If You Have Not Been the Same Since 2020 or 2021 — Read This First
If you are searching for long COVID treatment in Chicago, you are in the right place. You have not felt like yourself since you had COVID. Or since your vaccine. Or both.
The symptoms refused to leave. Crushing fatigue. Brain fog. Heart palpitations or POTS. Tinnitus. Joint pain. Strange neurological symptoms that come and go. Hair loss. Hormonal changes. A sense that your body simply does not work the way it used to.
You went to your doctor. You went to specialists. You were told your labs are normal. You were told it is anxiety. You were told there is nothing more they can do for you.
If you are searching for long COVID treatment in Chicago because conventional medicine has failed you — you are not crazy. You are not making it up. And there is a clinical pathway that has worked for thousands of patients who were dismissed by hospital systems.
At Bliss MD in Chicago and Schaumburg, Dr. Anand Thakkar MD treats long COVID and persistent post-viral inflammation as one of the defining medical challenges of our time. He is board-certified in Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine. He treats these patients every day.
What Is Long COVID?
Long COVID — also known as post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC) — is a constellation of symptoms that persist or develop after the acute phase of COVID-19 infection. It can also follow COVID-19 vaccination in a subset of patients. Patients searching for long COVID treatment in Chicago at Bliss MD often have already been through multiple specialists before finding us.
What makes long COVID particularly challenging is its variability. Some patients experience primarily respiratory symptoms. Others struggle with neurological issues, cardiovascular problems, hormonal disruption, or profound fatigue that makes simple daily tasks feel impossible.
Research published since 2021 has documented spike protein persistence in patient tissue and circulation long after the initial exposure should have cleared. This persistent spike protein drives chronic inflammation, vascular damage, immune dysregulation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and the cluster of symptoms that has become known as long COVID.
Why Conventional Medicine Has Failed Long COVID Patients
There are several reasons hospital systems struggle with long COVID.
The condition does not fit standard diagnostic categories. Routine labs typically appear normal. Symptoms span multiple organ systems and do not match any single specialty. There is institutional reluctance to acknowledge post-vaccine complications. And no standardized FDA-approved treatment protocol exists, which means hospital-based physicians have no protocol to offer.
Functional and integrative medicine has been working with these patients since 2021. Clinical protocols have evolved. Outcomes have improved dramatically. Patients who were told nothing could be done are recovering — sometimes completely.
This is why patients searching for a long COVID doctor in Chicago are increasingly bypassing the hospital systems and looking for clinics that recognize the condition, test for it, and treat it with the advanced tools — including EBOO, EBO2, and soon TPE — that conventional medicine does not offer.
Long COVID Treatment in Chicago — The Bliss MD Protocol
Step 1 — Comprehensive Evaluation
Your treatment begins with a physician consultation with Dr. Thakkar. We discuss your full COVID and vaccination history, your symptom timeline, prior treatments, and clinical goals. We then order comprehensive testing:
- D-dimer and other clotting markers to assess microclot burden
- Inflammatory markers including hsCRP, IL-6, and ferritin
- Comprehensive metabolic, thyroid, and hormone panels
- Vibrant Wellness Toxin Zoomer when indicated
- Mitochondrial function markers
- Autoimmune panel when symptoms suggest immune dysregulation
Step 2 — Microclot and Inflammation Reduction
Long COVID produces microclots in the small vessels — too small to show on standard imaging but large enough to impair tissue oxygenation throughout the body. This is one of the primary drivers of fatigue and brain fog in these patients.
Our protocol uses targeted natural anticoagulants, fibrinolytic enzymes, and specific nutritional support to address microclot burden.
Step 3 — EBOO and EBO2 Blood Detoxification
This is where long COVID treatment in Chicago at Bliss MD differs from supplement-only clinics. EBOO and EBO2 ozone therapies have shown remarkable effectiveness for long COVID patients.
These therapies oxidize circulating spike protein and inflammatory mediators, reduce systemic inflammation, restore tissue oxygenation, and break down microclots. EBO2 with Hemealumen polychromatic light therapy is particularly effective for severe cases.
Most long COVID patients report meaningful symptom improvement within three to six EBO2 sessions.
Step 4 — IV Glutathione, NAC, and Mitochondrial Support
IV glutathione is the master antioxidant. NAC supports glutathione production and provides direct anti-inflammatory effects. We pair these with NAD+ infusions and mitochondrial support to restore cellular energy production that has been disrupted by chronic inflammation.
