Long COVID
Somewhat betterIll 4.5 years before improving or writing
Long COVID with loss of smell and exhaustion, somewhat better with castor oil and therapy
- Condition
- Long COVID
- At worst
- Not stated
- Ill before improving or writing
- 4.5 years
- Last post
- Mar 2026
In their words
- Condition: Long COVID
I’ve had LC since getting sick in delta wave back in 2021
In context ↗ - Now: Somewhat better
I went thru 18 months of physical and occupational therapy that helped a bit, but also it may have just been time.
In context ↗ - Began after: COVID
I've had LC since getting sick in delta wave back in 2021
In context ↗
Read from 6 of their posts and comments; links to the 6 this page draws on
Summary
Lagoon 88204 has had long COVID since a 2021 delta-wave infection, with brain fog, exhaustion, tinnitus and repeated loss of smell. Castor oil drops were credited with restoring smell to 85-90% after a third infection. Low-dose naltrexone did nothing over three months, while Ritalin or modafinil, plus lithium, caused negative mental and emotional effects. Therapy helped a bit; two falls from ladders left them wary of ladders.
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What they tried
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- castor oil · Helped
Overall though the castor oil drops I think did help.
In context ↗ - Ritalin · Worse
I was taking either Ritalin or Modafinil for cognition and fatigue issues ... both of those totally caused me all kinds of negative mental and emotional issues
In context ↗ - lithium · Worse
I started taking lithium for severe depression and both of those totally caused me all kinds of negative mental and emotional issues.
In context ↗ - low dose naltrexone · No change
My doctor had me give up after 3 months with no change.
In context ↗ - SSRIs · Worse
SSRIs give me cluster headaches and seizures.
In context ↗ - physical and occupational therapy · Helped
I went thru 18 months of physical and occupational therapy that helped a bit, but also it may have just been time.
In context ↗
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. The chart starts 20 months after onset: the story doesn’t say how ill they were before that. 1 step says too little to place on the scale and is only in the table. Dates are when they posted. What the levels mean.
Show as a table
| When | What happened | Where they were |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | COVID-19 during the delta wave; long COVID followedI've had LC since getting sick in delta wave back in 2021In context ↗ | Not stated |
| 2023 | third COVID infection; lost all smell againAfter my third infection and I had lost smell YET AGAINIn context ↗ | Mild |
| September 2023 | smell returned to 85-90% with castor oil drops, some smells still missingI have maybe 85-90% smell back but I still cannot smell certain things everIn context ↗ | Mild |
| 2024 | severe depression; Ritalin/modafinil and lithium caused negative mental and emotional effectsI started taking lithium for severe depression and both of those totally caused me all kinds of negative mental and emotional issuesIn context ↗ | Mild |
| 2026-03-15 | after 18 months of physical and occupational therapy, a bit better; still wary of ladders after two fallsI went thru 18 months of physical and occupational therapy that helped a bitIn context ↗ | Mild |
Adverse events
- Methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta)“both of those totally caused me all kinds of negative mental and emotional issues.” In context ↗ Mood or psychiatric effects
- Lithium carbonate (prescription), Methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta), Modafinil / armodafinil“both of those totally caused me all kinds of negative mental and emotional issues.” In context ↗ Mood or psychiatric effects
- Antidepressants (unspecified)“SSRIs give me cluster headaches and seizures.” In context ↗ Side effects
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Loss of smell or taste
I have maybe 85-90% smell back but I still cannot smell certain things ever like vinegar, pepper, cat litter, skunk
In context ↗ - Brain fog
some of the other long covid issues I deal with like tremors, tinnitus, exhaustion, brain fog, etc.
In context ↗ - Anxiety & low mood
I started taking lithium for severe depression
In context ↗ - Headaches & migraine
SSRIs give me cluster headaches and seizures
In context ↗