Long COVID with PEM and head pressure, nearly back to normal on low-dose naltrexone
- Condition
- Long COVID
- At worst
- Mild (working or studying, with limits)
- Ill before improving or writing
- 6 years
- Last post
- May 2026
In their words
- Condition: Long COVID
I’ve been long-hauling since April 2020
In context ↗ - At worst: Mild
I am back to walking and sometimes I try to run but if I do that and lift weights I will pay for it a couple days later
In context ↗ - Now: Near normal
I am now back to working out which I am so thankful for. I still have some head pressure and i do this subtle hungover feeling when I push it too hard
In context ↗ - Began after: COVID
I’ve been long-hauling since April 2020 (although never had a Covid positive test until June 2022)
Read from 13 of their posts and comments; links to the 11 this page draws on
Summary
They fell ill with long COVID in April 2020; head pressure, a constant hungover feeling, PEM, dizziness and fatigue worsened after their second Pfizer vaccine in 2021. Antidepressants gave no relief, and lactoferrin with nattokinase/serrapeptase helped only briefly before they relapsed. Low-dose naltrexone gave them back their life, and by May 2026 they were working out again, though they still have some head pressure and a hungover feeling when they push too hard.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- Amitriptyline · No change
Been on Amitriptyline for 2 years but it hasn’t given me any relief.
In context ↗ - Citalopram · No change
have tried Trazodone and Citalopram which all have no effect
In context ↗ - a TON of supplements (B12 included) · Not said
I have been for about a year taking a TON of supplements (B12 included).
In context ↗ - Natto/Serra · Helped
I did start doing Natto/Serra and Lactoferrin which had helped for a little bit but I’ve been relapsing pretty back for the past month.
In context ↗ - Lactoferrin · Helped
I’ve been on Lactoferrin (as well as Natto/SerrA) for about a month now and it’s helped with my head pressure and PEM symptoms.
In context ↗ - baby aspirin · Helped
I have been trying Natto/Serra + Lactoferrin + baby aspirin for the past two months and had a great couple of days and my head pressure let up for a bit.
In context ↗ - Propranolol · Not said
Propranolol (I just take for public speaking)
In context ↗ - Prozac · Not said
so l just started Prozac (I am just trying it out but I don’t think it’s going to help)
In context ↗ - salt/electrolytes · Not said
This weekend I also started to talk some salt/electrolytes to help with the POTs.
In context ↗ - facial · Helped
I did just get a facial today and I feel like I got a bit of relief for about an hour afterwards.
In context ↗ - low histamine diet · Helped
someone had mentioned MCAS, so I’ve been trying a low histamine diet which helped slightly but not entirely.
In context ↗ - H1s · Not said
And also tried the low histamine diet along with a slew of H1 and H2s.
In context ↗ - staying within my energy limits · Helped
Some of which have kind of resolved if I stay within my energy limits, eat healthy and try to stay stress-free.
In context ↗ - working out (walking, running, lifting weights) · Worse
I am back to walking and sometimes I try to run but if I do that and lift weights I will pay for it a couple days later.
In context ↗ - LDN (low dose naltrexone) · Helped a lot
Helped give me my life back. I was dealing with chronic head pressure, fatigue, dizziness, and PEM. I am now back to working out which I am so thankful for.
In context ↗
Approaches: 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 2020 | long COVID symptoms began in spring 2020I did have weird symptoms start April 2020In context ↗ | Mild | |
| February 2021 | constant head pressure and worse neurological and GI symptoms a week after second Pfizer vaccineIt started week after my second Pfizer ... things got way worse after the shotIn context ↗ | Mild | |
| January 2023 | head pressure and PEM eased after about a monthI’ve been on Lactoferrin (as well as Natto/SerrA) for about a month now and it’s helped with my head pressure and PEM symptoms.In context ↗ | Mild | Lactoferrin and colostrum |
| January 2023 | stopped lactoferrin and symptoms returnedI did stop taking it last week and the symptoms started to come back.In context ↗ | Mild | |
| February 2023 | relapse after overdoing workouts and drinking alcoholhave been relapsing as of late. Could be because I’ve overdone it with working out and I did drink last weekend.In context ↗ | Mild | |
| August 2023 | slight help from a low histamine dietsomeone had mentioned MCAS, so I’ve been trying a low histamine diet which helped slightly but not entirely.In context ↗ | Mild | Low-histamine diet |
| March 2024 | still daily head pressure and hangover feeling, all scans normalI feel like I am living in torture everyday. But I am very lucky and thankful it isn’t any worse and I am not totally bed-bound with this.In context ↗ | Mild | |
| March 2025 | some symptoms resolved when staying within energy limits, on LDN for painSome of which have kind of resolved if I stay within my energy limits, eat healthy and try to stay stress-free.In context ↗ | Mild | Pacing and the energy envelope |
| May 2026 | back to working out, with some head pressure when pushing too hardHelped give me my life back. ... I am now back to working out which I am so thankful for.In context ↗ | Near normal | Low-dose naltrexone |
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Headaches & migraine
I am still having daily headaches/headpressure though
In context ↗ - Post-exertional malaise
And also dealing with PEM.
In context ↗ - POTS & dysautonomia
I also have dizziness, high heart rate, low blood pressure upon standing.
In context ↗ - Flu-like symptoms
i do this subtle hungover feeling when I push it too hard
In context ↗ - Vision problems
Also have vision dysfunction periodically.
In context ↗ - Muscle weakness
I do have times where I feel like my neck can’t support my neck
In context ↗ - Pain & fibromyalgia
currently only taking LDN (low dose naltrexone) to try to manage the pain
In context ↗ - Gut problems
the 2nd vaccine in 2021 triggered the worse symptoms (neurological and GI)
In context ↗
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