How to treat Long Covid

Long Covid is intracellular hypothyroidism

An article in “Medscape CME and education”, by Charles P. Vega, MD, Exec. Director of UCI’s Program in Medical Education for the Latino Community, reports that
(1) Long Covid can affect up to half of patients with Covid 19.
(2) 45.2% of people with Long Covid in his study met the diagnostic criteria for CFS/ME.
(3) Interestingly (an unrelated fact) among the patients he studied, long Covid was 10 times less common in those with Omicron, compared with other strains of Covid 19.

Why is this important?

This is important because chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is actually intracellular hypothyroidism, and if CFS/ME is chronic fatigue syndrome, then long Covid is intracellular hypothyroidism.

I conclude that about 50% of those with Covid 19 develop intracellular hypothyroidism.
That would explain the persistence of long Covid symptoms, because intracellular hypothyroidism is self-perpetuating, as long as any stress persists.

The severity of Covid infection varies

The severity of Covid infection varies markedly from person to person, being negligible in some, moderate in some and overwhelming in a few.
The degree of perceived stress produced by the infection can be expected to parallel the severity of the disease, so mild cases produce low-grade stress and severe cases cause sufficient stress to result in increased production of the stress hormone, cortisol.

Cortisol blocks intracellular T3 formation and intracellular hypothyroidism results.

Diagnosing intracellular hypothyroidism

Blood is taken, to check TSH, T4, T3 and reverse T3.
A low T3/rT 3 ratio (<20), diagnoses intracellular hypothyroidism, indicating a high liability to long Covid.

Treat long Covid by treating intracellular hypothyroidism

We can treat intracellular hypothyroidism, so we can treat long Covid.
Treatment with oral T3 eliminates intracellular hypothyroidism and thus, will prevent development of long Covid.

Therefore Individuals with new infections of Covid 19 should be tested upon diagnosis if their condition is poor, or 10–14 days following diagnosis if their infection is mild.

Proposal

New Covid Infections

Let us investigate people with long Covid by checking TSH, T4, T3 and reverse T3.
Individuals with a reduced T3/rT3 ratio (normal = > 20), which confirms intracellular hypothyroidism, can be treated effectively with slow-release T3 (Triiodothyronine).
The dose of T3 can be tapered over a 2–3 month period and the prescription may be discontinued when the circumstances permit.

To view Dr. Vega’s article, copy and paste this URL into your browser:

https://www.medscape.org/viewarticle/983265?sso=true&impID=4833519&uac=235227EV&src=wnl_tpal_221105_mscpedu
or click the link (Charles P. Vega).

To review intracellular hypothyroidism, how to diagnose it and how to treat it, click on “can be treated effectively”, above.

If you currently have Covid, or if you have developed long Covid

Please note:
(1) I am no longer licensed to give you a formal diagnosis or a prescription.
[2] However I have no objection to you showing this paper and the notes on intracellular hypothyroidism, to your doctor: perhaps he or she will be willing to test you for intracellular hypothyroidism.
(3) In the interest of my own information and that of anyone who cares to discuss this post with me later on, I would be most interested to hear from you, re. the results of your TSH/T4/T3/reverse T3, tests.
So if your doctor agrees to order the tests, please contact me, via the blog or at cbhrt@gmx.com.
(4) if necessary, email me, via cbhrt@gmx.com