we can repair it from a different aspect. So, thank you for joining me today on Let’s Talk Wellness Now. If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who’s been searching for answers and hasn’t found them yet. And if you’re enjoying our episodes of Let’s Talk Wellness now, we would love to ask the biggest favor you could do for us, which is like and subscribe and share. It goes a long way for us getting our podcasts and our episodes out into the hands of so many people Who need to hear these messages. So, if you’re feeling inclined to do that, we would love that, that affirmation from you guys. So, remember, wellness isn’t just about feeling good, it’s about thriving in every area of your life. If you’re ready to explore the root cause medicine. We can help you. Visit serenityHealthCarecenter.com or Dr. Kelly McCann, and until next time, I’m Dr. Deb, reminding you to take care of your body, mind, and spirit. Be well, and we will see you on the next episode. The post Episode 270 – Chronic Symptoms Are a Hidden Message: How to Listen and Finally Heal | Dr. Kelly McCann first appeared on Let's Talk Wellness Now.

"Exercise is good for EDS." So why do so many hypermobile people get worse when they try it? In this episode of Bendy Bodies with the Hypermobility MD, Dr. Linda Bluestein is joined by co-host Dr. Dacre Knight, Medical Director of the UVA Health EDS and Hypermobility Disorders Center, and physical therapist Dr. Morgan Groover to discuss one of the most misunderstood aspects of hypermobility care: how to make physical therapy and exercise work for a hypermobile body. Many people with Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS), Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders (HSD), chronic pain, POTS, and related conditions have been told to exercise more, only to experience increased pain, injury, or setbacks. Others have been told to avoid activity altogether. In this conversation, Dr. Groover explains why both approaches can miss the mark. Together, they explore how hypermobile joints, muscles, tendons, and connective tissues respond to load, why individualized physical therapy is essential, and how the right amount of strengthening can improve joint stability, function, and quality of life. Dr. Groover shares practical strategies for determining an appropriate starting point, progressing safely, interpreting pain and soreness, and avoiding the common cycle of overdoing it and crashing. They also discuss the powerful role language plays in rehabilitation, how fear of movement can contribute to disability, and why hypermobile patients can often continue participating in activities they love, including running, dancing, yoga, and sports, with the right support and guidance. Whether you're living with EDS, HSD, generalized joint hypermobility, chronic pain, or you're a clinician looking to better support hypermobile patients, this episode offers practical, evidence-informed insights that can help change the way you think about movement and rehabilitation. Takeaways: • Why physical therapy often fails hypermobile patients and what successful EDS-informed rehabilitation looks like • The difference between productive soreness and pain that signals excessive loading • How muscles and tendons adapt to exercise and support joint stability in hypermobility • Why both overloading and underloading can contribute to worsening symptoms • How to safely return to exercise, sports, dance, yoga, and other meaningful activities • Why language matters when discussing joint instability, weakness, and pain • How fear of movement can contribute to deconditioning and disability • Practical strategies for building strength, resilience, and confidence in a hypermobile body Find the episode transcript here. Go to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code BENDY_ to get UP TO $300 off today! Want more Morgan Groover? Instagram: @morgan.groover.dpt Website: https://www.ehlers-danlos.com/directory/morgan-groover/ Want to learn more about the UVA EDS Center? For Appointments and Questions: RUVAEDSCenter@uvahealth.org UVA EDS: https://www.uvahealth.com/healthy-practice/advancing-care-through-ehlers-danlos-clinic UVA EDS FAQ: https://www.uvahealth.com/support/eds/faq UVA Pediatric Integrative Medicine: https://childrens.uvahealth.com/specialties/integrative-health 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 Want to learn more about the UVA EDS Center? For Appointments and Questions: RUVAEDSCenter@uvahealth.org UVA EDS: https://www.uvahealth.com/healthy-practice/advancing-care-through-ehlers-danlos-clinic UVA EDS FAQ: https://www.uvahealth.com/support/eds/faq UVA Pediatric Integrative Medicine: https://childrens.uvahealth.com/specialties/integrative-health 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: ⁠⁠⁠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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Exercise is good for EDS." So why do so many hypermobile people get worse when they try it? In this episode of Bendy Bodies with the Hypermobility MD, Dr. Linda Bluestein is joined by co-host Dr. Dacre Knight, Medical Director of the UVA Health EDS and Hypermobility Disorders Center, and physical therapist Dr. Morgan Groover to discuss one of the most misunderstood aspects of hypermobility care: how to make physical therapy and exercise work for a hypermobile body. Many people with Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS), Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders (HSD), chronic pain, POTS, and related conditions have been told to exercise more, only to experience increased pain, injury, or setbacks. Others have been told to avoid activity altogether. In this conversation, Dr. Groover explains why both approaches can miss the mark. Together, they explore how hypermobile joints, muscles, tendons, and connective tissues respond to load, why individualized physical therapy is essential, and how the right amount of strengthening can improve joint stability, function, and quality of life. Dr. Groover shares practical strategies for determining an appropriate starting point, progressing safely, interpreting pain and soreness, and avoiding the common cycle of overdoing it and crashing. They also discuss the powerful role language plays in rehabilitation, how fear of movement can contribute to disability, and why hypermobile patients can often continue participating in activities they love, including running, dancing, yoga, and sports, with the right support and guidance. Whether you're living with EDS, HSD, generalized joint hypermobility, chronic pain, or you're a clinician looking to better support hypermobile patients, this episode offers practical, evidence-informed insights that can help change the way you think about movement and rehabilitation. Takeaways: • Why physical therapy often fails hypermobile patients and what successful EDS-informed rehabilitation looks like • The difference between productive soreness and pain that signals excessive loading • How muscles and tendons adapt to exercise and support joint stability in hypermobility • Why both overloading and underloading can contribute to worsening symptoms • How to safely return to exercise, sports, dance, yoga, and other meaningful activities • Why language matters when discussing joint instability, weakness, and pain • How fear of movement can contribute to deconditioning and disability • Practical strategies for building strength, resilience, and confidence in a hypermobile body Find the episode transcript here. Go to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code BENDY_ to get UP TO $300 off today! Want more Morgan Groover? Instagram: @morgan.groover.dpt Website: https://www.ehlers-danlos.com/directory/morgan-groover/ Want to learn more about the UVA EDS Center? For Appointments and Questions: RUVAEDSCenter@uvahealth.org UVA EDS: https://www.uvahealth.com/healthy-practice/advancing-care-through-ehlers-danlos-clinic UVA EDS FAQ: https://www.uvahealth.com/support/eds/faq UVA Pediatric Integrative Medicine: https://childrens.uvahealth.com/specialties/integrative-health 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 Want to learn more about the UVA EDS Center? For Appointments and Questions: RUVAEDSCenter@uvahealth.org UVA EDS: https://www.uvahealth.com/healthy-practice/advancing-care-through-ehlers-danlos-clinic UVA EDS FAQ: https://www.uvahealth.com/support/eds/faq UVA Pediatric Integrative Medicine: https://childrens.uvahealth.com/specialties/integrative-health 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: ⁠⁠⁠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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when the original voices behind Bendy Bodies come back together 200 episodes later? In this special milestone episode, Dr. Linda Bluestein reunites with her original co-host, dance medicine specialist Jennifer Milner, and the very first guest ever featured on the podcast, Dr. Moira McCormack. Long before hypermobility became a topic of widespread discussion, Dr. McCormack was asking important questions. A former Royal Ballet dancer, former Lead Physiotherapist for The Royal Ballet, and pioneering researcher, she was among the earliest clinicians investigating joint hypermobility in dancers and the challenges that often accompany it. Together, they reflect on more than two decades of progress in our understanding of hypermobility, Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS), and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders (HSD), while exploring the many misconceptions that still persist today. The conversation goes far beyond flexibility. Dr. McCormack explains why many hypermobile dancers must work harder, recover more strategically, and develop greater body awareness than their peers. The discussion also dives into the often-overlooked multisystem effects of hypermobility, including fatigue, pain, dysautonomia, gastrointestinal symptoms, and mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS). Drawing on decades of experience working with elite dancers and hypermobile patients, Dr. McCormack shares practical insights on injury prevention, individualized rehabilitation, hands-on assessment, and the art of teaching movement with patience and precision. Whether you're a dancer, athlete, parent, teacher, clinician, or someone navigating hypermobility yourself, this episode offers both a fascinating look at how far the field has come and a roadmap for where we still need to go. Most importantly, it reminds us that success in a hypermobile body isn't about having the most flexibility. It's about developing the control, strength, awareness, and resilience to use that flexibility well. Key Takeaways • This episode reunites the same three people who launched Bendy Bodies with Episode 1, creating a full-circle conversation 200 episodes later. • Hypermobile dancers often work harder behind the scenes than audiences realize. Fatigue, recovery, and injury prevention are frequently bigger challenges than flexibility itself. • Flexibility without control can increase injury risk. Strength, stability, motor control, and body awareness are essential for long-term success. • Hypermobility can affect far more than the joints, contributing to symptoms involving the nervous system, gastrointestinal tract, immune system, and cardiovascular system. • Rehabilitation is rarely one-size-fits-all. Hypermobile individuals often benefit from individualized assessment, hands-on treatment, and slower, more deliberate progression. • Teachers, parents, and healthcare professionals play a critical role in recognizing early warning signs and supporting healthy development in young dancers. • One of the most powerful injury-prevention strategies may be surprisingly simple: learning to master posture and alignment before adding movement. • Moira also honors the influence of the late Professor Rodney Grahame, with whom she conducted her early research and met frequently to discuss joint hypermobility, connective tissue disorders, and the many unanswered questions that continue to shape the field today. Find the episode transcript here. Go to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code BENDY_ to get UP TO $300 off today! Want more Jennifer Milner? Instagram: @jennifer.milner Website: https://www.jennifer-milner.com/ Want more Dr. Moira McCormack? https://iseh.co.uk/member/moira-mccormack 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 Want to learn more about the UVA EDS Center? For Appointments and Questions: RUVAEDSCenter@uvahealth.org UVA EDS: https://www.uvahealth.com/healthy-practice/advancing-care-through-ehlers-danlos-clinic UVA EDS FAQ: https://www.uvahealth.com/support/eds/faq UVA Pediatric Integrative Medicine: https://childrens.uvahealth.com/specialties/integrative-health 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: ⁠⁠⁠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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's Thursday, and that means it's time to talk politics with The Times Picayune/New Orleans Advocate's Stephanie Grace. Today, we hear why New Orleans is gaining access to unspent Katrina money from FEMA. We also learn about Mayor Moreno's recent win: bringing the Sewerage and Water Board under more city control. A sports medicine physician has opened one of the world's first clinics and treatment centers specifically for Ehlers-Danlos syndrome at the Fascia Institute. Also known as EDS, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome affects the body's connective tissues, often categorized by loose skin, unstable joints and hypermobility.The doctor at the helm of the new clinic, Dr. Jacques Courseault, tells us more about the condition, why it often goes undiagnosed and how to treat it.The new documentary “GASLIT” explores how communities along the Gulf Coast are impacted by liquified natural gas export terminals. Academy Award winner and activist Jane Fonda travelled throughout Texas and Louisiana, meeting and talking with the various people who have concerns about the expansion of the industry. She met with shrimpers, cattle farm workers, former oil workers and “reluctant activists” to learn how they are banding together to protect the coastlines. The film's director, Katie Camosy, joins us with more.—Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Bob Pavlovich. Our managing producer is Alana Schreiber. We get production and technical support from Garrett Pittman, Adam Vos and our assistant producer, Aubry Procell. You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It's available on Spotify, Google Play and wherever you get your podcasts. Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you! Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you're at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you'd like to listen to.Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

What happens when the original voices behind Bendy Bodies come back together 200 episodes later? In this special milestone episode, Dr. Linda Bluestein reunites with her original co-host, dance medicine specialist Jennifer Milner, and the very first guest ever featured on the podcast, Dr. Moira McCormack. Long before hypermobility became a topic of widespread discussion, Dr. McCormack was asking important questions. A former Royal Ballet dancer, former Lead Physiotherapist for The Royal Ballet, and pioneering researcher, she was among the earliest clinicians investigating joint hypermobility in dancers and the challenges that often accompany it. Together, they reflect on more than two decades of progress in our understanding of hypermobility, Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS), and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders (HSD), while exploring the many misconceptions that still persist today. The conversation goes far beyond flexibility. Dr. McCormack explains why many hypermobile dancers must work harder, recover more strategically, and develop greater body awareness than their peers. The discussion also dives into the often-overlooked multisystem effects of hypermobility, including fatigue, pain, dysautonomia, gastrointestinal symptoms, and mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS). Drawing on decades of experience working with elite dancers and hypermobile patients, Dr. McCormack shares practical insights on injury prevention, individualized rehabilitation, hands-on assessment, and the art of teaching movement with patience and precision. Whether you're a dancer, athlete, parent, teacher, clinician, or someone navigating hypermobility yourself, this episode offers both a fascinating look at how far the field has come and a roadmap for where we still need to go. Most importantly, it reminds us that success in a hypermobile body isn't about having the most flexibility. It's about developing the control, strength, awareness, and resilience to use that flexibility well. Key Takeaways • This episode reunites the same three people who launched Bendy Bodies with Episode 1, creating a full-circle conversation 200 episodes later. • Hypermobile dancers often work harder behind the scenes than audiences realize. Fatigue, recovery, and injury prevention are frequently bigger challenges than flexibility itself. • Flexibility without control can increase injury risk. Strength, stability, motor control, and body awareness are essential for long-term success. • Hypermobility can affect far more than the joints, contributing to symptoms involving the nervous system, gastrointestinal tract, immune system, and cardiovascular system. • Rehabilitation is rarely one-size-fits-all. Hypermobile individuals often benefit from individualized assessment, hands-on treatment, and slower, more deliberate progression. • Teachers, parents, and healthcare professionals play a critical role in recognizing early warning signs and supporting healthy development in young dancers. • One of the most powerful injury-prevention strategies may be surprisingly simple: learning to master posture and alignment before adding movement. • Moira also honors the influence of the late Professor Rodney Grahame, with whom she conducted her early research and met frequently to discuss joint hypermobility, connective tissue disorders, and the many unanswered questions that continue to shape the field today. Find the episode transcript here. Go to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code BENDY_ to get UP TO $300 off today! Want more Jennifer Milner? Instagram: @jennifer.milner Website: https://www.jennifer-milner.com/ Want more Dr. Moira McCormack? https://iseh.co.uk/member/moira-mccormack 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 Want to learn more about the UVA EDS Center? For Appointments and Questions: RUVAEDSCenter@uvahealth.org UVA EDS: https://www.uvahealth.com/healthy-practice/advancing-care-through-ehlers-danlos-clinic UVA EDS FAQ: https://www.uvahealth.com/support/eds/faq UVA Pediatric Integrative Medicine: https://childrens.uvahealth.com/specialties/integrative-health 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: ⁠⁠⁠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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How should we approach intervention thresholds, repair strategies, and lifelong surveillance in patients with genetic aortopathies? Prof. Sherene Shalhub (Oregon Health & Science University) and Prof. Rana Afifi (McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston) discuss the practical challenges, controversies, and unanswered questions that shape decision-making in the management of these complex patients.Shownotes: Lian T, Pai CW, Woznicki E, et al. Nonsyndromic familial type B aortic dissection exhibits distinct clinical profiles and operative outcomes. J Vasc Surg. 2026. doi:10.1016/j.jvs.2026.04.022.MacCarrick G, Afifi RO, Allen R, et al. Loeys-Dietz Syndrome: 2026 updated care management primer. Genet Med. 2026. doi:10.1016/j.gim.2026.102577.Lian T, Bhandari A, Shalhub S. What Every Vascular Surgeon Should Know About Vascular Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. Ann Vasc Surg. 2026. doi:10.1016/j.avsg.2026.03.032.Calderon-Martinez E, Velasco WV, Guo D, et al. Differences in Arterial Events in Vascular Ehlers-Danlos, Loeys-Dietz, and Marfan Syndrome. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2025;85:2355-2367. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2025.04.023.Shalhub S. The aortic and arterial vulnerability spectrum: A conceptual biological framework for risk stratification and precision surgical decision-making in aortopathy and arteriopathy. J Vasc Surg. 2025;82:722-739.e4. doi:10.1016/j.jvs.2025.04.028.Dittman JM, Prakash SK, Gupta PC, et al. Practice Patterns and Barriers to Vascular Genetic Testing Among Vascular Surgeons. Ann Vasc Surg. 2024;105:140-149. doi:10.1016/j.avsg.2024.01.032.Shalhub S, Byers PH. Endovascular repair of a common iliac artery aneurysm with an iliac branch device in a patient with vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome due to a null COL3A1 variant. J Vasc Surg Cases Innov Tech. 2023;9:101192. doi:10.1016/j.jvscit.2023.101192.Dittman JM, Saldana-Ruiz N, Newhall K, et al. Open repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms in patients with vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. J Vasc Surg Cases Innov Tech. 2023;9:101194. doi:10.1016/j.jvscit.2023.101194.Shalhub S, Nkansah R, El-Ghazali A, et al. Splenic artery pathology presentation, operative interventions, and outcomes in 88 patients with vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. J Vasc Surg. 2023;78:394-404. doi:10.1016/j.jvs.2023.04.007.Regalado ES, Morris SA, Braverman AC, et al. Comparative Risks of Initial Aortic Events Associated With Genetic Thoracic Aortic Disease. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2022;80:857-869. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2022.05.054.

