Long COVID brain fog and panic attacks; SSRI and diet helped, then brain fog returned
- Condition
- Long COVID
- At worst
- Moderate (mostly housebound)
- Ill before improving or writing
- 6 months
- Last post
- Jun 2021
In their words
- Condition: Long COVID
25F and 6 month long hauler
In context ↗ - At worst: Moderate
Debilitating brain fog and fatigue since January
In context ↗ - Now: Relapsed
I thought I was finally rid of the brain fog throughout March but it’s come back for for the past 4 weeks now.
In context ↗ - Began after: COVID
I’m a 25 yr active female who tested positive in Nov, only had fever, no hospitalization needed.
In context ↗
Read from 16 of their posts and comments; links to the 10 this page draws on
Summary
Courtney, 25, tested positive for COVID in November 2020; panic attacks began at Christmas, and from January 2021 she had debilitating brain fog and fatigue. An SSRI eased the panic attacks and a strict anti-inflammatory diet made the brain-fog pain bearable; brain fog lifted through March, then returned for four weeks. Six months in, after a second Moderna dose, she still had brain fog, though it was less intense one day.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- Motrin · Helped
I’ve been taking Motrin daily since it’s an inflammatory agent
In context ↗ - ice packs · Helped
That was the only way I could fall asleep for even 1 hour.
In context ↗ - SSRI · Helped
I started an SSRI after dealing with the constant attacks and delusions 1 month straight and the SSRI has truly helped me.
In context ↗ - stopping vaping · Not said
I stopped vaping, incorporated a strict anti-inflammatory diet
In context ↗ - vitamins · Not said
I started taking more vitamins, having a anti-inflammatory diet
In context ↗ - strict anti-inflammatory diet · Helped
the decision to have a strict anti-inflammatory diet this past week has already made the pain bearable
In context ↗ - Tylenol, Advil · No change
Tylenol, Advil etc doesn’t make it go away.
In context ↗ - Moderna vaccine · Helped
At first I thought it made my brain fog go away (3 days with no fog) but then it returned
In context ↗
Approaches: Diet · 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. Dates are when they posted. What the levels mean.
Show as a table
| When | What happened | Where they were | After |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2020 | COVID-19 infection, fever for two daysI’m a 25 yr active female who tested positive in Nov, only had fever, no hospitalization needed.In context ↗ | Mild | |
| January 2021 | debilitating brain fog, fatigue and panic attacksDebilitating brain fog and fatigue since January.In context ↗ | Moderate | |
| early February 2021 | SSRI eased panic attacks and delusionsI started an SSRI that has helped (brain fog is still here)In context ↗ | Moderate | Antidepressants (unspecified) |
| March 2021 | strict anti-inflammatory diet made brain-fog pain bearable and brain fog lifted through Marchthe decision to have a strict anti-inflammatory diet this past week has already made the pain bearableIn context ↗ | Mild | Anti-inflammatory diet |
| May 2021 | brain fog returned for four weeks, crying in bed from the painI thought I was finally rid of the brain fog throughout March but it’s come back for for the past 4 weeks now.In context ↗ | Moderate | |
| 2021-06-03 | brain fog still present but less intense after second Moderna dosestill have brain fog but today is not as intense as yesterdayIn context ↗ | Mild |
Adverse events
- COVID vaccination as treatment“Overcame the fever and fatigue yesterday but today am feeling heaviness in my chest and strong pressure in my ears.. I did not have this ear symptom when I had covid or during my long haul journey” In context ↗ Side effects
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Brain fog
still have brain fog but today is not as intense as yesterday
In context ↗ - Post-exertional malaise
I can’t do physical activity anymore (hot yoga, aerial arts) because it seems to aggravate it more
In context ↗ - Anxiety & low mood
Started panic attacks on Christmas (never had one before)
In context ↗ - Sleep problems
I do have issues sleeping still
In context ↗ - Headaches & migraine
It just feels like my brain is swollen constantly until I just start crying from the pain.
In context ↗ - Temperature regulation
I only had a fever the first 2 days
In context ↗ - POTS & dysautonomia
hyperactive autonomic nervous system for 5 months now
In context ↗
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