Long COVID left unable to walk, now walking around the house after rest and diet changes
- Condition
- Long COVID
- At worst
- Severe (mostly bedbound)
- Ill before improving or writing
- 20 months
- Last post
- Sep 2026
In their words
- Condition: Long COVID
I've had long covid since New Years Eve.
In context ↗ - At worst: Severe
I couldn't walk, I could barely hold up a half full glass of water ... and I would faint from even the slightest bit of exertion.
In context ↗ - Now: Somewhat better
luckily my conditions have slowly improved but they aren't gone. I can finally walk around my house without being in pain or feeling like I need to be sitting all the time. But, I can't go outside
In context ↗ - Began after: COVID
I got Covid back on New Year's Eve
Read from 11 of their posts and comments; links to the 6 this page draws on
Summary
Anna, 24 and living in New England, got COVID at New Year 2025 and was left unable to walk, faint on exertion and barely able to stand for two minutes. Rest, water, ibuprofen and diet changes brought slow gains, but a hot bath in May 2025 left them bedbound again. Since then they have improved slowly, and by September 2026 could walk around their house, though panic attacks stop them going outside.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- Ibuprofen · Helped
Take Ibuprofen a bunch of times a day ... Which seem to work over the last two months my nerve pain has gone away
In context ↗ - change eating habits · Helped
Take Ibuprofen a bunch of times a day, drink water, get rest, and change eating habits. ... my GERD went away, my stomach calmed down completely
In context ↗ - rest · Helped
Take Ibuprofen a bunch of times a day, drink water, get rest, and change eating habits. ... The only thing that helps is lying down and napping.
- chewing on gum after eating · Helped
I've already found ways to help a little bit from before like chewing on gum after eating.
In context ↗ - qtip to keep my nostril open · Helped
And using a qtip to keep my nostril open when I'm asleep. ... I feel like I can breathe through my nose when I do it.
In context ↗
Approaches: Diet · Other drugs and medicines · Pacing
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. Dates are when they posted. What the levels mean.
Show as a table
| When | What happened | Where they were | After |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 2025 | COVID onset; could barely walk, fainted, bedboundI couldn't walk, I could barely hold up a half full glass of waterIn context ↗ | Severe | |
| spring 2025 (by 23 May 2025) | nerve pain gone, strength returned, 30-minute walksmy strength has returned to the point I can go for 30 minute walks/speed walks once or twice a weekIn context ↗ | Mild | Elimination diets (other) |
| May 2025 | crashed after a hot bath, bedboundAfter that bath I was shaking and my body was tingling like crazy ... I've been bedbound ever sinceIn context ↗ | Severe | |
| July 2025 | walking and light workouts againI've started going for walks and working out a little againIn context ↗ | Mild | |
| October 2025 | mild hypothermia episodes; not as good since a bath crashI've had mild hypothermia a few times since I got covidIn context ↗ | Mild | |
| April 2026 | mental PEM, cannot focus or process informationSleeping longer than usual, not being able to focus on things or even process informationIn context ↗ | Mild | |
| September 2026 | walks around the house but panic attacks keep them from going outsideI can finally walk around my house without being in pain or feeling like I need to be sitting all the timeIn context ↗ | Moderate |
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Post-exertional malaise
I've had physical PEM from the start
In context ↗ - Brain fog
not being able to focus on things or even process information
In context ↗ - POTS & dysautonomia
I would faint from even the slightest bit of exertion
In context ↗ - Sleep problems
Sleeping longer than usual
In context ↗ - Pain & fibromyalgia
immense neck pain/back pain
In context ↗ - Gut problems
My stomach is killing me, it feels like my gut tbh
In context ↗ - Breathlessness
I'm very Congested to the point where I feel I can't breathe
In context ↗ - Heart symptoms & palpitations
I can hear my heartbeat at the most random of times
In context ↗ - Muscle weakness
I could barely hold up a half full glass of water
In context ↗ - Neuropathy & tingling
My hands feel like they're on fire
In context ↗ - Anxiety & low mood
My brain just gives me panic attacks now.
In context ↗ - Flu-like symptoms
I realize I'm sick, I have a fever
In context ↗ - Loss of smell or taste
I lost my sense of smell, some of my taste
In context ↗ - Temperature regulation
my body seem very weird about temperature changes
In context ↗
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