This is the question that Dr Binita Kane found herself facing in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic.

As a Consultant Respiratory Physician, Dr Kane was among the first clinicians to recognise that many patients were not recovering after acute Covid infection. Yet when her own daughter’s life was brought to a standstill by the debilitating effects of Long Covid, the challenge became deeply personal.

Forced to confront the limitations of conventional medical knowledge, Dr Kane had to unlearn parts of her training and re-educate herself in order to help her daughter. That journey has since shaped the care she provides to the thousands of patients she now treats at The Long Covid Clinic, and the millions more who benefit from her advocacy and education work around Long Covid and complex chronic illness.

In this episode, Dr Kane shares her daughter’s experience navigating Long Covid, the lessons it taught her as both a clinician and a parent, and how it transformed her approach to patient care.

Dr Kane also explains how tools like Visible can help patients monitor heart rate, track stress and better understand their energy limits, and how this data can support more informed clinical decision-making.

Dr Binita Kane is a Consultant Respiratory Physician, founder of The Long Covid Clinic, and a founding member of the International Society for Long Covid and Post-Acute Infection Syndromes (ISLC-PAIS). She is a leading advocate for evidence-based, patient-centred care for people living with Long Covid and related post-viral conditions: champion for Long COVID Kids, advisor for Long COVID Support and an Ambassador for #ThereForMe campaign. Dr Kane also hosts a YouTube channel entitled “The Long Covid Clinic: What you CAN do” to empower patients by sharing the extensive knowledge that she and colleagues have gained.

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Dr Elisabetta Burchi, psychiatrist, entrepreneur, and Head of Research at Parasym, is helping advance the growing field of neuromodulation, using gentle electrical stimulation to influence the body's nervous system through the vagus nerve.

Often described as the body's communication superhighway, the vagus nerve plays a key role in regulating heart rate, inflammation, mood, cognition, and overall resilience.

Parasym has developed a transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) device that stimulates the nerve through the tragus, a point on the outer ear, providing a non-invasive alternative to implanted technologies.

Backed by more than 100 studies and clinical trials, vagus nerve stimulation has been investigated across a wide range of conditions, including Long Covid, ME/CFS, hypertension, depression, fatigue, anxiety and cognitive dysfunction, with promising results.

Parasym has also explored how vagus nerve stimulation may enhance cognitive performance and mental clarity in healthy individuals, raising interesting questions about the future of health and human performance.

In this episode, we explore:

Whether you're interested in chronic illness, neuroscience, longevity, or optimising brain and body function, this conversation explores one of the most exciting and rapidly evolving areas of health science.

View the glossary of terms here.

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If you live with fibromyalgia, ME/CFS, EDS or chronic pain, you've likely heard that exercise may help. You've also probably learned, the hard way, that the wrong kind of effort costs you for days afterwards. The truth is that thoughtfully-designed physical therapy strategies can help with quality of life, if the approach is individualised and built around a person's baseline.

In this episode physical therapist **Ryan Bourdo** (Oregon Health and Science University, Portland), experienced in caring for people with these conditions, explains how his approach of individualised, patient-led therapy can improve patients' day-to-day lives.

Ryan specialises in fibromyalgia, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), and their co-morbidities, and approaches each patient with time, empathy, and the willingness to listen. He explains how understanding his patient’s life, needs and pain points is the most instrumental part of him being able to help.

We also hear from occupational therapist Amy Mooney, who brings over two decades of experience working with fibromyalgia, ME/CFS, Long Covid, EDS, MCAS, and Post-Exertional Malaise (PEM). Amy runs her own telehealth programme OT4ME and collaborates with the Bateman Horne Center to train healthcare professionals and support patients.

Amy Mooney is an occupational therapist with over two decades experience providing care for individuals with conditions such as Fibromyalgia, ME/CFS, Long Covid, EDS, MCAS, with a particular focus on Post-Exertional Malaise (PEM). Amy runs her own telehealth programme OT4ME and collaborates extensively with the Bateman Horne Center to educate healthcare professionals and support patients.

