Long COVID with fatigue and breathlessness, somewhat better with heavy rest
- Condition
- Long COVID
- At worst
- Mild (working or studying, with limits)
- Ill before improving or writing
- 2 years
- Last post
- Apr 2023
In their words
- Condition: Long COVID
ASD/ADHD longhauler here.
In context ↗ - At worst: Mild
after work/volunteering/chores now I will get home and either veg out on social media or just take a 3+ hour nap ... I still can't work for more than 5-15 hours a week total
In context ↗ - Now: Somewhat better
in general the rest of my long COVID symptoms have faded pretty well with a lifestyle that involves *lots* of rest and taking it easy
In context ↗ - Began after: COVID
I had very mild COVID symptoms in April/May 2020.
In context ↗
Read from 29 of their posts and comments; links to the 16 this page draws on
Summary
Coast 14188 developed long COVID after a mild COVID illness in April/May 2020, with fatigue, breathlessness, tingling, dizziness and gut problems. Symptoms eased gradually over 2021-2022, then a June 2022 reinfection brought new cough, chest and muscle pain. A hot museum trip and a heatwave caused relapses in August and September 2022. By April 2023 symptoms had faded with heavy rest, though work was limited to 5-15 hours a week.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- heavy resting / lots of rest and taking it easy · Helped
the rest of my long COVID symptoms have faded pretty well with a lifestyle that involves *lots* of rest and taking it easy
In context ↗ - reduced refined sugar consumption · Not said
Granted, this might be a reduction of my symptoms due to a reduction of stress-I was psychiatrically hospitalized in early August 2022, and I have reduced both my consumption of stress-inducing media and my refined sugar consumption since then.
In context ↗ - fiber · Helped
Pain, nausea, and diarrhea if I don't get enough fiber.
In context ↗ - caffeine / energy drink · Not said
I'm also consuming more caffeine than I was even at the height of the COVID shutdowns, but other than headache prevention, the results of that have been very, very mixed to say the least.
In context ↗ - regular psych meds · Not said
The combination of that plus me having to not take my regular pysch meds due to the heat and the fact that they cooked out of being fully effective means that it's been a *rough* few weeks for me.
In context ↗ - salt and Gatorlyte · Helped
I've noticed I feel less lightheaded and dizzy after I've had a bunch of salt or drank a whole bottle of Gatorlyte or something, too.
In context ↗ - Moderna shots and Pfizer bivalent booster · Not said
So far I've had a few days of sore arms, less appetite, tiredness, and diarrhea after my latest COVID booster (Pfizer bivalent), but it seems to be lifting a lot.
In context ↗ - therapists online · Helped
I got help from therapists online and friends. I'm feeling better now.
In context ↗
Approaches: CBT & mindset · Radical rest
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| April/May 2020 | mild COVID illnessI had very mild COVID symptoms in April/May 2020.In context ↗ | Mild | |
| summer 2020 | long COVID symptoms beginThen in about summer 2020 I started feeling winded when I climbed the stairs at homeIn context ↗ | Mild | |
| 2021-2022 | symptoms gradually easedThese symptoms gradually got better...and then I caught COVID again in mid-June 2022.In context ↗ | Mild | |
| June 2022 | COVID reinfection brought new symptomsthen I caught COVID again in mid-June 2022. I had worse but still mild symptoms this time.In context ↗ | Mild | |
| August 2022 | symptoms improved againSo I recently posted about how I'm feeling pretty good as of late, like 90-95% good, right?In context ↗ | Near normal | Radical rest |
| 2022-08-13 | crashed after a hot museum trip and loud lunchmy limbs are having random pains again, my brain is fogging up, and I have some recurring chest pain.In context ↗ | Moderate | |
| September 2022 | relapse in a heatwaveI think the recent heatwave and current high humidity have triggered a comeback of my symptoms.In context ↗ | Moderate | |
| 2022-09-25 | felt much better after a break from social mediaNow I genuinely feel much better and my parents are still safe.In context ↗ | Mild | |
| 2023-04-10 | symptoms faded with heavy rest but limited work capacitythe rest of my long COVID symptoms have faded pretty well with a lifestyle that involves *lots* of rest and taking it easyIn context ↗ | Mild | Radical rest |
Adverse events
- COVID vaccination as treatment“Worst reaction I've had to any of my shots so far was Moderna #2-that resulted in an evening of body aches, headache, feverishness, lack of appetite, and tiredness” In context ↗ Side effects
- COVID vaccination as treatment“So far I've had a few days of sore arms, less appetite, tiredness, and diarrhea after my latest COVID booster (Pfizer bivalent)” In context ↗ Side effects
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Post-exertional malaise
I had to do a bunch over the weekend and on Monday and am paying dearly for it now.
In context ↗ - Brain fog
the inability to focus on much
In context ↗ - POTS & dysautonomia
My POTS symptoms have improved a lot over the past several months or so.
In context ↗ - Mast cell (MCAS) & allergies
itchy nose, itchy skin, itchy eyes
In context ↗ - Sleep problems
the inability to sleep some nights especially when stressed about something
In context ↗ - Pain & fibromyalgia
my limbs are having random pains again
In context ↗ - Headaches & migraine
a bunch of mostly quick and regional headaches
In context ↗ - Light & noise sensitivity
all of my symptoms are worse if I'm exposed to a lot of noise
In context ↗ - Breathlessness
I started feeling winded when I climbed the stairs at home
In context ↗ - Heart symptoms & palpitations
I experienced dizziness and faint, rapid heartbeat in hot showers
In context ↗ - Neuropathy & tingling
The tingling in my extremities, that might persist for years to come.
In context ↗ - Anxiety & low mood
Then I had anxiety problems and seriously struggled to sleep that night
In context ↗ - Flu-like symptoms
the cold/flu symptoms when I'm tired or sick
In context ↗ - Temperature regulation
I sweat an *absurd* amount in the mornings now
In context ↗ - Vision problems
I'm still getting it lol, though less strong and less often now.
In context ↗
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