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Long COVID, also known as long-haul COVID, chronic COVID or long-haul syndrome, refers to symptoms that persist for four or more weeks after an initial COVID-19 infection.1<\/span><\/sup> Board-certified internist and cardiologist Dr. Peter McCullough discusses potential treatments for long-haul COVID in the video above,2<\/span><\/sup> including which tests may be necessary and when to seek emergency medical care.<\/p>\nMany of the symptoms can also mirror those caused by COVID-19 shots, and McCullough details the four categories of COVID-19 shot-injury syndromes that he\u2019s seen in his practice. While anyone can experience long COVID, those who are sick enough to be hospitalized in the ICU are most often affected.<\/p>\n
According to McCullough, 50% of this group will have manifestations of long COVID syndrome. \u201cSo the sicker someone is, and the longer the duration of COVID, the more likely they are to have long COVID syndrome. That\u2019s the reason why we like early treatment. We shorten the duration of symptoms and there\u2019s less of a chance for long COVID syndrome.\u201d3<\/span><\/sup><\/p>\nCommon Symptoms of Long COVID<\/h2>\n
Signs and symptoms of long COVID, which persist for four weeks or more after you\u2019ve been diagnosed with COVID-19, include:4<\/span><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n| Fatigue<\/td>\n | Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
\n| Cough<\/td>\n | Joint pain<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
\n| Chest pain<\/td>\n | Memory, concentration or sleep problems<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
\n| Muscle pain or headache<\/td>\n | Fast or pounding heartbeat<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
\n\n<\/div>\n Loss of smell or taste<\/td>\n Depression or anxiety<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| Fever<\/td>\n | Dizziness when you stand<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| Worsened symptoms after physical or mental activities<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n These symptoms are a result of damage to the following body systems:5<\/span><\/sup><\/p>\n\n- Pulmonary\/lungs<\/li>\n
- Immune\/allergy<\/li>\n
- Mitochondria\/energy system<\/li>\n
- Heart<\/li>\n
- Central\/Peripheral nervous system<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
According to McCullough, a paper presented by Dr. Bruce Patterson at the International COVID Summit in Rome, September 12 to 14, 2021, showed that in \u201cindividuals who\u2019ve had significant COVID illness, 15 months later the s1 segment of the spike protein is recoverable from human monocytes.\u201d He added:6<\/span><\/sup><\/p>\n\u201cThat means the body literally has been sprayed with the virus and it spends 15 months, in a sense, trying to clean out the spike protein from our tissues. No wonder people have long COVID syndrome.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\nBe on the Lookout for Blood Clots for 90 Days<\/h2>\nIf you\u2019ve had COVID-19, especially if it was a severe case, be aware that blood clots and heart problems, including heart attack, can occur for 90 days or more. It\u2019s believed that remnants of the virus remain in the nervous system, the lungs, the heart and other organs.<\/p>\n If the symptoms include major shortness of breath, cough with blood in it or pain on one side when you take a deep breath, it could be due to a late pulmonary embolism or a blood clot going to the lungs. \u201cWe\u2019ve seen this on more than one occasion,\u201d McCullough said.7<\/span><\/sup><\/p>\nIn this case, McCullough recommends a chest CT with contrast and, if a blood clot is found, oral blood thinners for three to six months. McCullough also uses full-dose aspirin \u2014 325 milligrams a day \u2014 in almost everyone with long COVID syndrome who doesn\u2019t have a major blood clot, in addition to other medications.<\/p>\n However, a safer and likely equally effective alternative to aspirin is digestive fibrinolytic enzymes like lumbrokinase and serrapeptase. You can alternate between the two enzymes \u2014 one day take lumbrokinase and the next take serrapeptase \u2014 because you\u2019ll need to be on it for about three months and you can develop a sensitivity to them over time.<\/p>\n Anyone who had COVID-19, especially with significant symptoms, should consider taking digestive fibrinolytic enzymes to be sure you don\u2019t have any clotting. An alternative to determine if clotting is occurring is a test called D-dimer, although it can be pricey. D-dimer is a protein fragment produced by the body when a blood clot dissolves.<\/p>\n It\u2019s typically undetectable or present only at very low levels, buts its level may significantly rise when the body is forming and breaking down blood clots.8<\/span><\/sup> If your d-dimer test is low, then you don\u2019t need to take the enzymes. Likewise, if you had a very mild, cold-like case, of COVID-19, you probably don\u2019t need them.