Long Covid (Post-Acute Sequelae of Covid-19) and Post-Vaccine Syndrome (or “PVS”) are some of the most complex, idiosyncratic diseases of our time. However, they are nothing new. For decades, a small subset of patients have suffered immensely from a disease called Myalgic Encephalomyelitis. This is also known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Historically, those diagnosed with ME/CFS found their disease began after a viral infection (ie: EBV, HPV, Lymes, etc…), or after prolonged exposure to environmental toxins (ie: mycotoxins/mold toxicity).
With the introduction of Long Haul Covid and Post-Vaccine Syndrome, the reports of ME/CFS have exploded. NIH studies and data suggests a 15-fold increase in ME/CFS diagnoses since 2020. Furthermore, 4.5% of study participants who had a SARS-CoV-2 infection met the ME/CFS diagnostic criteria six months later, compared to just 0.6% of uninfected participants. This is further supported by data coming from the insurance industry. Actuaries reported an increase in disability filings from typically healthy cohorts (not just elderly populations) since 2020, with a particular explosion in the second half of 2021.
ME/CFS and Spike Protein Disease
The hallmarks of ME/CFS are: 1) cognitive dysfunction; 2) Post-Exertional Malaise; and 3) profound and unrelenting fatigue. First, cognitive function may be experienced or described as memory issues, difficulty concentrating, and “brain fog”. Second, Post-Exertional Malaise (PEM) is described as severe exhaustion and symptom exacerbation after minimal exertion, sometimes lasting for days or weeks. Third, fatigue is not just a word to describe feeling tired after running errands all day. It is a profound fatigue that leaves patients feeling unable to carry out activities of daily life (ADLs). Aside from the three hallmark symptoms, there are a myriad of other pathologies and symptoms experienced by Long Covid, PVS, and ME/CFS patients. These include orthostatic intolerance or dysautonomia (ie: POTS), chronic pain, lymphadenopathy, flu-like symptoms, sensory intolerance and nervous system dysregulation, GI issues, neuropathy, and more.
ME/CFS exists on a spectrum. Some patients are so severe they find themselves only able to lay in a dark room all day with no stimulation. These patients are completely disabled. Others experience a less severe form of illness. They can work a low-stress job, and they can function. However, they must carefully budget and plan their mental and physical exertion. Many land somewhere in-between. However, all report being unable to live a “normal” life prior to the onset of disease.
A silver lining in the explosion of ME/CFS in Long Haul Covid and Post-Vaccine Syndrome patients is a reallocation of resources. Specifically, more research and more support for these patients who have historically been written off by a modern medical apparatus that struggles to classify and serve complex, chronically ill patients.
Existing research highlights complex, multi-system involvement. Some studies point to viral persistence intracellularly (in blood cells, in tissue, in endothelial cells). Other research points towards immune dysfunction and autoimmunity. Much of the research is inconclusive. A major shortfall of the research and healthcare apparatus is the need to pinpoint and isolate causes, then treat these specific issues. When you look at the complex interplay of body systems, and existing research, you start to see how this becomes problematic very fast. A chicken and egg debate can occur very quickly – did the spike protein, EBV virus, mycotoxin, etc… invade the cell, which then set off a chronic immune response? Did the chronic immune response exist beneath the surface due to a genetic or epigenetic factor, which was then amplified by the presence of the external stimuli?
You may also start to perhaps notice why there was an explosion of ME/CFS diagnoses after the spike protein was introduced to our environment. Spike protein has an affinity for ACE-2 receptors. These receptors are abundant in endothelial tissue, and organ tissue (see: viral persistence in endothelial cells). Furthermore, spike protein has been demonstrated to induce IgG4 class switching, in which the body learns to “tolerate” the spike protein instead of fight it (see: immune dysfunction). This is hardly scraping the surface. Spike protein also up-regulates Mast Cell activity. Mast-Cell Activation Syndrome can manifest as chronic pain, dysautonomia, shortness of breath, GI pain, and so much more. For Long Covid and Post-Vaccine Syndrome (both spike protein diseases), you can begin to see, even with these few examples, just how complex and idiosyncratic these conditions can be. And, we haven’t even touched on clotting issues, other inflammatory cascades, blood-brain barrier issues, etc… But, that is for another day.
