Long COVID brain fog, DPDR and PEM, somewhat better with pacing and time
- Condition
- Long COVID
- At worst
- Mild (working or studying, with limits)
- Ill before improving or writing
- 5 years
- Last post
- May 2025
In their words
- Condition: Long COVID
They didn't even know about my LC
In context ↗ - At worst: Mild
I just couldn't handle seeing anyone. I locked myself in my room
In context ↗ - Now: Somewhat better
4 years later, nothing has cured me. I'm better, but as you improve, the remaining symptoms simply occupy more space in the mind and you cant feel grateful.
In context ↗ - Began after: a vaccination
The vax in mid-2021 ruined me completely.
In context ↗
Read from 27 of their posts and comments; links to the 16 this page draws on
Summary
Zephyr 25941 considers themself a first waver with subtle early issues, but says the Pfizer primary series in mid-2021 ruined them, leaving them with brain fog, DPDR, vision issues and PEM. They credit pycnogenol and pacing with resolving their PEM by 2022, and NAC, taurine, fasting and time with gradual improvement. By early 2025 they were better but still unemployed, with brain fog, DPDR and sexual dysfunction; high-dose NAC caused transient tinnitus.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- pycnogenol · Helped a lot
I believe pycnogenol cured my PEM.
In context ↗ - pacing · Helped
I had PEM but cured that in 2022 with pycnogenol and pacing.
In context ↗ - NAC · Helped
I take it as a sign that NAC was definitely doing something (which i already felt for other reasons, namely, brain fog improvement)
In context ↗ - taurine · Helped
Things like mag, NAC, taurine and pycnogenol are helping me.
In context ↗ - magnesium · Helped
The best supplements for me have been magnesium (different types like citrate, glycinate, etc)
In context ↗ - extended water fasting · Helped
Extended water fasting seems to have helped, but is difficult to do.
In context ↗ - time · Helped
immune modulating supps like NAC, taurine, etc, extended water fasting, and time have helped me improve
In context ↗ - nicotine patches · Helped
They helped while they were on but the effects wore off.
In context ↗ - vitamin D · Worse
High vit D, just 8000 IU for several days gave me extreme dry mouth and chest pain for a few days.
In context ↗ - hair loss meds · Worse
I tried hair loss meds (which also target DHT) and the result was libido loss, so I got off those.
In context ↗ - creatine · Worse
People say it doesn't, but if you've experienced it, you know it does worsen hair loss.
In context ↗ - advil · Helped
I had this happen at times and advil always helped.
In context ↗ - baking soda toothpaste · Helped
It is baking soda based and really calmed down my entire mouth which always felt dry and acidic.
In context ↗ - COVID vaccination as treatment · Worse
I would just describe the symptoms it caused. For me, it gave me intense brain fog, DPDR and vision issues. ... the primary series of shots absolutely fked me up.
In context ↗
Approaches: Amino acids and carnitine · Diet · Pacing · Supplements
Their path
What they say at each step doesn’t fit the worst point or outcome above on the severity scale, so the steps are listed as they describe them. Dates are when they posted.
| When | What happened | After |
|---|---|---|
| mid-2021 | Pfizer primary series; brain fog, DPDR and vision issuesThe vax in mid-2021 ruined me completely.In context ↗ | |
| 2022 | PEM resolved after pycnogenol and pacingI had PEM but cured that in 2022 with pycnogenol and pacing.In context ↗ | Pycnogenol and grape seed extract |
| January 2025 | Better overall; brain fog, DPDR and sexual dysfunction remainedI'm better, but as you improve, the remaining symptoms simply occupy more space in the mindIn context ↗ | |
| March 2025 | Feeling better but still unemployedFeeling better but still unemployed.In context ↗ |
Adverse events
- COVID vaccination as treatment“I would just describe the symptoms it caused. For me, it gave me intense brain fog, DPDR and vision issues. ... the primary series of shots absolutely fked me up.” In context ↗ Made symptoms worse
- Nicotine patches“They do make ur sleep more vivid, so u could begin by removing them at night.” In context ↗ Side effects
- NAC (N-acetylcysteine)“I started upping my NAC dose to 1200 mg once per day and getting tinnitus at night which goes away in an hour or so. ... I disliked the daily tinnitus at nighttime” Side effects
- Vitamin D and sun exposure“High vit D, just 8000 IU for several days gave me extreme dry mouth and chest pain for a few days. I prob should've been on vit k2/mk4 as well” In context ↗ Side effects
- “I tried hair loss meds (which also target DHT) and the result was libido loss, so I got off those.” In context ↗ Side effects
- Creatine“People say it doesn't, but if you've experienced it, you know it does worsen hair loss.” In context ↗ Side effects
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Post-exertional malaise
I had PEM but cured that in 2022 with pycnogenol and pacing.
In context ↗ - Brain fog
My main stuff now is brain fog, DPDR, and sexual dysfunction.
In context ↗ - Heart symptoms & palpitations
I dont have PEM or any more (symptomatic) heart stuff really.
In context ↗ - Vision problems
it gave me intense brain fog, DPDR and vision issues.
In context ↗ - Anxiety & low mood
Some combination of anhedonia and/or DPDR.
In context ↗
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