Do you have chronic pain "down there"? Is intercourse painful? Do you have difficulty wearing tight pants or sitting? On today’s episode of @bendy_bodies, Dr. Andrew T. Goldstein (@andrewtgoldstein and @the.cvvd) dives deep into vestibulectomy—a surgical option that’s often misunderstood in the world of chronic pain. Here’s what you need to know: 🩺 There are many nonsurgical treatments for vulvar and vestibular pain although many doctors are not familiar with them. 🩺 Very few patients are ideal candidates for vestibulectomy surgery. Careful, expert evaluation is critical—because not all pain is the same. 🩺 For those who are candidates, outcomes are overwhelmingly positive one year after surgery, with many patients experiencing life-changing relief. If you’re living with chronic vulvar or vestibular pain, know that there are options—and the right diagnosis is the first step. ⭐️ If you don’t want to miss a post, add me to your favorites! ⭐️ #Vestibulectomy #VulvarPain #PelvicPain #WomenHealth #ChronicPain #PelvicHealthAwareness #Vulvodynia #VulvarPainAwareness #PelvicHealthAdvocate #ChronicPainSupport #DrAndrewGoldstein #PelvicPainTreatment #MedicalAdvocacy #BendyBodiesPodcast 📌 Medical Advice Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider for personalized medical care.

What if the pain you’ve been told to ignore… was actually coming from your hips, your spine—or your immune system? In this deep-dive episode, Dr. Linda Bluestein is joined by Dr. Andrew Goldstein, an expert in sexual pain disorders, to unravel the misunderstood causes of vulvar and pelvic pain in people with EDS (Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome), MCAS (Mast Cell Activation Syndrome) , and POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome). Dr. Goldstein reveals why the traditional diagnosis of “vulvodynia” might be missing the real problem, and how factors like labral tears, pudendal nerve compression, Tarlov cysts, pelvic organ prolapse, endometriosis, nerve proliferation, and mast cell disorders can all converge into debilitating pain—and be completely overlooked. He explains why pelvic floor physical therapy sometimes fails, when Botox is a game-changer, and how stigma and misinformation continue to prevent EDS patients from receiving proper care. If you've ever been told "it's all in your head"—this episode proves it’s not. And it might be the roadmap you've been searching for. Takeaways: You might not feel hip pain at all—but your clitoris, rectum, or vulva will. A cyst that’s left off your MRI report could be ruining your life. That pain during intimacy? It could be nerve sprouting—and it's not your fault. When physical therapy fails, it may not be the therapy’s fault. He’s performed 1,300+ surgeries. Here’s how he decides if you really need one. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction 03:20 Understanding Vulvodynia and Pelvic Pain 06:46 Hypermobility and Pelvic Pain 23:43 Mast Cell Activation Syndrome and Dysautonomia 38:29 Challenges in Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy 40:37 Botox and Other Treatment Options 45:08 Understanding Vestibular Issues and Treatments 52:59 Listener Questions and Final Thoughts Reference Links: Ep 130 with Dr. Goldstein: ⁠https://youtu.be/csiK_Zmb_hk⁠ Ep 116 with Dr. Feigenbaum: ⁠https://youtu.be/Uq4OrVa6deM⁠ ⁠https://www.gyncancer.org/⁠ ⁠https://www.amazon.com/shop/hypermobilitymd/list/2LQLPARJY3CDS?ref_=aipsflist⁠ ⁠https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23875629/⁠ ⁠https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23577645/⁠ ⁠https://www.isswsh.org/⁠ Want more Dr. Andrew Goldstein? Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/the.cvvd/⁠ Connect with YOUR Hypermobility Specialist, Dr. Linda Bluestein, MD at ⁠https://www.hypermobilitymd.com/⁠. 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! Use this affiliate link for Algonot to get an extra 5% off your entire order: ⁠https://algonot.com/coupon/bendbod/⁠ Connect with the HypermobilityMD:  YouTube: ⁠⁠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 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.

