Long COVID brain fog and racing heartbeat somewhat better with rest and levalbuterol
- Condition
- Long COVID
- At worst
- Moderate (mostly housebound)
- Ill before improving or writing
- 4 years
- Last post
- Dec 2025
In their words
- Condition: Long COVID
I had my first bout with Covid in December of ‘21, then again in February of ‘22.
In context ↗ - At worst: Moderate
There were days where I couldn’t even talk coherently, and I certainly couldn’t drive or do anything constructive.
In context ↗ - Now: Somewhat better
Thankfully the brain fog and crazy heartbeat have subsided somewhat, but there are still days where it stops me dead in my tracks.
In context ↗ - Began after: COVID
I had my first bout with Covid in December of ‘21
In context ↗
Read from 4 of their posts and comments; links to the 4 this page draws on
Summary
After COVID in December 2021 and again in February 2022, brain fog, exhaustion, a racing heartbeat and severe tinnitus began around April or May 2022; some days they could not talk coherently or drive. Bouts of the drunk-like fog became less severe over time, and they relied on rest and patience; switching from albuterol to levalbuterol reduced the thundering heartbeat. Still, a chronic violent cough has lasted three years and they lost some hearing in their right ear.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- Trelegy · No change
I’ve been given Trelegy, levalbuterol, benzonatate, and occasionally prednisone, but meds don’t seem to do much.
In context ↗ - levalbuterol · Helped
I switched from Albuterol to Levalbuterol ... the thundering heartbeat was reduced significantly.
In context ↗ - lots of rest · Helped
just lots of rest, and lots of patience while my body sorted it all out.
In context ↗ - patience/time · Helped
lots of patience while my body sorted it all out.
In context ↗
Approaches: Radical rest
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 4 months after onset: the story doesn’t say how ill they were before that. 2 steps say too little to place on the scale and are only in the table. Dates are when they posted. What the levels mean.
Show as a table
| When | What happened | Where they were | After |
|---|---|---|---|
| December 2021 | first COVID infectionI had my first bout with Covid in December of ‘21In context ↗ | Not stated | |
| February 2022 | second COVID infectionthen again in February of ‘22In context ↗ | Not stated | |
| April 2022 | brain fog, exhaustion, racing heartbeat and extreme tinnitus beganThe episodes of brain fog started to appear around April or May of ‘22, along with the exhaustion, crazy heartbeat and extreme tinnitusIn context ↗ | Moderate | |
| July 2023 | fog bouts became less severe with more good daysEventually the bouts became less severe, and I had more good days in between the bad days.In context ↗ | Mild | Time and spontaneous remission |
| 2025-12-06 | thundering heartbeat reduced after switching from albuterol to levalbuterolI switched from Albuterol to Levalbuterol ... the thundering heartbeat was reduced significantlyIn context ↗ | Mild |
Adverse events
- Albuterol / salbutamol (Ventolin)“I switched from Albuterol to Levalbuterol at the recommendation of the nurse at one of my ER visits, and the thundering heartbeat was reduced significantly.” In context ↗ Heart rhythm problems
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Brain fog
The episodes of brain fog started to appear around April or May of ‘22
In context ↗ - Heart symptoms & palpitations
crazy heartbeat
In context ↗ - Tinnitus
extreme tinnitus
In context ↗
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