Discover 5 key autoimmune triggers hiding in your past. From COVID and herpes simplex to staph, Epstein-Barr, and strep infections, Nurse Doza breaks down how past infections can reprogram your immune system to attack your own tissue — and what gut health has to do with it all. Gut (L-Glutamine) by MSW Nutrition Gut, featuring 4 grams of pure L-Glutamine per scoop, is the primary fuel source for the cells that line your intestinal wall. When past infections, antibiotics, or chronic stress compromise your gut barrier, your immune system loses its most important line of defense — creating the conditions where autoimmune triggers thrive. Gut helps repair the gut lining, reduce digestive inflammation, and support the immune cells that depend on a healthy gut to function properly. Whether you're managing an existing autoimmune disorder or working to prevent one, healing your gut is where it starts.

In this episode of the Brain & Life Podcast, co-host Dr. Katy Peters is joined by novelist and disability advocate Sabina Nordqvist. Sabina discusses her personal 12-year battle with idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH), POTS, and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. She shares the profound impact of misdiagnosis, the importance of self-advocacy, and how her experiences in support groups led her to write a novel called It's All in Your Head that puts disabled characters front and center. Dr. Peters is then joined by Dr. Jeremy Cutsforth-Gregory, an Assistant Professor of Neurology at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, working in the Division of Neurologic Education. Dr. Cutsforth-Gregory explains cerebrospinal fluid and IIH, highlighting the treatments that are available and where research is going next.   Additional Resources Sabina Nordqvist- It's All in Your Head Understanding the Mysteries of POTS and Other Autonomic Disorders A Swimmer Returns to the Pool After Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Diagnosis   Brain & Life Podcast Episodes on Similar Topics Parenting and Writing While Disabled with Jessica Slice Outdoors Woman Crystal Gail Welcome on Nature and Chronic Pain Author Samantha Lee Schmall on Life Beyond the Shunt   We want to hear from you! Have a question or want to hear a topic featured on the Brain & Life Podcast? ·       Record a voicemail at 612-928-6206 ·       Email us at BLpodcast@brainandlife.org   Social Media Guests: Sabina Nordqvist @nordqvistbooks; Dr. Cutsforth-Gregory @mayoclinic Hosts: Dr. Daniel Correa @neurodrcorrea; Dr. Katy Peters @KatyPetersMDPhD

Send us Fan MailIn this past episode of the Ella-Go Podcast, Coach Lisa interviews Sarah Hutcherson, a breath work expert from Slow Breathworks. They discuss Sarah's journey into breath work, the importance of breathing techniques for physical and emotional well-being, and how breath work can enhance your runs. Sarah shares insights on the science behind breathing, the benefits of extending exhales for anxiety relief, and the transformative power of breath work in community settings. BONUS: The episode concludes with a practical breathing exercise for listeners.About Sarah:Sarah Hutcherson of Slo Breathworks is a breath guide and educator. She guides brilliant breathers living with dysautonomia and anxiety to LIVE through accessible, integrated breathwork that honors each person's unique journey with chronic illness. After years of being defined by POTS, Ehlers-Danlos, and anxiety, Sarah understands how chronic conditions can trap you in cycles of stress, fear, and pain. She combines this lived experience with extensive training under breathing experts like Dr. Arielle Schwartz, Reis Paluso, and Luke Weitzman, as well as a Master's in Sustainability, to help brilliant breathers remember their thriving selves through conscious breaths.TakeawaysBreath work can significantly improve physical and emotional well-being.Extending the exhale is key to down-regulating anxiety.Breath techniques can enhance performance in sports and daily activities.Understanding your body's breathing patterns is essential for improvement.Breath work can help release stored emotions and stress.Community breath work fosters connection and shared experiences.Breath work is not just for athletes; it's beneficial for everyone.Personalized breath work sessions can lead to significant shifts in health.Breath work can be practiced anywhere, even during walks.Daily micro doses of breath work can create lasting change.CONNECT WITH SARAHINSTAGRAMWEBSITESupport the showIf you like this episode, please be sure to subscribe everywhere you listen to podcasts!FOLLOW ME on INSTAGRAMCheck out the WEBSITEHelp support this podcast by buying me a cup of coffee. I need it to stay awake editing!BUY ME COFFEE

To have Dr. Morse answer a question, visit: https://drmorses.tv/ask/ All of Dr. Morse's and his son's websites under one roof: https://handcrafted.health/ Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/handcrafted.health 00:00:00 - Intro - Diet - Spirituality 00:07:07 - Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes (EDS) - Acid Reflux - Sleep Apnea - Premature Ventricular Contractions (PVCs) - Premature Atrial Contractions (PACs) - POTS - Lax (Painful Joints) - Thoracic Outlet  syndrome (TOS) - Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) 00:27:49 - Chronic Strep Throat 00:42:25 - AERD - Asthma - Chronic Sinusitis with Nasal Polyps - Bronchitis  - Bronchiectasis 01:08:42 - Depersonalization/Derealization - Social Anxiety - Shyness - Low Self-Esteem  01:31:27 - Parkinson's Disease - Breast Cancer - Hashimoto's Disease 00:07:07 - Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes (EDS) - Acid Reflux - Sleep Apnea - Premature Ventricular Contractions (PVCs) - Premature Atrial Contractions (PACs) - POTS - Lax (Painful Joints) - Thoracic Outlet  syndrome (TOS) - Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) The breathing and heart issues are scary. 00:27:49 - Chronic Strep Throat After all the antibiotics, I had a really bad flare-up and struggle with fatigue. 00:42:25 - AERD - Asthma - Chronic Sinusitis with Nasal Polyps - Bronchitis  - Bronchiectasis I am currently taking steroid medications. 01:08:42 - Depersonalization/Derealization - Social Anxiety - Shyness - Low Self-Esteem  I have also experienced depression, paranoia, fear, intrusive thoughts, chronic fatigue, and irritability—the whole nine yards. 01:31:27 - Parkinson's Disease - Breast Cancer - Hashimoto's Disease I want to start your program. I didn't do chemo or radiation.

