Long COVID
Mild → recoveredIll 9 months before improving or writing
Mild long COVID with fatigue and brain fog, now 99.5% recovered after time and fluoxetine
- Condition
- Long COVID
- At worst
- Mild (working or studying, with limits)
- Ill before improving or writing
- 9 months
- Last post
- Sep 2026
In their words
- Condition: Long COVID
I had covid in 2020. LH started a bit later and lasted for about 10 months
In context ↗ - At worst: Mild
Although I could never be classified as even a moderate case
In context ↗ - Now: Recovered
I am 100% recovered since my 4th vaccination last October.
In context ↗ - Began after: COVID
I had covid in 2020. LH started a bit later and lasted for about 10 months
In context ↗ - Says they never had: Breathlessness
I never had SOB.
- Says they never had: Headaches & migraine
I had all of the above except for the headaches.
Read from 270 of their posts and comments; links to the 35 this page draws on
Summary
Starling 48170 caught COVID in March 2020 and had mild long COVID for about 9-10 months, with fatigue, PEM, chest pain, depression, brain fog and internal vibrations. He credits time, a six-month course of fluoxetine started five months in, and giving up alcohol. His second Pfizer shot stopped the vibrations in July 2021; minor throat and ear aches remained in cold or wet weather, and by August 2021 he rated himself 99.5% recovered.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
niacin (Niacin Flush, slow release)· Helpedvit B12· HelpedAmoxicillin (amoxcilin)· Helpedanti-reflux medication (OTC)· Helpedbreathing exercises from YouTube· HelpedDLPA· Helpedflu shot· No changeanti-fungal medication (fluconazole)· No changevitamine E· No changeexercising (cardio, mountain biking)· Worsecurcuma tablets· Not said
Their words about each treatment
- exercising (cardio, mountain biking) · Worse
exercising definitely made it worse every single time
In context ↗ - rest / taking a break from exercise · Helped
the only things that I seemed to have helped are resting, Prozac and drinking zero alcohol
In context ↗ - vit D · Helped
Time is the best healer. Aside from that, vit D, magnesium and zero alcohol.
In context ↗ - magnesium · Helped
Magnesium always helps me, not specific to rona.
In context ↗ - niacin (Niacin Flush, slow release) · Helped
It got better with vit B12 and niacin. I recently cut them out, just to rule out a placebo effect. The buzzing is now back!
In context ↗ - vit B12 · Helped
I take prozac for the first and niacin + B12 for the latter.
In context ↗ - curcuma tablets · Not said
I have also tried vit B12 and curcuma tablets, on and off.
In context ↗ - Prozac (fluoxetine) · Helped a lot
Fluoxetine was a great help for me (brain fog). ... I can honestly say that I went from 60% to 85% thx to Fluoxetine.
In context ↗ - Celexa (citalopram) · Helped
I take celexa these days which is similar but the side effects are a bit smoother and more predictable. ... Overall it helps me, although not as much as Fluoxetine.
- zero alcohol · Helped a lot
Giving up alcohol for a while helped me big time. I was probably getting there anyway, but this put a turbo booster on it
In context ↗ - time · Helped
Time, Prozac and zero alcohol made me feel 90% better.
In context ↗ - Pfizer/BioNTech COVID vaccination (five doses) · Helped a lot
In July 2021 I had my second Pfizer shot, after which my inner vibrations suddenly stopped. ... I've not had any LH symptoms since then.
In context ↗ - flu shot · No change
Can confirm that getting the flu shot did nothing to my LC.
In context ↗ - anti-fungal medication (fluconazole) · No change
Didn't do anything for me, though I had some hope that it would
In context ↗ - Amoxicillin (amoxcilin) · Helped
A simple round of Amoxcillin fixed it but it definitely HURT for a few days
In context ↗ - anti-reflux medication (OTC) · Helped
I take anti-reflux medication (OTC) sometimes, and it seems to help for a few hours.
In context ↗ - breathing exercises from YouTube · Helped
I did get some respite from the breathing exercises that you find on youtube.
In context ↗ - DLPA · Helped
Have you tried DLPA? That together with magnesium works OK for me.
In context ↗ - vitamine E · No change
I tried vitamine E which didn't do anything.