Finding The Right Kind Of help
When you are seeking care for multi-system, complex, chronic illness – especially Long Haul Covid and Post-Vaccine Syndrome – here are some questions to ask potential clinics you are interviewing…
- How do you ensure patients are properly supported while undergoing treatment? Due to the idiosyncratic, complex nature of Long Haul Covid, Post-Vaccine Syndrome, ME/CFS, and other complex chronic conditions, patients can often ill afford to set off on treatment plans without close followup. Ask potential providers how they ensure you are properly monitored in-between appointments. If there is no support between appointments, consider how that may impact your health and healing should you experience herxheimer reactions, treatment intolerances, symptom flares, etc… Also ask what kind of continuity patients experience in care. Are you seen by the same clinician? Are you followed up with by the same RN staff? Or, are you seen and speaking with a different person every time you interact with the clinic?
- What kind of expertise do you have in treating these conditions? Between 2021 and current day, many have claimed expertise in the realm of treating spike protein diseases. While there are certainly way more options for treatment now than in 2021, there is still a considerable range of expertise for those treating these conditions. How many patients have they seen? What is their approach? What kind of results have they seen?
- Do you have examples of patient success? How about difficult patient cases? Due to patient privacy law, the answer will typically be broad. Check clinic websites for patient reviews, case studies, etc… Asking about difficult cases gives an opportunity for a clinic or clinician to demonstrate honesty and integrity. No one has a 100% success record. Furthermore, success doesn’t always look the same. When you begin to consider that every patient is different, you start to realize why a strong support network (see question #1) is important.
- Am I going to get better, fast? This is a way to gauge the honesty of a potential clinic or clinician. Again, spike protein disease, ME/CFS, and other complex conditions are idiosyncratic. They are not kind to one-size-fits-all approaches. If a clinic or clinician is quick to tout a rapid and easy path to health, you should reflect on how they have answered some of these other questions. Does their confidence match their competence? Are they telling you what you want to hear? The truth is, these conditions often require iterative approaches, and foundational health measures that take time to see impact. Often, healing is not a linear experience, and there is no quick fix.
- How has your approach evolved over the time you have been treating patients for these conditions? In 2021, a lot of treatment for spike protein disease was based on hypotheses and limited research on pathophysiological mechanisms of the spike protein. As time has progressed, there has been massive evolution in avenues for treatment. There should be some underlying principles that remain the same – these principles drive the evolution of treatment. Again, consider the idiosyncratic nature of spike protein disease. An iterative treatment process involving trials of various therapies is an example of a foundational approach. No one patient may respond to the same treatment as another patient. However, the various therapies should change over time as clinical observation demonstrates more effective and safer ways to approach treatment. Is the clinic or clinician willing to throw away treatments they believed in early on, if they have found them not as effective as they hoped?
- How do you evolve over time? How do you innovate? How a clinic has evolved its approach is almost equally as important as whether or not they evolved at all. What research are they following? How do they collaborate internally? How do they collaborate outside of their organization? How do they use clinical observations to improve patient outcomes?
- How do you demonstrate outside-of-the-box thinking to help patients heal and regain quality of life? Conventional medicine has rightfully received a reputation for treating symptoms. You may have directly experienced this in your illness? For example, the spike protein causes cellular dysfunction and blood vessel damage. Both of these things are catalysts for cholesterol being released into the bloodstream. Cholesterol in the bloodstream is not an issue. It is a symptom of the issue. However, when you got to your primary doctor, the first thing they do is look to lower your cholesterol through dietary changes, and statins. The liver produces 80% of cholesterol, so dietary changes are of little importance, even if cholesterol was “bad”. Now, let’s take this about ten steps further. Multiple modalities are often employed to successfully treat spike protein disease. If you’re interviewing a naturopath, are they willing to recommend a therapy that falls outside of herbs? If you’re interviewing an allopathic MD, are they able to think outside of their med school programming? What does that look like? Can they give an example?
- How reliably can you help me with broad access to off-label medications? Unfortunately, after all these years, the politicization of post-pandemic healthcare has turned some pharmacists, into misguided activists. Whether it be Long Haul Covid, Post-Vaccine Syndrome, or even Adjunctive Cancer Care, off-label drugs have been life-changing and, in some cases, life-saving for many. However, access to these medications has been inconsistent, due to gatekeeping behavior and prioritizing compliance over patient care. Make sure your provider has been able to successfully get patients access to off-label medications.
Conclusion
Due to the complexity of Long Haul Covid, Post-Vaccine Syndrome, and ME/CFS, patients should do their due diligence when selecting a clinician or clinic. The questions from this guide can be tweaked to your own personal situation. However, the most important things to consider are the support systems in place at prospective clinics, and expertise in treatment. Remember, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to multi-system, complex illness. It can not be taken off an AI system. Nor can it be solved with a magic pill. A good relationship with a supportive and knowledgeable team is a great foundation for healing and health.
