Disabling long COVID symptoms, somewhat better with valacyclovir and lifestyle changes
- Condition
- Long COVID
- At worst
- Mild (working or studying, with limits)
- Ill before improving or writing
- 18 months
- Last post
- Jan 2024
In their words
- Condition: Long COVID
My “disabling” LC symptoms slowly started June 2023 and just never got better.
In context ↗ - At worst: Mild
Am able to run errands in my baseline
In context ↗ - Now: Somewhat better
I have noticed I've been more functional *on average* since starting the higher dose valacyclovir
In context ↗ - Began after: COVID
Mild covid in July 2022 and recovered in a couple weeks.
In context ↗
Summary
After mild COVID in July 2022 and an EBV reactivation in October 2022 that left tinnitus and chest pain, they developed disabling long COVID symptoms in June 2023 that never improved. In January 2024, a few weeks into valacyclovir 1 g twice daily, they felt more functional on average, though diet and lifestyle changes began at the same time. They still crashed but could run errands at their baseline.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- acyclovir · Not said
after being on a lower dose of acyclovir (400mg 2x/day) the few weeks prior, due to having positive EBV Early Antigen tests since last summer
In context ↗ - valacyclovir · Helped
I have noticed I've been more functional *on average* since starting the higher dose valacyclovir
In context ↗ - lifestyle/diet changes · Not said
I also made some lifestyle/diet changes around the same time
In context ↗
Approaches: Antivirals
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 |
|---|---|---|
| July 2022 | mild COVID infection, recovered in a couple of weeksMild covid in July 2022 and recovered in a couple weeks.In context ↗ | |
| October 2022 | EBV reactivation; never quite felt normal, tinnitus and chest pain persistedReactivation of EBV in Oct 2022. I recovered but never quite felt normal after that.In context ↗ | |
| June 2023 | disabling long COVID symptoms began and never got betterMy “disabling” LC symptoms slowly started June 2023 and just never got better.In context ↗ | |
| 2024-01-30 | more functional on average after higher-dose valacyclovir; able to run errands at baseline but crashesI have noticed I've been more functional *on average* since starting the higher dose valacyclovirIn context ↗ | Valtrex / valacyclovir |
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Tinnitus
Some symptoms like tinnitus and chest pain stuck around
In context ↗ - Heart symptoms & palpitations
chest pain stuck around
In context ↗
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