On last week’s episode of @bendy_bodies, Dr. Victor Montori (@patientrevolution) shared why we need to stop blaming “noncompliant” patients or “burned out” doctors — and start looking at the system making it impossible to thrive. 🐦 When someone can no longer show up — whether it’s a clinician or a chronically ill patient — that’s not failure. That’s the canary in the coal mine. 🚨 It’s a warning sign. And ignoring it means continuing to let a broken healthcare system harm the people it’s supposed to help. It’s not the individual. It’s the environment. 📤 Send this to someone who’s ready to talk about real change in healthcare. #BendyBodiesPodcast #VictorMontori #ChronicIllnessAwareness #HypermobileEDS #HealthcareSystem #MedicalGaslighting #MedicalBurnout #PatientAdvocacy #ChronicIllnessCommunity #InvisibleIllness #EDS #POTS #MCAS #FunctionalMedicine #DoctorPatientRelationship #HealthcareReform 📌 Medical Advice Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider for personalized medical care.

What if your rushed, robotic medical visit isn’t just frustrating, but a symptom of something much darker? In this powerful episode, Dr. Linda Bluestein sits down with Dr. Victor Montori, author of Why We Revolt, to explore what’s truly broken in healthcare and why patients and clinicians are suffering on the same side of the fight. Together, they uncover the corrosive impact of industrialized, fast medicine, the hidden costs of “heroic” care, and how complex patients are forced to carry impossible burdens in a system that sees them as data points, not people. Dr. Montori shares his vision for a Patient Revolution, explains why the soul of healthcare is under siege, and issues a call to action for anyone who's ever felt like just another number. If you’ve sensed something is deeply wrong in the exam room… you’re not imagining it. Takeaways: What if your provider is hurting just as much as you are—but for different reasons? When care vanishes, both the patient and the doctor suffer. The healthcare system wants faster visits. Dr. Montori wants a revolution. Heroic care comes at a cost—and not just for the clinician. You’re not imagining the harm. But you’re not powerless either. 00:00 Introduction and Overview 01:44 Meet Dr. Victor Montori 04:43 Challenges in Healthcare Systems 08:11 The Patient Revolution 32:05 Capstone Project and Mini Revolts 33:42 Course Structure and Accessibility 37:33 Challenges in Patient Work 49:51 The Future of Healthcare and Call to Action Reference Links: ⁠https://www.patientrevolution.org/⁠ ⁠https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11902612/⁠ Want more Dr. Victor Montori? Dr. Montori’s book: ⁠Bendy Bodies Amazon Booklist⁠ Bluesky: ⁠@vmontori@bsky.social⁠ Connect with YOUR Hypermobility Specialist, Dr. Linda Bluestein, MD at ⁠https://www.hypermobilitymd.com/⁠. 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! Use this affiliate link for Algonot to get an extra 5% off your entire order: ⁠https://algonot.com/coupon/bendbod/⁠ Connect with the HypermobilityMD:  YouTube: ⁠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 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.

I’m opening up about something personal on today’s episode of @bendy_bodies; I used to have severe kinesiophobia—a deep fear of movement—because I would get injured doing the smallest things. 😣 For those of us with Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes (especially hEDS), POTS, MCAS, or hypermobility disorders, movement can feel risky. But avoiding it completely creates a cycle of more pain and dysfunction. The key? Learning how to move safely. 💡 Group fitness classes can be tough—peer pressure and pushing beyond your limits isn’t safe. That’s why I always recommend individualized movement plans that prioritize your body’s unique needs. Movement is essential for healing—when it’s done the right way. 💬What has worked for you? Let me know in the comments. #Kinesiophobia #Hypermobility #EhlersDanlosSyndrome #EDS #hEDS #MCAS #MovementIsMedicine #JointHypermobility #ChronicPainRelief #BendyBodiesPodcast #InvisibleIllness #AdaptiveMovement #ChronicPainSupport #DrLindaBluestein #HypermobileAthlete #SafeExercise #PainScience #HypermobilityDisorders 📌 Medical Advice Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before beginning any new movement practice.

