Long COVID chest pain and heart-rate spikes with exercise, somewhat better on antihistamines
- Condition
- Long COVID
- At worst
- Mild (working or studying, with limits)
- Ill before improving or writing
- 7 months
- Last post
- Feb 2025
In their words
- Condition: Long COVID
Got covid end of October and it’s my worst symptom left but it’s definitely gotten better over the past months.
In context ↗ - At worst: Mild
I’m about 3 months in and I can’t do any form of upper arm strength or cardio without triggering a relapse. I’m 25F.
In context ↗ - Now: Somewhat better
The feeling is definitely still there but I do feel like I can workout and do regular things with my arm now. ... Way more manageable after 3 years has passed.
In context ↗ - Began after: COVID
Got covid end of October and it’s my worst symptom left
In context ↗
Read from 32 of their posts and comments; links to the 16 this page draws on
Summary
She caught COVID in October 2020; three months in, upper-arm exercise or cardio triggered relapses, with chest pain, headaches, aches, numbness and heart-rate spikes. Antihistamines and a ketogenic diet seemed to help, and by nine months she felt much better, though Omicron brought symptoms back in 2022. By 2023 she could use her arm for workouts again, though in 2025 overwork still brought the tingling back.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- Covid-19 vaccine · No change
Unfortunately it didn’t help my case! But ya never, I guess it could have been worse
In context ↗ - keto · Helped
My symptoms include brain fog, chest pains and body aches. Those symptoms are not gone but they feel improved. Works for me but might not work for everyone
In context ↗ - Anti histamine medications · Helped a lot
Anti histamine medications worked tremendously for me
In context ↗ - physical therapy · Helped
I’m currently going to PT for nerve pain and have been finding the most progress so far!
In context ↗ - avoiding physical activity · Not said
So for me, I just avoid physical activity and I’m fine if I drink alcohol every once in awhile.
In context ↗ - Chiropractor · No change
I’ve done everything from Chiropractor, physical Therapy, bloodwork, MRIs , etc and nothing has helped over the past two years.
In context ↗
Approaches: H1 antihistamines · Diet
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 |
|---|---|---|
| October 2020 | COVID-19 infection, long-haul symptoms beginGot covid end of October and it’s my worst symptom leftIn context ↗ | |
| January 2021 | worst relapse after physical exertion, about 10 daysMy bad relapse lasted about 10 days. My trigger was physical exertionIn context ↗ | |
| March 2021 | brain fog, chest pain and body aches felt improvedThose symptoms are not gone but they feel improvedIn context ↗ | Keto and low-carb diets |
| May 2021 | antihistamines helped symptomsAnti histamine medications worked tremendously for meIn context ↗ | H1 antihistamines (unspecified) |
| August 2021 | feeling much better at nine monthsI’m at 9 month and I am feeling so much better as well!In context ↗ | |
| March 2022 | long-haul symptoms returned after Omicron reinfectionI’ve been recovered from Omicron for a few days now and my long haul symptoms are backIn context ↗ | |
| October 2023 | arm nerve pain far more manageable after three yearsWay more manageable after 3 years has passedIn context ↗ | |
| February 2025 | can work out and use her arm normally, tingling on overuseI do feel like I can workout and do regular things with my arm nowIn context ↗ |
Adverse events
- Keto and low-carb diets“I have been trying different diets recently and definitely see trends of an eating disorder coming up.” In context ↗ Mood or psychiatric effects
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Post-exertional malaise
I can’t do any form of upper arm strength or cardio without triggering a relapse
In context ↗ - Brain fog
My symptoms include brain fog, chest pains and body aches
In context ↗ - Pain & fibromyalgia
My symptoms are chest and muscle pains, body numbness, fast heart rate
In context ↗ - Headaches & migraine
Chest pains, headaches, muscle aches
In context ↗ - Neuropathy & tingling
The feeling is definitely still there
In context ↗ - Heart symptoms & palpitations
chest pains, headaches, muscle aches, arm numbness, dry eyes, rapid heart rate spikes
In context ↗ - POTS & dysautonomia
I used to get dizzy and it would go numb when I irritated that area too much
In context ↗ - Breathlessness
i got so out of breath and ended up having the longest relapse so far
In context ↗ - Gut problems
other symptoms come back, such as digestive issues, fatigue, body aches, etc.
In context ↗
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