Long COVID: off work, unable to walk 5-10 minutes; almost normal with time and rest
- Condition
- Long COVID
- At worst
- Severe (mostly bedbound)
- Ill before improving or writing
- 7 months
- Last post
- Mar 2021
In their words
- Condition: Long COVID
I've had fatigue and exhaustion as my main long covid symptoms since April
In context ↗ - At worst: Severe
resting really did mean sitting on the couch all day reading, as even short walks (10min) would make me quite dizzy and lead to a relapse
In context ↗ - Now: Near normal
I wouldn't say what I described in my initial post as fully recovered, given that I wasn't feeling able to pursue aerobic exercise (jogging).
In context ↗ - Began after: COVID
I had covid back in early April.
Read from 8 of their posts and comments; links to the 7 this page draws on
Summary
Moon 11246, 32, fell ill with COVID-19 in April 2020 and was off work three months, unable to walk 5-10 minutes without a relapse and napping for hours daily. He credited time, staying within his energy envelope and rest; by seven months he worked full days, walked for hours and did strength training. His erratic heart rate and breathlessness later resolved. By March 2021 he still avoided intense cardio; he had reported fatigue if he overdid it.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- Vit. D · Not said
Throughout all of this I've taken a daily Vit. D
In context ↗ - eating healthily / three healthy square meals a day · Not said
tried to eat as healthily as possible ... I try to eat three healthy square meals a day
- resting · Helped
focusing on resting has been more helpful than trying to 'build' up a new fitness level
In context ↗ - staying within my energy envelope · Helped a lot
what has made the biggest difference is just *time*, and trying to remain within my energy envelope
In context ↗ - time · Helped a lot
I really feel that what has made the biggest difference is just *time*
In context ↗ - Ensure high calorie drinks · Helped
had to take some Ensure high calorie drinks to gain it back after a few months
In context ↗ - anti-inflammatory diet · No change
the oft-mentioned anti-inflammatory diet made no difference
In context ↗ - strength training · Helped
I'm doing around 30min of strength training every second day without any repercussions
In context ↗ - high calorie shakes with oats/banana/peanut butter · Helped
I actually made myself some high calorie shakes with oats/banana/peanut butter for some meals
In context ↗
Approaches: Pacing · 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. 1 step has no time and sits in story order between the steps around it. Dates are when they posted. What the levels mean.
Show as a table
| When | What happened | Where they were | After |
|---|---|---|---|
| early April 2020 | COVID-19 acute illness; bedbound and spoon-fed in week twoIn my second week my partner spoon fed me in bed because of how weakened I wasIn context ↗ | Severe | |
| month 3 (July 2020) | heavy persistent fatigue, naps for hours daily, 5-10 minute walks caused relapse, off worknapping multiple hours every day, complete inability to even go for a short 5-10min walk outside without a heavy relapse within 24hrs of fatigueIn context ↗ | Moderate | |
| 4 November 2020 | back to full work days, long walks and strength trainingI'm working my full days again ... I'm doing around 30min of strength training every second day without any repercussions.In context ↗ | Near normal | Time and spontaneous remission |
| — | setbacks after overdoing activity wiped a week or two off recoveryOverly-enthusiastic leaps forwards inevitably led to setbacks.In context ↗ | Mild | |
| 8 December 2020 | better still, still avoiding alcohol and runningBetter than when I wrote the initial post. Still haven't braved alcohol or running.In context ↗ | Near normal | |
| 11 January 2021 | erratic heart rate fully resolved, fatigue only after major overdoingIt 100% went away, I still have some lingering fatigue that can show up if I majorly overdo it (9months later ugh!)In context ↗ | Near normal | |
| 9 March 2021 | shortness of breath resolved; avoids intense cardio, poor sleep with a newbornI wouldn't say what I described in my initial post as fully recovered, given that I wasn't feeling able to pursue aerobic exercise (jogging).In context ↗ | Near normal |
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Post-exertional malaise
many of the initial symptoms as well returning following any exertion (physical or mental)
In context ↗ - Breathlessness
shortness of breath is resolved for me
In context ↗ - Heart symptoms & palpitations
all of my strange heartrate stuff resolved
In context ↗ - POTS & dysautonomia
when I stood up it would jump up and stay there for some time
In context ↗ - Muscle weakness
intense fatigue, shortness of breath, heart palpatations, muscle weakness, internal tremor
In context ↗ - Anxiety & low mood
my mental health was at an all time low
In context ↗ - Sleep problems
napping multiple hours every day
In context ↗
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