“I Kept Bracing Myself for a Crash”: A Long COVID Recovery Story

She was referred to our clinic by someone who knows us well—her husband. A quietly observant man, he had watched his wife struggle for years with a tangled web of symptoms: daily headaches, joint pain, heart palpitations, brain fog, and a deep fatigue no nap could fix. Her mood had darkened. Her anxiety and brain fog were crippling. She was barely keeping up with her demanding job.

The worst part? She’d seen multiple specialists—most of whom dismissed her symptoms, told her to lose weight, and suggested it was all in her head.

She was 56 when she came to us. Smart, capable, and determined—but depleted and discouraged.

Her medical history was complex: a confirmed case of Lyme disease in 2009 that was poorly treated (despite a classic bull’s-eye rash she had to fight to get acknowledged), Epstein-Barr virus, sleep apnea, stage 2 kidney disease, and two previous melanomas.

COVID was the final blow that toppled her health.

She had two confirmed infections—one severe, one mild—and afterward, it felt like her body never got back up off the mat. She described feeling “inflamed all over,” with frequent diarrhea, daily headaches, short-term memory loss, difficulty concentrating, and worsening cognitive haze. Her reading and computer skills were slipping. She feared losing her job.

Still, she pushed through for two full years.

By the time she came to us, she was exhausted in every sense of the word. We followed our comprehensive, systematic approach and she was diagnosed as having a dysregulated innate immune system, persistent Lyme titers, elevated inflammatory markers, and occipital neuralgia.

We built a layered treatment plan focused on gut health, sleep, immune modulation, and cognitive recovery. It wasn’t quick—but it worked.

She began to stabilize.

Then came the real test: Italy. A nine-day trip with her family this summer. She was excited, but apprehensive. “I kept bracing myself,” she told us. “I thought, I’m going to crash today. I’m going to crash.”

But she didn’t.

Day after day, she woke up and wandered through Italian towns in 90-degree heat. She climbed the Torre degli Asinelli – 498 steps to the top—without getting winded. She walked 20,000 steps a day.

Two years ago, she couldn’t walk from her car to a coffee shop without needing to rest for hours. Now, she was exploring the world again—with joy and energy.

“I felt amazing,” she said. “My energy is a 9 out of 10.”

We recently rechecked her Lyme labs. They’re still positive. And yes, she was frustrated. Rightfully so—she did everything she was supposed to do back then, and it still wasn’t enough. But her cytokine panel looks better. Her immune system is recovering. And most importantly, she feels like herself again.

She’s hopeful. And she’s a believer in the Kaplan Method™.

And honestly? So am I. I tell Dr. Gary all the time—I’m ruined from practicing medicine any other way. I can’t go back to 10-minute visits. The systematic approach we use here is what medicine should be. Our method starts by recognizing that immune system dysfunction is often at the root of chronic illness. We look beyond symptoms to understand how early life experiences, family dynamics, environmental triggers, and nervous system imbalances shape a person’s ability to heal. Our team—including acupuncturists, psychotherapists, physical therapists, and nutritionists—works collaboratively to create personalized care plans focused on resilience and recovery.

She’s one of the most grateful people I’ve ever treated. Bright, thoughtful, kind, and always curious about how her body works. It’s been a privilege getting to know her—and her family.

Sometimes, healing begins when you stop bracing for the crash—and start climbing.