Long COVID
Moderate → relapsedIll 4.5 years before improving or writingNeeds ongoing treatment
Long COVID with severe reflux and brain fog, improved then relapsed, crediting time and diet
- Condition
- Long COVID
- At worst
- Moderate (mostly housebound)
- Ill before improving or writing
- 4.5 years
- Last post
- Feb 2026
In their words
- Condition: Long COVID
I got Long Covid August of 2021, so it’s been 25 months so far.
In context ↗ - At worst: Moderate
I’ve not gone back to work because of this and other symptoms ... At first I couldn't even walk a quarter mile.
- Now: Relapsed
I had a short almost reprieve about 10 months in and then went downhill again.
In context ↗ - Began after: COVID
right after having Covid in August 2021, I felt soooo old, like 80!
Read from 105 of their posts and comments; links to the 43 this page draws on
- Oct 2023
- Jun 2024
- Jan 2022
- Mar 2022
- Dec 2021
- Dec 2021
- Dec 2021
- Jun 2022
- Jan 2022
- Mar 2022
- Dec 2021
- Jan 2022
- Oct 2022
- Mar 2022
- Mar 2022
- Feb 2022
- Apr 2022
- Sep 2022
- Oct 2022
- Sep 2022
- Sep 2022
- Oct 2023
- Jul 2024
- Jun 2024
- Jul 2024
- Sep 2024
- Feb 2026
- Feb 2026
- Mar 2022
- Apr 2022
- Jan 2022
- Mar 2022
- Jun 2022
- Nov 2022
- Feb 2024
- Jan 2022
- Apr 2023
- Jan 2022
- Dec 2021
- Jan 2022
- Dec 2021
- Jan 2022
- Apr 2023
Summary
A 53-year-old woman developed long COVID after an August 2021 infection, with severe reflux, burping, constipation, tachycardia, PEM and brain fog. She improved from about month five, reaching roughly 65-80% of normal, but a hard physical therapy session in 2022 caused a crash and POTS, and a January 2024 reinfection set her back. She credits time and diet, is trying brain retraining and fasting, and took sertraline.
Ask Miruvor AI
What they tried
Also tried
Sertraline (Zoloft)· Helpedsleeping on a wedge· HelpedGaviscon Advance· HelpedPepcid (famotidine)· Helpedrestricted diet / no sugar and dairy· Helped · wore offrestricted diet / no sugar and dairy· Helped · wore offMagnesium Citrate· HelpedFleet suppository· HelpedMelatonin· HelpedCBD oil· HelpedNizoral shampoo· Helpeddigestive enzymes· HelpedBetaine HCL (Zypan)· HelpedATP Fuel / ATP 360· HelpedGasX· HelpedSilver Fern supplements· HelpedLoop Switch earplugs· HelpedPropranolol· HelpedOmeprazole / Prilosec (PPI)· No changeIvermectin· No changechiropractor· No changeTTFD (synthetic B vitamin)· Worsephysical therapy· Much worseVitamin D3 with K2· Not saidColace stool softener· Not saidBisacodyl (Dulcolax)· Not saidPsyllium Husk· Not saidSenna tea· Not saidH1 receptor medicines· Not saidprobiotics· Not saidL-glutamine· Not saidVitamin C (sodium ascorbate)· Not saidImmuplex· Not saidThytrophin PMG· Not saidArmour Thyroid· Not saidpotassium by mouth· Not saidthiamin· Not saidCoQ10· Not saidbrain retraining· Not saidintermittent fasting· Not saidresting a lot / pacing· Not said
Their words about each treatment
- Omeprazole / Prilosec (PPI) · No change
Was given Prilosec which I took for 2.5 weeks with no improvement.
In context ↗ - Sertraline (Zoloft) · Helped
Sertraline 50 mg since I was having anxiety with occasional panic attacks. Took 2-3 weeks for it to start helping
In context ↗ - sleeping on a wedge · Helped
Sleeping on a wedge to elevate my upper body has helped me at night.
In context ↗ - Gaviscon Advance · Helped
I take Gaviscon Advance after meals and before bed (this was an idea I found searching the internet) and that, plus a restricted diet, helps more than anything.
In context ↗ - Pepcid (famotidine) · Helped
I also added Pepcid 10-20 mg daily to twice daily as needed and I think that helps a bit?
In context ↗ - Ivermectin · No change
I tried 6 days of Ivermectin at 10 weeks in. It didn’t help me. I had no adverse effects.
In context ↗ - restricted diet / no sugar and dairy · Helped
I did see a huge improvement in GERD/LPR symptoms when I went completely without sugar/sweeteners (of any sort, except did have occasional small amounts of stevia and erythritol) for three weeks
In context ↗ - Magnesium Citrate · Helped
I was keeping it easily tolerable ( going every 2 ish days) with magnesium and a few prunes each day.