If you live with fibromyalgia or chronic pain, and want to how understand physical or occupational therapy might help, this episode is for you. In our conversation we explore:

Through both of these conversations, the same idea shines through - treat patients as individuals.

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For 23 years, Dr Lucy Foulkes has lived with chronic pain, migraines, endometriosis, joint hypermobility, and a cycle of unexplained symptoms. She was seen by neurologists, rheumatologists, urologists, gynaecologists, physiotherapists, and nutritionists. Nobody connected the dots. Then last year, a stranger's Instagram message changed everything, and finally led her to a diagnosis of hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS).

In this episode of Make Visible, Dr Foulkes brings a uniquely powerful dual perspective: an Oxford psychologist who researches diagnosis, self-diagnosis, and mental health language, and a patient who spent over two decades undiagnosed.

If you are living with unexplained chronic pain, fatigue, migraines, MCAS, POTS, endometriosis, hypermobility, or you have ever been told that your symptoms don't add up, this episode is for you.

In this episode we cover:

About Lucy Foulkes

Lucy Foulkes is a Research Fellow in Psychology at the University of Oxford, specialising in adolescent mental health and social development. She is the author of Coming of Age: How Adolescence Shapes Us (2024) and What Mental Illness Really Is… And What It Isn't (2021). Her essay ‘Welcome To My Body’ is available to read here.

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SCIENCE: Long Covid | ME/CFS | Neuroinflammation | Clinical Trials

What happens to the brain when a virus takes hold and why do some people never fully recover?

Dr Avindra Nath has spent his career at the intersection of neurology and infectious disease, from the early AIDS pandemic through Zika and Ebola to today's work on Long COVID and ME/CFS. As Clinical Director of the NIH's National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), he is leading some of the most important research into post-viral illness happening anywhere in the world.

In this episode, Dr. Nath explains the neuroscience of viral infection in accessible terms: how viruses enter and adapt inside the brain, how a single infected cell can trigger widespread neurological dysfunction, and why viral remnants (fragments of protein and RNA that linger long after the acute infection) may be enough on their own to cause ongoing damage.

He shares the key findings from the NIH's landmark 2024 deep-phenotyping study of post-infectious ME/CFS patients, including:

Dr. Nath also addresses the controversy around the term "altered effort preference" used in the 2024 paper (a phrase that drew significant criticism from the patient community) and the NIH symposium convened in response.

Looking ahead, he outlines three active NIH trials that could reshape Long Covid treatment:

Emily Kate and Gez break down the science, highlight the findings most relevant to the Long Covid and ME/CFS communities, and discuss some of the criticisms of the NIH team's methodology.

Dr Avindra Nath is Clinical Director of the NIH NINDS, Director of the Translational Neuroscience Center, and Chief of the Section of Infections of the Nervous System.

If this episode helped you: subscribe, leave a review, and share with someone navigating Long COVID or ME/CFS.

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STRATEGIES: Understanding Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) - Practical Strategies for Diagnosis and Treatment

“80- 90% of POTS patients are disabled to a certain extent - people who just cannot work or go to school or are limited in their daily function.”

— Dr Tae Chung, POTS Program Director, Johns Hopkins University

Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) is a complex condition linked to dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system. Primarily characterised by an abnormal increase in heart rate when moving from lying down to standing (orthostatic tachycardia), POTS patients experience a wide variety of debilitating symptoms including:

In this week’s episode Dr Tae Chung explains the diagnostic criteria for POTS, including orthostatic tachycardia, and the challenges of diagnosing and treating POTS, especially when alongside other co-morbid conditions. We discuss the standard treatments for POTS of this often misdiagnosed or mistreated condition, and why personalised care is essential for effective POTS management.

