Long COVID crashing at home after 15-hour work weeks, improved with CPAP, flu A setback

Condition: Long COVID
At worst: Mild (working or studying, with limits)
Ill before improving or writing: 1 year
Last post: Oct 2026

In their words

Condition: Long COVIDI have adrenal insufficiency and long covid and take prednisone every day and it's fine. In context ↗
At worst: MildFor over a year all I could really do was my 15 hrs a week of work and then crashing at home. I was lucky not to be completely bed bound. In context ↗
Now: RelapsedI got covid again a couple months ago so I'm kind of back to square one now In context ↗
Began after: COVIDWhen I finally got covid last year, it was from my young nephews spreading it in my home
Says they never had: BreathlessnessI never had serious respiratory symptoms

Read from 122 of their posts and comments; links to the 44 this page draws on

Summary

Long COVID began in mid-2023 after an infection caught from their nephews, on top of years of fibromyalgia and adrenal insufficiency. For over a year they managed only 15 hours of part-time work a week before crashing at home. Treating the sleep apnea COVID caused, with CPAP, gave the biggest improvement; famotidine and diet changes helped too, but flu A in January 2025 set them back.

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What they tried

What they credit

CPAP· Helped a lot · main Gentle walking and exercise· Helped Pepcid (famotidine)· Helped · main Probiotics (with bone broth and sauerkraut)· Helped Restricted / elimination diet· Helped Rest and pacing· Helped Mineralcorticoid medication· Helped Antibiotics for a UTI· Helped

Also tried

Melatonin· HelpedMedical marijuana (mmj, cbd & thc)· HelpedValerian (incl. Sleepytime Extra tea)· Helped Guided meditation and relaxing audio· HelpedCapsaicin (jalapeños, ground red pepper)· HelpedZyrtec (cetirizine)· Helped Adderall· Helped Hydrocortisone and prednisone· Helped Qi gong and tai chi· Helped Magnesium· Helped NSAIDs· Helped Dramamine (dimenhydrinate)· Helped Ginger· HelpedProtein smoothies and more protein· HelpedPfizer COVID-19 vaccine boosters· No change Flu vaccine· No change Cymbalta (duloxetine, SNRI)· Worse Pituitary removal· Worse Tramadol· Not said Nicotine patches· Not said Corticosteroid pulses· Not said

Their words about each treatment

Gentle walking and exercise · HelpedI still think gentle exercise is a net gain for me. In context ↗
Melatonin · HelpedMost of the time I use melatonin and medical marijuana (combination of cbd & thc) before bed, which helps. In context ↗
Medical marijuana (mmj, cbd & thc) · HelpedI have reflux and I use it anyway, mainly to sleep. In context ↗
Valerian (incl. Sleepytime Extra tea) · HelpedI used to use valerian too, haven't tried it for this yet. But as far as herbal sleep aids go its the best one IMO. In context ↗
Guided meditation and relaxing audio · HelpedI often listen to relaxing music or guided meditations in bed. In context ↗
Cymbalta (duloxetine, SNRI) · WorseIt made my long covid symptoms worse. In context ↗
Pepcid (famotidine) · HelpedI was surprised to find that some of my long covid symptoms improved In context ↗
Probiotics (with bone broth and sauerkraut) · HelpedPepcid and probiotics have helped some. In context ↗
Capsaicin (jalapeños, ground red pepper) · Helpeda little capsaicin also seems to have a positive impact (just by adding jalapeños or ground red pepper to my food mainly) In context ↗
Zyrtec (cetirizine) · Helpedthe allergy meds are helpful for my chronic sinusitis In context ↗
Adderall · Helpedmy doctor prescribed me adderall to help with it (and it did help) In context ↗
Restricted / elimination diet · HelpedMainly I just restricted my diet a lot In context ↗
Hydrocortisone and prednisone · HelpedMy daily meds are a mix of prednisone and hydrocortisone. In context ↗
CPAP · Helped a lotCPAP has helped my brain fog more than anything else In context ↗
Qi gong and tai chi · HelpedI really like qi gong (and tai chi). It's really relaxing and balancing In context ↗
Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine boosters · No changeI felt worse for a couple weeks after the latest Pfizer vaccine, then back to basically the same as before the vaccine. In context ↗
Flu vaccine · No changeReaction was the same as previous flu vaccines, no better or worse. In context ↗
Magnesium · HelpedSupplementing makes a huge difference! In context ↗
NSAIDs · HelpedTaking NSAIDs for a few days and trying to follow a more anti-inflammatory diet has helped a bit. In context ↗
Rest and pacing · HelpedResting is the only thing that actually seems to help In context ↗
Dramamine (dimenhydrinate) · HelpedDramamine was incredibly helpful for the nausea, and maybe other symptoms too In context ↗
Tramadol · Not saidI also take medical marijuana and tramadol for (unrelated) chronic pain In context ↗
Mineralcorticoid medication · HelpedThe only thing that helped was (re)starting mineralcorticoid medication, which I have taken on and off for a decade because I have adrenal insufficiency. In context ↗
Ginger · HelpedGinger and jalapeños (homegrown jalapeños, ripe and very spicy) actually make a positive difference for me. In context ↗
Pituitary removal · WorseWhen I had my pituitary removed, my dumbass doctors did not warn me about this risk In context ↗
Protein smoothies and more protein · HelpedI also have found smoothies helpful. In context ↗
Antibiotics for a UTI · HelpedMy long covid symptoms haven't completely gone away, but I recently saw a surprising amount of improvement after a course of antibiotics for a UTI. In context ↗
Nicotine patches · Not saidNicotine fucks up my mood and mental state. In context ↗
Corticosteroid pulses · Not saidI got pretty terrible headaches when I took 20mg prednisone for a sinus infection. In context ↗

Approaches: H2 blockers · POTS medication · Antibiotics · Diet · Exercise and activity · Pacing · Supplements

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
2023	COVID infection, followed by long COVIDWhen I got covid, I was pretty sick for weeks In context ↗	Mild
2023-2024	over a year managing only part-time work then crashing at home, with disabling brain fogFor over a year all I could really do was my 15 hrs a week of work and then crashing at home. In context ↗	Mild
2024	first big improvement once sleep apnea was treated with CPAPAfter my first night using CPAP, I felt as good without the adderall as I'd previously felt with it. In context ↗	Mild	CPAP and sleep apnoea treatment
January 2025	flu A set them back six monthsI got flu A in January too and it definitely set me back. Feel like I lost 6 months of progress. In context ↗	Mild
March 2025	restarting famotidine improved cognition, gut and PEMI was able to take a three mile walk the other day without the PEM and awful headaches I'd been getting from exercise for a long time. In context ↗	Mild	Famotidine (Pepcid)
early 2026	COVID reinfection, recovery had to start overI'm super sick again after reinfection early 2026. In context ↗	Moderate
October 2026	surprising improvement after antibiotics for a UTI; walks and tai chi when restedI recently saw a surprising amount of improvement after a course of antibiotics for a UTI. In context ↗	Mild	Antibiotics (unspecified)

Adverse events

Duloxetine (Cymbalta)“It made my long covid symptoms worse. ... but I was basically a zombie while I was taking this medication because it worsened my brain fog and other symptoms so much.” In context ↗ Made symptoms worse
Duloxetine (Cymbalta)“I had tried it once, years ago, and also stopped taking it due to side effects that time.” In context ↗ Side effects
Duloxetine (Cymbalta)“Some made me too sleepy and foggy, others too hyper and manic.” In context ↗ Side effects
COVID vaccination as treatment“I felt worse for a couple weeks after the latest Pfizer vaccine, then back to basically the same as before the vaccine.” In context ↗ Made symptoms worse
COVID vaccination as treatment“I get pretty flu-ish for a few days after most vaccines--to the point that I don't get *any* vaccine unless I have a day or two off work to recover.” In context ↗ Side effects
Cetirizine (Zyrtec)“Well a week or so ago I stopped taking it, after having weaned down to half a pill every other day. Constant nausea. No appetite. Insomnia. Worsened ADHD symptoms.” In context ↗ Withdrawal problems
Cetirizine (Zyrtec)“I have schizoaffective disorder (basically a combo of schizophrenia and bipolar) and cetirizine withdrawal precipitated a manic psychotic episode.” In context ↗ Mood or psychiatric effects
Cetirizine (Zyrtec)“It's the nausea and total loss of appetite that really killed me.” In context ↗ Gut side effects
Famotidine (Pepcid)“I can only take them very occasionally any more due to side effects worsening over time with longterm use.” In context ↗ Side effects
“I have pretty loud tinnitus and weed makes it louder. However thc helps a lot with sleep and chronic pain so I just tolerate that side effect.” In context ↗ Side effects
Nicotine patches“Nicotine fucks up my mood and mental state.” In context ↗ Mood or psychiatric effects
Dimenhydrinate (Dramamine, Gravol)“Dramamine was incredibly helpful for the nausea, and maybe other symptoms too, it just makes you super drowsy.” In context ↗ Side effects
Corticosteroid pulses“I got pretty terrible headaches when I took 20mg prednisone for a sinus infection.” In context ↗ Side effects
Other surgery (adrenal, lung, venoplasty)“When I had my pituitary removed, my dumbass doctors did not warn me about this risk and I ended up with no cortisol with no warning and it was a dangerous mess.” In context ↗ Other

Symptoms mentioned

Anxiety & low mood Brain fog Flu-like symptoms Gut problems Headaches & migraine Heart symptoms & palpitations POTS & dysautonomia Pain & fibromyalgia Post-exertional malaise Sleep problems Tinnitus

Their words about their symptoms

Post-exertional malaiseI have substantially less PEM after 2 years than I did at the beginning. In context ↗
Brain fogI've noticed decreased brain fog and decreased symptoms of depression. In context ↗
POTS & dysautonomiaI still have a lot of POTS-like symptoms and low stamina but the PEM is much better now. In context ↗
Sleep problemsI've had sleep issues for years, but the covid insomnia has been a bit harder to treat for me. In context ↗
Pain & fibromyalgiaI've lived with fibromyalgia and chronic pain and fatigue for a decade In context ↗
Headaches & migraineIf I rest enough, my headaches start to subside. In context ↗
Gut problemsMy whole digestive system is kind of screwed due to covid. In context ↗
Heart symptoms & palpitationsI'm unsure if it makes tachycardia worse for me In context ↗
Anxiety & low moodI became a bit of an anxious germaphobe because getting covid again could be pretty bad for me. In context ↗
Flu-like symptomsI kind of just felt like I had the flu all the time In context ↗
TinnitusI have pretty loud tinnitus and weed makes it louder. In context ↗

Long COVID crashing at home after 15-hour work weeks, improved with CPAP, flu A setback

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What they tried

What they credit

Also tried

Their path

Adverse events

Symptoms mentioned

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What they credit

Also tried

Their path

Adverse events

Symptoms mentioned

Ask Miruvor AI

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