What if your symptoms weren’t isolated… but signals in a much larger system breakdown? In this wide-ranging solo Q&A, Dr. Linda Bluestein uncovers the hidden threads connecting uncontrolled pain before surgery, unexplained eye issues, MCAS, multiple chemical sensitivity, Alpha-gal syndrome, and even autism risk. From the scar tissue no one warned you about to the medication that works—but doctors won’t prescribe—it’s all here. Dr. Bluestein shares eye-opening research on TILT (Toxicant-Induced Loss of Tolerance), fragrance-triggered flares, and why standard pre-op care fails patients with connective tissue disorders. And woven throughout it all? The heavy, frustrating stigma that people with Ehlers-Danlos syndromes and hypermobility spectrum disorders know too well—being dismissed, doubted, and disbelieved. This episode doesn’t just give answers. It reveals what questions you should have been asking all along. Takeaways: This one over-the-counter product might be behind your chronic eye issues—and no one’s talking about it. Considerations and cautions for taking cromolyn A “safe” eye ointment led to lasting damage—here’s why. Doctors say no to pain meds before surgery… but do they know the full risk? A tick bite and subsequent food allergy changes everything—even your shampoo. 00:00 Introduction and Personal Anecdote 00:38 Welcome to the Bendy Bodies Podcast 01:50 Listener Feedback and Reviews 03:30 Eye Problems and EDS 11:13 MCAS and Multiple Chemical Sensitivity 21:58 Alpha-Gal Syndrome 34:58 Stigma and Advocacy in EDS Reference Links: EP 140 with Dr. Brayden P. Yellman: ⁠https://youtu.be/mMMM7gmyrbk⁠ EP 127 with Dr. Emily Bohan: ⁠https://youtu.be/9ngUY9VPRcc⁠ EP 125 with Dr. Satish Raj: ⁠https://youtu.be/2WuDkH1TDns⁠ EP 120 with Wendy Wagner: ⁠https://youtu.be/YeRfTiGkDuA⁠ EP 109 with Dr. Tina Wang: ⁠https://youtu.be/w6iGZzRa-Q0⁠ EP 108 with Katie and Andrew Dettelbach: ⁠https://youtu.be/hu907Z4Ldk4⁠ EP 92 with Dr. Lillian Holm: ⁠https://youtu.be/QR9PZoA2ku0⁠ EP 83 with Jill Miller: ⁠https://youtu.be/e86nO9PlKfQ⁠ EP 81 with Lisa Ralston: ⁠https://youtu.be/PKMcEUGcDWY⁠ EP 75 with Dr. Patty Stott: ⁠https://youtu.be/C5cATkq1a_k⁠ Check out Refresh Celluvisc Eye Gel, OcuSoft Lid Scrub and the book, Holistic Pain Relief as well as her other favorites at Dr. Bluestein’s Amazon Store https://amzn.to/3RAjueJ⁠ ⁠https://www.amazon.com/shop/hypermobilitymd⁠ Toxicant Induced Loss of Tolerance (TILT) Tests ⁠https://tiltresearch.org/self-assessment/⁠ TILT Resources ⁠https://tiltresearch.org/resources/⁠ ⁠Assessing Chemical Intolerance in Parents Predicts the Risk of Autism and ADHD in Their Children - PubMed⁠ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38535497/ ⁠Food Compatibility List⁠: https://www.mastzellaktivierung.info/downloads/foodlist/21_FoodList_EN_alphabetic_withCateg.pdf ⁠https://www.twoalphagals.com/⁠ ⁠https://www.veganmed.org/⁠ YouTube Playlist on Moving with EDS  and HSD ⁠https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX9StmpQKW30miVUD3DHWXjLq_Vs2VKrF&si=qU66cuujtCG_PH1f⁠ Connect with YOUR Hypermobility Specialist, Dr. Linda Bluestein, MD at ⁠https://www.hypermobilitymd.com/⁠. 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! Use this affiliate link for Algonot to get an extra 5% off your entire order: ⁠https://algonot.com/coupon/bendbod/⁠ Connect with the HypermobilityMD:  YouTube: ⁠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 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.