Dr Chung also shares insights from his ongoing research into Long COVID-related POTS, including investigating biomarkers to better understand the condition; exploring drug therapies and non-pharmacological treatment; his work on the RECOVER clinical trial; and research into safe exercise approaches for POTS patients (with Prof. Todd Davenport).

And Emily Kate Stephens and Gez Medinger discuss practical, real-world strategies for those suffering from POTS symptoms:

Dr Tae Chung is the Director of the POTS Program and Assistant Professor in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Johns Hopkins University.  A board certified neuromuscular specialist and physiatrist, his primary areas of patient care and research are autonomic nervous system dysfunction.

Resources:

POTS UK - Managing POTS 

Top Tips for Obtaining a Diagnosis 

Physical activity and exercise in ME/CFS – NICE guidelines 2021 

Standing up to POTS - Daily Management Strategies

POTS Foundation Australia - Living with POTS 

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Too often, patients with energy-limiting conditions are told there’s “nothing to be done.” Many are dismissed as anxious, not believed, and left without the care they need, across healthcare systems worldwide.

In this episode, we push back against that narrative.

We’re joined by Dr. Alba Azola, rehabilitation physician and lead of the ME/CFS and related disorders program at Johns Hopkins University. Through her work, she has helped many patients with complex chronic illnesses regain function and reduce symptoms, challenging the belief that these conditions are untreatable.

Dr. Azola shares a hopeful, practical approach: one that focuses on managing symptoms, addressing co-morbidities, and using targeted strategies to reduce pain and improve daily function.

She also discusses the importance of spreading knowledge from experienced, compassionate clinicians, and how this can begin to shift the medical landscape. As part of a multidisciplinary team, she contributed to the PM&R Compendium Statement, a clinical guide supporting physicians in treating Long Covid and related conditions, including POTS, MCAS, dysautonomia, cognitive dysfunction, and orthostatic intolerance.

Hosts Gez Medinger and Emily Kate Stephens break down key insights from the PM&R Compendium Statement, alongside guidance from the Bateman Horne Clinical Care Guide and other leading resources, offering a more structured approach to care.

In this conversation, they explore:

Resources & References:

PM&R Compendium Statement

Bateman Horne Clinical Care Guide

PNAS Patient Survey

DHS ME/CFS Delivery Plan

NICE Clinical Knowledge Summary ME/CFS

NICE Rapid Guideline for Managing Long Covid

Royal College of GPs Long Covid Advice and Resources for Long Covid

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Long Covid Awareness Day (15th March 2026) marks six years since the COVID-19 pandemic unleashed its long tail of Long Covid on millions around the world.

In this week’s episode Emily Kate Stephens and Gez Medinger review the science and progress that has been made over the past six years in our understanding of this complex chronic condition.

Through interviews with some of the most prominent experts in the Long Covid and complex chronic illness field: Dr Avindra Nath, Dr Binita Kane, Joseph Breen PhD, Professor Mark Faghy and Dr Alba Azola, Emily Kate and Gez examine the medical, scientific and political landscapes and ask:

Including personal reflections as Emily Kate and Gez approach their six year anniversary of contracting COVID-19 for the first time, they provide an overview of the condition and research landscape to assess how far we have come and the work still to be done.

Avindra Nath is the Clinical Director of National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) at the NIH in the United States. A neuroimmunologist specialising in the impact of viruses on the brain, he led the Deep Phenotyping of ME/CFS Study which investigated the biological mechanisms of post-infection ME/CFS and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Binita Kane is a Consultant Respiratory Physician and founder of The Long Covid Clinic. After working on the front line in the NHS during the COVID-19 pandemic and supporting her daughter through Long Covid, she became a leading advocate, collaborating with organisations including Long Covid Kids, Long Covid Support, and #ThereForME, and advising parliamentary committees.

Joseph Breen is Section Chief for Adaptive Immunity specialising in Long Covid and ME/CFS at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) at the NIH. He co-chairs RECOVER TLC workshops and contributes to the Trans-NIH ME/CFS Working Group.

