Long COVID
Severe → somewhat betterIll 5.5 years before improving or writingNeeds ongoing treatment
Long COVID left them unable to work or move; somewhat better with acupuncture and diet
- Condition
- Long COVID
- At worst
- Severe (mostly bedbound)
- Ill before improving or writing
- 5.5 years
- Last post
- Aug 2025
In their words
- Condition: Long COVID
I've been long hauling since March 2020 and mostly have a grasp on how to handle making it through my days
In context ↗ - At worst: Severe
I was unable to work or really move before I started regular acupuncture. Now I can work (a bit)
In context ↗ - Now: Somewhat better
I am much better than 3 years ago and much more able to deal with LC but yeah not "normal".
In context ↗ - Began after: COVID
Got covid March 2020.
Read from 47 of their posts and comments; links to the 29 this page draws on
Summary
Comet 21447 caught COVID in March 2020 and worsened sharply in February 2021, unable to work or really move before starting regular acupuncture in March 2021. Acupuncture, an anti-inflammatory gluten-free diet, therapy, electrolytes and qigong brought gradual gains; they worked 30-35 hours a week in 2023 but burnt out, took time off, and later couldn't keep working. They still cannot work reliably and manage most days.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Marijuana· HelpedOmeprazole· Helpedresting up / limiting exercise· Helpedpain killer eye drops· Helpedlimiting caffeine· HelpedJ&J COVID vaccine· No changePfizer booster· No changeexercise (push-ups, planks, yoga)· Worsesteroid eye drops· Worsecupping· Not saidchinese herbs· Not saidchrysanthemum salve· Not said
Their words about each treatment
- exercise (push-ups, planks, yoga) · Worse
trying to do push-ups, planks, or chaturanga in yoga was killing me and making the problem waaaay worse
In context ↗ - Marijuana · Helped
It helps to stifle the body / muscle aches and joint pain.
In context ↗ - Omeprazole · Helped
I am also on omeprazole. ... Seems to help with throat issues but doesn't seem like a long term solution.
In context ↗ - Acupuncture · Helped a lot
I was unable to work or really move before I started regular acupuncture. Now I can work (a bit), smell things again
In context ↗ - anti-inflammatory diet · Helped
I have been (mostly) following a anti-inflammatory diet for about 3 months now and sugar is one of the things that I cut out. It definitely effects my inflammation levels a lot
In context ↗ - J&J COVID vaccine · No change
The vaccine had no effect on my long hauling. Felt the same before and after.
In context ↗ - resting up / limiting exercise · Helped
if I have something important I rest up for a few days and tell my partner that I'm going to be a non-person for a bit
In context ↗ - Pfizer booster · No change
Booster was Pfizer and it was fine. ... Long Covid was pretty much the same after with a slight trajectory of feeling better over time.
In context ↗ - cupping · Not said
at least for me cupping has been incredibly painful and sometimes just fine
In context ↗ - chinese herbs · Not said
I do weekly acupuncture and take chinese herbs and lots of other pills.
In context ↗ - somatic therapy · Helped
Somatic therapy. ... I get acupuncture and therapy every other week and that has helped a lot too.
- electrolyte powder · Helped
I wake up every morning and have a glass of water with electrolyte powder. It changed everything.
In context ↗ - steroid eye drops · Worse
The drops made it worse and increased the pressure and inflammation in my eye.
In context ↗ - pain killer eye drops · Helped
they gave me different eye drops that were basically just pain killers ... My eye pressure lowered but the redness persists
In context ↗ - chrysanthemum salve · Not said
Now I'm treating with acupuncture and chrysanthemum salve on the eye.
In context ↗ - cutting gluten · Helped a lot
I cut gluten a while ago and it made a huge difference.
In context ↗ - qigong · Helped
Do regular acupuncture, spa and cold plunge, therapy, and qigong and those all help a lot
In context ↗ - limiting caffeine · Helped
limiting caffeine intake ... those two suggestions really helped calm my nervous system
In context ↗ - time · Helped
Maybe I got used to it in some way but it was most likely just time that helped
In context ↗
Approaches: POTS medication · Alternative therapies · Diet · Mind-body practices · Trauma & somatic work
Their path
How ill they were on the ME/CFS severity scale, estimated from what they describe at each point, with time counted from when the illness began. Hover or tap a point. Dates are when they posted. What the levels mean.
