How it went
Did it last?
- 3 of 18 said the benefit wore off (including the 2 who relapsed).
- 4 of 18 needed to keep doing it to stay well.
Read from what people wrote. A story that ends without a follow-up counts as lasting, so treat these as minimums.
| Outcome described | Accounts | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Full recovery | 4 | 22% |
| Near-full | 4 | 22% |
| Substantial | 5 | 28% |
| Partial | 3 | 17% |
| Relapsed | 2 | 11% |
| No benefit | 0 | 0% |
By how ill people were
| Severity at worst | How it went | n | Recovered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moderate | 4 | 50% | |
| Severe | 7 | 43% | |
| Very severe | 3 | 33% |
4 accounts don’t say how ill the person was.
Who published these accounts
44% of these accounts are on pages that sell this treatment or a program around it. Those pages publish their successes; compare the independent row.
Specific treatments in these accounts
- TreatmentHow it wentRecoveredFaded
- Vagus nerve stimulation17 accounts
41% 18%
- Pacing and the energy envelope6 accounts
50% 0%
- Brain retraining programs (DNRS, Gupta, ANS Rewire, Primal Trust)5 accounts
60% 0%
- Low-dose naltrexone3 accounts
33% 0%
- NAC and glutathione3 accounts
33% 0%
- rTMS / tDCS / transcranial stimulation3 accounts
0% 67%
- Meditation, yoga, breathwork3 accounts
33% 0%
Within the accounts on this page. Grey numbers rest on fewer than 10 accounts.
Side effects and harms people mentioned
Found by scanning the summaries for side-effect language, so this list is incomplete and may include a mention that isn’t about Vagus nerve stimulation itself. Read the story before drawing conclusions.
- Heart rhythm problems
She had developed heart rhythm problems and tachycardia after a 2022 SARS-CoV-2 infection, and neither device helped: the first session caused intense burning sensations, and the TENS attempt triggered a two-week crash.
- Hospitalisation
After 28 years of never being able to exercise despite seeing top ME/CFS specialists worldwide, and a recent low point involving surgeries, ER visits and a drug reaction, this patient started 180mg/day Mestinon and within weeks felt an urge to run for the first time in decades.
All 18 accounts
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Brain retraining is nervous system regulation
Amy credits the "CFS Recovery" nervous-system-regulation program with turning her case around, alongside daily red-light therapy (about 10 minutes, at least four mornings a week, using a box she bought roughly three years ago) and work with a therapist who…
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Primal Trust testimonials: Anne Katrine
Anne Katrine used the Primal Trust Regulate program, though its exact length isn't specified, for post-COVID symptoms of unstated duration. She reports her symptoms resolved to the point she can eat anything without triggering them, she now exercises daily…
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A muddy intervention: taVNS (Vanessa)
Vanessa first tried a high-end taVNS device costing €600 ($700) and later attempted a cheaper TENS unit. She had developed heart rhythm problems and tachycardia after a 2022 SARS-CoV-2 infection, and neither device helped: the first session caused intense…
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A muddy intervention: taVNS (Marci)
Marci, who had fibromyalgia and Long COVID with nerve pain, tried an electrical ear-clip taVNS device for two 10-minute sessions. Rather than improving, she experienced severe vertigo about an hour later, described as "doing backward somersaults in her…
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A muddy intervention: taVNS (Vid)
Vid Nerad Rozej used an inexpensive €70 ($82) TENS setup for vagus nerve stimulation after developing Long COVID in 2022. Before treatment he felt like he was "almost suffocating" roughly 75% of the time, and the stimulation helped reduce his breathing…
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A muddy intervention: the complex reality of taVNS therapy for Long COVID
Troy Pearse used a TENS unit for vagus nerve stimulation, guiding his sessions using heart rate variability data from a wearable device. He was infected with COVID in 2020 and subsequently developed autonomic dysfunction and a brain injury, and he reports…
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Treatments. Yes, they do exist.
In this follow-up post, Encephalogirl (Michelle) lists an expanded regimen: low-dose naltrexone, low-dose Abilify, guanfacine, about nine months of tenofovir as part of a planned minimum one-year antiviral course, six weeks of low-dose rapamycin at 1mg once…
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Long Covid Healing Resources
Followed a 10-point Mayo Clinic-informed protocol: a TruVaga vagus-nerve-stimulation device for 2 minutes three times a day, guanfacine at 0.5mg twice daily (with room to increase to 1mg twice daily), L-arginine 2000mg twice daily, vitamin C 500mg twice…
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Recovered from ME/CFS after 30 years
She credits Rebecca Tolin's online mind-body course Be Your Own Medicine, taken over about six months at age 70, teaching calming breath work, the physiological sigh, box breathing and Wim Hof breathing alongside emotional and somatic work. Crucially she had…
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Overcoming Long Covid: Sue's Story
Sue's approach centered on daily Yoga Nidra practice, breathwork classes, and a community program called Rest Repair Recover built around gentle structure, rest and nervous system care, alongside lifestyle changes like setting boundaries and no longer…
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Primal Trust testimonials: Reese
Reese used the Primal Trust Regulate course, purchased as a 3-month package in January 2025, after struggling with Long COVID for almost three years. She reports her brain fog is gone, her eyesight has improved, and she feels stronger than she has in years,…
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How I used Vagus Nerve Stimulation for recovery
Credits vagus nerve stimulation. Nicole had long COVID and is described as fully recovered. tVNS device credited as a recovery tool.
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Melody's ME/CFS, Fibromyalgia and Long COVID Recovery Story
Melody was infected early in the pandemic, hospitalised with double pneumonia, then bedbound for six months and homebound on supplemental oxygen for two and a half years despite thirteen prescription drugs and multiple specialists. She credits a combination…
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An overview of my recovery from Long Covid
Credits brain retraining, diet, vagus nerve stimulation and pacing. Nicole had long COVID and is described as fully recovered. Foundational recovery-overview post.
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My Recovery Journey from Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS)
Mediterranean diet was adopted as one strand of a broad, multi-modal recovery program that also included intermittent fasting, low-dose naltrexone, structured pacing and vagus nerve stimulation, with no separate dose or duration given for the diet itself. He…
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My Long Covid Recovery Story
Roberto's recovery centered on polyvagal-theory nervous-system regulation exercises, whose specifics aren't detailed, combined with psychological work addressing childhood trauma and perfectionism patterns he linked to his illness. He had been hospitalized…
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Mestinon, Chronic Fatigue, Vagus Nerve Stimulation and Exercise
After 28 years of never being able to exercise despite seeing top ME/CFS specialists worldwide, and a recent low point involving surgeries, ER visits and a drug reaction, this patient started 180mg/day Mestinon and within weeks felt an urge to run for the…
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Vagus Nerve Stimulation Turns Jean's Life Around
Jean developed fibromyalgia during a pregnancy and gradually became mostly bedbound with severe widespread pain, allodynia, brain fog and IBS. Under Dr Benjamin Natelson's care she had a vagus nerve stimulator surgically implanted. She still has some pain…