<\/p>\nAside from a CT scan to rule out pulmonary embolism if you\u2019re having symptoms and possibly a D-dimer test, McCullough suggests a high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) test, which provides a general index of inflammation. Keep in mind, though, as McCullough said:<\/p>\n \u201cThis pursuit of a blood clot is very important. I\u2019ve seen multiple cases now where blood clots have been missed \u2026 this is now almost a daily occurrence, particularly within the first 90 days after COVID-19. I think after that period of time it becomes progressively less likely.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n Heart Problems and Neurological Issues Are Common<\/h2>\nInflammation around the lining of the heart \u2014 pericarditis \u2014 and the lining of the lungs \u2014 pleuritis \u2014 may also occur in long COVID. \u201cThe virus can set up inflammation and the spike protein is in the body, it\u2019s triggered inflammation and, importantly, that\u2019s really a clinical diagnosis,\u201d McCullough said.9<\/span><\/sup> He prescribes steroids and colchicine, an anti-inflammatory drug commonly used for gout to reduce high uric acid, in such cases.<\/p>\nThere\u2019s a real risk for heart attack or stroke to occur without warning in long COVID, so McCullough warns those recovering to \u201cbe on your guard,\u201d especially if you have a heart stent or carotid stenosis.<\/p>\n Neurologic syndromes in long COVID also occur, although they aren\u2019t well described. Symptoms include joint and muscle pain, headaches, brain fog and tinnitus (ringing in the ears). Some people also have changes in the autonomic nervous system, such as elevated heart rate, and sensory neuropathies, including numbness and weakness in the legs.<\/p>\n McCullough\u2019s host in the video, Dr. Al Johnson, recommends using a foam roller on your back, three to five times a day, to relax your nervous system, as well as to relieve rib pain from all the coughing. McCullough has had some success treating neurologic symptoms with an older SSRI called fluvoxamine.<\/p>\n Supplements That Play a Role in Long COVID Syndrome<\/h2>\nDr. Johnson recommends several supplements to support healing from long COVID. Among them:<\/p>\n \n- Vitamin C, because it helps calm down inflammation<\/li>\n
- Vitamin D, for both prevention and long haulers<\/li>\n
- Glutathione, because it helps calm down inflammatory processes<\/li>\n
- N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a precursor to glutathione<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
McCullough, an enlightened allopathic physician, recognizes the role that dietary and integrative therapies play in helping people recover from long COVID:10<\/span><\/sup><\/p>\n\u201cAs an allopathic doctor, I\u2019m not skilled in understanding how to use vitamins and supplements like our integrative, holistic and naturopathic colleagues, but they\u2019ve played a big role in COVID-19. I\u2019ll just make the observation that COVID-19 is an enormous catabolic strain \u2026 the weight loss is tremendous.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\nIt is such a strain on the body \u2026 we want to avoid sugary foods. When someone has acute COVID-19 and moves into the long COVID, post-COVID syndrome, we want to stay away from sugary foods \u2026 the sugar seems to feed the virus. It seems to feed inflammatory processes.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\nMcCullough has also referred some patients to chiropractors in his area, noting that \u201clong COVID syndrome, out of all the illnesses we face, is one for collaborative care, for integrative care. There\u2019s a lot of elements to it.\u201d11<\/span><\/sup> Likewise, Johnson suggests a combination of physical therapy and exercise \u2014 but not overexercising \u2014 to get back normal function of your musculoskeletal system.<\/p>\nSupport a Healthy Microbiome<\/h2>\nResearch by Dr. Sabine Hazan has shown that your microbiome plays an incredible role in COVID-19.12<\/span><\/sup> According to McCullough, she\u2019s figured out that one reason why certain people within the same household don\u2019t develop COVID-19 while others do comes down to the gut. A healthy microbiome score is protective against developing COVID-19. Bifidobacterium, McCullough notes, is among the leading bacteria that appear to fight off COVID-19.13<\/span><\/sup><\/p>\n\u201cCOVID-19 is clearly a GI syndrome,\u201d he said. SARS-CoV-2 collects in your nose and mouth, and as you swallow it\u2019s introduced to your GI tract. According to Forbes, Li Tongzeng, deputy director of the respiratory and infectious diseases department at Beijing You An Hospital, cited research that SARS-CoV-2 survives longer in the anus and feces than in the respiratory tract.