Long COVID brain fog and breathlessness, somewhat better with physiotherapy and walks
- Condition
- Long COVID
- At worst
- Moderate (mostly housebound)
- Ill before improving or writing
- 4 months
- Last post
- Jun 2022
In their words
- Condition: Long COVID
Post-covid I couldn't even do the yoga or walk 1 block to the corner store.
In context ↗ - At worst: Moderate
Post-covid I couldn't even do the yoga or walk 1 block to the corner store.
In context ↗ - Now: Somewhat better
initially this was a 2 minute walk, 3 weeks later I'm up to an 8 minute walk
In context ↗ - Began after: COVID
I got COVID in early March
In context ↗
Read from 8 of their posts and comments; links to the 8 this page draws on
Summary
Beacon 14354 developed long COVID after a COVID infection in early March 2022, with breathlessness, high heart rate on exertion, dizziness, COVID brain and a post-COVID rash. She could not do yoga or walk a block; physiotherapy and daily walks brought her to an eight-minute walk by April, and the rash resolved after about eight weeks. She still could not sing in the car or go on her planned hiking trip, and a higher methylphenidate dose did not help.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- methylphenidate · No change
my doc gave me a higher dose of my methylphenidate to counteract the COVID brain but it didn't help
In context ↗ - iron supplements · Not said
My ferritin levels are also steadily declining despite taking iron supplements.
In context ↗ - cetirizine · Helped
20mg daily cetirizine helped with the itching for me, but I had to stop taking it because it was giving me headaches
In context ↗ - physiotherapist-guided cardio program · Helped
initially this was a 2 minute walk, 3 weeks later I'm up to an 8 minute walk
In context ↗ - guided breathing exercises · Not said
as well as guided breathing exercises every 1-3 hours
In context ↗ - expand-a-lung breathing exerciser · Not said
I also have an expand-a-lung breathing exerciser which has been too difficult on the lowest setting up until now
In context ↗ - calamine · Not said
On weepy skin I apply calamine to dry it out
In context ↗ - Aquaphor · Not said
then Aquaphor to help it heal once it stops weeping
In context ↗ - Glaxal Base cream · Helped
It's a bit uncomfortable, but it's the only thing that has worked for me.
In context ↗ - Aveeno eczema body wash · Worse
I tried Aveeno's eczema body wash, but it irritated my skin.
In context ↗ - chewable Pepto Bismol · Helped
If the diarrhea threatens to get out of control, I'll take chewable Pepto Bismol, which seems to work.
In context ↗ - Boost or Ensure Plus Calories · Not said
when I'm not feeling well enough to eat an appropriate amount of food, I'll supplement with the "Plus Calories" version of Boost or Ensure.
In context ↗ - COVID vaccination as treatment · Not said
That armpit had also swollen up huge right after the shot.
In context ↗
Approaches: Physiotherapy and rehab
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 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| early March 2022 | COVID infectionI got COVID in early MarchIn context ↗ | Not stated | |
| shortly after COVID | could not do yoga or walk a block; high heart rate on exertionPost-covid I couldn't even do the yoga or walk 1 block to the corner store.In context ↗ | Moderate | |
| 2022-04-10 | physiotherapy improved walking to 8 minutes and lowered heart rateinitially this was a 2 minute walk, 3 weeks later I'm up to an 8 minute walkIn context ↗ | Moderate | Physical therapy / physiotherapy |
| 2022-06-15 | rash resolved, hyperpigmentation remained; still limitedMy rash resolved itself fully after about 8 weeks with varying degrees of itchiness, but a lot of hyperpigmentation was left behind.In context ↗ | Moderate |
Adverse events
- Methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta)“Yeah, my doc gave me a higher dose of my methylphenidate to counteract the COVID brain but it didn't help. Now I just sweat way more.” In context ↗ Side effects
- COVID vaccination as treatment“That armpit had also swollen up huge right after the shot.” In context ↗ Side effects
- Cetirizine (Zyrtec)“20mg daily cetirizine helped with the itching for me, but I had to stop taking it because it was giving me headaches, sinus congestion, and an insanely runny nose.” In context ↗ Side effects
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Breathlessness
If I try to go at my normal pace, I run out of breath
In context ↗ - Brain fog
my doc gave me a higher dose of my methylphenidate to counteract the COVID brain
In context ↗ - Heart symptoms & palpitations
my heart rate has been quite a lot higher than usual with these activities
In context ↗ - POTS & dysautonomia
where I start feeling dizzy at 10
In context ↗ - Gut problems
I have relatively controllable diarrhea during the week before my period.
In context ↗ - Headaches & migraine
migraines, etc. with varying degrees of severity
In context ↗ - Pain & fibromyalgia
cramps, muscle aches
In context ↗
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