Long COVID and Chronic Illness by Sandy Sanderson, interview by Functional Nutritionist Andrea Nicholson
Sandy, a nurse practitioner, shared her journey of starting a private practice focused on telehealth and in-person services for hormone balancing and medical weight loss during the pandemic. She also shared her personal health journey, including her success with a gluten-free diet, struggles with autoimmune issues and weight gain, and recent Covid-19 diagnosis with dysautonomia. She is now interested in helping others with long Covid syndrome and discussed the potential triggers for autoimmune conditions, the need for food sensitivity testing, and the ongoing challenges of Covid-19's long-term effects.







Sandy's Journey Into Nurse Practitioner and Health Challenges
Sandy, a nurse practitioner based in Tennessee, shared her journey into becoming a nurse practitioner during the pandemic and starting her private practice, Sangeo Wellness Center, in 2021. She focuses on telehealth and in-person services, with an emphasis on hormone balancing and medical weight loss. Sandy also shared her personal health journey, including her success with a gluten-free diet, her struggles with autoimmune issues and weight gain, and her recent Covid-19 diagnosis with dysautonomia. She suspects she had long Covid syndrome and has become interested in helping others with similar issues. 

Autoimmune Triggers and Lifestyle Modifications
Andrea and Sandy discussed the potential triggers for autoimmune conditions, with Sandy highlighting that food sensitivities such as gluten can be one of many triggers. Sandy emphasized that while foods can exacerbate symptoms, they are usually not the root cause. Instead, she suggested that lifestyle choices such as dietary modifications can help control systemic inflammation. Sandy also explained that removing environmental toxins can aid in calming down the inflammation and allow for further investigation into the root cause. She noted that while some individuals may not feel better immediately after making changes, most people start to feel better within one to two weeks, especially after passing the initial detoxification period.

Health Issues: Root Causes and Treatment Protocols
Sandy and Andrea discussed the root causes of health issues, noting the prevalence of hormonal imbalances, adrenal gland problems, thyroid dysfunctions, and gut dysbiosis. Sandy explained that these underlying conditions often lead to systemic inflammation and can be treated using a similar protocol, which involves cleaning up the diet, improving lifestyle, focusing on sleep and stress, and removing toxins. They also discussed the need for food sensitivity testing and the potential of removing common food allergens from the diet to improve health. They acknowledged that some people may not experience symptoms from certain foods, but emphasized that these foods can still cause underlying inflammation.

Covid-19 Long-Term Effects Discussion
Andrea and Sandy discussed the ongoing challenges of Covid-19's long-term effects. Sandy explained that there is still much to learn about the condition, but highlighted that those with pre-existing risk factors such as obesity, heart disease, diabetes, asthma, COPD, and autoimmune issues are most at risk. Sandy also discussed the possible connection between estrogen levels and the recovery process in women over 50. She also noted the potential for individuals to develop new autoimmune issues or experience exacerbations of existing ones. Sandy emphasized that the pro-inflammatory and pro-thrombotic nature of Covid-19 can lead to vascular inflammation, microvascular scarring, systemic scarring, cardiovascular issues, blood clots, and sudden cardiac death at younger ages. The conversation concluded with Sandy underscoring the need to find ways to slow or stop the progression of these long-term effects.

Long Covid Symptoms and Treatment Discussion
Andrea and Sandy discussed the long-term effects of Covid, also known as long Covid. Andrea questioned whether the severity of initial Covid symptoms influenced the likelihood of developing long Covid. Sandy confirmed that individuals with any level of infection, mild or severe, could potentially develop long Covid. They also noted that this specific version of post-viral syndrome is novel due to its ability to lay down scar tissue and increase the risk of micro blood clots. The conversation concluded with Sandy emphasizing the intersection of traditional and functional medicine in diagnosing and treating long Covid.

Personalized Treatment for Long-Haulers: Inflammation, Rest, and Detox
Sandy emphasized the importance of excluding serious conditions before exploring alternative treatments, such as supplements. She underscored the need for a personalized approach to treating long-haulers, a condition associated with COVID-19. Sandy suggested that treatment may involve calming down inflammation, restoring the body, adopting a sustainable activity routine, ensuring restorative sleep, and reducing stress. She also highlighted the potential need for expensive testing not covered by insurance and the importance of detoxifying the environment.

Timeline for Bio-Individual Health Treatment
Andrea and Sandy discussed the timeline for addressing bio-individual health issues. Sandy estimated that the process typically takes between 6 to 12 months, depending on the number of body systems affected and the complexity of the treatment. They agreed that it's important to manage patients' expectations regarding the time needed for significant improvements to occur. Sandy emphasized the importance of a gradual process to avoid exacerbating symptoms and making patients feel worse.

Client Contact, Course Development, and Expansion Plans
Sandy shared various ways for potential clients to contact her, including through a Facebook community and a website. She mentioned that she and her husband are developing a course to help people outside of Tennessee access her services, with a planned completion by the end of January. She also offered a $250 discount for anyone who mentions the podcast when booking with her.

To connect with Sandy:  
(931) 797-8646
sangeowellness.com - mention this podcast for $250 off!

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