Step 5 — Therapeutic Plasma Exchange (TPE) — Coming Soon
For patients with severe, treatment-resistant long COVID, therapeutic plasma exchange is the most aggressive option available. TPE physically removes circulating spike protein from the bloodstream. Bliss MD is in the process of acquiring the HF440 hospital-grade plasma exchange machine. Once installed, TPE will be available for long COVID patients on the priority list.
Step 6 — Long-Term Recovery Support
Recovery from long COVID is rarely a single-treatment process. Our long-term protocol includes hormone optimization, gut healing, immune modulation, mitochondrial restoration, and lifestyle support. Many patients require six to twelve months of integrated care to reach full recovery.
Common Long COVID Symptoms We Treat at Bliss MD
- Chronic fatigue and post-exertional malaise
- Brain fog and cognitive dysfunction
- Heart palpitations and POTS
- Tinnitus and unexplained hearing changes
- Joint pain and muscle pain
- Neurological symptoms including buzzing, tingling, and numbness
- Hair loss
- Hormonal disruption including menstrual changes and low testosterone
- Sleep dysfunction and unrefreshing sleep
- Exercise intolerance
- Persistent anxiety, depression, and mood changes
- Histamine intolerance and mast cell activation
- Reactivated viral infections including EBV and CMV
Long COVID often overlaps with underlying mold toxicity and mycotoxin exposure. Many patients we see at Bliss MD have both — the spike protein injury triggered an inflammatory cascade that uncovered a previously silent mold burden. When indicated, we evaluate for mold toxicity alongside long COVID treatment to address all contributing factors.
Patient Experiences
“I had been told for two years that long COVID was not real. I had heart palpitations. I lost my hair. My periods stopped. I could not exercise without crashing for three days. Every doctor in the Northwestern system told me my labs were normal and there was nothing they could do. Dr. Thakkar took me seriously from the first appointment. Eight EBO2 sessions later I was running again. My periods returned. My hair grew back. He saved my life — and I am not exaggerating.”
— Lauren P., Lincoln Park
“I developed POTS, severe fatigue, and tinnitus that I had never had before. Multiple cardiologists and neurologists found nothing. Dr. Thakkar tested for microclots and inflammation, started me on EBOO, glutathione IVs, and his long COVID protocol. Six months later I am 90% better. The remaining 10% he says will likely respond to TPE when the HF440 is installed at Bliss MD. I will be first in line.”
— David W., Naperville
Frequently Asked Questions — Long COVID Treatment Chicago
Is long COVID real?
Yes. Long COVID — also called post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC) — is recognized by the WHO, CDC, and NIH as a legitimate post-viral syndrome affecting an estimated 10-30% of COVID-19 patients. Research has documented spike protein persistence, microclot formation, immune dysregulation, and mitochondrial dysfunction in long COVID patients.
What are the most common long COVID symptoms?
Common symptoms include chronic fatigue, brain fog, heart palpitations, POTS, tinnitus, joint pain, neurological symptoms including buzzing or tingling, hair loss, hormonal disruption, sleep dysfunction, and exercise intolerance. Symptoms often span multiple organ systems and persist for months or years after the initial infection.
Where can I find a long COVID doctor in Chicago?
Bliss MD in Chicago (2707 N. Halsted St.) and Schaumburg (1802 Irving Park Rd., Hanover Park) offers a comprehensive long COVID treatment protocol led by Dr. Anand Thakkar MD, board-certified in Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine. The clinic is one of the few in the Chicago area with EBOO, EBO2, and soon TPE capability for long COVID patients.
How is long COVID treated at Bliss MD?
Our protocol combines comprehensive testing, microclot and inflammation reduction, EBOO and EBO2 blood detoxification, IV glutathione and NAC, mitochondrial support, and upcoming therapeutic plasma exchange with the HF440. Treatment is personalized to each patient’s specific findings and severity.
Does insurance cover long COVID treatment?
Insurance generally does not cover the specialized testing and treatments used in long COVID protocols, as no FDA-approved standard exists. HSA and FSA funds typically apply. Bliss MD provides complete pricing during your consultation.
How long does long COVID treatment take?
Most patients feel meaningful improvement within three to six EBOO or EBO2 sessions. A complete protocol typically runs six to twelve months depending on severity, time since initial infection, and individual response.
Schedule Your Long COVID Consultation in Chicago
If conventional medicine has failed you and you suspect long COVID — Bliss MD has a clinical pathway that has worked for hundreds of patients. Dr. Thakkar accepts new patients at our Chicago and Schaumburg clinics. The first step is a comprehensive consultation.
Serving Chicago, Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Gold Coast, The Loop, Schaumburg, Naperville, Oak Brook, Barrington, Evanston, Wilmette, Hanover Park, Hoffman Estates, Arlington Heights, and the greater Chicagoland area.
