The Storm After the Calm:

The Test Was Negative. The Patient Was Dying. What Are We Missing?

January 16, 2026

In partnership with

A Message from Dr. McMillan

Many doctors are struggling not because of a lack of skill or commitment, but because the frameworks we rely on no longer fully account for what we are seeing. 

In my view, this is an important moment for medicine to pause, step outside prevailing narratives, and return to first principles. 

If we fail to do that, there is a real risk that the past few years will be remembered not only for a global pandemic, but for the secondary harm caused by an inability to recognise and adapt to emerging disease patterns.

Dr. Philip McMillan

In this week's January 16th, 2026 update:

  • Covid-19: The test was negative. The patient was dying

  • Vejon: This week’s featured Vejon video

  • Health: Why strict diets are a bad idea for long-term weight loss

  • Infographic: The storm after the calm

  • News: Medical news in brief

  • Education: Heal yourself. Help others. Learn the ROOT approach

    Read time: 6 minutes

FEATURE ARTICLE

COVID-19

  • A previously healthy 50-year-old developed hundreds of blood clots and multi-organ failure with no clear diagnosis.

  • COVID may be a vascular disease that triggers delayed autoimmune responses weeks after the initial infection clears.

  • Standard COVID tests return negative by the time the "immune storm" hits, obscuring the underlying cause.

  • Families should ask doctors about cytokine storms, inflammatory markers, rheumatology consultation, and immunosuppression therapy.

Why this is important: Weeks after a mild COVID infection clears, a delayed immune response can trigger catastrophic multi-organ damage. By then, tests return negative, leaving doctors unable to connect the dots. Recognizing this pattern could save lives, but it requires diagnosing COVID clinically rather than relying solely on laboratory confirmation.

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HEALTH

Why Strict Diets Are a Bad Idea for Long-Term Weight Loss
Author: Chloe Casey & Sarah Hillier, Bournemouth University

  • Restrictive diets trigger intense food cravings by eliminating pleasurable foods, making them harder to sustain.

  • Very low-calorie diets cause the body to increase appetite, reduce satiety, and lower calorie burning.

  • Rapid weight loss leads to muscle loss, which slows metabolism and increases the risk of regaining weight.

  • A slower, balanced approach focusing on nutrient quality and behavior change supports lasting weight loss.

Why this is important: Millions attempt restrictive diets each January, yet research shows 80% regain the weight. Crash dieting triggers intense cravings, hunger signals, and muscle loss that sabotage long-term success. A slower, nutrient-focused approach protects metabolism and is more likely to deliver sustainable results instead.

INFOGRAPHIC

EDUCATION

The McMillan Community is home to the ROOT Approach - a clear, structured system for understanding inflammation, health timelines, and recovery.

We are building a 12-week guided course designed to help you apply ROOT principles to your own health first, and then safely support others through education, insight, and pattern recognition.

This is for those who want understanding — not shortcuts.

MEDICAL NEWS IN BRIEF

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

🚥 This New Tool Could Tell Us How Consciousness Works: Scientists now have a noninvasive way to stimulate deep brain structures safely, potentially unlocking answers to how consciousness emerges. Transcranial focused ultrasound lets researchers probe cause-and-effect relationships in the brain, moving beyond observation to active testing of which neural circuits generate thoughts, sensations, and awareness. [SOURCE]

🚥 Control Valve Discovered in Gut's Plumbing: Billions of people take laxatives without anyone knowing exactly how they work. Scientists have finally identified the molecular "water faucet" in our intestines that controls fluid balance. This discovery paves the way for designing precise new treatments for both chronic constipation and diarrhea, conditions affecting millions annually. [SOURCE]

🚥 Higher Daylight Exposure Improves Cognitive Performance: Brighter daytime light doesn't just illuminate your surroundings. It sharpens your mind. Real-world evidence confirms consistent bright exposure improves attention, speeds reaction times by up to 10%, and enhances alertness. For shift workers, office employees, or anyone seeking sharper cognition, simply increasing daytime brightness could help. [SOURCE]

🚥 Tuberculosis Harnesses Part of Immune Defense System to Cause Infection: Tuberculosis remains deadly because the bacteria hijack an immune receptor normally used to fight fungal infections. Rather than protecting us, this receptor helps TB survive and spread. Identifying this mechanism opens doors to potential treatments and could even allow genetic modifications to make cattle resistant. [SOURCE]

🚥 Study Finds SARS-CoV-2 Is on the Decline in Animals: As COVID-19 variants evolve to spread better among humans, Yale researchers found they're becoming less able to infect animals. This matters because early pandemic fears centred on animals harbouring mutated strains that could spill back into people. That threat now appears to be fading, though vigilance remains essential. [SOURCE]

🚥 What a Study of 67,000 People Reveals About Sexual Desire and Age: Nearly a third of differences in sexual desire can be explained by demographics like age, gender, and family size. Understanding that fluctuations are often natural responses to life circumstances, not personal failings, can reduce distress for individuals and help couples navigate changing desires without shame or confusion. [SOURCE]

BOOK NOOK

Set within a child’s nose, ‘Humming Heroes’ features a family of Lymphocytes led by a wise Mother, brave Father, determined Brother, and heroic Baby, confronting invading microorganisms. The story takes an imaginative turn, when a humming melody combines with the Lymphocytes’ song to repel the invaders and restore inner harmony.

"Disease X: Are You Prepared?" is your comprehensive guide to navigating the uncertain future of global health. Drawing from experience and the latest scientific insights, this book offers:

  • Practical strategies for personal and community preparedness.

  • Lessons learned from COVID-19 and other outbreaks.

  • Actionable steps to boost resilience against emerging health threats.

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