Long COVID
Moderate → somewhat betterIll 22 months before improving or writingNeeds ongoing treatment
Long COVID with panic attacks and breathlessness, somewhat better with rest and pacing
- Condition
- Long COVID
- At worst
- Moderate (mostly housebound)
- Ill before improving or writing
- 22 months
- Last post
- Jan 2026
In their words
- Condition: Long COVID
All my symptoms started 1 year ago in April after I most likely got covid.
In context ↗ - At worst: Moderate
Most days I need to lie in bed and not use my brain or my muscles to much.
In context ↗ - Now: Somewhat better
I'm better now but still struggling.
In context ↗ - Began after: COVID
All my symptoms started 1 year ago in April after I most likely got covid.
In context ↗
Read from 70 of their posts and comments; links to the 34 this page draws on
Summary
A Reddit user who first had long COVID in 2021, recovering over months, fell ill again after a likely COVID infection in April 2024 with weeks of continuous panic attacks, breathlessness, brain fog and fatigue. Aggressive rest, pacing and time brought gradual improvement, and they were also treated with migraine medication (Ubrelvy). Nearly two years into this bout they were better but still sick, improving slowly.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Ubrelvy (migraine medication)· Helped a loteating 3 full meals a day· Helpedsleeping at an incline· Helpedgrey scale on phone· Helpedpelvic floor therapy· Helpedweed· No changeADHD meds· Worseexercise· WorseGatorade powder· Worsemulti vitamin· WorseSSRIs· Much worseAbilify· Much worsepropranolol· Much worsevitamin D pills· Not said
Their words about each treatment
- SSRIs · Much worse
I took an ssri and it messed me up very badly. It made me suicidal and made my genitals numb.
In context ↗ - ADHD meds · Worse
I was on ADHD meds myself but after learning about the long term heath issues I quit. plus they made me anxious.
In context ↗ - Abilify · Much worse
When I took it I instantly felt my intestines stabbing me. And I had to go to the ER because it made me unable to urinate.
In context ↗ - propranolol · Much worse
I've been on them before and the side effects were horrendous. It made me suicidal and gave me numb genitals.
In context ↗ - exercise · Worse
Early in my COVID journey I did some exercise in the beginning before understanding what was wrong with me and each time it would trigger intense panic attacks.
In context ↗ - eating 3 full meals a day · Helped
When I first got my symptoms I found eating 3 full meals a day and not using my energy was the best thing I could do for my symptoms.
In context ↗ - Gatorade powder · Worse
I tried some myself and i felt more anxious after. However this could just be a coincidence.
In context ↗ - sleeping at an incline · Helped
I felt sleeping at an incline helped my breathing.
In context ↗ - vitamin D pills · Not said
only found low vitamin D. So I started taking vitamin D pills.
In context ↗ - aggressive resting · Helped a lot
Rest. Aggressive resting. Every time I use to much mental or physical energy all my symptoms get worse.
In context ↗ - weed · No change
Didn't do anything for me. Didn't make my condition worse or better.
In context ↗ - grey scale on phone · Helped
Putting my phone in grey scale has helped me
In context ↗ - multi vitamin · Worse
after taking it for a couple days I noticed I couldn't sleep. I started to feel this constant feeling of anger inside me.
In context ↗ - pelvic floor therapy · Helped
I did pelvic floor therapy for tight pelvic floor muscles and that helped.
In context ↗ - Ubrelvy (migraine medication) · Helped a lot
All my symptoms were treated with migraine medication. Specifically ubrelvy.
In context ↗ - time · Helped
Even ignoring medication my health has been very slowly improving on its own.
In context ↗
Approaches: 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. The dashed part: the story doesn’t say when. 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 | After |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | first long COVID after COVID infectionGot it again on 2021 and that was when long COVID was truely hell on earth with my symptoms.In context ↗ | Not stated | |
| 2022 | first bout resolved on its ownIt all resolved after many monthsIn context ↗ | Recovered | Time and spontaneous remission |
| April 2024 | long COVID returned after another infection, weeks of continuous panicI had panic attacks like this continuously for about a number of weeks of pure hell.In context ↗ | Moderate | |
| 2024-09-05 | panic attacks and anxiety worse after months of improvementToday i had a panic attack again. And my anxiety is a lot higher than it has been for a while.In context ↗ | Moderate | |
| 2024-10-17 | natural gradual improvementAt least I can function better now than months ago so I do seem to getting natural gradual improvementIn context ↗ | Moderate | Time and spontaneous remission |
| 2024-11-11 | aggressive rest improved brain fogI found that aggressively resting has improved my brain fog a lot.In context ↗ | Mild | |
| 2025-05-08 | symptoms greatly improved but still sickSymptoms have greatly improved. I'm still sick and not going that great overall.In context ↗ | Mild | |
| 2026-01-24 | better but still struggling, migraine medicationI'm better now but still struggling.In context ↗ | Mild |
Adverse events
- Antidepressants (unspecified)“I took an ssri and it messed me up very badly. It made me suicidal and made my genitals numb.” In context ↗ Suicidal thoughts or attempt
- Antidepressants (unspecified)“I've already been thru the psychiatry ringer and it destroyed me. Ended up in the ER due to drug side effects.” In context ↗ ER visit
- Low-dose Abilify / aripiprazole“When I took it I instantly felt my intestines stabbing me. And I had to go to the ER because it made me unable to urinate. So I needed a catheter.” In context ↗ Side effects
- Antidepressants (unspecified)“I became very suicidal when I took them, I became prone to self harm and ended up in a psych ward because of it.” In context ↗ Suicidal thoughts or attempt
- Antidepressants (unspecified)“I was on antidepressants. And they made my depression worse.” In context ↗ Mood or psychiatric effects
- Antidepressants (unspecified)“When I tried to quit I went thru horrible withdrawal with painful brain zaps.” In context ↗ Withdrawal problems
- Antidepressants (unspecified)“I've been on many and some of the side effects put me in the ER.” In context ↗ ER visit
- Stimulants (unspecified)“I was on ADHD meds myself but after learning about the long term heath issues I quit. plus they made me anxious.” In context ↗ Mood or psychiatric effects
- Multivitamins (Centrum)“Well after taking it for a couple days I noticed I couldn't sleep. I started to feel this constant feeling of anger inside me.” In context ↗ Insomnia from treatment
- Salt, electrolytes and fluids“I tried some myself and i felt more anxious after.” In context ↗ Mood or psychiatric effects
Symptoms mentioned
Anxiety & low moodBrain fogBreathlessnessHeadaches & migraineHeart symptoms & palpitationsLoss of smell or tastePost-exertional malaiseSleep problemsTemperature regulationVision problems
Their words about their symptoms
- Post-exertional malaise
Using up to much of my energy seems to set off some horrible chain reaction of events.
In context ↗ - Brain fog
I still have brain fog but it's much less intense than at the start.
In context ↗ - Breathlessness
Still feel breathless from time to time but much less.
In context ↗ - Heart symptoms & palpitations
My heart is racing.
In context ↗ - Anxiety & low mood
Im just scared and anxious all the time.
In context ↗ - Sleep problems
For me when I rest I sleep better and have less insomnia.
In context ↗ - Vision problems
my vss has reduced a lot since it started in April of last year.
In context ↗ - Loss of smell or taste
I had loss of taste and smell.
In context ↗ - Headaches & migraine
it severely worsened my migraines
In context ↗ - Temperature regulation
I also felt cold all the time
In context ↗
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