Most people with EDS or HSD have been told to "exercise more," "eat better," and "sleep on a schedule," usually by someone who has never tried to do any of those things in a hypermobile, pain-flaring, dysautonomic body. This episode is different. Dr. Linda Bluestein and Dr. Dacre Knight break down the foundational layer of the MENS PMMS treatment algorithm, a structured framework built specifically for the complexity of Ehlers-Danlos syndromes and hypermobility spectrum disorders. MENS stands for Movement, Education, Nutrition, and Sleep. This conversation goes far beyond surface-level advice to explain what each category actually means when your connective tissue, nervous system, and autonomic function are all working against you at once. You will learn why standard physical therapy can set EDS patients back and what to look for in a provider who actually understands joint protection. You will understand central sensitization at a biological level, not just as a buzzword, and why reframing pain as a nervous system state rather than a structural inevitability changes everything. You will hear why nutrition conversations for the EDS population need to start with GI dysfunction and malabsorption, not calories and BMI. And you will finally get a clear explanation of why pain and poor sleep feed each other in a vicious cycle, and what interrupts it. Whether you are a patient who has heard "your labs are normal" one too many times, or a clinician building a practice that actually serves this community, this episode gives you a concrete starting point. The body you are working with is not broken. It just needs a different playbook. Takeaways: Why most PT makes EDS worse before it makes it better, and the "slow and low" approach that actually builds joint stability without triggering a flare. The neuroscience of "no plastic" pain. Central sensitization is not in your head. Understanding how the nervous system learns to amplify pain is the first step toward teaching it something different. Nutrition beyond BMI. In EDS and HSD, postprandial distress, malabsorption, and GI dysmotility are often the bigger drivers of health outcomes than anything showing up on a standard nutrition screening. The pain-insomnia trap. Pain activates your sympathetic nervous system. A revved-up sympathetic nervous system blocks restorative sleep. Poor sleep amplifies pain sensitivity. Here is how to break the cycle. Motion is lotion, done right. Low-impact, recumbent movement is not a consolation prize. It is one of the most effective tools for stabilizing autonomic function in this population. Go AquaTru.com now for 20% off (your purifier) using promo code BENDY. Want to learn more about the UVA EDS Center? For Appointments and Questions: RUVAEDSCenter@uvahealth.org UVA EDS: https://www.uvahealth.com/healthy-practice/advancing-care-through-ehlers-danlos-clinic UVA EDS FAQ: https://www.uvahealth.com/support/eds/faq UVA Pediatric Integrative Medicine: https://childrens.uvahealth.com/specialties/integrative-health 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: ⁠⁠⁠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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Most people with EDS or HSD have been told to "exercise more," "eat better," and "sleep on a schedule," usually by someone who has never tried to do any of those things in a hypermobile, pain-flaring, dysautonomic body. This episode is different. Dr. Linda Bluestein and Dr. Dacre Knight break down the foundational layer of the MENS PMMS treatment algorithm, a structured framework built specifically for the complexity of Ehlers-Danlos syndromes and hypermobility spectrum disorders. MENS stands for Movement, Education, Nutrition, and Sleep. This conversation goes far beyond surface-level advice to explain what each category actually means when your connective tissue, nervous system, and autonomic function are all working against you at once. You will learn why standard physical therapy can set EDS patients back and what to look for in a provider who actually understands joint protection. You will understand central sensitization at a biological level, not just as a buzzword, and why reframing pain as a nervous system state rather than a structural inevitability changes everything. You will hear why nutrition conversations for the EDS population need to start with GI dysfunction and malabsorption, not calories and BMI. And you will finally get a clear explanation of why pain and poor sleep feed each other in a vicious cycle, and what interrupts it. Whether you are a patient who has heard "your labs are normal" one too many times, or a clinician building a practice that actually serves this community, this episode gives you a concrete starting point. The body you are working with is not broken. It just needs a different playbook. Takeaways: Why most PT makes EDS worse before it makes it better, and the "slow and low" approach that actually builds joint stability without triggering a flare. The neuroscience of "no plastic" pain. Central sensitization is not in your head. Understanding how the nervous system learns to amplify pain is the first step toward teaching it something different. Nutrition beyond BMI. In EDS and HSD, postprandial distress, malabsorption, and GI dysmotility are often the bigger drivers of health outcomes than anything showing up on a standard nutrition screening. The pain-insomnia trap. Pain activates your sympathetic nervous system. A revved-up sympathetic nervous system blocks restorative sleep. Poor sleep amplifies pain sensitivity. Here is how to break the cycle. Motion is lotion, done right. Low-impact, recumbent movement is not a consolation prize. It is one of the most effective tools for stabilizing autonomic function in this population. Find the episode transcript here. Go AquaTru.com now for 20% off (your purifier) using promo code BENDY. Want to learn more about the UVA EDS Center? For Appointments and Questions: RUVAEDSCenter@uvahealth.org UVA EDS: https://www.uvahealth.com/healthy-practice/advancing-care-through-ehlers-danlos-clinic UVA EDS FAQ: https://www.uvahealth.com/support/eds/faq UVA Pediatric Integrative Medicine: https://childrens.uvahealth.com/specialties/integrative-health 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: ⁠⁠⁠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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brett records an episode without Christina and Jeff and chats with Melissa Davis (The Mac Mommy) about her start as a mommy blogger and longtime Mac podcaster, her tech-support work, and the strange lack of closure when online friends disappear. They trade mental-health and chronic-illness updates, Adderall vs. Vyvanse, difficulty finding curious doctors, and being labeled “worried well.” Don’t worry, they nerd out on mechanical keyboards, Karabiner, and remapping keys. GrAPPtitudes include Bartender 6 Pro, Sortio for AI tagging, Sketch Party TV, and Karabiner. Sponsor OneSkin improves your skincare routine with science-backed skin care products. With over 10,000 five-star reviews and validation from clinical studies, OneSkin has made a name for itself in the skincare industry. If you’re interested in trying OneSkin for yourself, you can get 15% off your order with the code OVERTIRED at oneskin.co/OVERTIRED. Chapters 00:00 Meet Melissa Davis 00:56 Early Podcast Days 02:20 Tech Support Seniors 05:52 Digital Legacy Work 06:50 Sponsor: OneSkin 08:14 Mental Health Check In 08:34 Insomnia And Focus 13:19 Doing Time Tracker 16:04 Suspenders And Stenosis 20:18 Mobility And Home Hacks 22:10 Melissa Health Update 23:25 ADHD Meds And Mutations 25:25 Curious Doctors Matter 27:59 Vyvanse Vs Adderall 30:26 Tracking Mood With Data 32:27 Cane And Somatic Therapy 36:09 Somatics For EDS 36:50 Yoga Modifications 38:19 Polycystic Liver Shock 39:20 Fatphobia In Healthcare 40:56 Pole Dancing Reality Check 41:55 Mechanical Keyboard ASMR 45:56 Nail Art And Picking 49:09 Keyboard Layout Rabbit Hole 01:00:59 Shortcuts And Muscle Memory 01:03:12 GrAPPtitude App Picks 01:14:07 Karabiner Power Tips 01:17:30 Wrap Up And Thanks Show Links hEDS Doing Timing Royal Kludge Keyboard Gamakey Silent Linear Switches EPOMAKER Switch Benefit Section EPOMAKER AegisSil Keycaps Set SketchParty TV Karabiner Sortio Bartender Pro Day One Join the Conversation Merch Come chat on Discord! Twitter/ovrtrd Instagram/ovrtrd Youtube Get the Newsletter Thanks! You’re downloading today’s show from CacheFly’s network BackBeat Media Podcast Network Check out more episodes at overtiredpod.com and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. Find Brett as @ttscoff, Christina as @film_girl, Jeff as @jsguntzel, and follow Overtired at @ovrtrd on Twitter. Transcript Nails and Keys with Melissa Davis (The Mac Mommy) [00:00:00] Meet Melissa Davis Brett: Hey, this is Brett Terpstra. I am without my usual cohorts, Christina and Jeff. Um, so I, I wanted to, you know, get a, get an episode out for all of you listeners, and I reached out to Melissa Davis, known as The Mac Mommy. Um, I don’t, I, I don’t know if they’re still known as The Mac Mommy, but in m- in my lifetime they have been. Um, Melissa, why don’t you introduce yourself, let people know, like, M-Ma- long time, like Mac personality, podcaster. Tell us where you came from. Melissa: Where did I come from? Outer space. Uh, I came from being a mom. I, I, I will admit, this is hard to admit, But I will admit I started out as a mommy blogger. That’s, like, kind of a bad word nowadays. Brett: back, back, yeah, this is way Back when Melissa: [00:01:00] Yeah. Early Podcast Days Melissa: so we’re talking, like… Well, my oldest is gonna be 20, Brett. My oldest is gonna be 20 this summer. End of, end of June he’ll be 20 years old. So that’s about how long I’ve been doing podcasting. I mean, I started, I started, like, when… Well, you know what? I started listening to Adam Christianson’s The MacCast Brett: But you know what? I started Sure. Like one of the very first podcasts, Yeah. Melissa: still, I still listen to him on the Mac Geek Gab. Like, his voice is just so soothing to me. I used to… Like, that was the f- Back when I had, I had, I remember I had, like, an old G4, uh, Quicksilver Mac, and in the stinky little back room of our old house. And I used to, I used to download the podcasts, burn them on a CD, put them in my Walkman, ’cause I didn’t have an iPod yet at the time. I wasn’t that… I was never really that cutting edge. And I’d burn them on a CD, I’d put the CD in my Walkman, and then I would sit and nurse, I would nurse my baby. I, [00:02:00] and I would have to tuck the, uh, the headphones, you know, I’d have the ear- the, the wired, kinda like I have now, uh, and tuck it behind my back, like, behind my shoulder, because otherwise he’d, like, yank on the cord. And I would just listen to podcasts while I nursed. And I… And then, uh, then I met Victor Cajiao, and I started just kind of being, like, a serial podcaster, showing up here and there, and then it just kinda grew from there. Tech Support Seniors Melissa: Um, and I do… So I do tech support. I’m an IT tech s- tech support person. I… People call me their computer guru. I mostly work with, uh, the senior population, our, our vintage people, which I, I’m slowly becoming one of them. We’re all, we’re all gonna go that way. Brett: I feel like anyone who does Mac tech support deals with probably an, a, a population that skews older. Melissa: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Yeah, it’s actually, it’s actually more– I will say it’s actually more difficult to work with somebody younger. Like, especially people my age or people [00:03:00] that are like, say, in their sixties I consider pretty young, 70 even. Uh, yeah, so but it’s, you know, the people are so, so interesting. You can learn so much. I love working with this population because they’re like encyclopedias, and the stories they tell you and the things you learn, it’s pretty amazing. And I could just, I could just spend– I have actually spent all day with some of them. Some of us just have really great chemistry and, you know, it’s… They– I, I’m also– I have ADHD, that’s no secret. And I think when you get older, um, not– it doesn’t affect everybody, but I do see a lot of what could be either they, they have ADHD or it’s like a– Brett: they have Melissa: of creeps in and it’s just a natural process of aging, cognitive decline. So, yep. Brett: have a lot of patience. Sure. S- some of my, some of my most interesting relationships over the last 10 years have been with, uh, Mac users in their late 70s, [00:04:00] 80s. And, uh, like they’ve been– They’re very– Like, they’re definitely… The people that I’ve known have been technically capable and very interested in learning. That’s why they follow me. That’s how I meet them, right? They’re like, they read my blog, which is just all nerd stuff. And, and so they’re, they’re technically competent, and they’re doing things that I can only aspire to be doing in my 70s and 80s. Um, I had a guy who was writing his memoirs at, in between like mountain bike rides. And so here’s the thing, though, is when you, when you know someone online and they’re in their 80s and you stop hearing from them for a Melissa: Yes. Yes. Brett: you have to assume that they have passed on. and that is sad, and you never really get any closure because you don’t know their friends or family. You [00:05:00] never get like a notice, an obituary. You don’t, you don’t know where these people go, um, and you don’t know how to check in on them once your normal channels of communication are severed. Melissa: Yeah, we’re at that age where we probably start reading the obituaries. Like, I haven’t heard from so-and-so in a while. Let me check the obits." Brett: I had, I had– Before NVUltra went on for, what’s it, like five years now, uh, without a release, um, I had a project called BitWriter with David Halter. And Melissa: remember you mentioning that, yeah. Yeah, and you wondered. Mm-hmm. Brett: he stopped responding. Melissa: you find out any at all? Any, Any, concrete… Brett: Nothing. I have put feelers out everywhere I can think of. I have no idea what happened to him. Melissa: went Richard Simmons, huh? Brett: yeah. Yeah. With less Melissa: No contact. No contact. Aw. Digital Legacy Work Melissa: I, I’m lucky that, uh, in my line of [00:06:00] work, I do typically hear from the family if they’ve passed on, because I form kind of a bond with a lot of people. I, I typically don’t lose clients unless they die, so… Brett: and you have some, like, in real life connections to Melissa: Oh, yeah. Yeah, I do, I do both. I do… I have some clients where I’ve never met them in person, I’ve only ever done remote. Uh, and then, but most of my clients are, are local, the majority of them. But I, I still s- see them remotely too, so yeah. I’ve, I’ve actually been hired by some people, um, mostly I’ve had two male clients who they got a terminal illness, they knew they were terminal, and they followed me online and they pretty much hired me to take care of their surviving spouse. So that, that was… that’s a difficult thing, but I’m just honored that they chose me to, to help them out with that. So I’ve kind of been a bit of a digital undertaker in that regard. Sponsor: OneSkin Christina: I want to take a moment to share something that has significantly improved my skincare routine, OneSkin. [00:07:00] So we all have those days when our skin doesn’t feel its best, and I’ve certainly been in that boat, especially recovering from surgery. And I was tired of navigating through endless products that promised results, but often fell short. And that’s when I discovered OneSkin. It was founded by scientists dedicated to longevity, and this brand stands out for its commitment to real science over marketing hype. They tackle the fundamental question of how to actually slow down skin aging rather than just masking it. And their groundbreaking ingredient is, uh, ZeroS01, and it’s a proprietary peptide designed to help deactivate the damaged cells that contribute to aging skin. Since incorporating OneSkin into my routine, I’ve actually been noticing some improvements. My skin feels smoother. It looks more vibrant. Um, it’s definitely more moisturized, and so this is benefiting from its focus on supporting collagen and strengthening the skin barrier. With over 10,000 five-star reviews and validation from clinical studies, OneSkin has made a name for itself in the skincare industry. If [00:08:00] you’re interested in trying OneSkin for yourself, you can get 15% off your order with the code OVERTIRED at oneskin.co/overtired. That’s 15% off at oneskin.co/overtired using the code OVERTIRED. Thank you for supporting our show by checking them out Mental Health Check In Brett: Um, so do you wanna do a mental health Melissa: Sure. Brett: I, I know, I know you’ve listened to the show before. I know you know how this works. Melissa: how this works. Brett: Would you like to start? Melissa: I think I would like to hear you start, and then I’ll, I’ll add on Brett: that sounds good. Insomnia And Focus Brett: Um, so sleep continues to be a major issue for me. Um, I actually for four days in a row last week, I got eight hours of sleep a night, which was insane. I felt so good. Um- The first night… So I take [00:09:00] Lamictal for bipolar, and if I miss my evening dose, I crash and I sleep in the next morning, and I sleep soundly. Like, it’s the best sleep I can get. And then I wake up and all of a sudden the withdrawal kicks in, and then I’m shaky and dizzy for half an hour after I take the dose. Um, but that’s after, like, a solid night of sleep, and it never works two nights in a row. And, like, I’ve tried, like, maybe if I take Lamictal in the mornings instead of the evenings, maybe I’ll sleep through the night. It doesn’t work after that first missed dose. Um, but then I just, without making any changes in my lifestyle, started sleeping, and I thought finally after, like, two years of insomnia, I had turned a corner, because I can’t remember the last time I got eight hours of sleep for more than two nights in a [00:10:00] row. And then it ended, and then I was up. I’ve been up since 2:30 today. Melissa: I wondered, yep. Brett: I mean, I went to bed at 8:00, so that’s still nine, 10, 11, 12, 11, Melissa: I actually dozed off on the couch around 8:30. Like, if only I could just be in my bed right now, just be, like, transported. Yeah. Oh. Brett: Oh, I, I wish. If I could go back to bed… Like, sometimes I’ll, I’ll lay back down around 7:00 or 8:00 and get, like, another half hour of sleep, but it’s really that, like, uninterrupted block of deep sleep that I need, not… I take naps during the day, and I can usually fall asleep for half an hour, um, given that I’m usually functioning on five hours of sleep anyway. But anyway, um, I– That, that’s just kind of par for the course for me, so, like, any, any of our listeners know that that’s gonna be the first thing I report. Melissa: are you, [00:11:00] like, kinda competing? Like, are you trying to get eight hours because that’s what’s prescribed? Have you ever thought about Brett: be- actually, what works eight and a half, like I’ve, I’ve… Back when I had the option to sleep more than five hours, like, I did a lot of kind of experimentation and Melissa: know where your sweet spot is. Brett: Well, it… See, the sweet pot- spot changes as you age, though, and you need less sleep as you get older. So, so I can’t say for sure that eight and a half hours is still my sweet spot. Um, and I think honestly, if I can sleep seven hours, I feel pretty good, and I consider seven hours a good night’s sleep. Melissa: Yeah, ’cause mine’s like between four and six. Brett: really? Yeah. See, Melissa: feel Brett: I don’t function well. Oh, I don’t function well on anything less than seven hours. Melissa: I just have a love-hate relationship with sleep. I just don’t– I just hate to sleep. I just would rather be doing other things. Life is [00:12:00] just too interesting. Brett: I get that. I– get that. I– as someone who’s bipolar and has had like manic episodes where I’m up for five days straight, like I, I love not sleeping. Um, w- when, when I have the mania to give me energy and back it up. It’s when I’m just dragging all day and feel like a zombie. The thing– The, the plus side to it is the more tired I am, up to a certain point, the better I can focus. Like my brain slows down and it’s really easy for me to get into hyperfocus. And like most mornings I’m up at, you know, 2:30, 3:00 and I just start coding. And I can not only hyperfocus, but I can switch focus between three or four different projects like simultaneously. I hit compile on one, I move on to the next one, and I can rotate [00:13:00] through them and like keep track of all of it. And then right around 10:00 AM, my ability to do that ends and suddenly I like flip to a project and I cannot for the life of me remember what I was doing, which is why I’ve spent my life building note-taking apps and, and time tracking tools. Melissa: Yep, same thing. Doing Time Tracker Brett: dude, h- d- I don’t… You might not be familiar with my project Doing. Melissa: N-no, but I– you alluded to something. that’s not what you’re working on with Dan though, is it? Brett: No, no, that’s gonna be Melissa: Dan on that too. I, I, don’t know what it is yet, but yeah, I’m, I’m Brett: Oh, it’s… Yeah, it’s gonna be cool. Melissa: that’s so exciting. Brett: no, Doing is a command line tool where you can type things like, “Doing now podcasting with Melissa,” and it starts a timer for like what I’m doing now, and then I can ask it if I leave and come back, I can say, “What was I doing?” And it’ll tell me, [00:14:00] “You’re podcasting with Melissa.” Obviously, that’s a weird example ’cause I’m not gonna leave in the middle of this. But then it can give you like totals, time, tag-based time totals, uh, for your week and everything. It can show you like what you finished yesterday. Um, it’s not so much a task tracking app as it is a tool for keeping track of what you’re doing in the moment. Um, for, for people like me who switch between four projects at once, it’s really handy. And some guy, some fucking guy Melissa: Some fucking guy. Brett: it, rewrote it in Rust, and it is really good. it is really good. Uh, he like, I- Oh yeah, I use Melissa: Okay, ’cause Brett: This is, this is separate. this is this is a little more ‘ intentional than Timing. Um, I use both. They kind of work together, and Doing can actually import Timing’s JSON exports. So you can turn your, you can turn [00:15:00] all your Timing data into command line, uh, readable Doing files. Um, but anyway, this guy rewrote it in Rust with my permission, and he gave me full credit on the page. And I think I’m switching ’cause Doing is written in Ruby, and Ruby is slow, and Rust is fast. And like my Doing file where it stores all of my current projects, like my Doing items, gets so big that it can take Doing like up to five seconds to respond when I ask it, “What was I doing today?” Which is five seconds is a long time on the command line. Um, and his Melissa: pretty instantaneous. Brett: his version is like 100 milliseconds. Boom. But anyway, Melissa: It’s almost like you built your own little AI thing. Like, what was I doing? What Brett: kinda, kinda, yeah. Melissa: you doing, Dave? Brett: This is, this [00:16:00] was built long before AI was a common thing, but the other thing that’s contributing to my mental health Suspenders And Stenosis Brett: is suspenders. Melissa: Ah, yes. Brett: So I have I have gained 100 pounds, um, not, n-not of my own choice, but like I had rapid weight gain and I recently got a stenosis diagnosis, which I hate the Melissa: telling you, I’m telling you, we’re like 23 and me here. I’ve got that too. Brett: apparently during one of my, like when I gained 50 pounds in like six weeks, my body was looking for places to store all the new fat and decided my spine might be a good place for that. Um, so I have fat in my spine and I have degrading discs. This is separate from my love of suspenders, so I’ll get back to [00:17:00] that. I, um, Melissa: Wait till you get it in your eyeballs. Brett: Oh, for real? Melissa: Yeah, you can have… I have, um, what’s it called? Cholesterol. Yeah, if you look at your eyes really close, if you see like a white kind of w- ridge around your irises, that’s cholesterol. Brett: Oh, wow. Yeah, I hope, I hope that hasn’t happened yet, but who knows? Um, Melissa: Brings out Brett: I– So I have all this, I have all this extra weight and I had a lot of trouble with belts. A, belts hurt ’cause they dig into my, my gut, and they don’t really work. I, every, every time I stood up, my butt crack showed and I had to like wiggle my pants up. And then I I tried a pair of suspenders and it was like a l- a switch had been flipped. All of a sudden my pants just stayed up without any constriction around my waist, just like they just stayed with me wherever I went. And now I can, [00:18:00] I can tuck my shirts in and it actually looks kinda cool when you got the suspenders look going on. Which means, so like for a long time I only wore one brand of shirt, um, and because they, it was, it fit my belly and it was long enough and like it wasn’t, wasn’t baggy around the top and didn’t hang off my belly like a muumuu. Melissa: Mm-hmm, Brett: And like, so I, I, I only wore this brand of shirt and I own like 15 of them, and I would just cycle through Melissa: dresses, they’re just your Walmart $10 cotton tank dress. Love it. Brett: Yeah. But now that I can tuck my shirts in and feel okay about it, I can buy those extra large nerd shirts, ones with funny slogans and stuff on them. And normally those would hang straight down off my belly, and I hate the way that looks. But now I can tuck those in, which means I can get back to wearing funny, [00:19:00] ironic T-shirts, and it, it’s like opening up a whole new world of possibilities Melissa: That is a bonus for mental health. Brett: every day now I put on my suspenders and it makes me happy. Um, Melissa: wonderful. It’s almost like a, like a mobility aid. Brett: Kinda, yeah. Melissa: yeah. Brett: of, I– So I, I have a monopod, um, like a tripod that folds up into a walking stick, and it’s nice and light and it is an adjustable height ’cause it’s designed to be used as a camera tripod. Um, and I’ve started walking with it Melissa: yeah. kinda like you’re Brett: I c- yeah. Yeah. Like one of my fat friends has s- literal like ski poles. They’re like half height ski poles and they walk with them and it helps them a ton, and I Melissa: Yeah, hikers use those. Brett: try that out. But a walking stick [00:20:00] really does help with my stenosis, but I can still, even with a stick, I can only walk for about five minutes, which is about .3, Melissa: Yeah. Brett: 3, .3 miles. Um, and then I have to stop and sit, and it’s been a real pain, literally. Mobility And Home Hacks Melissa: And is standing difficult, too? Brett: standing is worse than walking. Melissa: thing, yeah. Standing’s worse. Brett: Yeah. Like if I am in the kitchen and I’m at the stove cooking, before the onions start to brown, I have to sit Melissa: Yeah. Yep. Brett: Uh, so we now have a stool in our kitchen, Melissa: Do you have one in the shower? Brett: yes. Well, our shower, our shower has a nice, like the back of the tub is a seat. Melissa: Oh, okay. Yeah. Brett: I don’t know if this house was designed by old people or not, but, um, but it’s certainly everything is relatively [00:21:00] accessible in that way. Um, but the stool in the kitchen means I can cook dinner. Emptying the dishwasher is the worst for me. That just like bending over, picking stuff up, and then just moving back and forth, like the five feet across our kitchen. My– I, it takes me three stops, three rests to get a dishwasher emptied. Um, and then I’m kind of ruined after that. I hate it. And I hate that I Melissa: stress mat? Brett: What’s that? Oh, you mean Melissa: mat to stand on? Gotta get, gotta Brett: think that would help? Melissa: Oh, yeah. Yeah, I have Brett: used to have one Melissa: and one in front of the kitchen, and I don’t even, I don’t even, do the cooking. Brett: Ha. I used to, I used to have one of those in front of the stove when I w- when I didn’t have pain, but just because I was really getting into cooking and I was spending a lot of time, and I was starting to feel it in my knees. Um, yeah, maybe I should do Melissa: I think it’s a fatigue [00:22:00] mat, I think they call it. Brett: Yeah. Melissa: Yeah, Brett: That sounds Melissa: plus they look cool if you get little designs on them and stuff. Yeah. Oh, we could spend the day talking about just mobility aids and ergonomics and all that kind of stuff. Melissa Health Update Brett: Well, it’s your turn. Talk about whatever you like. Melissa: Yeah, you give me some ideas to talk about. Um, yeah, I struggle with a lot of the same things that you do. Um, I’m always like kinda comparing notes every time you post something. I’m like, "Oh No, ‘Cause you talked about Have you … You haven’t started the injections yet, have you? Brett: No, and they just delayed those. I don’t get them until like June 20th or something. Melissa: nervous about those for you, because I’ve had those and I’ve decided to just swear off them, so I’ll just kinda give you just a heads-up. I mean, it does raise your blood sugar, so that’s not great, and, um, it can give you the roid rage, kinda make you angry, so that’s something to watch out for, and more weight gain, so …But it’s like one of those things where you just have to kinda try [00:23:00] it and see if it works, because if it does work, then you could be more mobile and then maybe drop a few pounds and get some of that weight off of your spine. But if it doesn’t work, just know that that can happen, Brett: my doctor did not mention any of those side effects, so good to Melissa: Yeah. Yeah. It’s, it’s the chronic life, so that’s, that’s what, that’s what, uh, affects my mental health, so I’m, I’m really good at faking it. I am actually … I will say I’m actually feeling a little bit more even. ADHD Meds And Mutations Melissa: I’m on, uh … I love when you talk about different prescriptions and stuff. Uh, I just mentioned, so I’m taking Adderall. That is, ugh, it’s a mixed bag. Um, I wanted to ask you about Vyvanse, cause that’s the next thing for me, but it’s, like, super expensive, so I’m trying to make Adderall work as best I can, but I’m, I’m in the process of playing with the dosage. But I think she told me, like, the highest was 30. The thing is, uh, I’ve had genetic testing done, and [00:24:00] I have this condit- not a condition, but it’s a I’m a mutant. It’s a genetic mutation called, it’s, it’s just initials. It’s MTHFR, lovingly known as Brett: you process your, your, chemicals twice as … fast. I have Melissa: Yes, faster processing in the liver. So that’s when she told me, ’cause she started, uh, me out on methylphenidate, and I was like, “Well, what about Adderall?” Because it, I see it work for my kids, you know? The kids are chip off the old block, right? And so I’ve had them tested too, and all three of us are positive for that. It’s lovelin- lovingly known as the motherfucker gene mutation. Um, yeah, so, and it is. It’s, it’s quite a bitch, um, ’cause it causes a whole bunch of other problems. And of course, we’ve talked about Ehlers-Danlos, so I have, uh, hypermobile Eh- Ehlers-Danlos. I’m having a hard time … I’m just having a hard time with that in general, mental health wise, because there’s just not enough awareness about it, enough people, and doctors, doctors and nurses. And you know, I’ll, I’ll say I wanna, I would love to be able to get [00:25:00] to a point where I can just say, “I have H-E-D-S,” or heads or what- however they’re gonna pronounce it, and, like, somebody know what that is when I go in for an appointment. But I still have to explain it, you know? And then that, that cuts into my time. ‘Cause they only … When you’re, when you’re our age, they only give you, like, 15 minutes, if that. When you’re much older, ’cause I’ve had to take, I’ve had to take family members to the doctor, they get a whole lot more time. But, uh, you know, it’s like, "Oh, you’re, you’re too young to be this sick. You’re too young to be this old," Brett: Right. Yeah. Curious Doctors Matter Brett: Um, I did– I found that doctor for me that knew exactly what all those acronyms meant, knew exactly, like, not only did they know what POTS was, they knew like seven different kinds of POTS and what tests to use to narrow it down. And then she got called up to National Guard Melissa: Oh, I wondered, I wondered, what happened to that doctor, ’cause it sounded so Brett: I waited. I was on a, I was on– I w- I had an appointment scheduled that was gonna be six months from the time she [00:26:00] left. Um, and I had it scheduled, and it was on July 7th. And then I got a letter in the mail saying that her Guard duty had been extended, and now I can’t see her again until September. And, like, I’ve, I’ve tried seeing other doctors that work with her, but none of them have the knowledge she has, and it was such a relief Melissa: Is this the curious one? Okay. I always think about you whenever I’m either looking for a provider or in the, in the midst of, of getting, you know, shuffled around to a new provider. I’m like, “I hope they’re curious,” ’cause that made– that meant so much to me when you explained about how a doctor needs to be curious. I’m like, “That’s what I need.” I need somebody… Or even just my therapist. I have a new, a new therapist that I see, and she’s really curious, and I really, really like that about her. That’s something that helps with mental health, is when somebody’s curious, ’cause I’m Brett: it goes h- it goes hand in hand with credulousness. Like, [00:27:00] first they have to be willing to believe you, and like, especially when it comes to invisible issues like EDS. Like, you have to be willing to believe a person and then be curious enough to look for answers. Like, the first step is believing, and the second step is curiosity. Melissa: Yes. I’ve already had my patient record marked as… Have you ever heard this one? Worried well. Brett: No. Melissa: I looked it up. It’s basically hypochondriac. Brett: Yeah, that’s what I was gonna guess. That Melissa: Yep. I actually– I was proud of myself because I actually did confront the doctor about it and I said, “What does this mean?” I said, “I, I looked it up and it kinda concerns me ’cause it makes me look like a hypochondriac.” And she said, "Oh, no, no, that’s just a, a code that we use when we don’t have something else to assign to it so that insurance will pay." Bullshit. Brett: Yeah, right? I feel like that’s exactly the kind of [00:28:00] thing insurance doesn’t pay. Melissa: Mm-hmm. so Vyvanse Vs Adderall Brett: what do you wanna know about Vyvanse? Melissa: Um, a- and I know it’s different for everybody, but I just kinda wondered what your take was on it. Um, how– can you compare it to Adderall at all for me, Brett: Yeah. Melissa: no comparison? Brett: it’s basically a non-abusable, I would call it lower lying version of, of Adderall. Like, it’s in the same family of stimulant as Adderall, but it can’t– It isn’t processed or it’s… I don’t remember how the mechanics of it work, but you can’t snort it basically. Like, it doesn’t, it doesn’t do anything Melissa: Which I wouldn’t wanna do anyway ’cause there’s nothing up here. Brett: Sure. Sure. And then, yeah, I’m not suggesting that was gonna be a problem for you. Um, but it’s also, like, it’s way, um, for me anyway, it’s way calmer. [00:29:00] Um, and there are people that say it doesn’t do anything at all. Um, especially a lot of people, a lot of people say the generic version doesn’t do anything, um, and that the name brand version does, but I haven’t found that to be true. Like the generic, which you’re correct, still costs like 200 bucks a month, um, for the generic. Um, but it is– It’s not my favorite. Melissa: I wondered why– what made you stop taking it. Did it just not work for you? Brett: No, I still take Vyvanse. Um, yeah. Um, I used to take, um, Focalin, which I loved. Melissa: That really worked for my kiddo, yep. Brett: but it also triggered my mania, Melissa: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Brett: so I was always walking this line of like, do I wanna be super productive and manic with like weeks of depression in between, [00:30:00] or do I just wanna be somewhat productive and stable? Um, which is why I’ve stuck with Vyvanse, and my doctor loves it enough for me that she won’t, she won’t prescribe anything else for me at this point. Like, I’ve asked about switching. I’ve asked about moving back to Adderall and things like that, but, Melissa: It seems like you’re, like you’re kinda on an evening out. Brett: Yeah, I haven’t had a manic episode for a couple years now. Tracking Mood With Data Melissa: Do you track it? Do you– Like, have you ever seen those– I keep seeing these ads for it ’cause, you know, the algorithm feeds us the stuff for wearables that are, um, called– I think it’s called Visible, so it makes your symptoms more visible instead of invisible. Like, do you track it? Do you Have you nerded out on your own data? Brett: like my mania and depression? Melissa: Yeah, like do you track it and look at graphs or anything like that to Brett: See, I’ve never had to use an external tool because I can just look at GitHub contribution graphs, and I can look at [00:31:00] my RSS feed, and I can see exactly, like for a period of like eight years, I can pinpoint exactly where my manic episodes were, um, because that data is historically preserved out there on the internet for all to see. Um, it’s, yeah, it’s– Well, and that’s, like I built tools that gathered that, those various sources of data. Um, and then there was a, a tool called, um, I forget. Melissa: cool, though? Hmm. We’ll think Brett: But it could pull, it could pull in all that data. Um, Bell Beth Cooper, Hello Code, I can’t remember the name of the app. Melissa: Yeah, it’ll come to you eventually. Brett: sure. Uh, but it could pull in like your GitHub, uh, commits along with like what the weather was at the time, how many songs you listened to that Melissa: Oh, day one sorta does that, yeah. Brett: Does it now? Melissa: A little bit, yeah, your locations, [00:32:00] um, if you turn on some of those things. Like not– I don’t think it does the music and things like that, but Brett: I haven’t used it for a while. I haven’t used it for a Melissa: I was gonna switch to the journal app. I was actually really… I held off on upgrading to Tahoe for the longest time, but that one kept nagging at me ’cause I thought, oh, you know, maybe. I mean, as much as I love Day One, I, I thought about, I thought about actually switching over, but no. I tried it. I’m, I’m gonna stick with Day One. Brett: Cool. All right. Cane And Somatic Therapy Brett: Um, so did you have, did you have more to add to your Melissa: Oh, I was gonna, I was gonna add on to what you were talking about with the suspenders. I did start… I think you probably… Well, yeah, you commented on it. Um, I started using a cane, and that I have mixed feelings about that. Um, I should have brought it in here so I could show you. I’ll show you later, ’cause, uh, anyway, it’s, it’s purple. I did get a pimp cane. That’s what my husband calls it. I thought, damn it, if I’m gonna use, like, a cane, then it’s gonna be [00:33:00] purple, and I’m gonna like looking at it, as much as I hate to use it, so. So I’ve been trying to use it. I… What you were talking about with, uh, with finding a curious doctor, I do have new physical therapist, um, so I’m really happy about that. Same kind of thing where she’s super booked. I think that’s just how it is. Like, the really good ones, they’re good, and, you know, it shows because it’s, it’s hard to get in to see them. So yeah. So I’m, I’m looking forward to that. We’re gonna be doing… Have you heard of somatic therapy? Brett: Yeah. Melissa: Yeah. So ha- have you tried it? Do, do you like it? Okay. That’s, that’s what I’m embarking on. Brett: I actually have a friend who teaches classes in it. Melissa: Oh, Al probably knows about that. Brett: y- yeah, Melissa: Yeah, I’ll, I’ll Brett: and it is, it is amazing how hard just doing things, doing motions you’re used to, but doing them very slowly and intentionally. It is like you– Just like, Just like, doing y- like a clamshell where you drop your knee, you’re [00:34:00] on your back and you drop your knee down to the side and bring it back up. Like that motion, most of us, even infirmed people can do that okay. You try to take… You try to do that and take like five breaths in each direction, and you’ll start shaking. It’s very Melissa: Ah, uh-huh. Yep. Brett: Yeah, but it’s good. Like it’s g- it really retrains your muscles. It really, it strengthens, retrains, and helps with, uh, finer motor control. Melissa: Oh, that’s interesting. Yeah, I, I’m, I’m a little bit on the skeptical end of it, so that’s why I’m, I’m glad that, that you, you vouch for it too. It’s like I know that it works, but I just… I guess I wanna understand the science of it a little bit more. Like, for example, I’ve tried, uh, acupuncture, and I just didn’t feel like it did, did anything for me. I think you have to be, like, a believer, and I just Brett: think so. Melissa: I, I, I even did that on purpose knowing that I kinda felt like it wasn’t gonna work. I was like, well, what if I just go into this? ‘Cause, [00:35:00] ’cause I talk to people and they’re like, "Well, you have to believe in it." I’m like, but what if I don’t? I just don’t, you know? I’m, I see it Brett: it’s not medicine if you have to believe in it. Melissa: Yeah. I mean, I see it work for other people. I know there’s, you know, such a thing as placebos and things like that, and I don’t know, it’s, it’s woo-woo and I, I, I like woo-woo stuff. I, it just, it didn’t do anything for me, so… It’s not to say that it doesn’t work for other people, but it just did not work for me, and I, I kind of, I, maybe I just, uh, did that on purpose when I, I try- probably just tripped myself up going into it thinking, well, I just don’t believe it, so if it works, then there must be science behind it. And then, then, I’ll believe. But it didn’t work out, so. So the, I’m a little bit on the fence about the somatic thing, but the, the, the gal that I’m working with is just so, she has EDS herself, and like, like what you were saying, like, she, she knows all about it and she could even, you know, tell me the, the type that she has, and I was like, I met, I met, actually last week I met two zebras in one week. [00:36:00] You, you’re familiar with the, the zebra mascot? If you, uh, the saying goes, if you hear hooves, think horses. But we’re not horses, are we? Yeah, so Yeah, so that’s, that’s our, our Somatics For EDS Melissa: EDS Brett: somatic– somatics you don’t have to believe in for them to work. Melissa: Okay, that is Brett: it’s an actual physical therapy method that trains the finer muscles, um, that surround your larger muscles and, and strengthens those, and it– Yeah, it’s for real. It’s, yeah, it’s not like a… It’s soma- I think, Melissa: w- totally Brett: ’cause I I had the same reaction when someone said somatics, ’cause I think, “Oh, that’s some holistic idea of the body, um, of soma,” and it’s… No, it’s, it’s got legit physical therapy behind it. Melissa: And, Yoga Modifications Melissa: you used to do a lot of yoga too, so that probably makes Brett: I still do. Melissa: Yeah? That’s [00:37:00] wonderful. Brett: it’s gotten really hard. Um, I can’t, I can’t– So I get dizzy Melissa: Yeah. Brett: going from sitting to standing, um, and my back gives out if I am in, like, horse or warrior two for more than a couple minutes. Um, and I can’t do cobras because I have a belly like a nine-month pregnancy. Um, so I have to do, like, prenatal yoga, um, which is actually a thing. Melissa: that’s a good idea. I’m glad you brought that up. I should look Brett: a- and I do chair yoga, um, where I I take the class that everyone else takes, but I modify it to work with… Like, there, there are defined moves that you do with a chair instead of. Instead of doing down dog, you do, like, a 90-degree down dog holding the back of a chair. Um, and you put, like, a knee on the chair to do warrior two, so you’re actually [00:38:00] resting. And Um, and you can do it fully seated too and get at least the arm exercises out of it. So I’ve been trying to maintain, maintain flexibility and some endurance. I’m not doing yoga the way I used to do it, but I am still Melissa: I’ve seen some of your poses. It’s pretty impressive. Brett: Yeah, back in the day. Melissa: W- when you could be upside down. Polycystic Liver Shock Melissa: I should look into that because I, you know, although I’m done having babies, like far done having babies, I have… You probably know about this too, I have polycystic liver disease, which is a really rare type of liver disease, and it’s not fatty liver. Oh my God, I have to keep telling doctors that. That’s the other thing. It’s like, it is not fatty liver. It is not. It- they’re cysts. It’s a totally different thing. I’m basically full of bubbles. So I… But it feels like that’s why I went in to get it. I didn’t actually get that checked. I found it accidentally when I went in for an heart, for a heart CT. That’s when they found it, and for a, a breast MRI, so [00:39:00] both those, those types of scans caught it. The other parts were fine, so my heart’s fine, so that’s a relief. But yeah, so this was a bit of a shock. And so I don’t know exactly what it means moving forward, um, but my entire liver is, like, engulfed in cysts, so. Right? But my blood work is, is fantastic right now, so I’m just gonna keep Brett: That’s good. Melissa: hoping it stays that way. Brett: That’s something. Fatphobia In Healthcare Brett: Um, I I have heard for a long time about, um, doctors being fatphobic and, and always assuming that, um, always assuming that your health i-issue is because you’re fat and not even looking for underlying issues, which has been an interesting experience for me because that really never happened to me. Melissa: Mm. Brett: Um, at least not once I switched to Gundersen from, like, a local clinic. Then I realized that it’s not just being fat that gets you [00:40:00] stigmatized, it’s being a fat woman. Melissa: Mm, I was gonna say try having a uterus and being Brett: yeah. Yeah. Um, like I talked to one of my best friends, April, who he’s, has been on Melissa: by, women doctors. Brett: Yeah. Yeah. And that’s, that’s what April tells me. She tells me all these horror stories. Even after finding care she trusted, she still has to deal with people saying, “Well, if you just lost some weight.” Like, she’s been fat her whole life. She’s in better shape than most skinny people Melissa: Yeah. Mm-hmm. Brett: I mean, she does sit-ups with 50-pound plates and does, like, five, 10 miles at a time on her, like, on her bike and, like, she’s in great shape and still has to walk with the ski poles, and she’s getting her second knee replaced this week. And, like, it, it’s just infuriating to hear the way that doctors dismiss Melissa: You know what the problem is, Brett? Brett: goes through [00:41:00] when Pole Dancing Reality Check Melissa: Not enough doctors have watched fat pole dancers. That is the problem right there. They need more education. Brett: Um, yeah. There’s, there are a couple of, um, queer burlesque shows Melissa: shows, yes. Brett: in my area that almost always include a plus-size pole dance, and it is amazing to Melissa: Oh, it’s mesmerizing. It should be an Olympic sport. Remind me to send you the, the link to, unless you’ve already seen it, have you seen the Deadpool pole dancer? Brett: No, I don’t think Melissa: you are in for a treat. We might just have to put that in the show notes, but I don’t know, I don’t know if your listeners are that, are into that It’s fully clothed, but it’s, there’s even blue Crocs involved. Brett: So this is nobody that you’re seeing on the Melissa: I wondered, yep. I wondered, yeah. Aw, he looks so soft. Mm. Mechanical Keyboard ASMR Brett: So you’ve [00:42:00] gotten really into mechanical keyboards. Melissa: have, I have. In fact, uh, I was gonna, I was gonna see how this might sound, but I, I brought my little box of key caps to show you so that I could say, welcome to my ASMR channel. Brett: That would… is is that a thing? I bet there are ASMR, like, key switch testing. Melissa: yeah, yeah. I’ve run across a couple of videos where, you know, they’ll have a hashtag ASMR in there, and that’s, that’s what it is. Do you experience ASMR yourself? Brett: No. Melissa: No? So when you listen to those videos you don’t get like the s- the tickling of the spine and stuff? Brett: No. Melissa: I do. It actually, it goes, it… I forget. I always forget what the acronym stands for, but it, you know, has something to do with the meridian. So if you can i- imagine your brain like split in half, and I feel it right on this side. It goes, it goes like the, down the back of my head, behind my ear, and down into my shoulder. It [00:43:00] is the funkiest feeling, and I love it. I love it so much. Even when we were talking about animals in the, in the beginning and I even had a cat that would come and just like kind of lick my ear and, oh, I just, I love that. Most people cannot stand that sound. They have the opposite condition where they can’t handle somebody chewing gum. My grandfather had that. Um, some, some kinda, it ends in a tonia. Misatonia or something like that, um, where… I don’t know. Do you have any of those like sound sensory issues? I have a lot of Brett: really don’t. I’m very, I’m very, like, sound Like, I like loud, heavy music. Like, that does something for my psyche. Um, but general sounds, they neither bo-bother me nor stimulate me. Melissa: imagine what that’s like. I just can’t. I’m So bothered, and my kids too, and you know, ugh, God, Brett: So El Melissa: has been problematic. Brett: El is, El is, definitely sensitive to sound, um, in a way that Like, even my [00:44:00] mechanical keyboards can’t be, can’t be on the same floor of the house as Elle. We pretty much live in silence, and that’s fine for me most of the time because, like, it just doesn’t affect me either way. So, like, keeping things quiet is easy, and I focus well in silence. And then when Elle’s gone, I blast my music, and w- when I’m in the car, I blast my music, and then the rest of the time I live in the quiet place. Melissa: Mm-hmm. In The Quiet Place. Brett: Yeah. Melissa: Yeah, we have- something a little similar, but m- my husband and I have, uh… We have our his and hers kind of setup here in, in the, in our den, in our inner study. So he’s got his side and I’ve got my side. So we’re together, and he does a lot of grading papers, and he’s really good about putting his, his earbuds in and just tuning the whole world out. He’s… It’s fascinating to watch that man just [00:45:00] execute. I mean, I just am so envious of people who can just execute. But the, the, the, yeah, the sensory, it’s all about the sensory stuff for me when it comes to keyboards. I actually thought about… I don’t know how popular it would be, but I also thought about making a podcast, a video podcast, that would highlight the intersection of nail art and mechanical keyboards. Because I’ll tell you, that’s actually what… I’ve always loved mechanical keyboards, but yeah, the, the one that I had, someone had given me a, a Matias, and oh, it’s, it’s so loud, but it’s like high-pitched. It’s kinda sharp. And it was even kind of annoying to me after a while. And then it does not, it’s not a mechanical keyboard in that you can’t pull the switches out, so you’re kinda stuck with what you got. Like, you might be able to change the key caps if you could find them, but couldn’t change the switches. And something happened to the S key, and I was like, “All right, it’s over,” so. But I can’t get rid of them either, so one of these days I wanna have like a display of, of keyboards. [00:46:00] Nail Art And Picking Melissa: But what got me, what got me into saying, “Okay, I’m finally, I’m just gonna invest in a keyboard because it’s ergonomically important to me,” is I have… And I can’t pronounce it, so I’m not even gonna try, but there’s a condition, and it’s a self-diagnosed thing. But I, I am a picker. I pick my skin a lot. Um, I think it’s called derma something Anyway, so I wasn’t gonna try to pronounce it. But, uh, I’ve always had that condition since I was a kid. I didn’t even know it was a thing. I just thought everybody get, uh, picks. But then during the pande- during the pandemic, it got super bad. Like, I had, I had, um, some panic attacks and, you know, as a lot of probab- people probably did. But it got so bad to the point where I had picked my fingers and they were bleeding and they were throbbing and they were hurting. And I said to one of my kids, I said to my youngest, I said, “Can you just, like, if I, if I’m picking, can you just let me know?” And then I regretted doing that because then he took it on as this, like, full-time job, you know? And it kinda [00:47:00] gave him anxiety, and I thought, “Oh, okay, that, that was a bad thing to do.” So I s- I let him off the hook. I said, “No, you don’t have to tell me anymore.” Um, because, yeah, ev- even if I went to, like, just kinda, like, clean under my nail or something. So it was actually causing a real problem for the family that I was just picking so much. And it’s not just my fingers, it’s, like, other parts of my body. So I thought to myself, “Well, what can I do about this?” And so I started putting fake nail tips on. And I hate to be all, like… I don’t know, I’m not, I try not to be, like, a very vain person, but I really started kinda falling into the nail art side of things, and I, I just recently learned how to do gel and work with, um, uh, what’s it called? Uh, not resin. So I… Oh, that’s another ASMR thing. Do you like to watch resin pours? Brett: I do, actually, yes. Melissa: that’s… Okay, so if you like resin pours, if you like to watch the viscosity and the way the, the chemicals, like, form together and when they, when they mix colors in and stuff, [00:48:00] that’s what it’s like with nail art but on more of, like, a macro level because it’s, you know, you’re working with small stuff. Like, just, just recently I learned how to do… So I’m showing Brett this on, on camera, but I recently learned how to do the kind of nail polish that you take a magnet and you run the magnet along it, and it makes this, like, a cat’s eye. Brett: Yeah, that’s cool. Melissa: I love it. So, so that, so combining nail art then, and I thought, “Well, now I’ve got these long nails,” but all of my keyboards have been these flat, really low-profile keyboards. And, you know, I just, I started to dread it. So then I was kinda caught between a crossroads. Like, either I leave nails off and I can type really, really fast and have high accuracy with no nails, but then as soon as, as soon as I get, like, a little snag or something, then I start picking and then it’s just, it’s all over then. Or I try to find a way to work with these nails. So that’s what I started thinking, “Well, maybe if I had higher keys.” And so then I just, yeah, rabbit hole. [00:49:00] Went down the rabbit hole, and I’ve, I’ve just kinda been there ever since. And, uh, it really, I think, uh… Let’s see. How long ago did this start? It’s only been about maybe like six months or something like that, so. Keyboard Layout Rabbit Hole Melissa: But in that time so I’ve started, um, building a collection of switches. So I’ve been really interested in both the key caps and the switches. Um, I’ve got my baseboards. I like my Royal Kludge the best. This is… I’m gonna show Brett my Royal Kludge. So, so this is what it’s looking like right now. Brett: Yeah. Melissa: It is very purpley. Um, I did post some pictures. I can… I don’t know if you do pictures in show notes, but I could take some pictures for you It’s got a knob. It’s got, um… Let me see if I can do it real Brett: Do you use the knob. I have a couple keyboards with knobs and even a joystick, and I never actually use them Melissa: Good question. Um, I, I use it, I try to use it for volume at [00:50:00] times, and that’s probably what I use it for the most. But this one does have a… Let’s see if I can get this into focus here, backwards and upside down. It’s gonna be upside down, but you see how you can put, you can put your logo Brett: Oh, yeah. Nice. Melissa: got my The Mac Mommy little logo on there. Otherwise, it gives you the time in military format, so that’s kind of handy to have. Um, but yeah, it’s… To be honest, I, I love the, I love this Royal Kludge because it’s nice and heavy, and I love the form factor. It’s got a number pad, um, because I’m, because I am a grown-ass adult and I need a number pad. Um, but it’s nice and heavy. It doesn’t, it doesn’t move around my desk a lot. I kind of have to type, like, kind of crooked, ’cause that’s just the way my neck goes to the wrong way and stuff like that. So I like being able to fit it on my desk. I have a, I had a larger one made by Red, uh, what is it? Redragon. This is the one that I started [00:51:00] out with. Gonna make lots of noise here. But as you can see, this one is way bigger. And it was, as much as I liked it, I mean, I fell in love with it, but what was happening was my accuracy was, like, really thrown off because I fe- I kept feeling like it just needs to be, like, a couple centimeters to the right or a couple centimeters to the left. It just wasn’t centered very well. So this one, my husband gets all the hand-me-downs, so that one went over onto his desk. Uh, and then I also have a baby keyboard here, and this is another Redragon. This is my little mini one. Brett: that’s, that’s the kind of keyboard I mostly use, like a 70% keyboard. Melissa: Yeah, I think this one’s even 60. Um… Brett: My– The one I’m using right now is, uh, 60. There’s no, there’s no function row, there’s no arrow, there’s no keypad or, like, arrow pad. Um, Melissa: No [00:52:00] arrows? How do you live without arrows? Oh, do you, you mapped your keys to something Brett: so it looks like this, Melissa: nice. I love the Brett: that the, the space bar is split in two. Yeah, my, my, my partner says it looks like, uh, gay ’80s. It’s all pink and blue and purple. Um, but the, the space bar is split, and the right half of mine functions as something called a mod key, and when I hold that down, then my I, J, K, and L keys become arrow keys. Melissa: Oh, wow. Brett: once you get used to it, you never have to take your hand off the home row. Melissa: Oh my God, that must be amazing. Brett: It– Yeah, once you get used to it, it, it’s so… Like, g- moving to a keyboard that doesn’t have that is kind of tortuous. On my MacBook Pro, I have remapped it using Karabiner so that Melissa: [00:53:00] That’s what I’m using. Brett: if I hold, the semicolon down with my pinky, then H-I-J-K-L become, Melissa: Oh, nice. Brett: become arrow keys, so I still don’t have to move my hand all the way down and to the right. Like, that’s such a inefficient movement that then I have to, like… Because I don’t have great feeling in my fingers, so finding, on a low-profile keyboard, finding the, the homing buttons again Melissa: Oh, do you use the humming buttons? See, that’s the thing, I was never taught that. I mean, I took like a ty- I took like a typewriting class back in high school, and I just didn’t like it. I, I just taught myself. I just… I’m an autodidact that way, so I just taught myself. Brett: my dad, back in 1984, we had a typing program on our PCjr, and I Melissa: It wasn’t Mavis Beacon, was it? Brett: remember. I don’t remember. All I know is, like, It taught you touch typing, and it would give you [00:54:00] these lessons, and you would basically just mirror what was on screen. And at the age of seven, I was typing at about 68 words per minute on an, on an old IBM PCjr keyboard. Um, got a lot faster through high school and everything. But yeah, I was, I was, from day one, I was raised to be a touch typist, and, and I took all the classes they had in school. Melissa: But you still touch Brett: labs. Yeah. Melissa: Uh-huh, yeah. So you don’t do the home rows. Brett: No, that is touch Melissa: Oh, touch typing, so you do feel… for the bumps. Brett: Yeah, I feel for the bumps, and then I just, like, my f- my key, my fingers never really leave the Melissa: Oh, yeah. See, I wish I could do Brett: centered home row. Yeah. It’s, it, it’s good. Um, Melissa: And you’re using the split, so my gosh. Brett: What– You get used to that too. Um, like, [00:55:00] I can’t do it with the split far apart. I’ve seen people use, like, splits, like, way out to the sides, and I can’t, my, my brain doesn’t do that. Like, my hands have to be within, like, six inches of each other. Melissa: I always thought, it would be so cool to have something where you could have it, like, raised up like this, right? And use your hands sideways. Brett: Yeah. Well, that’s I mean, that’s essentially, I have, on the bottom of this keyboard, I have these risers. Melissa: Oh, uh-huh. Oh, Brett: So it sits, right now I have it at about a 45-degree tent, tent, tent. Um, but it can go up to more like an 80-degree tent, where you’re actually Melissa: Wow. Brett: uh, almost like you’re clapping, you’re typing. Um, I don’t Melissa: of that. I have a, a, handshake mouse. Brett: Vertical mouse. Melissa: You like… Is that what you have for a mouse too? Brett: no, I, I love Melissa: Trackballs. Oh, trackpads. Oh, okay. Brett: Apple’s Magic Trackpad changed my life. I’ve never used– I’ve never gone back to a [00:56:00] mouse since the first Magic Trackpad came out. Melissa: So you’re all about the gestures then? Brett: yeah, Melissa: Yeah. Yeah, yeah. That’s great. Brett: Bet- bet- better touch tool for the win. Melissa: You know what it is for me, is because of the type of work that I do, and this is very much true for both of us, you do these things because of the type of work that you do. The type of work that I do, I’m in everybody’s homes, so I have to ty- I have to be able to type and use their mouse and, I mean, it’s actually a very dirty job. So I keep hand wipes with me everywhere. Um, that, that was why during the pandemic I was like, “I am not coming to your house and I am not touching the stuff that you just picked your nose and…” Yeah, mm-mm. But, so, so i- it’s been kind of keeping me almost like a purist in a way as far as keyboards have gone all these years. I, I finally just kind of let go and embraced this recently, th- which is why I’m so excited and why I’m just kind of nerding out on it, because when, when I worked [00:57:00] in, like, I’ll call it the industry, um, I got my f- my start in prepress. So I worked in prepress, I was a typesetter, and we had… That’s what I kind of miss. We had the old clunky beige keyboards, and I had my muscle memory such that I think my o- my Option key would have, like, the indentation of my nail on it. You know? ‘Cause I had, just like you have, keys that are programmed. I could… I was a Quark queen. I don’t know if you’re familiar with QuarkXPress? Brett: Oh, yeah. Yeah. I was a graphic designer. I I know Quark. Melissa: Yeah, I loved it. I was… And, and I used it back in the OS 9 days, OS 7 really, is when I started out. Uh, I did not like the OS X vers- OS 10 version of Quark. Did not like it at all. Brett: No, but that’s Melissa: it was slow. Brett: Adobe came out with, what was, what was Adobe’s… InDesign. Yeah. By the time I had started, by the time I had started my own ad agency, we were all InDesign. Melissa: Oh, [00:58:00] nice. Okay. I mean, it was a Brett: and none of the, none of the print shops expected Quark files Melissa: Yeah. Oh, it was so expensive. I remember I had to buy it when I was in college, and I remember it cost, like, $800. I’m probably still paying for that, damn it, in interest. Yeah, so that, that’s how I got my start originally, and that’s how I was doing… I, I went to… So I have, I have a Bachelor of Fine Arts. I went to college in order to be a designer. I wanted to be a designer designer, and that’s what I, what I thought I was good at and thought that I liked doing, ’cause, you know, “Oh, you’re a girl. Go to art school. You like to draw.” You know? I’m always bitter about that because I really wish that I would’ve been able to go… I mean, this was, you know… I’m, I’m 51, so this was back in the day where girls, girls don’t do computers and girls don’t do coding. G- girls don’t do computer science. They didn’t even call it computer science. They didn’t even call it graphic design back then. It was commercial art. Um, so I studied that and, you know, I liked it ’cause I thought, “Well, this is what I could, I could take my art and make [00:59:00] a living into it.” And then fast-forward, um, I just started to fall in love with the technical troubleshooting side of things. So as, as good as I was at the technical typesetting and the technical, like, putting prepress things together, you know, um, uh, key sheets and s- you know, things like that. Do you remember, was there, uh, did you ever use a program called Quick Keys? That was one of the ones Brett: familiar. Melissa: you could map your own keys to things. So w- when I was in prepress and doing typesetting, I used that program and I, I mapped all my keys, and I had all these quick keys and stuff so I could go really, really fast, you know? So when they wanted something done fast, they gave it to me, and I could just fly through documents with this. But then as people learned that I was good at this kind of stuff and troubleshooting, they’re like, “Oh, hey, Roger needs, you know, has a problem. Can you go help him?” So I’d go over to his cubicle, I sit down, and he’s got nothing. You know, he’s got [01:00:00] no quick keys, no nothing, and you just kinda get lost because your muscle memory just adapts to it. And I couldn’t help people the way… And, and that was what it was about for me. I really liked more helping people and troubleshooting and the technology side of things than the actual design process. So I kind of went to the other side with it. And so I just kind of, like, vowed that, okay, I’m not gonna do any kind of, like, customization on my own workstation because then I’ll, my, my muscle memory will map to it, and then when I go to sit down to help somebody else, I won’t… You know, I’ll be so much in my own world that I won’t be able to help them. And so I just kind of, like, remained a, a pu

