My 2024 letter to my Colorado Senator
Dear Senator John Hickenlooper,
I have been stricken by Long COVID since April of 2020. That is almost 4 years of chronic fatigue, head pressure, difficulty concentrating, memory issues, gut aches, and scary random spikes in my heart rate. And I am on the “mild” end of the severity spectrum. There are about 70 common symptoms that vary from person to person. In addition to fatigue, there is a big cluster of symptoms around cognitive issues and another around dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system. Like me, millions in the USA are less productive, unable to work, or barely able to get out of bed. Also, I believe that the reported cases of Long COVID are just the tip of the iceberg.
As a Ph.D. researcher, I am helping to run a clinical trial called “Diet and Fasting for Long COVID”. I also have done many informal and formal surveys of those with Long Covid and “Long Vax” symptoms. Yes, many people, perhaps 20-30%, first developed their symptoms following one of their Covid-19 vaccinations. One 61 year old women recently told me that she had a severe 20 min siezure 24 hours after her first jab. In her case, the vaccine tie was dismissed by her ER doctors and was not reported to VAERS (vaccine adverse effects reporting system). After that, she developed 24 typical Long COVID symptoms. As an Immunologist and Cell Biologist, I do not fault the vaccine. Rather, I think that the vaccines stimulate innate immunity and can make a silent or hidden persistent SARS-CoV-2 infection suddenly “visible” to a person’s immune system. I strongly feel that we need more research funds for Long COVID and that researchers should include those with Long Vax in all their Long COVID studies.
I think we need a “Warp Speed” type initiative for new effective SARS-CoV-2 antivirals. Clinical trial and animal research funds are needed to speed the development of combinations of highly effective antiviral treatments. Based on the drug timelines for Hepatitis and HIV, effective treatments are at least a decade away. That is simply not acceptable. Society and the world economy are taking a huge hit with the loss of productive workers. Further, chronic illness strains the fabric of our society. I have had to go on Medicaid. I have lost my income.
Chronic illness negatively impacts personal relationships, burdens families, and decreases workforce productivity.
TOP PRIORITY should be to get a Long COVID diagnostic lab test made available to all Americans. Medical providers are stuck trying to treat mysterious symptoms, and their previous training leaves them without a clue. Viral persistence in tissues (rather than blood) is a huge “blind spot” for modern medicine.
Several research labs have identified good biomarkers for Long COVID. Dr. Douglas Fraser’s lab in Ontario has now had their ANG-1, P-SEL blood biomarker assay independently validated. Until this is available as a standardized lab test, the treatment of Long COVID will remain a perfect mess. For example, 95% of Long haulers that visit the ER for concerning symptoms are sent back home after traditional tests come back negative.
I am happy to answer any questions. I have a unique “front-row” seat as I am talking with Long-haulers every day. It is a total DISASTER. Imagine stage IV cancer patients with zero diagnostic tests and no treatments available…
My comparison of Long COVID and Long Vax patient-reported symptoms:
The Canadian lab of Dr. Douglas Fraser that has identified two easy to assay blood biomarkers that identify those with Long COVID with 95% accuracy.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36217108
The Long Covid community badly needs a Senator to take a leadership role and spearhead moving research, diagnosis, and treatments forward in an expeditious manner.
Sincerely,
Thomas Bunker Ph.D.
March 18, 2024