You asked, we responded! COVID Q&A and my Vaccine Top 10
Many thanks to all the Citizen Scientists out there that emailed to either say thank you for the COVID-19 updates or to ask a question. I wanted to respond to a few of the most common questions here in this article.
In addition, I’m happy to provide this comprehensive guide:
Arise MD COVID-19 Practice Guide
This guide provides lots of information and hyperlinks to articles that will support your approach to COVID care.
Question 1: Why don’t you recommend vitamin D3? Why don’t you tell people to take vitamin K2 with it?
First, vitamin D is important for helping cell-to-cell communication within your immune system – among many other good things. It’s a powerful hormone.
I recommend everyone get their Vitamin D levels checked.
If your levels of calcifediol (25 hydroxy D2 plus 25 hydroxy D3) are less than 60 – during the pandemic – you should supplement with Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) because it appears to be more effective than D2 (ergocalciferol) at raising serum calcifediol levels.
We prefer the liquid version of D3 since it is a fat soluble vitamin and has dual absorption in the liquid form – first through the floor of the mouth prior to swallowing and then through the GI tract after swallowing.
Lastly, we recommend vitamin K2 be taken with your vitamin D3 supplement. Vitamin K2 acts as a chaperone of sorts for the extra calcium that vitamin D causes your gut to absorb. Vitamin K2 shuttles the extra calcium into your bones and in doing so helps protect your arteries from getting calcified. Since heart disease is the number one killer we believe vitamin K2 is very important.
Question 2: What about Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ)? Why don’t you mention that?
Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), an anti-malarial often used in Lupus and Rheumatoid arthritis treatment and was not effective in sick hospitalized patients.
The W.H.O does not endorse HCQ for moderate to severe disease.
A November 2020 article in The Lancet Rheumatology concluded that HCQ does not reduce risk or treat COVID-19.
Regarding HCQ, the Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care Alliance (FLCCC) concluded:
“Not recommended: Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ). The use of HCQ is extremely controversial.[97] The best scientific evidence to date suggests that HCQ has no proven benefit for post exposure prophylaxis, for the early symptomatic phase and in hospitalized patients. [98–115] Considering the unique pharmacokinetics of HCQ, it is unlikely that HCQ would be of benefit in patients with COVID-19 infection (it takes 5–10 days to achieve adequate plasma and lung concentrations).[107,116–118] Finally, it should be recognized that those studies which are widely promoted to support the use of HCQ are severely methodologically flawed.[119–122]”
A personal note from Dr. Miller: I took two doses of HCQ after an exposure and had no side effects. I think it helped because I tested negative after the two doses. But, the next I have an exposure I will be using Ivermectin instead based on FLCCC guidelines.
Question 3: How do I get Ivermectin doses at home for my family and I?
We’ve worked hard to make a short and economical pathway available for the Arise MD Community.
Step one: Book a 15-minute consult by calling 414-386-2600 or simply email us at info@arisemd.com.
Step two: If you are found to be clinically appropriate for an Ivermectin prescription then we should be able to…
Step three: Get the prescription filled and in your hands within 48 hours.
Question 4: Do you offer a “bundle discount” on the Immune Supplements you mention?
Yes, anyone who gets more than three products together gets 10% off.
Existing Arise MD patients, er, Citizen Scientists get 15% off.
Contact us at info@arisemd.com or call 414-386-2600 to order, or visit the Arise MD store to purchase your Immune Support Starter Kit right away.
Prior preparation prevents poor performance! Be prepared. We are making our in-house Arise MD COVID-19 Practice Guide available to our entire community. It is loaded with hyperlinks to supportive studies.
Question 5: Are you recommending that people get the COVID-19 Vaccine?
First, the non-healthcare worker will not have to worry about this decision for two months, at a minimum. And, my early impression from colleagues who are “system-based” physicians indicates that those working in the system are not going to have a choice in the matter.
I don’t make blanket recommendations for or against vaccines. I truly believe vaccination decisions should be made after a proper consultation and on a case-by-case basis.
Here are 10 Facts to keep in mind about the COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer and Moderna:
Please note: I don’t make blanket recommendations for or against vaccines. I truly believe vaccination decisions should be made after a proper consultation and on a case-by-case basis. Furthermore, I don’t think COVID will be totally eliminated through vaccinations. Physicians will need to be prepared to treat the occasional COVID cases for the foreseeable future.
