Long COVID at 40% energy and unable to work, much better with ashwagandha and exercise
- Condition
- Long COVID
- At worst
- Moderate (mostly housebound)
- Ill before improving or writing
- Not stated
- Last post
- Jun 2025
In their words
- Condition: Long COVID
I probably have permanent limitations due to Long covid.
In context ↗ - At worst: Moderate
It takes me from like 40% of my pre COVID energy levels to 65-85% depending on the day.
In context ↗ - Now: Much better
Now my "symptom free" days are still only 75-80% of pre COVID
In context ↗ - Began after: COVID
when I was on Prednisone years ago for treating COVID
Read from 11 of their posts and comments; links to the 9 this page draws on
Summary
After a COVID infection years earlier, this person had long COVID with energy around 40% of pre-illness, brain fog, dizziness, breathlessness, and could not work. Ashwagandha raised energy to 65-85%, while supplements, gradual walking and bodyweight exercise, and TMS for depression also helped, including brain fog. Wegovy later markedly worsened fatigue and PEM, though eating more protein helped; in June 2025 their symptom-free days were still only 75-80% of pre-COVID.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- Ashwaganda · Helped a lot
Ashwaganda had helped my lethargy immensely. It takes me from like 40% of my pre COVID energy levels to 65-85%
In context ↗ - B complex · Not said
I also take a B complex and d supplements.
In context ↗ - being as physically active as I can manage · Helped
I've found that being as physically active as I can manage helps immensely.
In context ↗ - transcranial magnetic stimulation · Helped a lot
transcranial magnetic stimulation ... that helped with that immensely and improved my energy levels, brain fog, etc.
In context ↗ - coffee · Helped
I have to say though that I wouldn't make it through days without both ashwaganda and coffee.
In context ↗ - Rhodiola · Worse
Rhodiola and some other supplements I've tried make me 'uncomfortably energetic'
In context ↗ - pace myself · Not said
I've had to learn to pace myself and progress frustratingly slowly
In context ↗ - Wegovy · Worse
the Wegovy significantly *worsened* fatigue for me, especially PEM
In context ↗ - eating more protein · Helped
Increasing the protein did help me
In context ↗ - Prednisone · Helped
the only time was when I was on Prednisone years ago for treating COVID
In context ↗
Approaches: Brain stimulation · Diet · Other drugs and medicines · Physiotherapy and rehab · Supplements
Their path
How ill they were on the ME/CFS severity scale, estimated from what they describe at each point, in the order they describe; they don’t give enough times to place each step. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| years ago | got COVID; long COVID left about 40% of pre-COVID energy, unable to workwhen I was on Prednisone years ago for treating COVID ... It takes me from like 40% of my pre COVID energy levels to 65-85% depending on the day | Moderate |
| beginning of last year (2024) | gradual walking then bodyweight exercise; lost 40 lb; energy 65-85% of pre-COVIDat the beginning of last year I actually lost 40 lb. I was mostly walking, then I added in bodyweight exerciseIn context ↗ | Mild |
| — | lost progress on a family vacationOn vacation back to my family I lost a lot of thisIn context ↗ | Not stated |
| June 2025 | Wegovy markedly worsened fatigue and PEM; bedridden and exhaustedthe Wegovy significantly *worsened* fatigue for me, especially PEM ... I was bed ridden exhausted till I started eating more protein | Moderate |
| June 2025 | eating more protein helped; symptom-free days at 75-80% of pre-COVID, still not workingIncreasing the protein did help me ... Now my "symptom free" days are still only 75-80% of pre COVID | Mild |
Adverse events
- Graded rehab and self-made programmes“I got so incredibly dizzy that I almost couldn't even walk home from the park, and immediately had to lay down” In context ↗ Made symptoms worse
- Ashwagandha“some people including myself at first, find that when they're first starting it can be impatient and aggressive” In context ↗ Side effects
- Rhodiola“Rhodiola and some other supplements I've tried make me 'uncomfortably energetic'” In context ↗ Side effects
- Semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy)“the Wegovy significantly *worsened* fatigue for me, especially PEM” In context ↗ Made symptoms worse
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Post-exertional malaise
the Wegovy significantly *worsened* fatigue for me, especially PEM
In context ↗ - Brain fog
The brain fog was helped a lot, though not eliminated
In context ↗ - POTS & dysautonomia
Being able to stand up from bed without the room spinning is better
In context ↗ - Breathlessness
I got so incredibly dizzy that I almost couldn't even walk home from the park
In context ↗ - Anxiety & low mood
I also started with incredibly severe depression before I got covid
In context ↗
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