What is long-haul covid? This is a condition in which people who came down with acute covid infection, got over it,but then started experiencing chronic severe symptoms that were not a part of their lives before getting the infection. Such symptoms include things like overwhelming fatigue and exhaustion, depression, troubles with breathing properly, brain fog, and headaches. Other symptoms often include loss or distortion of the senses of smell and taste, hair loss, racing heart rate, and pulsatile tinnitus (in which you can hear your heartbeat, but it is a buzzing or humming kind of sound). These symptoms usually start about three weeks after the acute infection but can be as soon as a few days after the infection.

How many people are affected? As many as 10 to 30% of all patients who had the acute covid infection can end up with the long haul syndrome. Also, there are patients who never had the covid infection but did have the covid immunizations who end up with the long haul symptoms. It is thought that the spike proteins from either the acute infection or the vaccination stimulate the syndrome.

How long does this long haul syndrome last? In the past 1.5 years or so it has been believed that the lingering effects of the long haul covid syndrome would only last up to nine months. However, more and more people are being identified with ongoing symptoms for nearly the past two years. Presently, there are no definitive tests to show who will or will not develop the long haul syndrome.

What can be done to treat long haul symptoms? The present standard is basically to refer patients to a rehab clinic that will use physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and counseling to adapt to and hopefully work through the symptoms. I don’t feel there is anything wrong with this approach, but the functional medicine part of me wants to know more about what is actually causing the long haul symptoms and what can be done to treat the root of the problem to ensure long-lasting resolution of the symptoms. This is an uncharted area in medical care, but researchers are starting to come up with some causes and treatments. Dr. Bruce Patterson has identified abnormalities in the body’s macrophages (blood cells that fight infection) that result in these ongoing symptoms. There are some good videos on You Tube in which he explains the dysfunctional immune system response. His website is covidlonghaulers.com. There’s not as much information on that website as there is in the You Tube videos.

He has a company that sells a blood immune profile that identifies immune markers. There are prescription medicines that can address each of these abnormal markers. He states that the success rate in relieving the long haul symptoms is about 85% or higher with this approach.

Using a scientifically based approach to long haul covid treatment is the way to address this issue. I am available to discuss the evaluation and treatment for those suffering through the long haul symptoms.

 

If you feel you may be suffering from the lingering effects of Covid, please call us at 217-809-0771, or contact us via email at drscott@cornerstonedpc.com.  Costs for Covid visits (whether for acute or long-haul) are $125 and include four weeks of follow-up, if needed.