Podcast
Long Covid, MD
Hosted by Dr. Zeest Khan · EN
The only long COVID podcast from a doctor with long COVID.
Learn the science, treatments, and strategies you need to regain your health, from Stanford-trained physician Dr Zeest Khan.
15episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
71. Is My Diet Causing My Symptoms? How to Identify Food Triggers Without Harming Your Health
2w ago00:22:17Tap to summarizeIs 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 stressStephanie 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.Chapters00:00 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 TakeawaysKey TakeawaysElimination 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 WeaverStephanie 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, MDIf 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 DisclaimerThis 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 triggersSupport the showSubscribe for free written summaries of each episode, resources, and more. LongCovidMD.substack.com/subscribeSupport by donating at BuyMeACoffee
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70. Using AI for Your Medical Care
4w ago00:44:29Tap to summarizeAI 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 physician, digital health) 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 Markers00:00 – 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 careSupport the showSubscribe for free written summaries of each episode, resources, and more. LongCovidMD.substack.com/subscribeSupport by donating at BuyMeACoffee
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BONUS: Why Patients Have to Perform for their Doctors (Medical Culture Explained)
Apr 2900:12:33Tap to summarizeThis 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.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 exhaustingIn this clip, we discuss:Why patients feel pressure to “perform” to be believedHow medical training and culture reinforce this dynamicThe impact of labels like “difficult” and “non-compliant”What patient autonomy should actually look like in practiceThis 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 SubstackYou’ll get:Full-length conversations like thisPhysician-level breakdowns of treatments and care decisionsLive discussions and workshopsChapters00:00 — The Performance Patients Have to MasterPatients describe navigating tone, behavior, and perception just to be taken seriously.02:15 — How Medical Culture Creates This DynamicTraining, 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 CollaborationWhat a functional doctor–patient partnership looks like.10:30 — What Consent and Autonomy Actually MeanWhy 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 advocacySupport the showSubscribe for free written summaries of each episode, resources, and more. LongCovidMD.substack.com/subscribeSupport by donating at BuyMeACoffee
Transcribe →69. Protecting Our Caregivers
Mar 2400:20:20Tap to summarizeJoin the community at longcovidmd.comCaregiving can slowly reshape a relationship, often in ways people do not talk about. In this episode, Dr. Zeest Khan speaks with Kim Moy about the emotional and practical realities of long-term caregiving.YOU'LL LEARN:Why burnout creeps up slowly, and the early warning signs to watch forWhat "ambiguous loss" is and why naming it changes everythingHow to keep your relationship alive when illness takes overPractical tools: the task audit, the 5-minute morning ritual, and the "good jobs list"When and how to ask for help even when you have no budgetKim has spent more than 30 years caring for her husband who lives with ME/CFS while raising two children and working full time. She shares the idea of “ambiguous loss,” the grief of losing the person someone once was while they are still physically present, and why acknowledging that grief can help caregivers reconnect with their loved ones.Kim also shares practical tools she teaches caregivers. She explains how to spot early signs of burnout and how to keep illness from defining the entire relationship. She also shares simple daily practices that help caregivers restore their energy and recognize the invisible work they do.Listen to the episode to hear Kim’s insights and practical guidance for navigating caregiving while protecting your health and your relationship.Resources for chronic illness caregivers:Website & support resources: https://www.caregiverwisdom.netWeekly caregiver newsletter: https://newsletter.caregiverwisdom.netCaregiver burnout quiz: https://www.caregiverwisdom.net/burnoutquizSupport the showSubscribe for free written summaries of each episode, resources, and more. LongCovidMD.substack.com/subscribeSupport by donating at BuyMeACoffee
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68. The NEW Study on Stellate Ganglion Block
Feb 2800:07:38Tap to summarizeDr Anna Maria Bombardieri is a Stanford physician-scientist working with the NIH. She is helping design the RECOVER-TLC study on stellate ganglion block for long COVID. In this mini-episode, she explains the process, who's involved in this developing study, and what the goals are.Until March 3, 2026, the study design is available to review and open to public comments. Listen to Dr Bombardieri explain the study and watch/listen to our longer video explaining everything about stellate blocks. Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/CcGChFTZwvY Then, be part of the science! Share your input with RECOVER-TLC: https://recovercovid.org/news/recover-tlc-seeks-input-planned-study-possible-long-covid-treatmentJoin the LCMD community for support, science, and news. Sign up at http://LongCovidMD.com#longCOVID #COVID #fatigue #MECFS #POTS #medicine #scienceSupport the showSubscribe for free written summaries of each episode, resources, and more. LongCovidMD.substack.com/subscribeSupport by donating at BuyMeACoffee
