Long Covid/Vaccine Recovery Tips
The Science Behind Vaccine Injury
Understanding the Spike Protein and Its Potential Health Impacts
The spike protein, particularly its S1 segment, plays a major role in vaccine-related health issues. Here's a breakdown of how it affects the body:
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Immediate Allergic Reactions:
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Some people experience immediate reactions within minutes to hours after vaccination. This is often due to an IgE-mediated hypersensitivity to components like mRNA, polyethylene glycol (PEG), or other parts of the vaccine. These reactions can lead to allergic responses and cardiovascular issues.
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Cardiac Problems:
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Acute Myocarditis and Sudden Cardiac Death: Occurring within 48 hours post-vaccination, these conditions might result from stress cardiomyopathy, where the adrenal glands produce excessive catecholamines in response to metabolic changes caused by the spike protein.
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Chronic Myocarditis: This is linked to an ongoing inflammatory response involving specific heart cells like pericytes and macrophages, which can develop over days to weeks.
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Chronic Inflammatory Conditions:
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The spike protein can trigger prolonged inflammation, producing autoantibodies that attack the body’s own tissues. This can also activate the clotting cascade, leading to both large clots (strokes, pulmonary emboli) and micro clots (causing damage to organs such as the brain).
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Neurological Effects:
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Neuroinflammation: The spike protein can cause inflammation in the brain and other parts of the nervous system.
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Production of Abnormal Proteins: It can lead to the formation of amyloid and prion proteins, which are harmful to brain function.
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Autoantibodies and Thrombosis: These can result in neurological conditions due to autoantibodies attacking nerve cells and microvascular thrombosis disrupting blood flow in the brain.
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Immune System Dysregulation:
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The spike protein shares similarities with human proteins, which can confuse the immune system, leading to auto-inflammatory and autoimmune diseases like Guillain-Barré Syndrome, transverse myelitis, and Small Fibre Neuropathy (SFN).
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It can also inhibit natural killer (NK) cells and cytotoxic T-cells, leading to prolonged presence of the spike protein and reactivation of dormant viruses (e.g., Herpes Simplex, Epstein-Barr).
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Genetic and Lifestyle Factors:
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Genetic Predispositions: Certain genetic factors, like the MTHFR mutation or conditions like Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, may increase the risk of vaccine-related injuries.
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Gender Differences: Women are more susceptible, possibly due to estrogen’s influence on the immune system.
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Comorbidities and Nutritional Status: Preexisting conditions and deficiencies in nutrients such as Vitamin D, B12, folate, and magnesium can heighten the risk of adverse effects.
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Understanding these mechanisms highlights the importance of personalized approaches to vaccination and post-vaccine care. Monitoring for symptoms, addressing nutritional deficiencies, and considering genetic predispositions can help mitigate potential risks associated with the spike protein.
When treating vaccine injury and long COVID, there are five main areas of focus:
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Mitochondria: The energy-producing parts of our cells have been damaged by the spike protein. This can contribute to overall fatigue and neurological issues as a result of impaired functioning of the cells.
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Spike Protein Removal: Eliminating the spike protein is crucial to begin the healing process. Once the spike is eliminated or at least reduced, healing can begin.
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Gut Health: Studies show that the spike protein lodges in the gut, causing major inflammation and ongoing problems. Addressing the health of the microbiome is key to recovery.
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Immune and MCAS Support: Mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) is a significant issue in both vaccine injury and long COVID, likely causing many symptoms across a wide range of systems.
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Cardiovascular and POTS Management: Managing cardiovascular issues and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) is essential for recovery.
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PLEASE SEE SUBHEADINGS UNDER VACCINE RECOVERY TIPS FOR DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT TREATING EACH OF THE FIVE MAIN AREAS LISTED ABOVE.
Tip for Recovery:
One of the most important facets of recovery from any medical trauma is the creation of a cohesive, knowledgeable team. I was fortunate to have access to an incredible support system which included my functional medicine doctor (this is a GP who can also advise on lifestyle and other natural remedies), my naturopath - Peter Kahler at Oxford Naturopathic, my husband and mother who were my biggest supporters, and my counsellor/Buddhist mentor who assisted me in dealing with the PTSD associated with the injury.
I'm also incredibly grateful to my close friends and family members near and far who showed great care in bringing around meals, calling and checking in regularly, dropping in care packages and flowers and being there when I was at my absolute lowest. I am so grateful to these precious people.