Long COVID
Severe → near normalIll 3.5 years before improving or writingNeeds ongoing treatment
Bedbound with long COVID, now nearly back to normal after diet and fermented foods
- Condition
- Long COVID
- At worst
- Severe (mostly bedbound)
- Ill before improving or writing
- 3.5 years
- Last post
- Oct 2025
In their words
- Condition: Long COVID
after being so sick since June 2022 that I couldn't even work or think
In context ↗ - At worst: Severe
When I started at the clinic, I was basically only able to lay in bed, unable to think
In context ↗ - Now: Near normal
I'm nearly back to normal (aside from continuing with a modified diet and taking medications)
In context ↗ - Began after: COVID
Now, I feel as good or better than I did before I got Covid back in June 2022.
- Says they never had: Loss of smell or taste
I also had hyper-smell sensitivity (instead of losing my sense of smell)
Read from 20 of their posts and comments; links to the 12 this page draws on
Summary
Sequoia 23990 got long COVID in June 2022 and was too ill to work for 3.5 years, at worst bedbound and unable to eat without diarrhoea. An elimination diet and fermented foods helped gradually; then low-dose naltrexone, guanfacine, NAC and Zyrtec from a University of Washington clinic, plus a rest-based PEM protocol, brought rapid gains. By October 2025 they were back at work and felt as good as or better than before COVID, still on medication and eating simply.
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What they tried
What they credit
low-dose naltrexone (LDN)· Helped a lot · mainguanfacine· Helped a lot · mainNAC· Helpedglycine· HelpedLion's Mane mushroom extract· Helpedradical diet change (no preservatives, processed foods, alcohol)· Helpedradical diet change (no preservatives, processed foods, alcohol)· HelpedLow FODMAP diet· HelpedZyrtec (cetirizine)· HelpedPEM pacing protocol from the LC Clinic· Helpedmeditation and visualization· Helpedkefir, kimchi and sauerkraut· Helped
Also tried
Long Covid Clinic at the University of Washington· Helped a lotCPAP machine· Helped a lotLong Covid group sessions· Helpedanti-depressant· Worse
Their words about each treatment
- NAC · Helped
which all helped significantly with brain fog
In context ↗ - glycine · Helped
600mg of NAC and 1000mg of glycine daily, along with Lion's Mane mushroom extract, which all helped significantly with brain fog
In context ↗ - Lion's Mane mushroom extract · Helped
along with Lion's Mane mushroom extract, which all helped significantly with brain fog
In context ↗ - radical diet change (no preservatives, processed foods, alcohol) · Helped
radically changed my diet to eliminate inflammatory foods, ultra processed/highly processed foods, no alcohol, etc.
In context ↗ - Low FODMAP diet · Helped
That took me off all processed foods and helped me calm my gut.
In context ↗ - Zyrtec (cetirizine) · Helped
My allergist at the Long Covid Clinic at the University of Washington had me taking 20mg Zyrtec morning and night, which helped a lot with the histamine reactions.
In context ↗ - low-dose naltrexone (LDN) · Helped a lot
After two weeks on the naltrexone, my gastro issues finally resolved.
In context ↗ - guanfacine · Helped a lot
this summer, I added 1mg guanfacine, which helped massively with my cognitive issues. After a month, I realized I could read longer passages and think more clearly.
In context ↗ - Long Covid Clinic at the University of Washington · Helped a lot
getting into that LC program saved my life, I think
In context ↗ - Long Covid group sessions · Helped
The support and community we built in the Long Covid Group Sessions were hugely healing.
In context ↗ - PEM pacing protocol from the LC Clinic · Helped
When I started following this protocol - which is different than what you would do for a stroke or concussion - I started to improve rapidly.
In context ↗ - meditation and visualization · Helped
After about a month of that (and the timing was likely coincidental), I woke up one morning in June 2025
In context ↗ - CPAP machine · Helped a lot
I also use a CPAP machine, which has hugely helped restore my sleep as I continue to heal.