<\/p>\n Due to this, an anal swab may be able to more accurately detect mild or asymptomatic cases than a nose or throat test.14<\/span><\/sup><\/p>\nStaying away from irritants to the GI tract is important, and Johnson recommends eating a clean diet with organic food and glass-bottled spring water, if possible. Eating fermented foods, or taking a high-quality probiotic, is also essential for gut health, as is avoiding unnecessary antibiotics usage and processed foods.<\/p>\n Chronic Fatigue and Sleep Disturbances<\/h2>\nChronic fatigue is a major problem for many with long-haul COVID, and for this Johnson recommends hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). One of the reasons I’m fascinated by HBOT, in particular, is because of its ability to improve mitochondrial function.15<\/span><\/sup> As Johnson explained, \u201cToxins affect the mitochondria \u2026 the little engines in our body that create ATP, which is our energy system.\u201d16<\/span><\/sup><\/p>\nHBOT protects against mitochondrial dysfunction,17<\/span><\/sup> speeding up the mitochondria and ATP production, which helps increase energy while decreasing brain fog and fatigue. Further, Johnson added, it helps heal body tissues like your lungs, heart and muscles while decreasing inflammation and lessening symptoms.<\/p>\nIf sleep disturbances are an issue \u2014 and they often are for long haulers \u2014 McCullough recommends avoiding alcohol for at least a month, as \u201cjust one drink in 28 days will destroy sleep architecture.\u201d The Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care Working Group (FLCCC) has a management protocol \u2014 I-RECOVER18<\/span><\/sup> \u2014 for long haul COVID-19 syndrome that includes melatonin, which can also help with sleep disturbances.<\/p>\nShot-Induced Myocarditis Is Worse Than COVID\u2019s<\/h2>\nMcCullough detailed the non-fatal syndromes that are occurring after COVID-19 shots, which cause symptoms similar to that of long COVID in many cases. The shot-induced syndromes fall into four areas, the first being cardiac.<\/p>\n Myocarditis is a recognized effect of both COVID-19 and COVID-19 shots, but they\u2019re completely different, McCullough said. \u201cA child is more likely to be hospitalized with myocarditis after a Pfizer or Moderna [shot] than actually being hospitalized with COVID-19,\u201d he said. Further:19<\/span><\/sup><\/p>\n\u201cThe myocarditis in COVID-19 is mild. It\u2019s inconsequential. I don\u2019t want anyone to think that the myocarditis we\u2019re seeing with the natural infection is anything like what we\u2019re seeing with the [shots] \u2026 there are studies suggesting the lipid nanoparticles actually go right into the heart, the heart expresses the spike protein, the body attacks the heart.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\nThere are dramatic EKG changes. The troponin, the blood test for heart injury with the vaccine myocarditis, is 10 to 100 volts higher than the troponin we see with the natural infection. It\u2019s a totally different syndrome. When the kids get myocarditis after the vaccine, 90% have to be hospitalized \u2026 so vaccine-induced myocarditis is a big deal, and in children it\u2019s way more serious and more prominent than a post-COVID myocarditis.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\nIn addition to myocarditis, atrial fibrillation in young people and pericarditis can also occur post-COVID-19 shot. The second category of shot-induced syndromes is neurologic, which causes neurological symptoms similar to those among COVID-19 long haulers, as well as additional, more serious, effects. This includes Guillain-Barr\u00e9 syndrome, which can be fatal, bell\u2019s palsy, seizures, persistent headaches and blood clots in the brain.<\/p>\n The third category is immunologic, which includes suppression of lymphocyte count and reactivation of other viral syndromes, including Epstein-Barr virus and shingles. The fourth category \u2014 hematologic \u2014 occurs about two weeks after the shot and describes vaccine-induced thrombocytopenic purpura.<\/p>\n Signs include bruising all over the body, bleeding from the gums and nose and dark urine. If you notice these signs in the weeks after receiving a COVID-19 injection, get to a hospital immediately.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat happens,\u201d McCullough says, \u201cis the [shot] tricks the body and gives excessive antigenic presentation of platelets to the spleen, the spleen produces an antibody that actually pins platelets against blood vessel walls \u2026 and that\u2019s what drives vaccine-induced thrombocytopenic purpura.\u201d<\/p>\n For those suffering from these shot-induced syndromes, FLCCC\u2019s I-RECOVER20<\/span><\/sup> protocol for long-haul COVID syndrome has been used to treat shot-induced symptoms with similar success. The protocol can be downloaded in full,21<\/span><\/sup> giving you step-by-step instructions on how to treat long-haul COVID syndrome and\/or reactions from COVID-19 injections.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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