In today’s episode of @bendy_bodies, integrative pediatrician Dr. Pejman Katiraei explains why the increase in autism diagnoses isn’t just due to better testing. He explores potential root causes—including environmental stressors, immune system imbalances, mast cell activation (MCAS), and the body’s deeper responses to modern life. This is a powerful, nuanced conversation that invites us to rethink how we understand and support neurodivergent children. #AutismAwareness #AutismSpectrumDisorder #MCAS #MastCells #Neurodiversity #RootCauseMedicine #IntegrativePediatrics #EnvironmentalHealth #ImmuneHealth #PediatricCare #FunctionalMedicine #ChronicIllnessInChildren #RisingAutismRates #BendyBodies #DrKatiraei #Neurodevelopment #AutismSupport 📌 Medical Advice Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor before making any healthcare decisions.

What if the diagnosis was just the beginning—and the root cause was hiding in plain sight? In this riveting episode, Dr. Linda Bluestein welcomes pediatrician and integrative medicine expert Dr. Pejman Katiraei, whose work with children struggling with autism, mold exposure, and mast cell activation reveals a shocking truth: many kids aren’t just neurodivergent—they have neuroinflammation. Together, they peel back the layers on what’s really driving autistic behaviors, why some children can’t tolerate food, noise, or even hugs—and how mast cells and histamine might be behind it all. Dr. Katiraei shares remarkable stories of transformation, explains why traditional testing often fails, and reveals a controversial treatment that’s changing lives. If your child is sensitive, reactive, or struggling to connect—and you’ve been told it’s just "behavioral"—this conversation might rewrite what you thought was possible. Takeaways: One child's refusal to eat broccoli held more answers than anyone expected. Could colic be the first warning sign of central inflammation? He couldn’t feel love—until one unlikely medication changed everything. A house tested clean… but the child kept getting worse. Why? Some diagnoses miss what’s burning beneath the surface. 00:00 Introduction and Early Challenges 00:48 Meet Dr. Pejman Kateraei 03:49 Understanding Autism and Its Root Causes 06:28 The Role of Mast Cells and Histamine 43:00 Understanding Immune System Dysregulation 44:18 Vaccines and Autism: Exploring the Connection 50:13 Effective Treatments for Autism and Related Conditions 01:16:23 Final Thoughts and Resources Reference Links: ⁠https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18626069/⁠ ⁠https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0941950014001936⁠ The Dust Test ⁠https://www.thedusttest.com/⁠ ⁠https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/itraconazole-oral-route/description/drg-20071421⁠ ⁠https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0149291813001823⁠ ⁠https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10932299/⁠ Watch Ep 32 with Dr. Jessica Eccles: ⁠https://youtu.be/BmIFATctyzk⁠ Watch Ep 47 with Dr. Jessica Eccles: ⁠https://youtu.be/nhsLDzLpUWE⁠ Watch Ep 139 with Dr. Theoharides: ⁠https://youtu.be/u1pxvAzXh7M⁠ Connect with YOUR Hypermobility Specialist, Dr. Linda Bluestein, MD at ⁠https://www.hypermobilitymd.com/⁠. 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! ⁠https://wholistickids.com/⁠ ⁠https://www.wholisticminds.com/⁠ ⁠https://pkatiraei.substack.com⁠ ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@pkatiraei ⁠https://www.instagram.com/wholistickids?igsh=MXNyd3I3NTc0aGIydw==⁠ Use this affiliate link for Algonot to get an extra 5% off your entire order: ⁠https://algonot.com/coupon/bendbod/⁠ FTC: This video is not sponsored. Links are commissionable, meaning I may earn commission from purchases made through links. Connect with the HypermobilityMD: YouTube: ⁠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 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