In this episode, Ash and Dusty discuss the important topic of when worsening ADHD symptoms may actually be caused or worsened by other physiological or medical conditions. They explore how hormonal changes related to PMS, PMDD, perimenopause, and menopause can significantly impact cognition, mood, and executive function. Dusty shares her personal experience with PMDD and how medication has been life-changing in managing symptoms that overlap with ADHD but require different treatment approaches. They also highlight other health issues such as anemia, mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), hypermobility disorders like Ehlers-Danlos, TMJ, migraines, and sleep disruptions that can mimic or exacerbate ADHD symptoms. The hosts emphasize the importance of recognizing these co-occurring or separate conditions and how ADHD coaching can support managing them by focusing on follow-through, executive functioning, and problem-solving rather than "coaching out" chronic illness itself. Ash and Dusty encourage listeners to advocate for themselves with healthcare providers, get regular checkups, and explore potential underlying causes when symptoms suddenly worsen. They also caution against dismissing new or worsening symptoms as just ADHD and stress the value of integrated care between medical treatment and coaching to improve overall functioning and quality of life. Episode links + resources: Join the Community | Become a Patron Our Process: Understand, Own, Translate. About Asher and Dusty For more of the Translating ADHD podcast: Episode Transcripts: visit TranslatingADHD.com and click on the episode Follow us on Twitter: @TranslatingADHD Visit the Website: TranslatingADHD.com

