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Long Covid, MD

Dr Zeest Khan

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Join the LCMD community for support, science, and news. Sign up at http://LongCovidMD.com You may not be a doctor, but you've definitely got a medical style. It's how you define a "good" visit, one that wasted your time, or one that left you overwhelmed—and it shapes how you make treatment decisions. When you've got as many decisions to make as most of us with long COVID do, understanding your own approach matters. In this LCMD Strategy Session, Dr. Zeest Khan introduces the concept of a medical style: the underlying approach that shapes how you navigate uncertainty, evaluate risk, and pursue care. It's influenced by your values, beliefs, past experiences with healthcare, and the resources available to you. In this clip, we explore: - What "medical style" means and why it matters for people with complex illness - How your values and past healthcare experiences shape the way you make decisions - The slow-and-steady approach vs. other styles of navigating treatment - How knowing your own process helps you make smarter, more confident medical decisions This is a 20-minute clip from a longer LCMD Strategy Session. Watch the full video and read the written summary here: https://longcovidmd.substack.com/p/understand-your-medical-style-and Subscribe to Long Covid, MD on Substack for full-length conversations, physician-level breakdowns of treatments and care decisions, live discussions, and free written summaries of each episode: LongCovidMD.substack.com/subscribe Keywords (SEO): medical style, long covid treatment decisions, chronic illness decision making, navigating healthcare, patient autonomy, complex chronic illness, long covid, MECFS, POTS, how to make medical decisions, LCMD strategy session #longCOVID #COVID #fatigue #MECFS #POTS #medicine #science
What's Your Medical Style? A Framework for Smarter Long COVID Treatment Decisions
Join the LCMD community for support, science, and news. Sign up at http://LongCovidMD.com Applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) with Long COVID or ME/CFS is complex—and often discouraging. Many people are denied early and don’t understand why. In this episode, Dr Zeest Khan speaks with disability attorney Barbara Comerford, who has spent 30+ years helping clients navigate disability claims for complex, hard-to-document conditions. We break down: * How SSDI actually works (and who qualifies) * Why most claims are denied—and what that really means * The 5-step process Social Security uses to evaluate your case * What evidence matters for conditions like Long COVID * When to hire a lawyer—and how to strengthen your claim This is a practical guide to help you understand the system and make more informed decisions. Contact Barbara at: 866-444-6939, TriState Disability Law: https://www.tristatedisabilitylaw.com/ Resources Mentioned in This Episode Social Security Administration (SSA) https://www.ssa.gov/ Check your earnings record and quarters of coverage to confirm SSDI eligibility. Workwell Foundation Guidance on cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) and instructions for the NASA Lean Test (dysautonomia assessment) Bateman Horne Center Educational resources on ME/CFS, Long COVID, and disability Project ECHO Webinar series referenced in the episode (including sessions on disability and chronic illness) Key Tools & Concepts Referenced NASA Lean Test – low-cost way to document dysautonomia symptoms CPET (Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing) – objective measure of exertional intolerance Neuropsychological Testing – documents cognitive impairment (brain fog, processing speed) Symptom Journaling – daily tracking of function (sitting, standing, cognitive stamina) to support claims --- Chapter Markers 00:00 Why SSDI matters for Long COVID 06:45 Who qualifies + how SSDI actually works 12:30 The 5-step disability evaluation process 25:00 Why claims get denied (and how to appeal) 40:30 Evidence, lawyers, and how to strengthen your case --- #longcoviddisability, #SSDI, social security disability explained, ME CFS disability, disability application tips, chronic illness disability, invisible illness claims #longCOVID #COVID #fatigue #MECFS #POTS #medicine #science
How to Apply for Social Security Disability Insurance with Long COVID, Long Covid MD Podcast Ep 72
--Join the LCMD community for support, science, and news. Sign up at http://LongCovidMD.com Right now, long COVID has the attention of very powerful people, including Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert Kennedy, Jr. Sharing your treatment experience with the FDA gives us a better chance of keeping funding and attention where we need it. My guest, FDA scientist Heather Stone, joined me on Substack Live to explain why NOW is the time to voice our needs. Sign up for the Long Covid MD newsletter to join the next livestream: longcovidmd.com Heather Stone is a health policy analyst at the FDA who leads the CURE-ID platform. She's a remarkable scientist living with complex chronic disease herself. In this conversation, we cover: --What CURE-ID is and how this federal database of