45. Understanding Fatigue with Alan Pocinki, MD

Fatigue is common in people with chronic disease. Pain, fatigue, and depression can feed into each other and become a vicious cycle that’s difficult to break. Combating fatigue can be particularly difficult for those with bendy bodies and comorbidities. Alan Pocinki, MD, specialist in hypermobility and related autonomic and sleep disorders, speaks with Bendy Bodies on this complicated subject. Dr. Pocinki shares his “eureka” moment in linking the chronic fatigue syndrome population with the hypermobile population. He defines fatigue and how it’s different from sleepiness, and describes the underlying causes of fatigue in hypermobility spectrum disorders, outlining the way an overactive sympathetic nervous system can mimic a panic attack. Dr. Pocinki explains how autonomic dysfunction can be both the cause and effect of fatigue, and the role of sleep continuity. He discusses the concept of budgeting your energy and explores the role of anxiety in hypermobility spectrum disorders. Dr. Pocinki describes his approach to treating patients with fatigue, reveals the role hormones may play in fatigue, and shares his hopes for future research in fatigue and hypermobility. You will not want to miss this episode if you are struggling with fatigue or are a medical professional looking to better serve your hypermobile population. . . . . . #fatigue #ButYouDontLookSick #ChronicIllness #Hypermobility #EhlersDanlosSyndromes #EhlersDanlos #SleepDisorder #dysautonomia #AutonomicDysfunction #anxiety #BendyBodies #BendyBodiesPodcast #JenniferMilner #HypermobilityMD --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bendy-bodies/message Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices