Long COVID with brain fog and nerve pain, now about 90% better at 17 months
- Condition
- Long COVID
- At worst
- Moderate (mostly housebound)
- Ill before improving or writing
- 17 months
- Last post
- Sep 2023
In their words
- Condition: Long COVID
I’ve been experiencing very similar symptoms for the past 3 months, all of which started about 2 weeks after a mild Covid infection.
In context ↗ - At worst: Moderate
Had to take almost 2 months off work and force myself to slow down, avoid screens, and reduce stress.
In context ↗ - Now: Near normal
I’m about 90% too after 17 months with a boat-load of debilitating concussion-like symptoms. Now the only real day-to-day symptoms remaining are mild headaches/head pressure.
In context ↗ - Began after: COVID
all of which started about 2 weeks after a mild Covid infection
In context ↗
Read from 21 of their posts and comments; links to the 13 this page draws on
Summary
After a mild COVID infection in April 2022 he developed long COVID with head and ear pressure, severe sleep problems, brain fog, nerve pain and anxiety. He took almost two months off work, rested, avoided screens, and used yoga nidra, breathing exercises, cetirizine and magnesium glycinate. By 17 months he rated himself about 90% better, with only mild headaches and head pressure remaining; a reinfection two months earlier caused no setback.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- Exercising to push through early symptoms · Worse
I had the same initial approach of trying to exercise my way out of my early symptoms, which obviously didn’t work out too well.
In context ↗ - Cetirizine (Zyrtec) · Helped
I personally saw a general improvement in my symptoms with Cetirizine. I take 5mg once or twice a day.
In context ↗ - Benadryl · Helped
along with a small amount of Benadryl and NyQuil and CBD oil
In context ↗ - NyQuil · Helped
for sleep a little Benadryl, NyQuil, and CBD
In context ↗ - CBD oil · Helped
Could just be placebo, but it does seem to have a very subtle relaxing effect for me
In context ↗ - Ativan (lorazepam) · Helped
What ultimately helped me was taking a low dose of Ativan (0.5mg) before bed
In context ↗ - Pepcid AC (famotidine) · Helped
Then a low dose of Pepcid AC and Benadryl at night.
In context ↗ - Baby aspirin · Helped
I think it had a mildly positive effect on my head ache/pressure
In context ↗ - Magnesium (magnesium glycinate) · Helped
magnesium glycinate before bed seemed to have a small but noticeable effect
In context ↗ - Vitamins (C, D, B complex) · Not said
In the “might be helping” category I have: Aspirin, Magnesium, some vitamins (C, D, B complex)
In context ↗ - Diets · No change
Tried a lot supplements and diets but only antihistamines (Cetirizine) and magnesium glycinate before bed seemed to have a small but noticeable effect
In context ↗ - Mantra · Helped
having a mantra to repeat in my mind helped a lot with not focusing on the scary feelings/sensations/thoughts
In context ↗ - Yoga Nidra · Helped
Yoga Nidra was responsible for the only nap I’ve managed to have in the past 6 months.
In context ↗ - Deep breathing exercises · Helped
yoga nidra and deep breathing exercises helped
In context ↗ - Acupuncture · Helped
found breathing exercises, yoga nidra, acupuncture, magnesium, Cetirizine, CBD, journaling, and positive thinking to all be helpful
In context ↗ - Journaling and positive thinking · Helped
Also worked really hard on shifting my mindset from dwelling on my symptoms towards finding little things to be grateful for. Sounds cheesy but it really seemed to help.
In context ↗ - Taking it easy and resting · Helped
I’m not too sure other than just the passing of time and really taking it easy
In context ↗ - Passing of time · Helped
just the passing of time and really taking it easy
In context ↗
Approaches: H1 antihistamines · Alternative therapies · Brain retraining · Mind-body practices · 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 |
|---|---|---|
| April 2022 | long COVID symptoms began about two weeks after a mild COVID infectionall of which started about 2 weeks after a mild Covid infectionIn context ↗ | Mild |
| mid-2022 | sleep collapsed and cognitive and head symptoms were at their worstI had a lot of sleep issues that escalated over the first two months.In context ↗ | Moderate |
| August 2022 | sleep improved with sleep aids; antihistamines eased symptomsI now sleep fairly well, though no where near pre-covid well.In context ↗ | Mild |
| October 2022 | sleeping seven to eight hoursI’m almost 6 months from infection now and finally able to get 7-8 hours of sleep latelyIn context ↗ | Mild |
| November 2022 | only mild anxiety, neck/head tension and ear fullness leftI’m about 7 months in and my only remaining symptoms are mild anxiety/ptsd, neck and head tension, and left ear tightness/fullness.In context ↗ | Mild |
| September 2023 | about 90% better, mild headaches and head pressure remainI’m about 90% too after 17 monthsIn context ↗ | Near normal |
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Headaches & migraine
the only real day-to-day symptoms remaining are mild headaches/head pressure
In context ↗ - Sleep problems
I had a lot of sleep issues that escalated over the first two months.
In context ↗ - Brain fog
unable to string together any coherent thoughts until around lunch time
In context ↗ - Post-exertional malaise
they flare up if I over exert myself or don’t get plenty of sleep
In context ↗ - POTS & dysautonomia
mild dizziness when I turn my head too quickly
In context ↗ - Anxiety & low mood
my only remaining symptoms are mild anxiety/ptsd
In context ↗ - Neuropathy & tingling
plus some strange nerve pain and other symptoms
In context ↗ - Pain & fibromyalgia
the general sense of irritation/restlessness I was feeling throughout my body, especially in my joints and legs
In context ↗ - Tinnitus
Luckily I never had more than very mild tinnitus
In context ↗
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