Long COVID crash forced them to stop work, somewhat better with Lexapro
- Condition
- Long COVID
- At worst
- Moderate (mostly housebound)
- Ill before improving or writing
- 2.5 years
- Last post
- Feb 2026
In their words
- Condition: Long COVID
I was very happy to get back to work after my first infection, though I still had symptoms. Second infection and a cumulation of life stressors disabled me
In context ↗ - At worst: Moderate
I could not deal with work anymore and finally gave up 5 months ago after a horrible crash
In context ↗ - Now: Somewhat better
Now I am somewhat stable but miles away from being able to work.
In context ↗ - Began after: COVID
after my first infection, though I still had symptoms
Read from 4 of their posts and comments; links to the 4 this page draws on
Summary
Long COVID since a first infection about 2.5 years before December 2025; they kept working with symptoms until a second infection and life stressors caused a crash that forced them to stop work five months earlier. Lexapro 5 mg calmed their nervous system, normalised sleep and reduced PEM, but brought weight gain and anhedonia. Muscle weakness, gait problems and footdrop persisted, and by February 2026 they called their condition stagnating.
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What they tried
What they credit
Their words about each treatment
- Lexapro · Helped
I started with 5mg and felt an immediate effect. ... After two months now I still have bad gait, weak muscles and lots of muscle pain and stiffness, but I can deal better with stress and do not have as much PEM after exertion.
In context ↗
Approaches: SSRIs
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | long COVID after first infection; back at work with symptomsI was very happy to get back to work after my first infection, though I still had symptoms.In context ↗ | Mild | |
| 2025-07 | second infection and life stressors; horrible crash, gave up workSecond infection and a cumulation of life stressors disabled me so much that I could not deal with work anymore and finally gave up 5 months ago after a horrible crash.In context ↗ | Moderate | |
| 2025-11 | nervous system calmed, sleep returned, less PEM on LexaproAfter starting Lexapro 6 weeks ago my nervous system calmed down considerably and I finally could sleep again.In context ↗ | Moderate | Escitalopram (Lexapro) |
| 2026-02-26 | condition stagnating; still weak muscles, gait problems, footdropApart from that I have muscle weakness, gait problems and slight footdrop in my right foot. ... my condition is mainly stagnating now.In context ↗ | Moderate |
Adverse events
- Escitalopram (Lexapro)“I have gained some weight and have some anhedonia” In context ↗ Side effects
- Escitalopram (Lexapro)“I have gained some weight and have some anhedonia” In context ↗ Mood or psychiatric effects
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Sleep problems
normalized my sleep that had been going downhill steadily
In context ↗ - Post-exertional malaise
do not have as much PEM after exertion
In context ↗ - Muscle weakness
I still have bad gait, weak muscles and lots of muscle pain and stiffness
In context ↗ - Pain & fibromyalgia
lots of muscle pain and stiffness
In context ↗ - Anxiety & low mood
I have gained some weight and have some anhedonia
In context ↗
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