In context ↗ - Vitamin D3 with K2 · Not said
Some important ones are Vitamin D3 with K2, Magnesium
In context ↗ - Colace stool softener · Not said
I like to do natural things but had to resort to colace stool softener.
In context ↗ - Bisacodyl (Dulcolax) · Not said
Took a Bisacodyl (dulcolax) one night and even that took forever to work.
In context ↗ - Psyllium Husk · Not said
Using a little Psyllium Husk but being careful because that can make matters worse.
In context ↗ - Senna tea · Not said
Just bought some Senna tea which I resort to on the 2nd and 3rd night if I haven’t gone.
In context ↗ - Fleet suppository · Helped
Also use a fleets suppository since I’ve lost the “urge” to go and the suppository helps with that
In context ↗ - Melatonin · Helped
I also take Melatonin 5 mg before bed which helps me sleep
In context ↗ - CBD oil · Helped
I had started CBD oil and then have forgotten to take it the last several days.
In context ↗ - H1 receptor medicines · Not said
I did that for about 3 weeks or so and the constipation wasn’t as bad then.
In context ↗ - probiotics · Not said
I’m also trying a couple of different probiotics but ive always taken probiotics so hard to tell if it’s made a difference.
In context ↗ - L-glutamine · Not said
I've also restarted an L-glutamine powder daily (mixed in water). This was something I tried 9 months ago when I improved, and thought it may have been part of the improvement.
In context ↗ - Vitamin C (sodium ascorbate) · Not said
Also Vitamin C (I use a sodium ascorbate powder mixed in water).
In context ↗ - Nizoral shampoo · Helped
Nizoral shampoo helped me.
In context ↗ - Immuplex · Not said
I'm always on Immuplex and Thytrophin PMG because I have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis and hypothyroidism.
In context ↗ - Armour Thyroid · Not said
Also take Armour Thyroid for hypothyroidism.
In context ↗ - potassium by mouth · Not said
They ended up giving me some potassium by mouth.
In context ↗ - electrolytes · Helped
I’ve added those in and they’ve helped decrease heart palpitations and increased my overall sense of well-being.
In context ↗ - digestive enzymes · Helped
Digestive enzymes and HCL acid (zypan from Standard process) are helpful.
In context ↗ - Betaine HCL (Zypan) · Helped
I've been off Betaine HCL for a week or so, and notice my digestion is a lot worse.
In context ↗ - physical therapy · Much worse
I worked too hard one day at physical therapy and the next day hit a brick wall.
In context ↗ - chiropractor · No change
No one can seem to help me; not doctors, chiropractor, or physical therapy
In context ↗ - thiamin · Not said
i've been taking other things to support Mitochondria; e.g. thiamin, CoQ10, etc.
In context ↗ - ATP Fuel / ATP 360 · Helped
Im not still using ATP Fuel or ATP 360 which did seem to help somewhat. (the other reason for stopping them was the price.)
In context ↗ - GasX · Helped
GasX helps some.
In context ↗ - TTFD (synthetic B vitamin) · Worse
I’ve recently been trying extra B Vitamins including a synthetic one called TTFD and the trapped gas situation has gotten out of control
In context ↗ - brain retraining · Not said
I’ve been using brain retraining to dig my way out of this mess and incorporating intermittent fasting too.
In context ↗ - intermittent fasting · Not said
I’m trying to focus on mind-body (neuroplasticity) work and gently easing into fasting.
In context ↗ - Silver Fern supplements · Helped
I can also attest to Silver Fern supplements working well!:)
In context ↗ - Loop Switch earplugs · Helped
I wear Loop switch earplugs. I wouldn’t be able to go in stores, restaurants, church without them.
In context ↗ - Propranolol · Helped
My doctor also prescribed a tiny dose of Propanolol which I take in the morning and sometimes evening which also helps to keep my heart from racing.
In context ↗ - mind-body techniques (breathing exercises, body scans) · Helped
I’ve also learned a lot of mind-body techniques that have been very helpful—breathing exercises, body scans, etc.
In context ↗ - resting a lot / pacing · Not said
I rest a ton and sometimes nap.
