Long COVID with PEM after reinfection, much better after fasting
- Condition
- Long COVID
- At worst
- Moderate (mostly housebound)
- Ill before improving or writing
- 6 months
- Last post
- Oct 2023
In their words
- Condition: Long COVID
I first got Covid in January 2022, with long Covid symptoms (no PEM, however) lasting through mid-July.
In context ↗ - At worst: Moderate
PEM was making it hard for me to do even intermittent fasting.
In context ↗ - Now: Much better
I felt much, much better and was able to start doing light exercise again
In context ↗ - Began after: COVID
I first got Covid in January 2022
Summary
Nightjar 89180 caught COVID in January 2022 and had long COVID symptoms without PEM until mid-July; a 10-day water fast left them feeling 100%. A reinfection in November 2022 brought worse symptoms including PEM. A 4-day fast in August 2023 made them much better and able to swim, cycle and walk again, with short-lasting PEM symptoms; in late October they were on day 5 of another fast.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- over-the counter antihistamines · Helped
over-the counter antihistamines helped me noticeably reduce severity of symptoms
In context ↗ - extended water fasting · Helped a lot
since I started dealing with COVID, every time I’ve done a fast of 3 days or longer my symptoms improve dramatically and it becomes easier for me to move forward
In context ↗ - intermittent fasting · Not said
PEM was making it hard for me to do even intermittent fasting
In context ↗ - light exercise: light swimming, indoor bike, long walks · Not said
Lack of exercise was bringing me down significantly, both physically, mentally and emotionally. Post-exertional malaise (PEM) sure made me pay a price.
In context ↗
Approaches: H1 antihistamines · Diet
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 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
| When | What happened | Where they were | After |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 2022 | COVID infection, long COVID symptoms beganI first got Covid in January 2022, with long Covid symptoms (no PEM, however)In context ↗ | Not stated | |
| mid-July 2022 | 10-day water fast, felt 100% afterwardsI did a 10-day fast and felt 100% afterwards.In context ↗ | Recovered | Extended water fasting (3+ days) |
| November 2022 | COVID reinfection, symptoms much worseThen I got reinfected last November and still dealing with symptoms, which are much worse the second tine around.In context ↗ | Moderate | |
| August 2023 | 4-day water fast, resumed light swimming, indoor bike, long walksI felt much, much better and was able to start doing light exercise againIn context ↗ | Mild | Extended water fasting (3+ days) |
| 2023-10-27 | day 5 of another water fast, on the way out of the illnessI am currently on Day 5 of another water fast.In context ↗ | Mild | Extended water fasting (3+ days) |
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Post-exertional malaise
I still felt some PEM’ish symptoms (such as elevated heart rate, exhaustion) but they were short-lasting.
In context ↗ - Heart symptoms & palpitations
strange twitching/palpitations in my upper arms
In context ↗
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