Why subscribe?
I’m here to help you make sense of complex chronic illness with evidence-based insights, clinical experience, lived experience, and practical tools you can actually use.
The Bendy Bulletin focuses on Ehlers-Danlos syndromes, hypermobility spectrum disorders, POTS, MCAS, ME/CFS, chronic pain, GI dysmotility, and the many overlapping conditions that too often leave patients feeling confused, dismissed, or stuck.
When you subscribe, you’ll get:
✅ Clear explanations of complicated medical topics, without unnecessary jargon
✅ Evidence-based insights grounded in research and real-world clinical experience
✅ Practical tools to help you work more effectively with your care team
✅ Thoughtful interpretation of emerging research and controversial topics
✅ Education you can share with clinicians, caregivers, and loved ones
✅ Support for living better with a body that does not always follow the textbook
Whether you’re a patient, caregiver, clinician, or someone trying to better understand hypermobility and related conditions, my goal is to help you feel more informed, more empowered, and less alone.
Because when you understand what may be driving your symptoms, you can ask better questions, make better decisions, and take more confident next steps.
Subscribe to get full access to the newsletter and publication archives.
About me
I’m Dr. Linda Bluestein, The Hypermobility MD. I’m a board-certified anesthesiologist, pain medicine physician, educator, podcast host, and internationally recognized expert in Ehlers-Danlos syndromes, hypermobility spectrum disorders, and commonly overlapping conditions.
My work focuses on helping people understand the “why” behind complex symptoms, especially when connective tissue disorders overlap with dysautonomia, mast cell activation, chronic pain, fatigue, GI dysmotility, neurodivergence, and other hard-to-navigate conditions.
I also bring firsthand experience with hypermobility and chronic illness, which has shaped the way I teach, write, and care for people. I know how frustrating it can be to search for answers in a healthcare system that is not always built for complexity.
This newsletter exists to help change that.
Why this newsletter exists
People with EDS, HSD, POTS, MCAS, ME/CFS, and related conditions are often told their symptoms are unrelated, exaggerated, anxiety-driven, or simply too complicated to explain.
But there is real physiology behind these patterns.
There is also a lot of misinformation, oversimplification, and guesswork in both conventional medicine and online health spaces. My goal is to help bridge that gap with clear, thoughtful, clinically grounded education.
Here’s what you’ll find here:
• Clarity about complex physiology, written in a way you can understand and apply
• Evidence-informed insights into diagnosis, differential diagnosis, and management
• Practical strategies for symptom tracking, self-advocacy, and working with clinicians
• Nuanced discussions of labs, imaging, medications, supplements, and treatment decisions
• Translation of research into what it may mean in real life
• Encouragement for living well, even when the path is hard
I don’t offer false promises, miracle cures, or one-size-fits-all protocols.
What I do offer is reliable information, careful interpretation, and real-world wisdom to help you make more informed decisions.
Who this is for
This newsletter is for you if:
• You’re living with EDS, HSD, POTS, MCAS, ME/CFS, chronic pain, or another complex chronic condition
• You’ve felt dismissed, confused, or unsure what to ask your clinician
• You want clear explanations without medical jargon
• You want to better understand the connections between symptoms
• You’re a caregiver trying to support someone you love
• You’re a clinician who wants to better serve complex patients
• You want practical tools to improve function and reduce suffering
You do not have to figure this all out alone.
What you’ll get
Subscribers can expect 2–4 high-quality posts each month, often connected to podcast episodes, listener questions, emerging research, and real-world clinical themes.
Topics may include:
• EDS and HSD diagnosis and management
• POTS, dysautonomia, and blood flow issues
• MCAS and immune system dysfunction
• Pain, fatigue, sleep, and nervous system regulation
• GI dysmotility and nutrition challenges
• Craniocervical instability, CSF leaks, and other complex structural concerns
• Lab and imaging interpretation
• Medications, supplements, and treatment strategy
• How to prepare for appointments and advocate more effectively
Most deep educational content is free because people need access to trustworthy medical information.
Paid subscribers help support this work and may receive additional tools and resources, such as printable checklists, quick-reference guides, comparison charts, and early access materials.
Stay up-to-date
Every new post is sent directly to your inbox, so you won’t have to search social media or rely on algorithms to find reliable information.
For a cleaner reading experience, plus audio and community features, you can also use the Substack app.
Join the community
The Bendy Bulletin is more than a newsletter. It is a growing community of patients, caregivers, clinicians, and curious learners who want better answers and better care for complex chronic illness.
You’re invited to participate in the comments, share your questions, and support this work with a free or paid subscription.
Where to start
If you’re new here, start with posts that help explain symptom patterns, diagnostic clarity, and practical next steps. Understanding why symptoms happen is often the first step toward meaningful progress.
You’re not alone in this, and you don’t have to navigate it in the dark.
Subscribe, read at your own pace, and use what you learn in the way that serves you best.
The Bendy Bulletin is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
