34. Highlighting GI Disorders with Leonard Weinstock, M.D.

Are you suffering from gastrointestinal distress? People with hypermobility disorders have a higher prevalence of GI problems than the general population.

Dr. Leonard Weinstock, board-certified gastroenterologist with expertise in Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes (EDS) and related disorders, sits down with Bendy Bodies to discuss this very topic. Dr. Weinstock discusses the “unhappy triad" of EDS, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), and mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) and how MCAS may actually be at the heart of EDS. He lists ways to be evaluated for GI disorders and speculates that 10-17% of the general population may have undiagnosed MCAS. He stresses the importance of a multi-disciplinary approach to treatment and thinking outside the box.

We look at gastroparesis and small bowel intestinal overgrowth (SIBO) and their links to hEDS and hypermobility spectrum disorder (HSD), and Dr. Weinstock outlines the prevalence of median arcuate ligament syndrome (MALS) in people with MCAS or POTS. He elaborates on his prescribing practices with low-dose naltrexone (LDN) to help increase endorphin production and reduce inflammation, and lists vitamins and diet changes that can be effective in people with MCAS.

As one of the authors of "Covid-19 hyperinflammation and post-Covid-19 illness may be rooted in mast cell activation syndrome", Dr. Weinstock discusses the possible link between long-COVID 19 illness and MCAS. And finally, he shares suggestions on what to do if you’re having difficulty finding a GI specialist who understands complicated disorders like EDS and MCAS.

For anyone dealing with GI issues, as well as physicians looking to understand the connection between hypermobility and GI disorders, this is a timely and important podcast.

#Podcast #LeonardWeinstockMD #GIdisorders #EDS #zebrastrong #MCAS #MALS #POTS #SIBO #hEDS #autoimmunedisorders #BendyBodies #BendyBodiespodcast #hypermobilitymd #lindabluesteinmd #jennifermilner #bodiesinmotion #balletwhisperer #hypermobility #mastcelldisease #mastcelldisorder #EhlersDanlos #EDSAwarenessMonth

[maryr]

Sooo many fb grps for mcas or multiple chemical sensitivity and mold would guess half of the folks have undiagnosed hypermobility disorders/connective tissue disorders. Majority have not found drs to help. Lots of suicide thoughts because they can't figure out how to manage. Majority have had to stop working because they are so sick, constant triggers, etc...but drs do not realize that we can NOT get on govt disability without a diagnosis. (Also your entire worth monetarily has to be only up to $2000....no amount of money in the bank higher than $2000. Most ppl dont want to allow their net worth to bet that low...but also how can one pay insurance premiums/copays to find a dr to give diagnosis (and write up all the paperwork needed for govt).

[maryr]

Any dr who wants to get an idea of how many undiagnosed hypermobility/connective tissue disorders...send your questionnaire to the fb mcas/mcs/Chem intolerance admins to see how many want to participate. If you do online questionnaire, like qualtrics or similar....the program can help you look for the patterns in the data. Sending back info to participant...to say...hey you might fit the hypermobility criteria...getting a diagnosis might be beneficial and here are the types of drs who can diagnosis (finding the eds/hsd knowledgeable drs).