In this "MythBusters" edition of the Bendy Bodies Podcast, Dr. Linda Bluestein and recurring co-host Dr. Dacre Knight tackle the persistent misconceptions surrounding Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS), hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD), and their frequent companions, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS). Dr. Knight, Medical Director of the UVA Health EDS and Hypermobility Disorder Center, shares why hypermobile EDS (hEDS) is a serious condition even when not life-threatening, and why a negative genetic test doesn't rule out a diagnosis. The conversation dives deep into the "invisible" impact of these disorders on long-term disability and work ability, while offering hope through a better understanding of pain processing and nociplastic pain. From debunking the idea that POTS is merely deconditioning to navigating the controversial waters of MCAS, this episode empowers patients and clinicians with the knowledge needed to look past the surface and recognize the systemic reality of bendy bodies. Takeaways: EDS Severity: Hypermobile EDS and HSD are serious, chronic conditions that cause multi-system impairment and long-term disability, regardless of whether they are immediately life-threatening. Genetic Testing Limits: Current genetic testing cannot rule out hEDS or HSD because their specific genetic markers remain unknown; diagnosis still relies on clinical history and physical assessment. POTS is Systemic: POTS is far more than simple deconditioning or a cardiac issue; it is a neurologic dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system that impacts everything from heart rate to temperature regulation. The MCAS Spectrum: While MCAS criteria are still evolving and controversial, focusing on clinical patterns and safe treatment responses can improve quality of life even when lab tests (e.g., tryptase) are negative. Pain vs. Damage: Pain is a complex, bidirectional experience; patients can experience significant pain without visible structural damage due to central sensitization and dysfunctional pain signaling. Want to learn more about the UVA EDS Center? Go AquaTru.com now for 20% off (your purifier) using promo code BENDY. For Appointments and Questions: RUVAEDSCenter@uvahealth.org UVA EDS: https://www.uvahealth.com/healthy-practice/advancing-care-through-ehlers-danlos-clinic UVA EDS FAQ: https://www.uvahealth.com/support/eds/faq UVA Pediatric Integrative Medicine: https://childrens.uvahealth.com/specialties/integrative-health 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: ⁠⁠⁠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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this "MythBusters" edition of the Bendy Bodies Podcast, Dr. Linda Bluestein and recurring co-host Dr. Dacre Knight tackle the persistent misconceptions surrounding Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS), hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD), and their frequent companions, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS). Dr. Knight, Medical Director of the UVA Health EDS and Hypermobility Disorder Center, shares why hypermobile EDS (hEDS) is a serious condition even when not life-threatening, and why a negative genetic test doesn't rule out a diagnosis. The conversation dives deep into the "invisible" impact of these disorders on long-term disability and work ability, while offering hope through a better understanding of pain processing and nociplastic pain. From debunking the idea that POTS is merely deconditioning to navigating the controversial waters of MCAS, this episode empowers patients and clinicians with the knowledge needed to look past the surface and recognize the systemic reality of bendy bodies. Takeaways: EDS Severity: Hypermobile EDS and HSD are serious, chronic conditions that cause multi-system impairment and long-term disability, regardless of whether they are immediately life-threatening. Genetic Testing Limits: Current genetic testing cannot rule out hEDS or HSD because their specific genetic markers remain unknown; diagnosis still relies on clinical history and physical assessment. POTS is Systemic: POTS is far more than simple deconditioning or a cardiac issue; it is a neurologic dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system that impacts everything from heart rate to temperature regulation. The MCAS Spectrum: While MCAS criteria are still evolving and controversial, focusing on clinical patterns and safe treatment responses can improve quality of life even when lab tests (e.g., tryptase) are negative. Pain vs. Damage: Pain is a complex, bidirectional experience; patients can experience significant pain without visible structural damage due to central sensitization and dysfunctional pain signaling. Want to learn more about the UVA EDS Center? Go AquaTru.com now for 20% off (your purifier) using promo code BENDY. For Appointments and Questions: RUVAEDSCenter@uvahealth.org UVA EDS: https://www.uvahealth.com/healthy-practice/advancing-care-through-ehlers-danlos-clinic UVA EDS FAQ: https://www.uvahealth.com/support/eds/faq UVA Pediatric Integrative Medicine: https://childrens.uvahealth.com/specialties/integrative-health 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: ⁠⁠⁠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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Dave Clarke returns to Ditch the Labcoat to dig deeper into something medicine still doesn't talk about enough: what happens when your body creates real, debilitating symptoms but there's nothing structurally wrong.This isn't about imaginary illness or psychosomatic complaints. This is about the brain physically changing in response to stress, trauma, and unresolved emotional burdens, and manifesting those changes as chronic pain, migraines, irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, and dozens of other conditions that standard medical tests can't explain.Dr. Clarke walks through what neuroplastic treatment actually looks like. How he identifies patients whose symptoms stem from adverse childhood experiences, current stressors, or past traumas they've buried so deep they don't even recognize the connection. How he helps them see that their bodies are okay, their brains have just learned to create symptoms as a warning signal. And how, once that fear is removed and the real stressors are addressed, symptoms that have plagued people for years can resolve. Sometimes dramatically, sometimes over time with therapy.The conversation challenges everything medicine teaches about the link between pathology and symptoms. Why do ten people with identical "bone-on-bone" knee arthritis x-rays experience completely different levels of pain? Why do half of people over 40 have abnormal spine MRIs but no symptoms at all? Why do patients get told their spine is "abnormal" or they have Ehlers-Danlos or chronic Lyme when the real issue is unprocessed trauma from childhood?Dr. Clarke also addresses the system failures that keep neuroplastic treatment on the margins. Why physicians trained to think about organs and structures struggle to diagnose conditions rooted in the mind. Why patients resist the idea that their pain could be brain-generated, even when it's the only explanation that fits. And why collaborative care between medical doctors and trauma-informed mental health professionals is the most cost-effective intervention we're not using.If you've ever wondered why so many people have unexplained symptoms, why standard treatments fail them, or what actually works when medicine runs out of answers, this episode will reframe how you see chronic illness.Dr. Dave Clarke's Website:  https://www.symptomatic.me/Episode Takeaways1. Neuroplastic conditions are not imaginary. The brain has physically changed in response to stress or trauma, creating real symptoms in the body.2. Over 40% of people who present to primary care have medically unexplained symptoms, and at least a quarter to a third of adults experience neuroplastic conditions.3. More than half of people over age 40 have abnormal spine MRIs with zero symptoms, proving that structural abnormalities don't always correlate with pain.4. Pain reprocessing therapy starts with reassurance: your body is okay, you don't need to fear lifelong disability, and shifting attention from body to mind begins reducing symptoms.5. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are often subtle. Not just physical or sexual abuse, but emotional neglect, perfectionism, or growing up in chaotic households create lasting neuroplastic effects.6. The key to uncovering hidden trauma: ask patients to imagine their own child growing up exactly as they did. This reframe helps them see experiences they minimized as actually harmful.7. Collaborative care between medical doctors and trauma-informed mental health professionals produces the best outcomes and is highly cost-effective, reducing ER visits and healthcare utilization.8. Resources are now widely available: apps (Curable, Nirvana, Digestible, FreeMe), self-help books, the Association for the Treatment of Neuroplastic Symptoms (symptomatic.me), and trained providers worldwide.Episode Timestamps03:45 – What Neuroplastic Treatment Actually Looks Like07:09 – The Stress Evaluation: Finding the Link Between Trauma and Symptoms13:35 – How to Get Patients to Believe Their Brain Creates Physical Pain18:55 – Placebo, Nocebo, and Why Pain is Always Generated by the Brain24:46 – Conditions That Benefit from Neuroplastic Treatment29:35 – Why the System Still Doesn't Believe This36:53 – How to Uncover Hidden Childhood Trauma46:45 – Resources for People Who Can't Access Specialized CareDISCLAMER >>>>>>    The Ditch Lab Coat podcast serves solely for general informational purposes and does not serve as a substitute for professional medical services such as medicine or nursing. It does not establish a doctor/patient relationship, and the use of information from the podcast or linked materials is at the user's own risk. The content does not aim to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and users should promptly seek guidance from healthcare professionals for any medical conditions.   >>>>>> The expressed opinions belong solely to the hosts and guests, and they do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Hospitals, Clinics, Universities, or any other organization associated with the host or guests.    Disclosures: Ditch The Lab Coat podcast is produced by (soundsdebatable.com) and is independent of Dr. Bonta's teaching and research roles at McMaster University, Temerty Faculty of Medicine and Queens University. 