repurposed drugs actually influences research. --How patients, caregivers, and clinicians can search treatments AND submit their own off-label treatment experiences --Why submitting your case makes a MAJOR difference—Heather's team has already spotted important patterns, but there aren't enough data points to act on yet --A live walkthrough of how to submit a case to CURE-ID --The recent FDA Federal Register on drug repurposing, and how a couple of sentences from you can help direct government focus toward long COVID (now closed) Need help submitting a case? Contact the CURE-ID support team, or email Heather directly at Heather.Stone@fda.hhs.gov Links: CURE-ID for Long COVID: https://cure.ncats.io/pilot-overview/long-covid My website: http://LongCovidMD.com Subscribe to Long Covid, MD on Substack for full-length conversations, physician-level breakdowns of treatments and care decisions, live discussions, and free written summaries of each episode: LongCovidMD.substack.com/subscribe Keywords (SEO) CURE-ID, long covid treatment, drug repurposing, FDA, long covid research, infection-associated chronic conditions, chronic lyme, off-label treatments, NCATS, federal register, long covid funding, chronic illness advocacy, MECFS, POTS #longCOVID #COVID #fatigue #MECFS #POTS #medicine #science
FDA Scientist Explains How WE Can Push Long COVID Research
Episode 71, Long Covid MD Podcast Join the LCMD community for support, science, and news. Sign up at http://LongCovidMD.com #longCOVID #COVID #fatigue #MECFS #POTS #medicine #science
We are worthy even when we're sick
Join the LCMD community for support, science, and news. Sign up at http://LongCovidMD.com Is there a “right” diet that will help me feel better? From low-carb to keto to anti-inflammatory diets, the internet is full of strong opinions—and conflicting results. Some people swear by these approaches. Others try them and stop quickly because they’re too hard, too restrictive, or simply don’t work. In this episode of Long Covid, MD, Dr. Zeest Khan sits down with food writer and chronic illness advocate Stephanie Weaver to unpack a more realistic and sustainable approach to diet. This conversation focuses on: -how to think about food triggers - what elimination diets are actually for -why strict diets can backfire -and how to approach dietary changes safely and without added stress Stephanie shares her personal experience living with multiple chronic conditions, including migraine disease, and explains how she developed a step-by-step approach to identifying food triggers—without falling into rigid or overwhelming diet rules. If you’re considering changing your diet to improve symptoms, this episode will help you think through that decision in a more grounded, practical way. Chapters 00:00 Diet & Chronic Illness 03:03 Stephanie’s Story 08:37 Food Triggers Explained 11:38 Risks of Restrictive Diets 15:55 A Safer Approach 20:33 Key Takeaways Key Takeaways -Elimination diets are not one-size-fits-all -They are a tool to identify your specific triggers—not a universal solution. -Strict diets can increase stress and backfire -Overly restrictive plans can add emotional and physical strain, especially in chronic illness. -A gradual, flexible approach works better -Slow, intentional changes are more sustainable—and more informative. About Stephanie Weaver Stephanie Weaver is a food writer, public health professional, and chronic illness advocate. She developed The Migraine Relief Plan, a structured approach to identifying food triggers for migraine disease. She is also the author of: The Migraine Relief Plan (cookbook + program) Bitter Sweet (memoir about chronic illness, food, and family) Connect with Stephanie Weaver Website: https://stephanieweaver.com Social: @sweavermph (all platforms) More from Long Covid, MD If you want deeper dives into treatments, research, and how to navigate complex illness: 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter: https://longcovidmd.com Physician-written breakdowns of treatments Practical strategies for navigating care Audio versions available for every article Disclaimer This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before making significant changes to your diet or treatment plan. Keywords (for search optimization) elimination diet chronic illness, food triggers migraine, diet and inflammation, long covid diet, elimination diet safety, chronic illness nutrition, anti inflammatory diet, migraine diet triggers #longCOVID #COVID #fatigue #MECFS #POTS #medicine #science
Is Your Diet Causing Your Symptoms? How to Identify Food Triggers Safely. Long Covid MD Podcast Ep71
