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Long COVID Severe → much betterIll 18 months before improving or writingNeeds ongoing treatment

Barely leaving bed with long COVID, now much better; hormonal IUD stopped period crashes

Meadow 22522 on RedditLast post Oct 2026

Condition
Long COVID
At worst
Severe (mostly bedbound)
Ill before improving or writing
18 months
Last post
Oct 2026
In their words
  • Condition: Long COVIDIt needed two more infections to end up here. ... (the 3rd infection gave me Long Covid) In context ↗
  • At worst: SevereMy low point was month 6 to 13. I barely left the bed. I only did chores and a bit of work for university. I was constantly miserabel. In context ↗
  • Now: Much betterNow I am a lot fitter. This week I walked 16.000 steps and didn't crash ... Everytime it gets a bit better something knocks me right back down.
  • Began after: COVIDIt was the third infection that got me. In context ↗
Read from 152 of their posts and comments; links to the 43 this page draws on

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Summary

Meadow 22522 developed long COVID after a third COVID infection in 2023 and spent months 6 to 13 barely leaving bed. Improvement began on its own about 18 months in; a contraceptive pill, then a hormonal IUD, stopped monthly period crashes, though the pill worsened nerve pain. By mid-2025 she could cycle, row and walk 16,000 steps on good days, but fatigue and PEM persisted, and a cold plus pacing mistakes in July 2025 worsened her baseline.

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What they tried

What they credit

pacing· Helped a lot · mainGarmin fitness tracker with pacing app· Helped a lotcontraception pill (Kelzy)· Helpedtime / getting better on its own· Helped

Also tried

yoga poses to relax the pelvic floor· Helped a lotrowing, swimming, e-bike and cardio training· Helpedyoga· Helpedhormone IUD (Jaydess)· Helpednicotine patches· Helpedmedical cannabis (THC and CBD)· Helpedweighted blanket· Helpeddiclofenac· Helpedvitamin D3· Helpediron· HelpedB12· Helpedelectrolytes· Helpedshakti mat· Helpedeating animal products again· Helpedcompression socks· Helpedeating enough calories and protein· HelpedPulsetto device· Helpedfermented foods· No changemelatonin· No changesauna· No changeglutathione· WorseCombined birth control (pill, patch or ring)· Worsevitamin C· Not saidmagic wand vibration for mucus· Not saidFlu vaccine· Not said
Their words about each treatment
  • pacing · Helped a lotPacing is the thing that makes the biggest difference. In context ↗
  • Garmin fitness tracker with pacing app · Helped a lotIt was a gamechanger for pacing. In context ↗
  • rowing, swimming, e-bike and cardio training · HelpedI started doing cardio and muscle training 2 months ago. In context ↗
  • yoga · HelpedI can do half an hour of yoga or 200 pulls on the rowing machine. In context ↗
  • contraception pill (Kelzy) · HelpedI startet taking the pill (contraception). Since when I don't crash due to my Periode In context ↗
  • hormone IUD (Jaydess) · HelpedI switched to an hormone IUD and it is great so far. A lot less blood and period pain. In context ↗
  • nicotine patches · HelpedNicotine got rid of my brainfog as long as I took it. In context ↗
  • medical cannabis (THC and CBD) · HelpedI use both medical mass and Painkiller. Both are equal parts THC and CBD. In context ↗
  • yoga poses to relax the pelvic floor · Helped a lotI decided to just try a few yoga poses that are supposed to help with relaxing the pelvic floor and within two days all of the Symptoms were gone. In context ↗
  • fermented foods · No changeI tried eating a lot of fermented stuff to see if it made a differencen. Instill feel like shit, it changed nothing. In context ↗
  • weighted blanket · HelpedIt gets a lot better when I am sleeping under a weighted blanket In context ↗
  • melatonin · No changeMelatonin did nothing. In context ↗
  • diclofenac · HelpedDiclofenac or weed and a weighted blanket are my go to. In context ↗
  • sauna · No changeI don't feel big improvments. But it is a nice Hobby I can still do. In context ↗
  • vitamin D3 · HelpedD3 because I don't see the sun often enough In context ↗
  • iron · HelpedIron since I am somehow always deficiant In context ↗
  • B12 · HelpedB12 was really helpful but I had a deficiancy. In context ↗
  • electrolytes · HelpedElectrolytes because they help a lot, I don't know why since I don't have pots In context ↗
  • vitamin C · Not saidAnd I am going to try Vitamin C again. I think i was better during the week I tried it but I am not sure. In context ↗
  • shakti mat · HelpedI likey shaktimat for that purpose. It also has the benefit of helping against backpain In context ↗
  • eating animal products again · HelpedMeat and other animal products are protein packed, nutrient dense and while they have other negative health effects they do help with my long covid symptoms a bit because I feel like I have more energy. In context ↗
  • compression socks · HelpedCompression socks and electrolytes help a bit. In context ↗
  • magic wand vibration for mucus · Not saidI sometimes use my magic wand to get rid of stubborn mucus in my lungs. In context ↗
  • glutathione · WorseI took it for a week and it wrecked my sleep. Had to stop because it triggered a crash.. In context ↗
  • eating enough calories and protein · HelpedI am doing better when I eat enough and especially enough protein. In context ↗
  • Pulsetto device · HelpedIt helps a bit but it's a wired feeling and when I would really benefit from it I can't stomach it. In context ↗
  • time / getting better on its own · HelpedIt started getting better 4 months ago. Out of nowhere. In context ↗
  • Combined birth control (pill, patch or ring) · WorseEstrogen made it a lot worse. In context ↗
  • Flu vaccine · Not saidMy arm hurt a bit and I was a bit more fatigued for 1-2 days. In context ↗