In context ↗
Approaches: SSRIs · Diet · Pacing · Supplements · Vaccination
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 | After |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 2020 | COVID infection, mild acute illnessMy acute illness was very mild.In context ↗ | Mild | |
| June 2020 | worst months: depression, internal vibrations, fatigue, chest tightnessMonths 3-6 were the worst, but after 12 months I'm 95% back to normal.In context ↗ | Mild | |
| summer 2020 | floored by a 12-hour car driveI had a 12 hour trip (car) last summer (covid in March). It floored me.In context ↗ | Mild | |
| September 2020 | clear improvement in mood and brain fog after starting fluoxetineAfter one month, I was much better. Three months later I was almost back to normal.In context ↗ | Mild | |
| December 2020 | chest tightness easing, post-exertional malaise less dauntingAround December I started feeling like my chest was less tight, and the post-exortional malaise was becoming less daunting.In context ↗ | Near normal | |
| March 2021 | 95% back to normal one year inI was at 80% after 6 months, 90% after 9 months and 95% after 12 months.In context ↗ | Near normal | |
| July 2021 | internal vibrations stopped after second Pfizer shotIn July 2021 I had my second Pfizer shot, after which my inner vibrations suddenly stopped.In context ↗ | Near normal | COVID vaccination as treatment |
| October 2022 | fourth vaccination cleared the last throat acheI've not had any LH symptoms since then.In context ↗ | Recovered | COVID vaccination as treatment |
| August 2025 | stable at near-full recovery99.5% recovered. I don't think anything has changed in the last 12 months or so.In context ↗ | Recovered |
Adverse events
- Fluoxetine (Prozac)“This time around I had moderate nausea, increased anxiety, weak legs, fairly bad fatigue, brain fog, memory problems.” In context ↗ Side effects
- Fluoxetine (Prozac)“It wasn't just the usual nausea and lacking libido this time, but also skin crawlies, near-suicidal thoughts, extreme fatigue, chills, very weak legs, coffee intolerance, etc.” In context ↗ Suicidal thoughts or attempt
- COVID vaccination as treatment“The first shot gave me fever (mild, headache (mild) and a general feeling of being hungover for 3 days.” In context ↗ Side effects
- COVID vaccination as treatment“I actually had a skin burn from my first shot, which went away after a few weeks.” In context ↗ Side effects
- COVID vaccination as treatment“Three day hangover (dose 1) and two day hangover (dose 2). ... Also weird symptoms like strange dreams and pain in one toe.” In context ↗ Side effects
- Everyday exercise and activity“For me it didn't help, it made it worse, in fact I had to stop for 6 months.” In context ↗ Made symptoms worse
- Citalopram (Celexa)“Yes I get this the day after taking a tablet, around the same time as you (I don't take a tablet every day). It's annoying but also predictable by now.” In context ↗ Mood or psychiatric effects
- COVID vaccination as treatment“I felt like I was coming down with the flu for about 24 hours but I feel great now.” In context ↗ Side effects
- Flu vaccine“I felt a bit bleh after 24 hours, like a tiny hangover.” In context ↗ Side effects
- COVID vaccination as treatment“Only thing I'd say is that my arm hurt a bit more, but it wasn't terrible.” In context ↗ Side effects
Symptoms mentioned
Anxiety & low moodBrain fogFlu-like symptomsHeart symptoms & palpitationsLoss of smell or tasteNeuropathy & tinglingPain & fibromyalgiaPost-exertional malaiseSleep problemsTemperature regulation
Their words about their symptoms
- Post-exertional malaise
I had PEM for at least a year.
In context ↗ - Brain fog
Brain fog, fatigue, depression (had it before, but this was different)
In context ↗ - Sleep problems
I slept so much when I was recovering. At least 1 hour more per night, often two.
In context ↗ - Pain & fibromyalgia
fatigue, sensitive skin and body aches for one week
In context ↗ - Heart symptoms & palpitations
I developed chest tightness in the weeks following my 'recovery'.
In context ↗ - Neuropathy & tingling
vibrations in groin and legs
In context ↗ - Anxiety & low mood
I got depressed. This was not my usual bout of depression, it was harder and edgier.
In context ↗ - Flu-like symptoms
a throat ache after exercising
In context ↗ - Loss of smell or taste
I also developed a mild fever and loss of smell/taste.
In context ↗
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