When my daughter was six months old, her platelet count dropped to 2,000. Over the next two years she was diagnosed with a mitochondrial disease (MELAS), lupus, and immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), and was seen by nine different specialists. Not one of them connected those findings to each other.

This is the story of what almost losing her taught me about chronic disease, why our current model of medicine keeps failing complex and chronically ill clients, and why I am back on the podcast after almost a decade away.

I am Andrew Reid, founder of Medgeeks. I trained as a Physician Assistant, spent five years in primary care, and have spent over a decade since educating clinicians. None of it prepared me for my own daughter. To help her, I had to go back and learn the biology underneath chronic disease: mitochondrial medicine, biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics, metabolomics, and clinical nutrition. What I found changed how I think about every client I see.

Going forward, this show is about that biology and the clinical reasoning that follows from it. Mitochondrial function, the cell danger response, metabolic health, autoimmune disease, insulin resistance, and the systems-based, root-cause approach to chronic disease that conventional training leaves out. We also get into the other side of that same continuum: building muscle, exercise as medicine, sleep, nutrition, and the levers that move someone toward genuinely optimal health.

The goal is simple: better health, with better science.

Whether you are a clinician reasoning through complex clients, someone facing chronic illness in your own life or your family's, or you are already healthy and want to understand how to optimize and protect that health for the long run, this is the work I want to do in front of you.

Learn more here: medgeeks.co

If this resonated, the best thing you can do is follow the show wherever you listen and leave a review. It genuinely helps more clinicians and more families find this work. Thank you for being here.

In this episode, we will dive into the chilling world of historical medical treatments. From Belladonna eye drops used to dilate pupils to mercury being used to remove reckles or skin blemishes. These treatments, while now unimaginable, were once believed to be benificial.

Join Dr. Niket Sonpal for some spine-chilling journey through the past of medicine.

In the next podcast episode, we will continue our talk on hemophilia. Specifically the treatment of hemophilia. We'll discuss the different types of therapy available, from traditional factor replacement to emerging gene-techniques.

Join Dr. Niket Sonpal as he helps us manage hemophilia patients.

Have you ever wondered about the history hemophilia? In this episode, we will dive into the world of hemophilia, a hereditary bleeding disorder that affects millions worldwide. We'll explore the basics of this condition, including genetic causes and how it impacts individuals.

Join Dr. Niket Sonpal for another genetic blood disorder.

Hereditary elliptocytosis, a blood disorder marked by abnormally shaped red blood cells, can significantly impact quality of life. In this episode, we delve into the world of elliptocytosis, exploring its causes, symptoms, and the challenges faced by those living with this condition.

Common symptoms include fatigue, anemia, jaundice, and abdominal or splenic pain. Diagnosis typically involves a blood test examining red blood cell shape and size. Treatment may include medications, blood transfusions, and potentially splenectomy.

Join Dr. Niket Sonpal as we discuss this rare, genetic blood conditon.

In this episode, we delve into the world of Gilbert's Syndrome, a common genetic condition affecting the liver's bilirubin processing.

We'll discuss symptoms, diagnosis, treatment options, and dispels common misconceptions. Join Dr. Niket Sonpal and discover how to navigate the challenges of Gilbert's Syndrome.

In this next episode, it might leave you feeling red in the face. We will dive into the world of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency. A condition that can lead to hemolytic anemia, a condition where the red blood cells break down prematurely.

We'll discuss the genetic condition and its causes, the signs and symptoms your patient might present with, the diagnosis and treatments such as avoiding triggers, regular blood tests and possibly blood transfusions.

Join Dr. Niket Sonpal on this often overlooked condition.

September 16, 2024

In our upcoming hematology series, we'll delve into the fascinating world of genetic blood disorders. Our first episode will focus on Hereditary Spherocytosis (HS), a condition characterized by the production of abnormally shaped red blood cells resembling spheres instead of the usual disc-like shape.

We'll explore the underlying genetic mutation that causes HS and how it impacts the structure and function of red blood cells. Next, we'll discuss the common symptoms associated with HS, such as anemia, fatigue, jaundice, and abdominal pain. We'll also delve into the diagnostic process, including blood tests and genetic analysis.

Finally, we'll discuss the available treatment options for HS, which may include blood transfusions, medications, and in some cases, splenectomy.

Join Dr. Niket as we explore this rare genetic blood disorder and learn more about its impact on individuals and families.

September 9, 2024

In this episode, we will answer some food/drink questions that many of your patients might as you. Is my avocados turning brown a good or bad thing? Is it safe to drink unpasteurized milk? Does diet sodas cause you to gain weight?

Join Dr. Niket Sonpal as he answers some of the burning questions about some popluar food/drinks.

September 2, 2024

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Salivary gland stones, or sialolithiasis, can be a painful and uncomfortable condition. In this podcast episode, we delve into the world of these often overlooked oral health issues.

We will discuss the causes and symptoms of these stone formations. The different treatment options from conservative to surgical. And prevention strategies for your patients.

Join Dr. Niket Sonpal as we explore this often overlooked, yet painful condition.

August 26, 2024