Approaches: Pacing · Sex hormones

Their path

Very severeSevereModerateMildNear normalRecovered12 mo2 y3 y

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 6 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
WhenWhat happenedWhere they wereAfter
2023Long COVID after a third COVID infectionIt was the third infection that got me. In context ↗Not stated
month 6 to 13Low point: barely left the bedMy low point was month 6 to 13. I barely left the bed. I only did chores and a bit of work for university. In context ↗Severe
February 2025Started improving on its ownIt started getting better 4 months ago. Out of nowhere. In context ↗ModerateTime and spontaneous remission
June 2025Applying for jobs, doing cardio and muscle trainingI am feeling so much better than before. At the moment it has gotten to the point that I am applying to jobs right now. In context ↗MildTime and spontaneous remission
July 2025Cold during heatwave plus pacing mistakes lowered baselineI had a cold (covid test was negative) during the heatwave. In combination with making 2 dumb decitions concerning Pacing it cause PEM and my baseline is worse In context ↗Moderate
January 2026Hormonal IUD improved baseline a lotNow I have a hormon IUD and it improved my baseline a lot. In context ↗Mild
August 2026Crashed from her period during the summer heatMy last crash was cause by my period. So no way to prevent it. Its always like that. Every summer is hell. In context ↗Mild
October 2026Back to usual baseline once the weather coolsI return back to my baseline when it gets colder. In context ↗Mild

Adverse events

Symptoms mentioned

Anxiety & low moodBrain fogBreathlessnessHeadaches & migraineHeart symptoms & palpitationsNeuropathy & tinglingPOTS & dysautonomiaPost-exertional malaiseSleep problemsTemperature regulationTinnitus
Their words about their symptoms
  • Post-exertional malaiseI have ME/CFS Symptoms and PEM. In context ↗
  • Brain fogNicotine got rid of my brainfog as long as I took it. In context ↗
  • Sleep problemsI sometimes have insomnia for a few days up to a few weeks at a time. In context ↗
  • Neuropathy & tinglingI developed nerve pain in my right arm after 1.5 years. In context ↗
  • POTS & dysautonomiaI would notice the high heart rate because it would cause dizziness. In context ↗
  • Heart symptoms & palpitationsMy thoughts are racing and my heartrate is higher than it should be. In context ↗
  • Anxiety & low moodI wake up in the middle of the night feeling anxious like I am in a fight or flight situation. In context ↗
  • Temperature regulationI am really heatsesitive. In context ↗
  • TinnitusMine gets a Lot worse then I don't sleep enough or have a headache because of my backpain. In context ↗
  • BreathlessnessI had trouble breathing and was constantly tired. In context ↗

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