Long-COVID, Chronic Lyme, Myalgic Encephalitis
These conditions have a sordid history in the medical field. Despite evidence that these issues are misunderstood and underdiagnosed in the general population, medical training in their diagnosis and treatment is severely limited, as are mainstream resources and treatment options. The presented articles here seek to shed light on these conditions, treatment options, and available resources. There was too much to put just in articles, so I wrote a book too! Or Click Here to get it on Audible!
Long COVID 101
Our society has been changed by the SARS-COV-2 pandemic. With so many who have died, our families mourn. With the lock downs, our economy has been changed forever. However, likely one of the most lasting effects for our society is the number of patients who have developed Long COVID.
Long Covid Science
Because of how new the science is for Long COVID, it isn’t surprising that there is little data on specific drugs or treatments in the classic double blind placebo controlled setting. However, the results of the current literature have found that Long COVID isn’t so new after all.
Long COVID treatments 101
While medications are the least important component of treatment, there are many different medication options that can have a meaningful impact on symptoms now, and also long term recovery.
The Importance of Sleep
If our culture focused as much on sleep as our myths suggest it should, I probably wouldn’t have any patients. Out of all of the various treatments in psychiatry and neurology, from diet and exercise to supplements and medications, improving sleep is probably the most universal and consistent treatment available to patients, and one of the hardest.
Light Therapy
One of the most vital treatments in medicine is sleep regulation, and one of the most neglected components of sleep management is light management. Our brains evolved with many mechanisms to keep us highly functional during the day. At night, our brains don’t stop but they work even harder.
Metformin and Long COVID prevention
With COVID-19 and Long-COVID we have seen a long stream of misinformation and fad treatments. I believe Metformin is one of the biggest breakthroughs in the management of Long-COVID, with very good data to supports its use. Unfortunately, it has been nearly completely ignored by most medical providers.
Post Exertional Malaise
The true barrier to PEM treatment is that PEM is not just one thing. In this article, I will separate out a few of the many isolated patterns of symptoms that are often referred to as PEM to demonstrate why it may require some investigation and troubleshooting, but is often very treatable.