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 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 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

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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.

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

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Join the community at longcovidmd.com

Caregiving 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 for
• What "ambiguous loss" is and why naming it changes everything
• How to keep your relationship alive when illness takes over
• Practical 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 budget

Kim 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.net
• Weekly caregiver newsletter: https://newsletter.caregiverwisdom.net
• Caregiver burnout quiz: https://www.caregiverwisdom.net/burnoutquiz

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Subscribe for free written summaries of each episode, resources, and more.  LongCovidMD.substack.com/subscribe

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Dr 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-treatment


Join the LCMD community for support, science, and news. Sign up at http://LongCovidMD.com

#longCOVID #COVID #fatigue #MECFS #POTS #medicine #science

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👉 Free newsletter & resources: https://longcovidmd.com

Watch the video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/CcGChFTZwvY

Can 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 safe

BE 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-treatment

Join 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 COVID
01:36 Personal Insights and Professional Perspectives on SGB
02:36 Why SGB Got Attention
05:20 How SGB Is Currently Used
06:54 What's the Stellate Ganglion?
11:35 Side Effects
12:26 Anatomy Lesson You Need to Know
17:07 TL;DR: SGB anatomy
17:58 How SGB Can Reset the Nervous System
23:46 Is SGB Permanent?
25:58 What Does SGB Feel Like?
33:15 Possible Results
34:12 How to Find a Provider
38:43 Can SGB Cure Long COVID?
40:05 SGB Research
40:29 TL;DR Summary

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RECOVER-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 now

Chapters:
00:00 Understanding Long COVID and Research Delays
01:43 The Process of Choosing Targets
03:49 Designing Clinical Trials
07:32 Join the Community
08:25 Baricitinib
09:54 Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN)
11:08 Semaglutide: Exploring GLP-1 Treatments
14:08 Stellate Ganglion Block
16:52 Key Takeaways and Future Outlook

#longCOVID #COVID #fatigue #MECFS #POTS #medicine #science #RECOVERTLC #NIH #FDA #NIAID

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Many 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 plateaus
• The push-crash cycle and energy envelope
• Mental health, grief, and decision-making in chronic illness
• Why trying treatments at random can backfire
• How to think strategically instead of reactively

Episodes referenced:

#43: Sensory Integration Therapy for Long COVID

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For 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.

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Wondering 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.com

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This week we're sharing an episode from the archive, Dr Khan's appearance on the medical podcast "Taking Healthcare By Storm." Dr Zeest Khan tells Dr Jean Storm about her long COVID journey and the lessons she’s learned as both a physician and a patient. They discuss peer support, medical uncertainty, and why claiming your own story can transform the way you navigate chronic illness. A candid, empowering conversation.

Subscribe to the newsletter at  LongCovidMD.com

Support the show

Subscribe for free written summaries of each episode, resources, and more.  LongCovidMD.substack.com/subscribe

Support by donating at BuyMeACoffee