Long COVID brain fog, POTS and pain, somewhat better with time and pacing
- Condition
- Long COVID
- At worst
- Mild (working or studying, with limits)
- Ill before improving or writing
- 3 years
- Last post
- Oct 2026
In their words
- Condition: Long COVID
I've had Long COVID for over 2 years.
In context ↗ - At worst: Mild
I have a full time job and a 6 year old son to take care of 50% of the time ... I'm able to hold onto those things most of the time.
In context ↗ - Now: Somewhat better
I might be in partial remission.
In context ↗ - Began after: COVID
I've had Long COVID for over 2 years.
In context ↗
Read from 70 of their posts and comments; links to the 31 this page draws on
Summary
Tern 96824 fell ill with long COVID in October 2023, with brain fog, joint pain, POTS and anxiety, and taught through flare-ups that left him walking only a few blocks. An 11-day prednisone course in spring 2025 eased his pain and raised his energy for about two months before a flare-up knocked him back. He credits mostly time, rest and pacing; he has improved and still teaches and plays guitar, but flare-ups continue.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- Caffeine · Worse
Caffeine fucked me up when I first got sick.
In context ↗ - Pregabalin · Helped
I always think it's not helping until I miss a day.
In context ↗ - CPAP machine · Helped
The CPAP machine helps me feel a little more rested, but wasn't a cure-all.
In context ↗ - Abilify · Worse
It made the depression way worse, and that's about it.
In context ↗ - Cymbalta · Worse
Cymbalta made me feel worse.
In context ↗ - Celexa · Helped
Celexa works well for me.
In context ↗ - Creatine · No change
I've been on some low dose creatine for some time now (I refuse to take 20mg, as I can't exercise enough to justify that) and I haven't noticed any changes for the better or worse.
In context ↗ - Arthritis strength acetaminophen · Helped
I just started the arthritis strength stuff, and it greatly reduced my joint pain.
In context ↗ - THC gummies · Helped
THC gummies also helped take the edge off (legal in my state.) They don't kill the pain, but they distract you enough to help a bit.
In context ↗ - Heating pad · Helped
A heating pad helped my back some.
In context ↗ - Ibuprofen · Worse
Taking naproxen or ibuprofen just messed up my stomach.
In context ↗ - Glutathione · No change
Tried it with no effect.
In context ↗ - Urolithin A · No change
No change for me
In context ↗ - Ativan · Not said
My PCP put me on .5mg of (generic) Ativan for panic attacks.
In context ↗ - Tongue scraper · Helped
Get a tongue scraper. Had the same issue. It helps.
In context ↗ - Pacing · Helped
Things kinda stabilized for me once I realized how I need to pace myself.
In context ↗ - Rest and sleep · Helped
Rest. Like sit on my ass all day then go to sleep for 10+ hours a night.
In context ↗ - Time · Helped
For me, it seems to be time and rest that have helped most.
In context ↗ - University of Michigan Post Covid Clinic · Helped
The U of M Post Covid Clinic helped me quite a bit.
In context ↗
Approaches: Pacing · Radical rest
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 |
|---|---|
| October 2023 | Long COVID onsetI got sick in October 2023.In context ↗ |
| May 2024 | felt better for about a monthI felt better that following May for about a month.In context ↗ |
| June 2024 | flare-up in JuneHad a flare-up, and June sucked.In context ↗ |
| Fall 2024 | extreme flare-up after moving houseMoving caused an extreme flare-up, which I'm still recovering from (it's been nearly a year.) ... Fall 2024 might have been the worst of the actual long COVID. |
| spring 2025 | 11-day prednisone course cleared chronic pain and raised energyThat got rid of my chronic pain and brought my energy levels up (Also with POTS and CFS) significantly.In context ↗ |
| mid 2025 | flare-up after the prednisone benefit wore offThe 2 months ended up with a flare-up that knocked me on my ass for a few weeks.In context ↗ |
| September 2025 | able to walk a mile, up from a few blocksI'ma able to walk a mile now. That's up from just a few blocks.In context ↗ |
| November 2025 | brain fog much better and playing guitar againI did start playing my guitars for the first time since I got sick this past November.In context ↗ |
| early 2026 | flare-up over the last few monthsThe last few months here have been plagued by a bit of a flare-up.In context ↗ |
| August 2026 | improved significantly but still having flare-upsThings have improved significantly since then, but I still have to deal with flat-ups.In context ↗ |
Adverse events
- Low-dose Abilify / aripiprazole“I was in on it for a month. It made the depression way worse, and that's about it.” In context ↗ Mood or psychiatric effects
- Low-dose Abilify / aripiprazole“Abilify made things worse for me.” In context ↗ Made symptoms worse
- Duloxetine (Cymbalta)“Cymbalta made me feel worse.” In context ↗ Made symptoms worse
- Ibuprofen (Advil, Nurofen, Motrin), Naproxen (Aleve)“Taking naproxen or ibuprofen just messed up my stomach.” In context ↗ Gut side effects
- Creatine“Also, 20 mg a day when one can't exercise isn't great for the waist line.” In context ↗ Side effects
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Post-exertional malaise
I'll still have flare-ups if I overdo it (physically, emotionally or mentally.)
In context ↗ - Brain fog
I get this way during flare-ups.
In context ↗ - POTS & dysautonomia
That got rid of my chronic pain and brought my energy levels up (Also with POTS and CFS) significantly.
In context ↗ - Pain & fibromyalgia
FWIW - the pain has returned some.
In context ↗ - Anxiety & low mood
COVID has certainly upped my anxiety levels (which precipitated into me being prescribed Ativan.)
In context ↗ - Hair loss
My hair went greyer and thinner with long COVID.
In context ↗ - Headaches & migraine
I've had this on and off over the past 2+ years.
In context ↗
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