Living with Long COVID (EP 92)
I sat down with Dr. Zeest Khan, a heart and lung anesthesiologist who went from running an OR to barely making it to her car — and now lives with long COVID while helping other people navigate it without the medical B.S.
This conversation is for anyone who “never bounced back” after COVID and has been told it’s just stress, burnout, or all in their head. Dr. Zeest walks me through how a high-performing physician ended up collapsing in a hospital parking lot, what long COVID actually is, and why fatigue, brain fog, and “just not feeling like yourself” aren’t character flaws or laziness. We talk about the medical side, the emotional crash, and the identity free-fall of going from everyday superhero to someone who has to rest before and after a simple conversation.
She also breaks down how she used her critical-care brain on herself: thinking in organ systems, prioritizing symptoms, and building a step-by-step approach when doctors didn’t have answers or treatments. We get into the grief, the guilt of stepping away from work and family roles, the hard conversations at home, and how she rebuilt a different version of her life that’s smaller on paper, but still meaningful, connected, and honest.
Chapters:
- 00:15 Welcome to My Unhealthy Podcast
- 01:23 Life Before Long COVID
- 06:53 Entering the Long COVID Journey
- 07:15 Understanding Long COVID
- 12:07 The Impact of Long COVID Symptoms
- 18:56 The Shift from Doctor to Patient
- 21:15 Navigating the Confusion
- 30:08 The Emotional Toll of Long COVID
- 36:33 Myths and Misconceptions about Long COVID
- 38:49 Steps to Understanding Long COVID
- 42:51 Finding Joy Amidst Challenges
- 46:18 Closing Thoughts and Resources
Guest: Dr. Zeest Khan
- Website: https://longcovidmd.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zeest-khan-md-0361431b2
- Substack: https://longcovidmd.substack.com
People, Places and Events Mentioned
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS): https://www.hhs.gov
- National Institutes of Health (NIH): https://www.nih.gov
=== MUSIC LICENSE CERTIFICATE: Envato Elements Item
- Item Title: Healthy Eating
- Item URL: https://elements.envato.com/healthy-eating-VNN4M4P
- Author Username: CrazyTunes
- Licensee: Marvin Bee
- Registered Project Name: Unhealthy Podcast
- License Date: January 3rd, 2026
- Item License Code: XPFS6HD54W
=== About the Unhealthy Podcast
Hosted by Marvin Bee (Uncle Marv), the Unhealthy Podcast dives into real conversations about health, wellness, and everyday habits that impact how we live, work, and age. From nutrition myths to stress management and tech-life balance, Uncle Marv brings humor, insight, and honesty to every episode.
- Visit our website: https://www.unhealthypodcast.com/
- Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamunclemarv
- Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marvinbee/
Follow and Subscribe: Stay updated with new episodes every week on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and more. Join the conversation about real-life health, fitness, and personal growth from the lens of an everyday guy striving to be healthier.
Podcast Host, Writer, Coach
Dr. Zeest Khan is a Stanford‑trained cardiothoracic anesthesiologist, executive coach, and long COVID patient who now dedicates her work to helping others navigate complex illness. After being disabled by long COVID following frontline hospital work early in the pandemic, she used her operating‑room mindset—careful assessment, critical thinking, and decisive action—to chart her own recovery. She is the creator and host of Long Covid, MD, a podcast and resource hub where she breaks down the science, treatments, and real‑world strategies people need to “recover like a doctor” and make confident medical decisions. Through her advocacy and collaborations with leading long COVID programs, she bridges the gap between patients and the medical system, restoring trust and offering practical hope to those living with long‑term health challenges.