In context ↗ - kefir, kimchi and sauerkraut · Helped
I was scared it would make me sick, but instead, I started to get better
In context ↗ - anti-depressant · Worse
I'd taken it for 7 years and then it gave me mast cell over-activation. It was terrifying.
In context ↗
Approaches: H1 antihistamines · Amino acids and carnitine · Diet · Mind-body practices · Other drugs and medicines · Pacing · Supplements
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. 3 steps have no time and sit in story order between the steps around them. Dates are when they posted. What the levels mean.
Show as a table
| When | What happened | Where they were | After |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 2022 | got COVID; long COVID began with severe gut symptomsI got absolutely NAILED with gastro issues, which is how the LC first presented for me.In context ↗ | Moderate | |
| at one point before the long COVID clinic | two weeks of improvement lost after a second COVID infectionAt one point, I got better for 2 weeks, then got Covid for a second time and went back to zero.In context ↗ | Severe | |
| about three years before October 2025 | radical elimination diet; slow gains with repeated setbacksnot fun, but it helped me a lot. I was still sick, but I started getting better bit by bit... and then I'd have huge set-backs.In context ↗ | Moderate | |
| after a year of eating simply | added kefir and kimchi/sauerkraut and began to get betterI added 8 ounces of kefir every morning and a spoonful of kimchi or saurkraut with my dinner. I was scared it would make me sick, but instead, I started to get betterIn context ↗ | Moderate | Probiotics and fermented foods |
| 2.5 years after getting sick, at clinic intake | lowest point when accepted into the University of Washington long COVID clinicWhen I started at the clinic, I was basically only able to lay in bed, unable to think, having diarrhea within 15 minutes of eating ANYTHINGIn context ↗ | Severe | |
| — | gut symptoms resolved after starting low-dose naltrexoneAfter two weeks on the naltrexone, my gastro issues finally resolved.In context ↗ | Moderate | Low-dose naltrexone |
| June 2025 | woke up no longer feeling COVID in their bodyI woke up one morning in June 2025 - almost 3 years to the day of getting covid and getting sick, and I didn't feel covid in my body anymore.In context ↗ | Mild | Meditation, yoga, breathwork |
| summer 2025 | adding guanfacine stopped mast cell reactions and PEM from concentratingAfter a month on the guanfacine, I stopped having mast cell over-activation and PEM from simply concentrating.In context ↗ | Mild | Guanfacine |
| October 2025 | back at work and discharged from the clinic, still on medication and a simple dietNow, I'm reading books, walking the dog, doing the work I loveIn context ↗ | Near normal |
Adverse events
- Antidepressants (unspecified)“When I got LC, I had to come OFF my anti-depressant. I'd taken it for 7 years and then it gave me mast cell over-activation.” In context ↗ Autoimmune or inflammatory flare
- Low-dose naltrexone“At first, I remember being really thirsty and not very hungry (they also use naltrexone for weight management) and sometimes I would get constipated, but then everything just resolved” In context ↗ Gut side effects
- Guanfacine“I was a little dizzy and spaced out for a few weeks (it lowers your blood pressure), but after about 3 weeks, I was back to normal.” In context ↗ Low blood pressure or fainting
Symptoms mentioned
Anxiety & low moodBrain fogGut problemsMast cell (MCAS) & allergiesPain & fibromyalgiaPost-exertional malaiseSleep problems
Their words about their symptoms
- Post-exertional malaise
having debilitating PEM from walking up the stairs or trying to read a paragraph
In context ↗ - Brain fog
I could barely hold a conversation because my memory was so severely impacted that I couldn't remember words
In context ↗ - Mast cell (MCAS) & allergies
having massive mast cell reactions to most foods, all alcohol, most medications, and all chemicals
In context ↗ - Sleep problems
I also use a CPAP machine, which has hugely helped restore my sleep as I continue to heal.
In context ↗ - Gut problems
having diarrhea within 15 minutes of eating ANYTHING
In context ↗ - Pain & fibromyalgia
I had excruciating pain in my joints and muscles
In context ↗ - Anxiety & low mood
There were times where I had to seriously question the value of my life.
In context ↗
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