45. Understanding Fatigue with Alan Pocinki, MD

In this episode of the Bendy Bodies podcast, Dr. Alan Pocinki discusses the pervasive issue of fatigue in people with Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes (EDS), particularly those with hypermobility, and its connection with chronic fatigue syndrome. He explains the distinctions between fatigue and sleepiness, and elaborates on how fatigue in hypermobility disorders can stem from autonomic dysfunction, exacerbated by an overactive sympathetic nervous system. Dr. Pocinki highlights the complex interplay of pain, poor sleep, and depression, leading to fatigue. Addressing these requires a comprehensive approach that includes managing pain, improving sleep quality, and handling autonomic dysfunction. He shares his clinical observations on hormonal imbalances, particularly testosterone deficiency in women with hypermobility, and emphasizes the need for more research into the sleep disturbances and physiological imbalances in these conditions. The conversation also touches on the challenges of psychiatric misdiagnoses in hypermobile patients, often misinterpreting physiological stress responses as anxiety or bipolar disorder.