Join the LCMD community for support, science, and news. Sign up at http://LongCovidMD.com AI is rapidly becoming part of how patients navigate complex illness—but most people are using it without understanding how it actually works, what it’s designed to do, or where it can fail. In this episode of Long Covid, MD, Dr. Zeest Khan is joined by two experts: Dr Leeda Rashid (former FDA senior physician, Digital Health Center of Excellence) Dr Jennifer Curtin (CEO of RTHM Health) The discussion breaks down: -What AI is already doing inside healthcare (and why that’s different from what you use at home) -Why tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini are not medical devices -The risks of trusting AI-generated answers for diagnosis and treatment -How specialized tools like RTHM Intelligence attempt to address these gaps -The privacy trade-offs when sharing your medical data with AI -How to use AI safely and effectively as a patient -This episode is a practical framework for using AI as a thinking partner—not a decision maker. ⏱️ Chapter Markers 00:00 – Why patients are turning to AI 03:15 – How AI is actually used in healthcare (FDA perspective) 07:30 – Why ChatGPT and similar tools aren’t medical devices 15:30 – Specialized AI tools vs general AI (RTHM example) 24:50 – Risks: hallucinations, bad advice, and doctor tension 26:30 – Privacy and HIPAA: what happens to your data 38:25 – How to use AI safely in your care Support the show Subscribe for free written summaries of each episode, resources, and more. LongCovidMD.substack.com/subscribe Support by donating at BuyMeACoffee #longCOVID #COVID #fatigue #MECFS #POTS #medicine #science
Medical AI Experts Explain: How To Use AI for Your Healthcare, Ep 70, Long Covid MD
Join the LCMD community for support, science, and news. Sign up at http://LongCovidMD.com This is a clip from a Substack Live conversation with Zed Zha, author of Consented: A Doctor’s Call to End Medical Violence and Reclaim Patient Autonomy. Watch the full episode and sign up for the newsletter here: https://longcovidmd.substack.com/p/is-your-doctor-telling-you-everything In this segment, we examine a pattern many patients recognize immediately, of having to ask their doctor questions in JUST the right way. This is a conversation about managing power, perception, and risk in every medical interaction. For patients, it's exhausting In this clip, we discuss: -Why patients feel pressure to “perform” to be believed -How medical training and culture reinforce this dynamic -The impact of labels like “difficult” and “non-compliant” -What patient autonomy should actually look like in practice -This is one part of a longer, in-depth conversation on medical culture, consent, and the future of patient care. Subscribe to Long Covid, MD on Substack You’ll get: -Full-length conversations like this -Physician-level breakdowns of treatments and care decisions -Live discussions and workshops Chapters: 00:00 — The Performance Patients Have to Master Patients describe navigating tone, behavior, and perception just to be taken seriously. 02:15 — How Medical Culture Creates This Dynamic Training, hierarchy, and identity formation in medicine. 04:30 — The Problem with “Difficult Patients” How labeling shifts responsibility away from the system. 07:30 — Moving Toward Real Collaboration What a functional doctor–patient partnership looks like. 10:30 — What Consent and Autonomy Actually Mean Why consent is an ongoing process—not a form. Keywords (SEO) substack live interview, Zed Zha Consented, medical culture, patient autonomy, doctor patient relationship, medical gaslighting, difficult patient, healthcare system problems, long covid, chronic illness advocacy Support the show Subscribe for free written summaries of each episode, resources, and more. LongCovidMD.substack.com/subscribe #longCOVID #COVID #fatigue #MECFS #POTS #medicine #science
Why Patients Feel They Have to Perform for Doctors (Medical Culture Explained)
Join the LCMD community for support, science, and news. Sign up at http://LongCovidMD.com #longCOVID #COVID #fatigue #MECFS #POTS #medicine #science
They deny long COVID until they need help.
Dr Zed Zha joined Dr Khan for a conversation about medical culture: why are patients not getting the care they need, how can we as medica professionals change? Watch the entire conversation from our Substack Livestream by joining the LCMD community. Your place for support, science, and news. Sign up at http://LongCovidMD.com #longCOVID #COVID #fatigue #MECFS #POTS #medicine #science
Patients shouldn't have to perform for their doctor
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Testimonials

Podcast testimonials

Maggie M.

“Dr. Khan explains complex topics in a way that’s clear, compassionate, and actually useful.”

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Kevin S.

“One of the few places I trust to get balanced, evidence-based information about long COVID.”

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Emily R.

“Long COVID, MD has given me tools, hope, and a sense of being less alone in this.”

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Media

Media appearances

echo
bateman
asa-monitor
quality-insights
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Print:

Experiencing Long Covid as a Physician and a Patient
Doctor Gains New Perspective After Developing Long COVID 

Podcast/YouTube:

How do you spot Long COVID misinformation?
Taking Healthcare by Storm: Industry Insights with Dr. Zeest Khan
92 : Why Do Doctors Dismiss Chronic Illness Patients? A Physician Becomes a Patient | Dr. Zeest Khan

Press

Press inquiries

For press inquiries, please email Dr Khan at longcovidmd@gmail.com

Email Dr Khan

Resources

Guides, assessments, and research references for complex illness.

Learn more about Long COVID resources