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67. Stellate Ganglion Blocks, Explained by Experts
Feb 2800:45:19Tap to summarize👉 Free newsletter & resources: https://longcovidmd.comWatch the video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/CcGChFTZwvYCan a stellate ganglion block (SGB) help long COVID?In this episode, physician and long COVID patient Dr. Zeest Khan speaks with two experts to explain the science, patient experience, risks, and research behind this procedure now being studied in the NIH RECOVER program:-Dr. Anna Maria Bombardieri, physician-scientist helping design the NIH RECOVER study on SGB https://med.stanford.edu/profiles/anna-maria-bombardieri-Dr. Sara Herman, anesthesiologist performing stellate ganglion blocks in clinical practice. https://softrebootwellness.com/YOU'LL LEARN:• What the stellate ganglion is and why blocking it may help autonomic symptoms• What the procedure feels like• Which long COVID symptoms may improve (brain fog, POTS, fatigue, smell/taste changes)• Side effects, variability, and realistic expectations• How to vet a provider and stay safeBE PART OF THE SCIENCE: The RECOVER-TLC study design is now open for public comment. Learn more at https://recovercovid.org/news/recover-tlc-seeks-input-planned-study-possible-long-covid-treatmentJoin the LCMD community for support, science, and news. Sign up at http://LongCovidMD.com#longCOVID #COVID #fatigue #MECFS #POTS #medicine #science Chapters:00:00 Understanding Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB) for Long COVID01:36 Personal Insights and Professional Perspectives on SGB02:36 Why SGB Got Attention05:20 How SGB Is Currently Used06:54 What's the Stellate Ganglion?11:35 Side Effects12:26 Anatomy Lesson You Need to Know17:07 TL;DR: SGB anatomy17:58 How SGB Can Reset the Nervous System23:46 Is SGB Permanent?25:58 What Does SGB Feel Like?33:15 Possible Results34:12 How to Find a Provider38:43 Can SGB Cure Long COVID?40:05 SGB Research40:29 TL;DR SummarySupport the showSubscribe for free written summaries of each episode, resources, and more. LongCovidMD.substack.com/subscribeSupport by donating at BuyMeACoffee
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66.How Close Are We to an Approved Long COVID Treatment? | RECOVER-TLC Research Update
Feb 300:19:43Tap to summarizeRECOVER-TLC released a public update on four major long COVID treatment trials. Many patients are asking the same question: how close are we to an approved treatment?In this episode, I break down how RECOVER-TLC chooses treatments to study, why the research process takes so long, and where each of the four current trials stands right now. I’ll also explain what this progress realistically means for people living with long COVID—without hype and without false hope.This is for people who want a clear, honest explanation of long COVID research and timelines, and who want to understand how close—or far—we really are from approved treatments.In this episode:-Why approved long COVID treatments take so long-How RECOVER-TLC selects and designs clinical trials-Updates on baricitinib, low-dose naltrexone, GLP-1 agonists, and stellate ganglion block-What this research means for patients right nowChapters:00:00 Understanding Long COVID and Research Delays01:43 The Process of Choosing Targets03:49 Designing Clinical Trials07:32 Join the Community08:25 Baricitinib09:54 Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN)11:08 Semaglutide: Exploring GLP-1 Treatments14:08 Stellate Ganglion Block16:52 Key Takeaways and Future Outlook#longCOVID #COVID #fatigue #MECFS #POTS #medicine #science #RECOVERTLC #NIH #FDA #NIAIDSupport the showSubscribe for free written summaries of each episode, resources, and more. LongCovidMD.substack.com/subscribeSupport by donating at BuyMeACoffee
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65. Why Has Your Recovery Stalled?
Jan 2400:16:02Tap to summarizeMany people with long COVID see early improvement—then hit a recovery plateau. In this episode, physician and long COVID patient Dr. Zeest Khan explains why long COVID recovery stalls and the three patterns she sees most often when progress gets stuck.Topics covered:Why long COVID recovery plateausThe push-crash cycle and energy envelopeMental health, grief, and decision-making in chronic illnessWhy trying treatments at random can backfireHow to think strategically instead of reactivelyEpisodes referenced:#43: Sensory Integration Therapy for Long COVIDSupport the showSubscribe for free written summaries of each episode, resources, and more. LongCovidMD.substack.com/subscribeSupport by donating at BuyMeACoffee
Transcribe →Christmas SOS
Dec 2700:04:16Tap to summarizeFor immediate crisis support in the U.S., call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, offering free, confidential 24/7 help for mental health, substance use, or emotional distress via call, text, or chat.Support the showSubscribe for free written summaries of each episode, resources, and more. LongCovidMD.substack.com/subscribeSupport by donating at BuyMeACoffee
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64. Treat Symptoms or The Root Cause?
Dec 300:16:57Tap to summarizeWondering whether to focus on treating Long COVID symptoms or finding the “root cause”? In this episode, Dr. Zeest Khan explains why chasing a cure can lead to false promises and wasted time—and why treating your most pressing symptoms is the fastest, safest way to improve quality of life. Learn how building small wins creates positive momentum, reduces hypervigilance, and empowers you to collaborate effectively with your doctors.Join the Community at longcovidmd.comSupport the showSubscribe for free written summaries of each episode, resources, and more. LongCovidMD.substack.com/subscribeSupport by donating at BuyMeACoffee
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