What is Long COVID? While the medical and scientific community still cannot offer a decisive answer, what we know without question is that far too many people experience an extraordinarily diverse spectrum of health issues persisting long after infection with COVID-19. These issues affect almost every organ system and manifest with a broad range of symptoms, from fatigue and shortness of breath to memory and concentration issues.
To make matters even more challenging, there are no reliable diagnostic tests to confirm a Long COVID diagnosis and no widely accepted treatments. Coupled with the fact that many Long COVID symptoms are often the most clinically challenging to manage, patients frequently find themselves in an endless cycle of referrals to specialists, never quite obtaining relief or a coordinated treatment plan.
The challenge of Long COVID requires a new model of care, resting upon 2 primary pillars:
A patient-centered approach pairing expert clinical acumen and skill with the time, attention, and personalized care that are too often lost in modern healthcare.
A foundation in integrative medicine and wellness that moves care beyond merely addressing a symptom or set of symptoms and instead treats the whole person.
Long COVID is a diagnosis of exclusion, a general term that refers to a diagnosis that is “left over” after all other possible diagnoses are excluded. In other words, to diagnose Long COVID it is necessary to first rule out all other possible causes for a given symptom or set of symptoms. This medical process of elimination requires sophisticated clinical and diagnostic skill as well as the time and attention to work through every potential avenue affecting a patient’s overall health.
Trained in internal medicine at the world-renowned Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, Dr. Grischkan is an expert clinician capable of deftly managing this complex diagnostic process. Rooted in a belief that the best care stems from a strong partnership with patients, Dr. Grischkan ensures that patients understand the rationale and results of every test, every step of the way.
Once a Long COVID diagnosis is established, the critical question becomes how to address symptoms for a condition whose etiology, cause(s), and symptomatology are poorly understood. Fortunately, physicians have experience treating Long COVID symptoms in other clinical contexts. For example, brain fog has long been a side effect of chemotherapy and many Long COVID symptoms are remarkably similar to those experienced in chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and autoimmune conditions.
Dr. Grischkan therefore draws upon multiple disciplines, established research, and sound evidence-based medicine to develop a personalized, holistic plan of care not only for Long COVID symptoms, but critically, for overall health as well. Equally important, Dr. Grischkan approaches care as a partnership, working diligently alongside patients to monitor the course of treatment and ensure progress is made.
Working through Long COVID is difficult enough without the stress and complexity of navigating modern healthcare. Dr. Grischkan personally coordinates all Long COVID care for patients, avoiding gaps in care that could delay or otherwise set back treatment. Patients are never lost in cycles of referrals to specialists and will always have an effective and ardent advocate organizing their Long COVID care. Unlike most institutions in healthcare, Dr. Grischkan has structured his practice to be directly available to patients— your care will never be mediated by an answering service, nurse, or medical assistant.
For a sample of Long COVID Symptoms, please see below (from the Centers for Disease Control):
Tiredness or fatigue that interferes with daily life
Symptoms that get worse after physical or mental effort (also known as “post-exertional malaise”)
Fever
Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
Cough
Chest pain
Fast-beating or pounding heart (also known as heart palpitations)
Difficulty thinking or concentrating (sometimes referred to as “brain fog”)
Headache
Sleep problems
Dizziness when you stand up (lightheadedness)
Pins-and-needles feelings
Change in smell or taste
Depression or anxiety
Diarrhea
Stomach pain
Joint or muscle pain
Rash
Changes in menstrual cycles
If you feel that you may be experiencing symptoms related to Long COVID, schedule a consultation and take the first steps toward getting answers. Together we will spend all the time necessary to address your symptoms, optimize your overall health, and put you on a path to wellness.
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