Long COVID with aches, migraines and nausea, somewhat better after loratadine and Zofran
- Condition
- Long COVID
- At worst
- Moderate (mostly housebound)
- Ill before improving or writing
- 3.5 years
- Last post
- May 2025
In their words
- Condition: Long COVID
I have had long covid for 2.5 years now
In context ↗ - At worst: Moderate
I can’t bring myself to do ANYTHING during the day. Just sit, watch tv, maybe read if i feel a little motivated.
In context ↗ - Now: Somewhat better
I have gotten to a point where I can shower every other day and wash my hair every other shower pretty routinely but that was not always the case.
In context ↗ - Began after: COVID
I’m going on two years of long covid
In context ↗
Read from 12 of their posts and comments; links to the 11 this page draws on
Summary
A Reddit user who had long COVID for over two years was, 26 months in, at their worst with constant body aches, migraines, nausea, reflux and painful breathing. Loratadine helped, Zofran was a lifeline for nausea, and later stopping vitamins made them feel much better. By late 2024 they were doing much better, and by 2025 they said crashes had eased; they could shower every other day, up from once or twice a week on a stool, though they described past showering precautions to avoid PEM.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- claritin / loratadine · Helped
i was advised to use loratadine, there has been a noticeable positive change since taking it but not my desired results of course
In context ↗ - omeprazole · Not said
i take omeprazole in the morning to keep my indigestion at bay
In context ↗ - gluten free diet · Worse
my stomach has been so sensitive and slightly upset ... it feels like my blood sugar is plummeting mid day
In context ↗ - probiotics · Worse
i’ve recently started taking a mixture of probiotics (recently as in i started yesterday) now my stomach just feels watery and sick while still being constipated
In context ↗ - radical rest · Worse
I attempted radical rest. I think i did something wrong. I have developed constant body aches, tension, and stiffness.
In context ↗ - magnesium · Worse
I began taking magnesium 5 days ago and since then i have been so tired and sleeping an extra two hours at night.
In context ↗ - zofran · Helped
zofran has become my lifeline for my nausea
In context ↗ - famotadine · Not said
Today i took famotadine, ate breakfast, and two and a half hours later i laid down to take a nap and the same thing happened.
In context ↗ - vitamins · Worse
Since stopping vitamins I feel so much better, my stomach was always off and I was exhausted.
In context ↗ - vit c · Not said
Now I just take antihistamines, vit c, and zofran as needed.
In context ↗ - building endurance · Helped
I used to crash horribly. Not be able to do anything all day afterwards, feel depleted for weeks. Something changed though. I think I built genuine endurance and strength from my unwavering NEED for a normal sex life.
In context ↗
Approaches: H1 antihistamines · Exercise and activity · Other drugs and medicines
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 23 months after onset: the story doesn’t say how ill they were before that. 1 step says too little to place on the scale and is only in the table. Dates are when they posted. What the levels mean.
Show as a table
| When | What happened | Where they were | After |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | long COVID beganI’m going on two years of long covidIn context ↗ | Not stated | |
| June 2023 | worsening GI symptoms, reflux and constipation after eatingrecently, in the past two weeks or so i’m having worsening of symptoms especially relating to my gi tractIn context ↗ | Moderate | |
| September 2023 | became much worse after attempting radical rest: body aches, stiffness, migraines, painful ribsWorst I have been in the 26 months I’ve been sick. ... I am really struggling to eat and drink, nothing appeals to meIn context ↗ | Moderate | Radical rest |
| January 2024 | reflux had improved, then new night-time stomach tightening, breathlessness and muscle spasms on falling asleepi felt a tightening/ dropping sensation in my stomach, like i couldn’t breathe, a whole body muscle spasm that shook me awakeIn context ↗ | Moderate | |
| November 2024 | felt much better after stopping vitamins and supplementsSince stopping vitamins I feel so much better, my stomach was always off and I was exhausted.In context ↗ | Mild | |
| February 2025 | crashes largely stopped; built enduranceI used to crash horribly. ... Something changed though.In context ↗ | Mild | |
| May 2025 | showering every other day, up from once or twice a week on a stoolI have gotten to a point where I can shower every other day and wash my hair every other shower pretty routinely but that was not always the case.In context ↗ | Mild |
Adverse events
- Probiotics and fermented foods“i’ve recently started taking a mixture of probiotics (recently as in i started yesterday) now my stomach just feels watery and sick while still being constipated.” In context ↗ Gut side effects
- Gluten-free diet“Since i have made this change about a week ago my stomach has been so sensitive and slightly upset. As well as it feels like my blood sugar is plummeting mid day” In context ↗ Made symptoms worse
- Radical rest“I attempted radical rest. I think i did something wrong. I have developed constant body aches, tension, and stiffness.” In context ↗ Made symptoms worse
- Loratadine (Claritin)“Anti histamines give me headaches, sinus aches, and nose bleeds.” In context ↗ Side effects
- Ondansetron (Zofran)“My nausea medication gives me headaches which make me nauseous” In context ↗ Side effects
- Magnesium“I began taking magnesium 5 days ago and since then i have been so tired and sleeping an extra two hours at night.” In context ↗ Made symptoms worse
- “Since stopping vitamins I feel so much better, my stomach was always off and I was exhausted.” In context ↗ Made symptoms worse
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Post-exertional malaise
to avoid the PEM from lifting my arms for an extended period of time
In context ↗ - Gut problems
gi tract issues, acid reflux, constipation, etc.
In context ↗ - Headaches & migraine
I am waking up with migraines and neck/ between shoulder blade pain.
In context ↗ - Pain & fibromyalgia
I have developed constant body aches, tension, and stiffness.
In context ↗ - Breathlessness
My breathing is shallow and taking deep breaths hurts.
In context ↗ - Anxiety & low mood
How to stop slipping into really dark places mentally?
In context ↗ - Sleep problems
This happened 4 times before i woke up for good SHAKING.
In context ↗ - POTS & dysautonomia
my inner ear has fluid in it and throws off my equilibrium
In context ↗ - Light & noise sensitivity
Greasy hair and ears gives me major sensory issues.
In context ↗
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