Unmasking Our Health: Hypermobility & hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS), Part 2

Episode 217 with Katy Weber & Kalin Johnson

Welcome back to our new series, “Unmasking Our Health,” in which host Katy Weber teams up with medical expert Dr. Kalin Johnson, PharmD, to look beyond the neurodivergent brain and explore what it means to live in a neurodivergent body.

After years of interviewing late‑diagnosed women and seeing the same patterns — chronic pain, fatigue, autoimmune issues, hormonal chaos, gut problems, “mystery” symptoms — Katy created the Unmasking Our Health series to explore the bigger questions behind neurodivergence: What if ADHD isn’t just about our brains, but about our whole bodies — and how and why is the medical system missing the full picture?

In Part 2 of a 2-part series, we continue the conversation on hypermobility, hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, and the often misunderstood symptoms that can show up alongside ADHD and autism. This episode focuses on the signs people miss, why those symptoms happen, and what kinds of support may help rather than hurt.

Kalin explains the connective tissue and autonomic nervous system connections behind bruising, fatigue, digestive issues, migraines, dizziness, pelvic floor problems, and joint pain, while Katy shares personal examples of how these patterns have shown up in her own life.

In this episode, we cover:

A recap of Part 1, including hypermobility, hypermobile EDS, the Beighton score, and the connection with neurodivergenceWhy bruising, slow wound healing, nosebleeds, and fragile blood vessels can occurProprioception, balance, spatial awareness, and why “clumsiness” may be more than distractionFear of falling and the increased risk of pain or injury in hypermobile bodiesConstant bracing, muscle guarding, and why hypermobile people may feel exhausted even while restingDigestive symptoms, including constipation, bloating, slow motility, and dysmotilityMigraines, neck tension, craniocervical instability, POTS, and blood-flow regulationDizziness upon standing, fluid pooling, low blood volume, electrolytes, and compressionPelvic floor issues, urinary symptoms, incomplete emptying, and prolapseSkin texture, softness, stretchiness, and translucencyWhy aggressive stretching and yoga can sometimes worsen instability and painStrength training, swimming, pacing, and learning to stop before end rangeEstrogen, perimenopause, muscle building, and hypermobility symptomsCollagen, creatine, and what supplements can and cannot doExercise intolerance, internalized beliefs about lazine