Show as a table
| When | What happened | Where they were |
|---|---|---|
| March 2020 | COVID-19 infection, start of long COVIDGot covid March 2020. Struggled with breathing issues and lack of energy but didn't pinpoint the cause until Feb 2021.In context ↗ | Mild |
| February 2021 | symptoms got way worse, unable to work or really moveI was unable to work or really move before I started regular acupuncture.In context ↗ | Severe |
| March 2021 | started regular acupuncture; headaches and energy improvedI've definitely seen improvement in my condition since going there. I was having killer headaches everyday before seeing a therapist there and now get them like once every two weeks. Energy levels have definitely improved too.In context ↗ | Severe |
| November 2021 | a bit better but could barely walkStill struggling now but it's a bit better. I've been getting acupuncture therapy since March.In context ↗ | Severe |
| August 2022 | crashed for about two weeks after a 30-minute yoga sessionI thought I would be able to handle a 30 min yoga session because I had been feeling pretty good but it really sent all of my worst symptoms to activate again.In context ↗ | Severe |
| March 2023 | back at a standing job 30-35 hours a week, recovering on days offI had a year off from work completely and am now back at a standing job in the service industry. Working 30-35 hours a week and it is not easy.In context ↗ | Mild |
| 2023 | burnt out at work and had to take time offI burnt out pretty quick and had to take some time off before I could go back again.In context ↗ | Moderate |
| October 2024 | easier to handle, still cannot work reliablyI absolutely believe things will improve (had LC for 4+ years and it's way easier to handle now)In context ↗ | Moderate |
Adverse events
- COVID vaccination as treatment“It knocked me on my butt for a couple days (headache, body aches).” In context ↗ Side effects
- COVID vaccination as treatment“I had trouble sleeping and tossed and turned that night” In context ↗ Insomnia from treatment
- COVID vaccination as treatment“a lite headache the next day that went away in the after noon” In context ↗ Side effects
- Steroid eye drops“The drops made it worse and increased the pressure and inflammation in my eye.” In context ↗ Made symptoms worse
- Cupping, Acupuncture“cupping has been incredibly painful and sometimes just fine. Needles are sometimes super sensitive in areas too.” In context ↗ Side effects
Symptoms mentioned
Anxiety & low moodBrain fogBreathlessnessGut problemsHeadaches & migraineHeart symptoms & palpitationsLoss of smell or tastePOTS & dysautonomiaPain & fibromyalgiaPost-exertional malaiseSleep problemsTemperature regulationTinnitusVision problems
Their words about their symptoms
- Post-exertional malaise
the post exertional malaise still kicks my butt if I don't pay close attention
In context ↗ - Brain fog
Symptoms back then included brain fog ... A lot of that is still there 2 years later but like I said it's more manageable.
In context ↗ - POTS & dysautonomia
it makes the post shower lightheadedness and heat significantly less
In context ↗ - Sleep problems
It also helps to calm my brain down enough to be able to fall asleep.
In context ↗ - Pain & fibromyalgia
It helps to stifle the body / muscle aches and joint pain.
In context ↗ - Headaches & migraine
I was having killer headaches everyday before seeing a therapist there and now get them like once every two weeks.
In context ↗ - Gut problems
lots of digestion issues and pain
In context ↗ - Breathlessness
Struggled with breathing issues and lack of energy
In context ↗ - Heart symptoms & palpitations
Yep same. I tend to play games I'm already super familiar with to avoid this.
In context ↗ - Anxiety & low mood
I have also had a lot of anger issues and am still dealing.
In context ↗ - Loss of smell or taste
Now I can work (a bit), smell things again (there is an acupuncture technique for bringing back fragrance)
In context ↗ - Tinnitus
I rarely have tinnitus flare ups anymore
In context ↗ - Temperature regulation
temperature regulation issues
In context ↗ - Vision problems
my vision is still very blurry out of that eye
In context ↗
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