What happens when people's lived experience with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) is dismissed in medicine? And how can it become a vital form of knowledge?In this episode, Aaron Goodman speaks with Megan Moodie, a medical anthropologist and disability studies scholar at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Her work explores patient activism and how knowledge is produced in medicine. Megan also brings lived experience to this conversation, including Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and chemical sensitivities.You'll hear Aaron and Megan discuss: Why people with MCS are often dismissed or psychologized in clinical settings. How lived experience becomes meaningful knowledge in medicine.  What more equitable collaboration between researchers and affected communities could look like.And more!

This is a recording of a previously hosted live webinar event. Polling and question submission features are not available for this recording. Format and structure may differ from those of standard podcasts.Join host Phil Plisky, PT, DSc, ATC, CSCS, and strength expert Daniel Lorenz, DPT, PT, ATC, LAT, CSCS, as they challenge the traditional 3×10 status quo and dive into the physiological necessity of true tissue loading. You'll explore how to move past clinical guesstimation by using objective feedback loops and functional testing to bridge the gap between initial rehab and high-level performance. Learn actionable strategies for determining appropriate intensity, along with set and rep schemes that build genuine load tolerance for your patients. Tune in to learn why it's time to “test, don't guess” and how to safely apply progressive overload to optimize patient outcomes.Learning OutcomesAnalyze the evidence around clinically relevant loading approachesApply evidence-based, practical strategies to actionably address the challenge of proper load progression that is mindful of the patient's history and current status, while also applying strength training principles to adequately build the patient's load toleranceSolve patient case scenarios involving how to properly apply the principles of progressive overload in rehabilitationTimestamps(00:00:00) Welcome(00:00:05) Introduction to loading in rehab(00:03:20) Understanding the importance of loading(00:05:52) Challenges in loading patients(00:08:45) Effective loading strategies(00:17:15) Balancing loading with patient safety(00:25:02) Teaching patients to self-load after rehab(00:27:36) Functional testing in rehabilitation(00:36:46) Case scenarios(00:42:20) Key takeaways for effective rehabilitation(00:44:50) Rest periods and their impact(00:47:32) Tailoring exercise for Ehlers-Danlos syndrome(00:50:18) The importance of reps and failure levels(00:56:16) Isometrics and pain management in rehab(00:58:48) Conclusion and resourcesRehab and Performance Lab is brought to you by Medbridge. If you'd like to earn continuing education credit for listening to this episode and access bonus takeaway handouts, log in to your Medbridge account and navigate to the course where you'll find accreditation details. If applicable, complete the post-course assessment and survey to be eligible for credit. The takeaway handout on Medbridge gives you the key points mentioned in this episode, along with additional resources you can implement into your practice right away.To hear more episodes of Rehab and Performance Lab, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.medbridge.com/rehab-and-performance-lab⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠If you'd like to subscribe to Medbridge, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.medbridge.com/pricing/

BEST EPISODE of The YEAR! Riley Courtwright shares her two Near Death Experiences (NDEs) publicly for the first time.Riley was a lifelong atheist, diagnosed with vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome that led to her organs shutting down, and ultimately her NDEs. Over the course of 18 months, Riley died twice — the first time at home after being sent away by doctors with no further options, and the second time seven months ago in St. Thomas, where she and her husband had moved so she could spend her final days.___________________________Text ROUNDTRIP to 64000 to get a FREE pocket pivot AND 10-pattern sprayer with purchase of any size Copper Head hose. (message & data rates may apply)___________________________During both NDEs, Riley describes traveling through a cosmic wormhole, receiving telepathic downloads of universal knowledge, reuniting with deceased loved ones, and hearing otherworldly music and trumpets.During her second and more profound NDE, Riley recounts being in the direct presence of God — described as bigger than the cosmos yet intimately personal — sitting in his lap, watching him expand the universe, and being shown heaven, hell, and a vision of the end of the world.She also describes a surprise encounter with Jesus after her husband baptized her in the bathtub just before she passed. Most remarkably, Riley returned to life after being clinically dead for 50 minutes,Video Version of This EpisodeRoundTripDeath.comDonate to this podcast: https://www.roundtripdeath.com/support/

00:00 FSM Changes Lives Fast 00:53 Podcast Intro And Hosts 02:16 The Magic Of Treatment 04:26 Quick Wins In Clinic 08:16 Progressive Disease Reality 11:43 Treat The Whole Person 18:17 Proof And Published Data 21:12 How People Find FSM 21:57 Why FSM Is Not TENS 25:33 The Book Origin Story 28:31 Writing Under Pressure 31:34 Prologue Inspiration 33:21 Sound of Courage 35:12 Energy and Next Steps 38:47 Page Turner Writing 40:18 Curiosity in Practice 42:06 Challenging Hopeless Diagnoses 45:50 ED Knee Breakthrough 49:06 Learning by Doing 50:23 Snoopy Side Quest 51:06 Conference and Wrap Up In contemporary medical practice, it's vital for practitioners to stay open to emerging therapies that offer new dimensions of healing, especially for cases deemed resistant or complex. Frequency Specific Microcurrent (FSM) is one such tool that is reshaping treatment paradigms through a nuanced understanding of energy, tissue regeneration, and integrated care. ### Embracing Change: Avoiding the Routine For medical professionals, it is not just about the basics of diagnosis and medication. The key lies in understanding whether your approach is injecting energy into both your practice and your patients, or merely echoing mundane outcomes. At the core of every treatment decision should be the consideration, "Does this give you energy, or does this drain your energy?" This grounds practitioners in ensuring that their methods are invigorating rather than depleting—for both themselves and their patients. ### The Power of Small Changes in Patient Outcomes FSM allows for significant life changes in a short span, effectively targeting inflammatory cytokines and alleviating nerve pain. Its transformative potential extends to treating conditions previously thought unmanageable. The ability to slow the progression of degenerative diseases such as ALS, MS, and Parkinson's has offered hope where little existed. Practitioners report significant improvements not just in day-to-day pain management but in enhancing a patient's quality of life. This is especially resonant in conditions like fibromyalgia and post-stroke recovery, where FSM can tap into the body's self-restorative capabilities, mediated strongly by the vagus nerve. ### The Multipronged Approach to Complex Conditions FSM challenges the notion of singular causality in ailments like concussion or Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. Often, the underlying issues necessitate a holistic approach, looking beyond the immediate manifestations to uncover deeper physiological and energetic blockages. It demands that practitioners treat the whole person, redefining the idea of intervention from acute response to integrated healing. In medical practice, even acknowledging a patient's background—be they a former athlete or someone with a chronic health condition—can illuminate pathways for unique interventions. Understanding the person, not just the disease, helps practitioners target the treatment more effectively. ### Learning and Adaptation The inherent beauty of this therapy lies in its dynamic nature, inviting practitioners to learn something new with each patient interaction. Every case is an opportunity to apply innovative thinking, continually questioning and challenging what medical norms have set as incurable. Sitting with the discomfort of not having all the answers and having the courage to keep questioning are essential traits for practitioners aiming to break new ground. Unlocking the power of FSM is not merely about applying the technology but understanding its broader implications for medical practice, offering a kind of salvation to those whose ailments have left them with little hope.  

In this listener-inspired episode, Dr. Linda Bluestein is joined by producer Aron from Human Content to address the fundamental truths she wishes every patient knew about hypermobility. Together, they explore the "invisible" yet highly visible nature of Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS) and hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD), providing a roadmap to help patients stop gaslighting themselves and start advocating for better care. Dr. Bluestein breaks down complex concepts like central sensitization and the "sympathetic overdrive" often experienced by bendy bodies, while offering practical strategies for organizing medical documents and communicating effectively with practitioners. From debunking the myth of "growing pains" in teenagers to identifying environmental mast cell triggers, this conversation is a masterclass in shifting from a mindset of anxiety to one of curious, proactive detection. Takeaways: You Are Not Imagining It: Learn why hypermobility symptoms like pain, fatigue, and brain fog are frequently dismissed and how to validate your own physiological experience. The Interconnected Body: Understand how connective tissue disorders affect nearly every system, from gut motility to the "dishwasher of the brain" known as the glymphatic system. The "Reporter" Mindset: Discover how to present your symptoms objectively to doctors to avoid having physical complaints misattributed solely to anxiety. The HSD/hEDS Distinction: Clarify the differences between hypermobile EDS and hypermobility spectrum disorders, including the current reality of genetic testing. Mast Cells as the First Domino: Explore why stabilizing mast cells can have widespread benefits across the GI tract, skin, and nervous system 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 Want to learn more about the UVA EDS Center? For Appointments and Questions: RUVAEDSCenter@uvahealth.org UVA EDS: https://www.uvahealth.com/healthy-practice/advancing-care-through-ehlers-danlos-clinic UVA EDS FAQ: https://www.uvahealth.com/support/eds/faq UVA Pediatric Integrative Medicine: https://childrens.uvahealth.com/specialties/integrative-health 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: ⁠⁠⁠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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this listener-inspired episode, Dr. Linda Bluestein is joined by producer Aron from Human Content to address the fundamental truths she wishes every patient knew about hypermobility. Together, they explore the "invisible" yet highly visible nature of Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS) and hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD), providing a roadmap to help patients stop gaslighting themselves and start advocating for better care. Dr. Bluestein breaks down complex concepts like central sensitization and the "sympathetic overdrive" often experienced by bendy bodies, while offering practical strategies for organizing medical documents and communicating effectively with practitioners. From debunking the myth of "growing pains" in teenagers to identifying environmental mast cell triggers, this conversation is a masterclass in shifting from a mindset of anxiety to one of curious, proactive detection. Takeaways: You Are Not Imagining It: Learn why hypermobility symptoms like pain, fatigue, and brain fog are frequently dismissed and how to validate your own physiological experience. The Interconnected Body: Understand how connective tissue disorders affect nearly every system, from gut motility to the "dishwasher of the brain" known as the glymphatic system. The "Reporter" Mindset: Discover how to present your symptoms objectively to doctors to avoid having physical complaints misattributed solely to anxiety. The HSD/hEDS Distinction: Clarify the differences between hypermobile EDS and hypermobility spectrum disorders, including the current reality of genetic testing. Mast Cells as the First Domino: Explore why stabilizing mast cells can have widespread benefits across the GI tract, skin, and nervous system Find the episode transcript here. Go to ⁠cozyearth.com⁠ and use my Promo Code: BENDYBOGO Go to AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code BENDY_ to get UP TO $300 off today! 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 Want to learn more about the UVA EDS Center? For Appointments and Questions: RUVAEDSCenter@uvahealth.org UVA EDS: https://www.uvahealth.com/healthy-practice/advancing-care-through-ehlers-danlos-clinic UVA EDS FAQ: https://www.uvahealth.com/support/eds/faq UVA Pediatric Integrative Medicine: https://childrens.uvahealth.com/specialties/integrative-health 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: ⁠⁠⁠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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cass Robinson's path to her first marathon was anything but straightforward. Growing up with undiagnosed Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, she spent years dealing with injuries, pain, and being told nothing was wrong. Running came in waves throughout her life, but it eventually became the place where she could process everything she had been through and start taking back control.In this episode, she shares how she trained with an unpredictable body, what it looked like to run her first marathon without time goals, and how her second marathon forced her to adapt in real time. It's a conversation about resilience, learning to trust yourself, and why you shouldn't quit on a bad day.Follow along with the show: 

