Long COVID chest pressure, palpitations near zero with caffeine avoidance and cetirizine
- Condition
- Long COVID
- At worst
- Mild (working or studying, with limits)
- Ill before improving or writing
- 11 months
- Last post
- Aug 2024
In their words
- Condition: Long COVID
Had COVID in December '22 with a mild course. ... I have several symptoms which can not be explained by the doctors.
In context ↗ - At worst: Mild
Happily it doesn't limits me so much. I can go to work, have a walk or a tour with a bike.
In context ↗ - Now: Near normal
Since then, everything has gotten better.
In context ↗ - Began after: COVID
Had COVID in December '22 with a mild course.
Read from 5 of their posts and comments; links to the 4 this page draws on
Summary
Dew 58425 developed chest pressure and a racing heartbeat in March 2023, three months after a mild COVID infection. Dizziness began in April after starting cetirizine. Cardiac tests found no explanation, though an ECG anomaly was noted, and they kept working, walking and cycling, though tiring much faster. Avoiding caffeine and taking cetirizine brought dizziness, brain fog and palpitations close to zero, and a later antihistamine retrial left them much better.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- Vitamin D · Not said
Vitamin D is very low, I already supplement.
In context ↗ - Cetirizin · Helped
I'm taking Cetirizin + avoiding caffeine to reduce dizziness, brain fog and heart palpitations to nearly zero.
In context ↗ - avoiding caffeine · Helped
I do not drink coffee, cola or anything with much caffeine any more. It seems that this caused my dizziness.
In context ↗
Approaches: H1 antihistamines · Diet
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| March '23 | chest pressure, fast heartbeat and ECG anomaly appearAlso around this time it started that I sometimes had some pressure on my chest. My heartbeat rise quickly after minimal physical exertion.In context ↗ | Mild | |
| April '23 | dizziness and chest pressure at their worstDizziness kept getting worse, sometimes it felt like a flash, standing in a starting elevator or sitting in a rollercoaster.In context ↗ | Mild | |
| 2024-02-19 | much better after cutting out caffeineMuch better. Sometimes a strong heartbeat, but not that bad. I do not drink coffee, cola or anything with much caffeine any more.In context ↗ | Mild | |
| 2024-07-29 | dizziness, brain fog and palpitations nearly zero on cetirizine without caffeineI'm taking Cetirizin + avoiding caffeine to reduce dizziness, brain fog and heart palpitations to nearly zero.In context ↗ | Near normal | Cetirizine (Zyrtec) |
| 2024-08-20 | everything better since restarting antihistaminesAt some point I dared to take antihistamines again. Since then, everything has gotten better.In context ↗ | Near normal | Cetirizine (Zyrtec) |
Adverse events
- Cetirizine (Zyrtec)“From the next day on I had dizziness. I quit Cetirizin after a few days but dizziness is still there. ... Some of my symptoms (fatigue, dizziness) started after taking antihistamines because of hay fever for a few days.” Side effects
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Heart symptoms & palpitations
Sometimes a strong heartbeat, but not that bad.
In context ↗ - POTS & dysautonomia
Dizziness kept getting worse, sometimes it felt like a flash, standing in a starting elevator or sitting in a rollercoaster.
In context ↗ - Brain fog
I'm taking Cetirizin + avoiding caffeine to reduce dizziness, brain fog and heart palpitations to nearly zero.
In context ↗ - Mast cell (MCAS) & allergies
I started to take Cetirizin because of hay fever.
In context ↗
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