In context ↗
Approaches: POTS medication · Mind-body practices
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 2021 | Acute COVID-19, then went downhill into long haulStarted to improve the 3rd week but at the end of the third week began going downhill into long haul symptoms.In context ↗ | Moderate | |
| late 2021 | Not back at work, heart rate 130 brushing her hair, severe reflux and burping, 20 pounds lostMy heart rate would go up to 130or so with just brushing my hair. That was in the first 4 monthsIn context ↗ | Moderate | |
| January 2022 | First improvements: derealization, tremors and brain fog easingI started to feel better at about 5 months out.In context ↗ | Moderate | |
| March 2022 | Walking almost a mile and reintroducing foodsAt first I couldn't even walk a quarter mile. I'm up to almost a mile nowIn context ↗ | Mild | |
| June 2022 | Able to walk several thousand steps a day and shower without dreadI’m able to walk 4500 to 6500 steps a dayIn context ↗ | Mild | |
| September 2022 | crashed after a hard physical therapy session; PEM worse than ever, later POTSI worked too hard one day at physical therapy and the next day hit a brick wall.In context ↗ | Moderate | |
| November 2022 | Back to about 80% on a good day after the crash15 months. I’d say I’m 80% on a good day and about 65% on a day that’s not so good.In context ↗ | Mild | |
| January 2024 | COVID reinfection; upper GI symptoms worse againWas getting better until I got Covid again the first of January. Now it’s worse again.In context ↗ | Mild | |
| June 2024 | Started brain retraining and gentle fasting; feeling slightly betterI’ve been using brain retraining to dig my way out of this mess and incorporating intermittent fasting too.In context ↗ | Mild | |
| February 2026 | Heart rate no longer spikes as much on a low-dose beta-blocker plus mind-body workYes, my heart rate doesn’t spike a lot like it used to.In context ↗ | Mild | Propranolol (Inderal) |
Adverse events
- Sertraline (Zoloft)“I started on half a tablet a day at first and the anxiety worsened a bit for about 10ish days.” In context ↗ Mood or psychiatric effects
- Physical therapy / physiotherapy“I worked too hard one day at physical therapy and the next day hit a brick wall ... PEM!--worse than ever before. It's been 6 weeks now and I still am so weak” In context ↗ Made symptoms worse
- Thiamine / benfotiamine“I’ve recently been trying extra B Vitamins including a synthetic one called TTFD and the trapped gas situation has gotten out of control so I’m taking a 2 week break from supplements” In context ↗ Gut side effects
Symptoms mentioned
Anxiety & low moodBrain fogBreathlessnessGut problemsHeadaches & migraineHeart symptoms & palpitationsLight & noise sensitivityLoss of smell or tasteMuscle weaknessNeuropathy & tinglingPOTS & dysautonomiaPain & fibromyalgiaPost-exertional malaiseSleep problems
Their words about their symptoms
- Post-exertional malaise
I also have PEM and tachycardia with minimal exertion.
In context ↗ - Brain fog
I have weakness, brain fog, and POTS.
In context ↗ - POTS & dysautonomia
Still having POTS symptoms, digestive issues and weakness.
In context ↗ - Gut problems
Still have terrible gas pressure, especially in chest and solar plexus region
In context ↗ - Heart symptoms & palpitations
Palpitations have lessened but still get them off and on.
In context ↗ - Muscle weakness
Still have weakness that waxes and wanes and I tire easily.
In context ↗ - Anxiety & low mood
Started having panic attacks while long hauling, about 4-6 weeks out
In context ↗ - Sleep problems
I’m going on my 5th month of longhauling and this has been one of my symptoms.
In context ↗ - Headaches & migraine
if it’s particularly bad I feel it go into the sinuses of my head and cause head pressure
In context ↗ - Light & noise sensitivity
I wouldn’t be able to go in stores, restaurants, church without them.
In context ↗ - Loss of smell or taste
I also had a phantom smell that would come and go.
In context ↗ - Neuropathy & tingling
this weird numb/pressure-like sensation in my right anterolateral shin
In context ↗ - Pain & fibromyalgia
My ribs, mid back, hip joints and right knee are all causing issues
In context ↗ - Breathlessness
I couldn’t sleep on my back or I’d wake up gasping for air
In context ↗
Ask Miruvor AI
Similar stories
-
Bedridden or housebound with long COVID, now much better with pacing and LDN
Ill from February 2020, they were often bedridden or housebound with severe pain, headaches, diarrhoea and suicidal depression. They credit diet changes, rest and pacing, LDN and Celebrex for slow gains, and Auvelity for their depression, though flare-ups…
-
Not enough detail to draw a path
Often bedridden with long COVID, pacing helped, then stress and reinfection brought relapse
She developed long COVID in December 2020 and spent six years often bedridden with PEM, brain fog, air hunger, POTS and loss of smell, plus heavy uterine bleeding needing transfusions and a hysterectomy. By summer 2026 she was swimming and walking laps in…
-
Long COVID crashes and wrecked gut, now near normal on antihistamines and diet
Badger 97535 developed long COVID after a covid infection in early 2021. He worked through months of 2-4 hours' sleep early on, a wrecked gut, mast cell reactions and flu-like crashes after exercise. Antihistamines, keto and very-low-calorie diets, PEA,…
-
Mostly bedbound with ME/CFS and daily POTS fainting, now much better with pacing
They developed ME/CFS after a COVID infection and were severe, mostly bedbound and fainting daily from POTS, for about two and a half years. Low-dose naltrexone, POTS medication, creatine and strict pacing helped them reach moderate, around Bell 40, but they…