What do Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and hypermobility have to do with IBS? A lot more than you might think.   In this episode, Rebecca Mass-Krajewski, Hypermobility & Ehlers-Danlos expert and I break down how connective tissue differences can impact the entire body—from digestion and motility to pain, sensitivity, and even the pelvic floor.   If you've ever felt like your symptoms don't quite "fit the box," this conversation will help connect the dots.   About our guest: Rebecca Mass-Krajewski, RN, MSN, FNP-BC, is a Hypermobility & Ehlers-Danlos expert, medical detective, and founder of The EDS Clinic. She specializes in the complex trifecta of Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS), POTS, and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), uncovering overlooked drivers like autoimmune dysfunction, nervous system dysregulation, and gut imbalance Through her clinical work and speaking, Rebecca integrates the science of neuroplasticity, recognizing how the brain and autonomic nervous system can amplify pain, inflammation, and dysautonomia when stuck in chronic threat patterns. She leads a community where she troubleshoots complex cases live, giving members direct access to her clinical reasoning and real-time problem-solving. Rebecca is redefining what's possible for patients who have been dismissed or misdiagnosed while equipping practitioners nationwide to confidently unravel hypermobility-related challenges and deliver transformational care. Learn more + download your FREE Guide: How to Talk So Your Doctor Listens at www.theEDSclinic.com.    Thank you to our partners: @fodzyme is the world's first enzyme supplement specialized to target FODMAPs.   When sprinkled on or mixed with high-FODMAP meals, FODZYME's novel patent-pending enzyme blend breaks down fructan, GOS and lactose before they can trigger bloating, gas and other digestive issues.    With FODZYME, enjoy garlic, onion, wheat, brussels sprouts, beans, dairy and more — worry free! Discover the power of FODZYME's digestive enzyme blend and eat the foods you love and miss.   Visit fodzyme.com and save 20% off your first order with code THEGUTSHOW. One use per customer.   @mbiotaelemental is the next generation of the elemental diet. Developed with leading gastroenterologists and food scientists, it's the first formula that's both clinically effective AND genuinely easy to drink.   If you're looking for an option to support SIBO or your gut, mBIOTA Elemental may be one to consider. Learn more at mbiota.com and save 20% on their two-week protocol with code GUTIVATE.   @imodifyhealth is the leader in evidence-based, medically-tailored meal delivery offering Monash Certified low FODMAP, Gluten free, and Mediterranean meals - expertly crafted to help you achieve better symptom control AND improve overall health.    The best part? They make it easy by doing all prep work for you. Simply choose the meals you want, stock your fridge or freezer when meals arrive at your door, then heat and enjoy when you're ready. Delicious meals. Less stress. Complete peace of mind.   Check out modifyhealth.com and save 35% off your first order plus free shipping across the US with code: THEGUTSHOW.   Mentioned in this episode: MASTER Method Membership FREE IBS Warrior Summit Take the quiz: What's your poop personality?

In this episode of the Neuroveda Podcast for Complex Health, Gillian Ehrlich, family nurse practitioner certified in Ayurveda and functional medicine, welcomes one of Neuroveda Health's own clinicians, Brianna Cardenas, DMSc, PA-C, ATC, CSC1.Dr. Cardenas is a specialist in Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), hypermobility spectrum disorders, and complex neurologic and immunologic comorbidities, including dysautonomia, mast cell activation syndrome, spinal CSF leaks, craniocervical instability, venous outflow disorders, tethered cord, adhesive arachnoiditis, and related pressure disorders. She sees patients at Neuroveda Health and provides remote consultations worldwide through her company, Healed and Empowered.Together, Gillian and Brianna explore one of the most complex and often misunderstood areas of connective tissue disease: how to differentiate common neurologic conditions in EDS and related connective tissue disorders. They discuss why these conditions are so often missed in conventional medicine, how connective tissue impacts the nervous system, and why patients are frequently shuffled between specialties without anyone seeing the full picture.This conversation covers the role of connective tissue, fascia, and the extracellular matrix in neurologic symptoms; how pressure disorders can show up as high pressure, low pressure, or fluctuating “spiky” patterns; why symptoms may worsen with position changes, head turning, lying flat, or being upright; the overlap between craniocervical instability, Eagle syndrome, Chiari-like presentations, CSF leaks, venous congestion, tethered cord, and arachnoiditis; why standard imaging is often inadequate for hypermobile patients; what symptom tracking can reveal; and practical ideas for diagnostic workup and imaging requests that may help patients and clinicians move closer to answers.Dr. Cardenas also shares how her own lived experience with severe chronic illness has shaped her clinical work and deepened her commitment to helping patients who so often fall through the cracks receive rigorous, compassionate, and collaborative care.In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Cardenas serves as an Assistant Professor in the MEDEX Northwest Physician Assistant Program at the University of Washington, where she teaches future physician assistants. She has lectured nationally and internationally on EDS and related comorbid conditions and is one of fewer than 100 certified fascial counterstrain practitioners worldwide.This episode is especially for patients, caregivers, and clinicians trying to make sense of symptoms that do not fit neatly into one specialty. It is an invitation to think more broadly, more collaboratively, and more compassionately about complex chronic illness.*Please note: This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for individualized medical care. A podcast cannot replace a one-on-one medical visit, physical exam, or personalized diagnostic workup.

In this highly requested follow-up, Dr. Linda Bluestein and recurring co-host Dr. Dacre Knight welcome back neuro-ophthalmologist Dr. Eric Singman to dive deeper into the complex intersection of the eyes, the brain, and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.  Dr. Singman shares a vital triage guide for navigating the world of eye specialists, helping listeners distinguish between routine vision needs and neuro-ophthalmic emergencies. The discussion explores how intracranial pressure fluctuations, cervical spine instability, and mast cell activation can all masquerade as primary eye problems, often leading patients down expensive and ineffective "snake oil" paths.  Whether you struggle with reading endurance, "glitter" vision, or the visual impacts of POTS, this episode provides a roadmap for finding credible care and understanding the "why" behind hypermobile vision symptoms. Takeaways: The Specialty Triage: Learn how to determine if you need a retina specialist, a cornea expert, or a neuro-ophthalmologist for new or chronic symptoms. Reading Hygiene and the Neck: Discover why your "bad neck" might be the true culprit behind reading fatigue and eye strain. The Pressure Spectrum: Understand how individuals with EDS can experience both high and low intracranial pressure, and why a "normal" spinal tap might be misleading. The "Bandaid" of Prisms: Dr. Singman explains why prisms are a temporary measure and why prescribing them without a diagnosis can be dangerous. Spotting Snake Oil: Identify the red flags of vision therapies that lack clinical data and primarily target the patient's pocketbook. Want more Dr. Eric Singman?https://www.umms.org/find-a-doctor/profiles/dr-eric-lowell-singman-md-1881654804 Want to learn more about the UVA EDS Center?For Appointments and Questions: RUVAEDSCenter@uvahealth.orgUVA EDS: https://www.uvahealth.com/healthy-practice/advancing-care-through-ehlers-danlos-clinicUVA EDS FAQ: https://www.uvahealth.com/support/eds/faqUVA Pediatric Integrative Medicine: https://childrens.uvahealth.com/specialties/integrative-healthWant more Dr. Dacre Knight?https://x.com/knidac Want more Dr. Linda Bluestein, MD?Website:  https://www.hypermobilitymd.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bendybodiespodcastInstagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/hypermobilitymd/⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/BendyBodiesPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/BluesteinLinda⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/hypermobilitymd/⁠⁠⁠⁠Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://hypermobilitymd.substack.com/Shop my Amazon store ⁠⁠⁠ https://www.amazon.com/shop/hypermobilitymdDr. 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!⁠⁠ 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 Join YOUR Bendy Bodies community at ⁠⁠https://www.bendybodiespodcast.com/⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this highly requested follow-up, Dr. Linda Bluestein and recurring co-host Dr. Dacre Knight welcome back neuro-ophthalmologist Dr. Eric Singman to dive deeper into the complex intersection of the eyes, the brain, and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.  Dr. Singman shares a vital triage guide for navigating the world of eye specialists, helping listeners distinguish between routine vision needs and neuro-ophthalmic emergencies. The discussion explores how intracranial pressure fluctuations, cervical spine instability, and mast cell activation can all masquerade as primary eye problems, often leading patients down expensive and ineffective "snake oil" paths.  Whether you struggle with reading endurance, "glitter" vision, or the visual impacts of POTS, this episode provides a roadmap for finding credible care and understanding the "why" behind hypermobile vision symptoms. Takeaways: The Specialty Triage: Learn how to determine if you need a retina specialist, a cornea expert, or a neuro-ophthalmologist for new or chronic symptoms. Reading Hygiene and the Neck: Discover why your "bad neck" might be the true culprit behind reading fatigue and eye strain. The Pressure Spectrum: Understand how individuals with EDS can experience both high and low intracranial pressure, and why a "normal" spinal tap might be misleading. The "Bandaid" of Prisms: Dr. Singman explains why prisms are a temporary measure and why prescribing them without a diagnosis can be dangerous. Spotting Snake Oil: Identify the red flags of vision therapies that lack clinical data and primarily target the patient's pocketbook. 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 to learn more about the UVA EDS Center?For Appointments and Questions: RUVAEDSCenter@uvahealth.orgUVA EDS: https://www.uvahealth.com/healthy-practice/advancing-care-through-ehlers-danlos-clinicUVA EDS FAQ: https://www.uvahealth.com/support/eds/faqUVA Pediatric Integrative Medicine: https://childrens.uvahealth.com/specialties/integrative-healthWant more Dr. Dacre Knight?https://x.com/knidac Want more Dr. Linda Bluestein, MD?Website:  https://www.hypermobilitymd.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bendybodiespodcastInstagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/hypermobilitymd/⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/BendyBodiesPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/BluesteinLinda⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/hypermobilitymd/⁠⁠⁠⁠Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://hypermobilitymd.substack.com/Shop my Amazon store ⁠⁠⁠ https://www.amazon.com/shop/hypermobilitymdDr. 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!⁠⁠ 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 Join YOUR Bendy Bodies community at ⁠⁠https://www.bendybodiespodcast.com/⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Send us Fan MailKasey welcomes listeners to the PT Snacks podcast for physical therapists and students and introduces a brief episode on Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS). Kasey highlights common patient issues such as joint pain, dislocations, tendinitis, and muscle cramps, and discusses how physical therapy can improve quality of life through resistance training, proprioception, balance, aerobic and functional conditioning, pain neuroscience, and graded exposure to reduce kinesiophobia. 00:00 Welcome and Disclaimer00:18 Episode Focus on EDS01:21 EDS Types Overview02:20 Hypermobility EDS Basics02:33 Why Collagen Matters03:16 PT Goals Pain and Fear04:02 Training Approaches for hEDS04:31 Load Management and Recovery05:48 Lifestyle Factors Sleep Stress06:52 Wrap Up and ContactNeed CEUs?Unlock unlimited online courses, live webinars, and certification-prep programs with MedBridge. You'll get thousands of accredited, evidence-based courses. Use code PTSNACKSPODCAST at checkout to save over $100. Student? Use code PTSNACKSPODCASTSTUDENTSupport the showNeed CEUs? Unlock unlimited online courses, live webinars, and certification-prep programs with MedBridge. You'll get:Thousands of accredited, evidence-based courses across multiple specialties (PT, OT, AT, SLP) that count for state-license CEUs. Access anytime, from your office, phone, or home—perfect for busy clinicians. One annual subscription, no per-course fee. Special offers:Use code PTSNACKSPODCAST at checkout and save over $100.Students use code PTSNACKSPODCASTSTUDENT for a discounted annual plan.Studying for the NPTE? Check out PT Final Exam — they've helped thousands of students pass with confidence. Use code PTSnacks at checkout for a discount.Stay Connected!Follow so you never miss an episode. Send your questions via email to ptsnackspodcast@gmail.comJoin the email list ...

In this fascinating episode of Dr. Lotte: Science with Soul, I sit down with Dr. Linda Bluestein, an international speaker and leading expert on Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders (HSD), Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS), Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS). With more than 20 years of medical experience, Dr. Bluestein brings a uniquely personal and professional perspective to this important conversation. Once an aspiring ballet dancer, her own experience with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome changed the course of her life and ultimately led her to become a physician devoted to helping others who live with complex hypermobility conditions. Today she is widely respected for her work and for advancing awareness and research in hypermobility spectrum disorders, Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes, mast cell disorders, and performing arts medicine.

Severe back pain that refuses to respond to treatment may sometimes have a far more serious cause than most people realize. In this episode of Bendy Bodies, Dr. Linda Bluestein speaks with Dr. Forest Tennant, a longtime physician and researcher who has spent decades studying adhesive arachnoiditis, a rare but devastating inflammatory condition affecting the nerves in the lower spinal canal. Often misunderstood and frequently missed, arachnoiditis can cause extreme pain, neurologic dysfunction, and progressive disability. Dr. Tennant explains what the arachnoid membrane is, how inflammation can cause nerve roots to clump together, and why people with connective tissue disorders like Ehlers-Danlos syndrome may be at higher risk. The conversation explores common triggers, including spinal procedures and surgeries, along with the symptom patterns that may signal something more serious than typical back pain. The episode also dives into emerging treatment strategies, including anti-inflammatory protocols, neuroprotective therapies, peptides, and newer approaches aimed at reducing nerve inflammation and supporting tissue repair. For patients living with unexplained severe back pain, and clinicians searching for answers, this episode sheds light on a condition that remains widely underrecognized but increasingly understood. Takeaways: Adhesive arachnoiditis is an inflammatory condition affecting the arachnoid membrane in the spinal canal, which can cause nerve roots to stick together and disrupt nerve signaling. Severe back pain that doesn't respond to typical treatments may be a red flag, particularly when symptoms worsen with sitting or include unusual skin sensations like crawling or dripping. People with connective tissue disorders such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome may have an increased risk due to underlying collagen abnormalities. Early recognition and treatment targeting inflammation and nerve health may help prevent progression, making awareness critical for both patients and clinicians. Effective pain management is essential because poorly controlled, high-impact chronic pain can significantly affect both quality of life and overall health over time. Want more Dr. Forest Tennant? https://arachnoiditishope.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 Want to learn more about the UVA EDS Center? For Appointments and Questions: RUVAEDSCenter@uvahealth.org UVA EDS: https://www.uvahealth.com/healthy-practice/advancing-care-through-ehlers-danlos-clinic UVA EDS FAQ: https://www.uvahealth.com/support/eds/faq UVA Pediatric Integrative Medicine: https://childrens.uvahealth.com/specialties/integrative-health 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: ⁠⁠⁠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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Severe back pain that refuses to respond to treatment may sometimes have a far more serious cause than most people realize. In this episode of Bendy Bodies, Dr. Linda Bluestein speaks with Dr. Forest Tennant, a longtime physician and researcher who has spent decades studying adhesive arachnoiditis, a rare but devastating inflammatory condition affecting the nerves in the lower spinal canal. Often misunderstood and frequently missed, arachnoiditis can cause extreme pain, neurologic dysfunction, and progressive disability. Dr. Tennant explains what the arachnoid membrane is, how inflammation can cause nerve roots to clump together, and why people with connective tissue disorders like Ehlers-Danlos syndrome may be at higher risk. The conversation explores common triggers, including spinal procedures and surgeries, along with the symptom patterns that may signal something more serious than typical back pain. The episode also dives into emerging treatment strategies, including anti-inflammatory protocols, neuroprotective therapies, peptides, and newer approaches aimed at reducing nerve inflammation and supporting tissue repair. For patients living with unexplained severe back pain, and clinicians searching for answers, this episode sheds light on a condition that remains widely underrecognized but increasingly understood. Takeaways: Adhesive arachnoiditis is an inflammatory condition affecting the arachnoid membrane in the spinal canal, which can cause nerve roots to stick together and disrupt nerve signaling. Severe back pain that doesn't respond to typical treatments may be a red flag, particularly when symptoms worsen with sitting or include unusual skin sensations like crawling or dripping. People with connective tissue disorders such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome may have an increased risk due to underlying collagen abnormalities. Early recognition and treatment targeting inflammation and nerve health may help prevent progression, making awareness critical for both patients and clinicians. Effective pain management is essential because poorly controlled, high-impact chronic pain can significantly affect both quality of life and overall health over time. Want more Dr. Forest Tennant? https://arachnoiditishope.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 Want to learn more about the UVA EDS Center? For Appointments and Questions: RUVAEDSCenter@uvahealth.org UVA EDS: https://www.uvahealth.com/healthy-practice/advancing-care-through-ehlers-danlos-clinic UVA EDS FAQ: https://www.uvahealth.com/support/eds/faq UVA Pediatric Integrative Medicine: https://childrens.uvahealth.com/specialties/integrative-health 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: ⁠⁠⁠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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To Find Deplorable Janet--> https://open.spotify.com/show/3K5Xi9LugxNdI06GXSIjAp?si=m5hPD7OsS6eim1jACk84ewTo sign up for our Patreon go to-> Patreon.com/cultofconspiracypodcast To find the Meta Mysteries Podcast---> https://open.spotify.com/show/6IshwF6qc2iuqz3WTPz9Wv?si=3a32c8f730b34e79 To Join the Cajun Knight Patreon---> Patreon.com/cajunknight To Find The Cajun Knight Youtube Channel---> click herehttps://flavorsforest.com/cult/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/cult-of-conspiracy--5700337/support.