Mark Faghy is Professor of Clinical Exercise Physiology at Loughborough University, specialising in respiratory physiology, rehabilitation, and Long Covid recovery. He contributes to multiple global initiatives including the World Health Network Long Covid Advisory Group, Long Covid Physio, and Long Covid SOS.

Alba Azola is a rehabilitation physician at Johns Hopkins University and leads the ME/CFS and Related Disorders Program. She is also a lead author of the Multidisciplinary collaborative guidance on the assessment and treatment of patients with Long COVID, helping clinicians develop evidence-based care pathways.

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When professional rower Oonagh Cousins was pre-selected for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, her dream was within reach. But when COVID-19 swept through the British rowing team, Oonagh didn’t recover like most others. Instead, she developed Long Covid, post-exertional malaise (PEM), and dysautonomia, forcing her from peak performance into chronic illness.

In this Olympic special episode, Oonagh joins Emily Kate Stephens and Gez Medinger to share her deeply personal story: from elite athlete and Olympic selection to Long Covid and ME/CFS advocate.

After university, Oonagh committed fully to professional rowing, training relentlessly, sacrificing socially, and pushing her body to its limits to represent Great Britain. But the very mindset that made her an Olympic contender — resilience, discipline, pushing through — ultimately pushed her into Long Covid.

As fatigue, brain fog and post-exertional malaise took hold, Oonagh was forced to confront the physical and emotional cost of training to be an elite athlete.

In this episode we explore:

Oonagh now works in Long Covid and ME/CFS advocacy, supporting patients through Long Covid Support and #ThereForME. She has contributed to scientific research, including Creating a Social Science Research Agenda for Long Covid, and is Comms and Policy Lead at Visible Health, bringing her lived experience to help build empathetic, patient-centered tools for living well with chronic illness.

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Sleep strategies for Long Covid, insomnia, and chronic illness

When you’re living with a complex chronic condition like Long Covid, sleep can feel like the one thing your body needs most… and the one thing you can’t access.  Whether you struggle with insomnia, restless legs, sleep anxiety,  constant waking or crushing fatigue, this conversation offers strategies to help.

In this week’s episode of Make Visible, Emily Kate Stephens and Gez Medinger discuss how sleep has affected and been effected by their Long Covid and chronic illness, and delve into the practical strategies to try and improve sleep quality and quantity.

Emily Kate is joined by sleep and respiratory physician David Joffe, who shares the strategies that he employs with his patients to try and help them with a wide range of sleep conditions, including Long Covid-related sleep disorders. Together, they explore why Long Covid so often disrupts sleep architecture, how reduced slow-wave sleep affects brain detoxification via the glymphatic system, and what the body truly needs to initiate and maintain restorative rest. Based on his 40 years of experience working with patients with severe sleep and respiratory disorders and Long Covid-related complications, David Joffe shares evidence-based insights on:

Sleep hygiene for Long Covid and chronic illness

Daily routines to support circadian rhythm and sleep quality

Calming nighttime rituals to reduce sleep anxiety

Supplements for sleep and nervous system regulation

Pharmacological supports, including melatonin, magnesium, and glycine

And Emily Kate and Gez break down the interview, talking about their personal experience of the strategies discussed, looking in more detail at some of the supplements, and sharing their thoughts on what has or hasn’t worked to aid with their sleep, once again proving the need for a personalised approach when working with patients whose nervous systems, metabolisms, and brains are in a highly dysregulated state.

David Joffe is senior staff physician at the Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney where he has specialist interests in Long Covid–related sleep disorders, insomnia, restless legs, non-invasive ventilation (NIV) and sleep apnea. He is the Vice Chair of the World Health Networks Long Covid Advisory Group. World Health Network aim to provide governments and healthcare systems with a wake up call on the urgency with which Long Covid needs to be addressed, sharing research and resources.

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