There are over 200 conditions related to post-acute covid19. There are several purposes for this article. First, I’m going to share information about post-acute covid19, or chronic covid19. As a health care provider outside of western medicine, I am in a unique position to specifically hear what people are experiencing months after the illness. Next, I’ve been studying as though I’m in school again, not only to assist my clients, but for myself as well. Most importantly, I’d like to encourage people to ask questions, keep learning and advocate for themselves especially when enduring a chronic illness. Sometimes it takes enduring commitment to disentangle pathogens from the system.
In health care, the term “chronic” is defined by any condition that lasts beyond six months. In Chinese medicine we refer to this as a “lingering pathogen”. During spring and early summer of 2020 I experienced many conditions including, but not limited to nausea, light headedness, dizziness, tired after little or no exertion, joint pain and constant tinnitus (ear ringing). I hadn’t been sick since February 2020, and that illness was what seemed like a brief, terrible left-sided head cold, certainly not covid. But it was. Later that summer my left eye distance vision became blurry and I had ice pick pain in my eye/head. My blood work showed elevated white blood cells until June of 2021. Fortunately, I have an outstanding family doctor right here in the Carbon Valley at Salud Family Health Center, and I was checked for blood and bone cancer and screened for a brain tumor, among other conditions. Nothing. Please keep in mind that these are just a few of the symptoms. I started taking Chinese herbal formulas. The eye/head ice pick pain faded, and fatigue became less and less. Fall of 2021 I was feeling better, but not completely back to “normal” – left elbow pain and tinnitus remained. After a flight in January of 2022 I was infected with covid again, and again it was brief and mild. However, all the symptoms I had over the past year and a half came back for about one week. Later I noticed a heart fluttering and tightness in my chest had stayed. I read my books and studied more, listened to other clients’ experiences and tried traditional herbal formulas. These formulas are helping to address the heart symptoms and reduce the inflammation. Then I attended seminars, and after hearing the information provided, I was relieved that other people were noticing the same things and studying. In addition to studying Chinese medicine and acupuncture, I also found research from Dr. Bruce Patterson. In this research, Dr. Patterson refers to conditions of post-acute covid 19 as ‘long covid’ or ‘long haul covid’ – most people have heard all of these terms used. I highly encourage people to listen to the research even though he uses language specifically describing how the immune system works in relation to this virus. Many people are not trained in human physiology, but just take a step back and take in the big picture. Dr. Patterson provides specific information about how the virus stays in the system for a long time. The research found that the same s-1 protein imbeds itself into cells – from the virus itself and from using the covid shots, referred to as ‘vaccine’. Although I cannot speak to the suggested treatment plan, I found the research intriguing. Please keep in mind that this is not an ‘anti-vax’ medical doctor, he and his team have all had the shots. Here is the presentation from 02/25/2022, or search Dr. Bruce Patterson long covid Georgetown University : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2xyWiMS2Q0
The above research focuses upon looking at what happens to white blood cells, particularly monocytes. One aspect missing from this research is how hormones are also affected. For example, as the immune system engages a pathogen, estrogen increases to collaborate with the immune system. Typically, this is a short-lived event. However, with some people the immune system stays on high alert. Women have come into the office and reported being told that the hormone and menstrual related symptoms are due to their age. Men have also reported either short or long term hormonal changes following illness or following covid shots. While the subject of hormonal changes is a very individual and lengthy subject, it is being brought up here to encourage people to take a wide view, make observations of timing, ask questions, and if possible, request blood work. This is a link to research that matches what I’ve seen in the office and through speaking with people :
I am providing first hand information as seen in a clinical setting and through data from research. It is my intention to validate those who are affected by post-acute covid19 conditions and encourage people to advocate for themselves in any way they can.