The Radical Neurodivergent Act of Stopping Before You're Exhausted Patricia (she/her) shares what it's like when life is actuall calm. Without drama or big stories to tell, she reflects on learning to honor her energy limits. Patricia talks about pacing physical activity, noticing the urge to push past fatigue, and practicing self-compassion when her body needs rest. She also shares everyday moments—from kayaking at sunrise to navigating workouts and dog walks—while exploring what it means for autistic and neurodivergent people to find the "sweet spot" between doing enough and doing too much. WHAT YOU'LL HEAR IN THIS EPISODE ·       Sometimes life is peaceful and stable—and that can make content creation surprisingly hard. ·       Many creatives and neurodivergent people are used to generating insight during moments of stress or conflict. ·       Learning to honor calm periods can be a form of nervous system healing. ·       Patricia reflects on getting back into kayaking and being on the water, which brings joy and grounding. ·       Physical energy levels can change over time, especially with chronic illness or post-exertional malaise. ·       Pacing physical activity is an ongoing learning process. ·       The urge to "do just one more thing" can push the body past its limits. ·       Choosing to stop while still feeling okay can prevent a crash later. ·       Post-exertional malaise (PEM) can cause significant fatigue after physical or cognitive exertion. ·       Some autistic and neurodivergent people experience PEM, especially with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS) or related conditions. ·       Finding the sweet spot between movement and rest is an ongoing experiment. ·       Overexertion can lead to days of fatigue that disrupt daily functioning. ·       Practicing restraint—doing less than your maximum—can actually support long-term wellbeing. ·       Asking for help, like getting assistance with moving a kayak, is part of sustainable energy management. ·       Even small tasks can become energy-intensive when managing chronic fatigue. ·       Devices and metrics (like watches and headphones) can sometimes create frustration rather than helpful feedback. ·       Everyday moments—like figuring out how to climb out of a pool—can become humorous reflections on aging and energy limits. ·       Patricia shares updates about family, travel plans, and caring for pets while balancing energy. ·       OCD thoughts still pop up, but she practices noticing and naming them rather than getting pulled into them. ·       Life doesn't always need drama to be meaningful—sometimes calm and connection are enough. SOUND BITES · "I create my best content when there's drama—but I don't actually want any drama." · "Everything is going really well right now… and I just don't have a lot to talk about." · "I'm really practicing holding back a little so there's something left in the tank." · "It's that balance—enough stimulation but not too much, enough movement but not too much."   SENSITIVITY IS NOTHING TO APOLOGIZE FOR; IT'S HOW YOUR BRAIN IS WIRED You are not broken. You were shaped by systems that weren't built for you. You deserve rest, joy, and support exactly as you are. PODCAST HOST Patricia Young (she/her) was a Licensed Clinical Social Worker for over 17 years, but she is now exclusively providing coaching. She knows what it's like to feel like an outcast, misfit, and truthteller.  Learning about the trait of being a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP), then learning she is AuDHD with a PDA profile, OCD and RSD, helped Patricia rewrite her history with a deeper understanding, appreciation, and a sense of self-compassion.  She created the podcasts Unapologetically Sensitive and Unapologetically AuDHD to help other neurodivergent folks know that they aren't alone, and that having a brain that is wired differently comes with amazing gifts, and some challenges.  Patricia works online globally working individually with people, and she teaches Online Courses for neurodivergent folks that focus on understanding what it means to be a sensitive neurodivergent. Topics covered include: self-care, self-compassion, boundaries, perfectionism, mindfulness, communication, and creating a lifestyle that honors you Patricia's website, podcast episodes and more: www.unapologeticallysensitive.com   LINKS   To write a review in itunes: click on this link https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/unapologetically-sensitive/id1440433481?mt=2 select "listen on Apple Podcasts" chose "open in itunes" choose "ratings and reviews" click to rate the number of starts click "write a review"   Website--www.unapologeticallysensitive.com Facebook-- https://www.facebook.com/Unapologetically-Sensitive-2296688923985657/ Closed/Private Facebook group Unapologetically Sensitive-- https://www.facebook.com/groups/2099705880047619/ Instagram-- https://www.instagram.com/unapologeticallysensitive/ Youtube-- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOE6fodj7RBdO3Iw0NrAllg/videos?view_as=subscriber Tik Tok--https://www.tiktok.com/@unapologeticallysensitiv Unapologetically AuDHD Podcast-- https://unapologeticallysensitive.com/unapologeticallyaudhd/ e-mail-- unapologeticallysensitive@gmail.com Show hashtag--#unapologeticallysensitive Music-- Gravel Dance by Andy Robinson www.andyrobinson.com  

Episode Notes Andrew sits down with writer and disability activist Sloan Harlow for an honest, unfiltered conversation about navigating polyamory, kink, dating, grief, and joy as a disabled person. Sloan opens up about living with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, bipolar one disorder, and a constellation of other conditions, sharing wisdom on solo polyamory, accessible kink, medical ableism, and why the disability community needs more grit + so much more! Follow them here: www.instagram.com/disabledparagraphs Episode Sponsors Do you wanna turn b*tt stuff up a notch. Go to bvibe.com and use code AFTERDARK to receive 20% off orders of $100 (including bundles, discounted items and more). Disability content creation doesn't have to be hard. Follow @seated.perspectives on Instagram to learn how to make content creation a gentle, easy, accessible experience. Are you looking for attendant care when you need it at your convenience? Check out your team, on tap www.whimble.ca Get 15% off your next purchase of sex toys, books and DVDs by using Coupon code AFTERDARK at checkout when you shop at trans owned and operated sex shop Come As You Are www.comeasyouare.com Order Notes From a Queer Cripple and hire him to speak on it by e-mailing andrew@andrewgurza.com US: https://us.jkp.com/products/notes-from-a-queer-cripple Canada: https://www.ubcpress.ca/notes-from-a-queer-cripple Support the show with a donation: https://patreon.com/disabilityafterdark This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

This episode starts with TikTok's updated Terms of Service, specifically the part where apps want to know where you are at all times, and quickly spirals into a much bigger question: did we accidentally sign up for the surveillance state… or was it always inevitable? Kristin and I debate privacy, inevitability, pessimism, preparedness, and whether refusing to participate actually protects you, or just makes life harder. Somewhere in there, we revisit COVID lockdown memories, the great toilet paper shortage, and why Kristin still believes in go-bags… everywhere. Then things get personal. We talk about Milo, our very large, very inbred standard poodle, and his recurring seizures. I do what every human doctor does best: Google outside my scope, panic quietly, and admit I don't know what I'm talking about when it comes to dogs. We walk through idiopathic epilepsy, toxins, brain issues, genetics, and the complicated question of when a dog actually needs lifelong seizure medication. Finally, we crack open First Aid and land on Ehlers-Danlos syndrome — collagen, hypermobility, bruising, joint issues, blood vessels, aneurysm anxiety, and what it's like to live with a genetic condition that medicine still doesn't fully understand. It's nerdy, personal, and surprisingly validating. Takeaways: Digital Privacy Isn't Theoretical: Location tracking, data collection, and why opting out isn't always realistic. Preparedness vs Panic: Go-bags, pessimism, and how couples balance very different risk tolerances. Dog Seizures Are Terrifying: Idiopathic epilepsy is common, but deciding when to treat isn't simple. Pet Insurance Confusion: Why even doctors don't know what's actually worth paying for. Ehlers-Danlos Reality: Collagen types, hypermobility, bruising, and living with a condition medicine still struggles to define. — To Get Tickets to Wife & Death: You can visit Glaucomflecken.com/live  We want to hear YOUR stories (and medical puns)! Shoot us an email and say hi! knockknockhi@human-content.com Can't get enough of us? Shucks. You can support the show on Patreon for early episode access, exclusive bonus shows, livestream hangouts, and much more! –⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ http://www.patreon.com/glaucomflecken⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Also, be sure to check out the newsletter: https://glaucomflecken.com/glauc-to-me/ If you are interested in buying a book from one of our guests, check them all out here: https://www.amazon.com/shop/dr.glaucomflecken If you want more information on models I use: Anatomy Warehouse provides for the best, crafting custom anatomical products, medical simulation kits and presentation models that create a lasting educational impact.  For more information go to Anatomy Warehouse DOT com. Link: https://anatomywarehouse.com/?aff=14 Plus for 15% off use code: Glaucomflecken15 -- A friendly reminder from the G's and Tarsus: If you want to learn more about Demodex Blepharitis, making an appointment with your eye doctor for an eyelid exam can help you know for sure. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.EyelidCheck.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more information. 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: KNOCKKNOCKBOGO Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Human Content⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What makes Lyme disease resolve quickly in some people but turn into a life-altering chronic illness in others? In this episode, world-leading immunologist Dr. Michal “Mikki” Tal, Principal Scientist at MIT, explains what her team is discovering through the MAESTRO Study — the largest clinical research project in MIT's history and the first of its kind to include real Lyme patients in a multi-system biological analysis. Dr. Tal's work sits at the intersection of immunology, bioengineering, and women's health, uncovering how infections like Lyme and COVID can cause persistent inflammation, immune miscommunication, and hormonal imbalance. Through MAESTRO, she's mapping how recovery breaks down — and what can be done to predict, prevent, and ultimately reverse chronic illness.

Why are people with Ehlers-Danlos syndromes, POTS, and mast cell disorders so frequently misdiagnosed, or dismissed entirely? In this episode of Bendy Bodies, Dr. Linda Bluestein is joined by Dr. Dacre Knight, Medical Director of the UVA Health EDS and Hypermobility Disorders Center, for a wide-ranging conversation about why complex, multisystem conditions continue to fall through the cracks of modern medicine. Together, they explore how siloed healthcare systems, time-limited visits, and overreliance on “normal” labs and imaging contribute to years of delayed diagnosis and unnecessary suffering. The discussion unpacks why patients are often labeled as anxious, functional, or “too complex,” how pattern recognition breaks down when symptoms span multiple systems, and why early diagnosis could prevent much of the downstream complexity clinicians later struggle to manage. Dr. Knight also explains how diagnostic frameworks like the EDS–POTS–MCAS triad can be helpful and where they risk oversimplifying reality. This episode offers a candid look at the gaps in current diagnostic thinking and a more thoughtful, patient-centered approach to evaluating complex chronic illness, one that prioritizes listening, curiosity, and clinical humility. Takeaways: When diagnosis is delayed, complexity isn't inevitable — it's created. “Normal” tests don't mean normal lives. Pain, fatigue, and dysfunction can exist long before labs catch up. Many patients aren't anxious until they're repeatedly dismissed. Mislabeling symptoms often becomes the real diagnosis delay. Multisystem conditions don't reveal themselves through checklists — they emerge through patterns clinicians are trained to overlook. Sometimes the most powerful intervention isn't a test or a treatment — it's listening earlier, longer, and with curiosity. Want to learn more about the UVA EDS Center? For Appointments and Questions: RUVAEDSCenter@uvahealth.org UVA EDS: https://www.uvahealth.com/healthy-practice/advancing-care-through-ehlers-danlos-clinic UVA EDS FAQ: https://www.uvahealth.com/support/eds/faq UVA Pediatric Integrative Medicine: https://childrens.uvahealth.com/specialties/integrative-health Want more Dr. Dacre Knight? https://x.com/knidac 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: ⁠⁠⁠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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode, we are joined by Saba Kamal, an occupational therapist and Certified Hand Therapist who has taken a special interest in treating patients with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) and hypermobility. She shares with us how patients are diagnosed with EDS or hypermobility and how we as upper extremity therapists can educate these patients on joint protection, stability and lifelong management. Saba Kamal is an occupational therapist and a Certified Hand Therapist. She graduated from OT School in India and is currently certified to practice in the US, UK and Europe. Saba currently resides and practices as a healthcare entrepreneur and hand and upper extremity therapist in the US. She has over three decades of experience spanning clinical practice, healthcare education and professional leadership. She has delivered talks at national and international conferences, collaborating closely with surgeons and therapists to advance the field of hand and upper extremity rehabilitation.Saba's contributions include leadership roles in professional societies (initiated and chaired HTA-CA conferences 2011-2019), the development of innovative treatment approaches, and dedicated mentorship to students and clinicians. Most recently, she sold her successful therapy practices and completed a Healthcare Leadership certificate at Johns Hopkins University. Saba has also written various articles and is the author of Treating Musicians as Athletes available on Amazon and B&N.In addition to continuing to educate therapists through her Hand-On courses with Advanced Rehab Seminars, Saba is also working on several hand therapy-related inventions aimed at bringing innovative solutions to the marketThe views and opinions expressed in the Hands in Motion podcast are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of ASHT. Appearance on the podcast does not imply endorsement of any products, services or viewpoints discussed"

Soph Myers-Kelley and his mom, René Myers, have always been close. As of five years ago, they also share a diagnosis: the connective tissue disorder Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. Soph and René were diagnosed one year apart – Soph was 25; René was 60. EDS explained symptoms they'd both been experiencing for decades, including waking up with jaw or shoulder dislocations and having chronic pain.The two talk with Anita about how their diagnoses began a new chapter of their lives, including the decision to move in together last summer.Meet the guests:- Soph Myers-Kelley is a medical librarian at East Carolina University- René Myers is Soph's mom and a retired educatorRead the transcript | Review the podcast on your preferred platformFollow Embodied on Instagram Leave a message for EmbodiedPlease note: This episode originally published February 20, 2025.

Jameela Jamil (The Good Place, Elio) joins us this week for a wildly honest conversation about chronic illness, passive self destruction and why she is done biohacking her life. Jameela opens up about living with Ehlers Danlos syndrome, surviving childhood abuse, the nervous breakdown that turned her into a truth teller and how EMDR therapy completely rewired her relationship to trauma and fear. We also get into her war on beauty and the unbelievable way a school bully pushed her straight into The Good Place. Thank you to our sponsors:

In this episode of The 10 Ninety Podcast, Mason sits down with Brooke Pando for her second appearance on the show. Brooke is the mother of London "Lundy" Pando, who lives with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome type 6A—a degenerative condition that leaves her body unable to support her muscles and bones, making every day uncertain. London, now 13, survived a massive stroke in utero at 34 weeks that liquefied three-quarters of her brain, and doctors never expected her to live past her first few hours. Since Brooke's last appearance, her mother Margo Ann Nielsen Erickson passed away suddenly from metastatic pancreatic cancer just three months after diagnosis. Brooke shares the devastating experience of losing her mother—London's best friend and their family's primary caregiver—and how it has intensified the anxiety of knowing London could die at any moment. Brooke opens up about the dream she had months before her mother's diagnosis that warned her of the loss to come, the whirlwind of becoming her mother's full-time caregiver, and the shock of her mother's sudden death despite being on hospice. She talks about the heartbreaking day she and her father went to the cemetery to pick out burial plots—not just for her mother, but five spots total, knowing London would one day be buried there too. Together with Mason, Brooke discusses the impossible weight of living in constant fear of losing her daughter while simultaneously grieving her mother, the guilt she feels for not being as happy as London despite London's daily suffering, and the strain that anticipatory grief puts on her marriage to Blake and her other two children. She shares London's remarkable spirit—a child who calls people five times a day just to talk, who loves Trolls and The Greatest Showman, and who remains the happiest person despite living in constant physical pain. Brooke and Mason have an unflinchingly honest conversation about the questions that haunt them both: Where do our loved ones go when they die? Why do signs and dragonflies appear when we need them most, then disappear? How do you keep living when you know the worst is still coming? And why does grief feel so all-consuming, so relentless, so impossible to escape? It's a raw conversation about anticipatory grief, the loneliness of waiting for tragedy, and the brutal reality that sometimes the only thing we can do is live—because that's what the people we love most would want us to do.

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy recently unveiled a new food pyramid and dietary guidelines for Americans that emphasize high-quality protein, dairy, healthy fats, vegetables, and fruits. Whole grains are downgraded, and processed foods and added sugars are discouraged.“We've been consuming this ultra-processed food, which I call human pet food,” says Dr. Shawn Baker. A former orthopedic surgeon and world champion athlete, he's the author of “The Carnivore Diet” and co-founder of the online clinic Revero.“A lot of our food has become very similar to recreational drugs in the way we use and abuse them,” he says.Eating a lot of addictive, ultra-processed food—high in carbs, sugars, and seed oils—drives inflammation and can lead to obesity, diabetes, arthritis, cardiovascular problems, gut malfunction, depression, and cancers, he explains.In our in-depth interview, he explains how and why the adoption of low-carb, high-fat diets reduces inflammation and can even reverse chronic diseases such as diabetes and cardiometabolic disease.There is even significant evidence that such diets can be used therapeutically for neurological and mental health issues, he says.One of those low-carb, high-fat diets is the ketogenic diet. But what happens when you take keto one step further and go on the carnivore diet?“Carnivore is basically a diet consisting primarily of animal products. So it would be meat. It would be fish. It would be eggs. It would be dairy products,” he says. This means no plant products at all.The carnivore diet is not for everyone, but many people suffering from debilitating autoimmune diseases have healed themselves with such a diet, he says. Mikhaila Peterson has famously documented her transformative experience on an even more restricted version of this diet called the “lion diet.”In our in-depth interview, we discuss many more questions regarding food as medicine and the benefits of a protein-heavy diet, including:- Why people on ketogenic or carnivore diets experience something called ‘keto calm' or ‘zero carb zen.'- Why going on the carnivore diet does not harm your nutritional intake, contrary to what many may think.- Why such diets can help reverse inflammatory bowel disease, Tourette syndrome, and hypermobility, also known as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.It's time for Americans to stop simply relying on America's “disease management system” of drugs and pharmaceuticals, he argues, and instead take their health into their own hands.Views expressed in this video are opinions of the host and the guest, and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.

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