Morning everyone!
Welcome to another edition of the Doctor’s Note where we talk about what’s on our minds when it comes to your health.
This week I think it’s important that I give another Covid-19 UPDATE!
In my 36 years of private practice, I don’t think I’ve ever been as busy as I’ve been this past week.
Last week my team and I treated over 100 cases of Covid-19 outpatient by telemedicine (most likely the Delta Variant). Yesterday we treated 40 cases in one day.
So this is exploding.
It’s been exhausting and rewarding at the same time. As I’ve said before, this thing is ever changing, and I am open to changing as we learn more.
That’s why it’s time for another update.
Covid-19: Then and Now
We have been going through this for 18 months now, and we knew it was coming. This has been a total breakdown of our medical system in many ways.
Who do you even trust with your healthcare? That’s a great question.
With the number of cases we’ve had and the number of people who are vaccinated, it seems the vast majority should be immune, and yet they are not.
What we’re seeing in East Tennessee right now is worse than what we saw in January of 2021.
This new mutation called the Delta Variant is probably more contagious than the original virus.
I don’t think it’s more lethal.
Over the past 18 months we’ve learned a lot about the treatment of Covid-19, which I’ll talk about more later on in this Note.
This hasn’t been a normal virus. It’s more difficult to treat and it’s more contagious.
Make no mistake about it, Covid-19 is real and I think we will continue to see mutations. It may even become like the seasonal flu.
Even though Covid is more lethal than the flu, the majority of people who get Covid have a mild case unless they have certain risk factors.
What you’re NOT hearing in the mainstream media is that it’s treatable if you get on it early! I’ve said this from the very beginning.
We’re learning more every week about it, and if doctors don’t keep up they won’t be able to treat it effectively.
My Covid-19 Approach: Prevention, Treatment, and Vaccination
As of right now, here is my approach to prevention:
Get on Vitamin D, Vitamin C, Zinc, and Quercetin.
Consider getting on a H1 Blocker (i.e Pepcid) and a H2 Blocker (i.e Zyrtec).
I also like Melatonin at night as a preventative.
There are certain nasal sprays like Xylitol (Xlear) or Silver Spray that I like for prevention. Also use mouthwash several times a day to gargle with.
Prophylactic Ivermectin (which is also one of the mainstays of the treatment).
Note: We know that this virus usually enters through the nasal passages, but can also enter through the mouth and eyes.
Keep your immune system in good shape. If your immune system is strong and you get Covid, you should be able to shake this off as a mild “flu like” illness.
As of right now, here is my approach to treatment:
High Dose Vitamins
Zithromax or Doxycycline
Ivermectin (Higher doses)
Hydroxychloroquine (sometimes depending on the person)
Steroids
Oxygen (if needed)
Monoclonal Antibodies (if eligible)
If you get Covid, you should quarantine for 10 days from first symptoms and get your family treated with Prophylactic Ivermectin.
As of right now, here is my approach to the vaccine:
You should NOT get the vaccine if the risks of taking the vaccine outweigh the benefits of it.
You SHOULD get the vaccine if the risks of getting Covid are worse than the risks associated with getting the vaccine.
The benefits outweigh the risks for: the elderly, immunocompromised, people with heart disease, people with diabetes, and people who are obese. For these people it is a good idea to get the vaccine.
If you have a good healthy immune system and are under the age of 50, in my opinion, you don’t need the vaccine.
If you have had Covid-19, in my opinion, you don’t need to get the vaccine.
Healthy kids, in my opinion, don’t need the vaccine.
And certainly you don’t want to give a 12 year old girl, who weighs 70 pounds, the same dose as a 200 pound man, which is what they’re recommending.
Personally, this is why I think kids are getting myocarditis from the vaccine.
I am not totally against this vaccine, but there have been many breakthrough infections with the Delta Variant.
Everyone should weigh out their own pros and cons of taking the vaccine. It is your right to take it or not take it.
The Lesson So Far
Take care of yourself!
Get leaner. Learn to eat well. Get good sleep. Exercise daily. Take your vitamins!
Note that 75% of hospitalized patients are obese, which is the main risk factor (along with a low Vitamin D and being very elderly) of doing poorly with Covid-19.
If you don’t take anything from this Note, make sure you remember this: TAKE VITAMIN D3!
I suggest at least 5,000 iu’s per day. I’m taking 10,000 iu’s per day currently.
We need to combat the obesity epidemic, which is our number one health problem. Covid has exposed this.
It’s lifestyle illnesses like Diabetes and Heart Disease that we need to focus on.
As a physician you have to stay on top of things, and you have to be open minded. If you aren’t doing those two things, then you aren’t doing your job as a physician.
I’m treating Covid-19 a little differently than I was a year ago. I’m getting more aggressive with my outpatient treatment of this.
We’re learning something new everyday.
Stay tuned!