Long COVID brain fog and POTS improved over a year, then relapsed after reinfection
- Condition
- Long COVID
- At worst
- Mild (working or studying, with limits)
- Ill before improving or writing
- Not stated
- Last post
- Aug 2026
In their words
- At worst: Mild
I can work out occasionally and have caffeine without having major setbacks.
In context ↗ - Now: Relapsed
There were a few months were I was alright- it might have even gone away. But I got covid again and for the past eight months have been going through another haul.
In context ↗
Read from 23 of their posts and comments; links to the 13 this page draws on
Summary
Pelican 67795 had brain fog, a pounding heart and later POTS with long COVID. They improved over about a year, crediting an anti-inflammatory diet, then relapsed after a 2022 reinfection. A 2.5 mg Focalin dose in August 2023 caused their worst flare, with five hospital visits and panic attacks; a third infection followed. By 2026 they still described work on nervous-system regulation.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- Quitting vaping (nicotine) · Helped
So I quit. Around 2 weeks of sobriety later, I felt normal again.
In context ↗ - anti-inflammatory diet · Helped a lot
What changed things for me the most was an anti-inflammatory diet
In context ↗ - pacing · Not said
I’m trying not to push myself too hard…sometimes it’s tough, because we’re encouraged to push during workouts but now I really have to pace properly.
In context ↗ - Focalin (dexmethylphenidate) · Much worse
I tried the lowest dose of Focalin- 2.5mg. ... Reignited my symptoms like wildfire and put me back *several* months.
- Paxlovid · No change
I was given Paxlovid the first day I was diagnosed, and continued to take it throughout the week, but I never really felt like it was helping me.
In context ↗ - propranolol · Helped
so much so that I’m taking propranolol to lower my heart rate and reduce my anxiety
In context ↗ - neti pot, saline spray, CPC mouthwash · Not said
Used a neti pot, saline spray, and CPC mouthwash to reduce viral load.
In context ↗ - vitamin supplements · Helped
I’ve just had to resort to non-prescription solutions (diet, full good night’s sleep, vitamin supplements) and though it isn’t nearly as good as stimulant meds, this is the best I can do right now.
In context ↗ - nervous system regulation exercises · Helped
I’m still in the process myself ... the first thing I noticed was that I was able to do some things I liked again without my whole day being taken over by my own fears.
In context ↗ - COVID vaccination as treatment · Not said
my tachycardia which was gone months ago seems to have returned
In context ↗
Approaches: Brain retraining · 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 3 months after onset: the story doesn’t say how ill they were before that. Dates are when they posted. What the levels mean.
Show as a table
| When | What happened | Where they were | After |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 2021 | felt much better and managed a short jog/walktoday I went on my first 30 minute jog/walk in almost a yearIn context ↗ | Mild | Anti-inflammatory diet |
| 2022 | second COVID infection brought a second long haulI got covid again and for the past eight months have been going through another haulIn context ↗ | Moderate | |
| August 2023 | crashed hard after one 2.5 mg dose of FocalinFor the past four days I have been to the hospital five times, had 30+ panic attacks, and my symptoms are worse than ever.In context ↗ | Severe | |
| September 2023 | third COVID infection, mostly in bedI’m just laying in bed now, petrified and unable to really do anything without my heart reacting.In context ↗ | Severe | |
| August 2026 | still doing nervous-system regulation workthe first thing I noticed was that I was able to do some things I liked again without my whole day being taken over by my own fearsIn context ↗ | Mild |
Adverse events
- Dexmethylphenidate (Focalin)“But two hours later, I crashed. Hard. Fever, racing heart, I felt sick all over- it was like one of my worst flare ups came back.” In context ↗ Made symptoms worse
- Dexmethylphenidate (Focalin)“For the past four days I have been to the hospital five times” In context ↗ ER visit
- Dexmethylphenidate (Focalin)“had 30+ panic attacks, and my symptoms are worse than ever” In context ↗ Mood or psychiatric effects
- Dexmethylphenidate (Focalin)“Reignited my symptoms like wildfire and put me back *several* months.” In context ↗ Made symptoms worse
- COVID vaccination as treatment“my tachycardia which was gone months ago seems to have returned” In context ↗ Heart rhythm problems
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- POTS & dysautonomia
One of my biggest symptoms was POTS
In context ↗ - Heart symptoms & palpitations
My palpitations returned and soon I was back in bed.
In context ↗ - Post-exertional malaise
Am I rebounding or did I just crash from not being ready to do so much?
In context ↗ - Breathlessness
a pretty bad shortness of breath that didn’t go away until about an hour ago
In context ↗ - Anxiety & low mood
had 30+ panic attacks, and my symptoms are worse than ever
In context ↗ - Temperature regulation
Fever, racing heart, I felt sick all over
In context ↗ - Mast cell (MCAS) & allergies
pounding after eating things high in histamine or drinking caffeine/alcohol
In context ↗
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