Long COVID
Moderate → much betterIll 2 years before improving or writingNeeds ongoing treatment
Off work with long COVID breathlessness and brain fog, much better over time
- Condition
- Long COVID
- At worst
- Moderate (mostly housebound)
- Ill before improving or writing
- 2 years
- Last post
- Mar 2026
In their words
- At worst: Moderate
had been at home without work since 2022 until the beginning of the year, so that's progress
In context ↗ - Now: Much better
Now, 3 1/2 years later from beginning I have to work again, but symptoms are better, not getting worse with exercise. But I am at maybe 60% health to before Covid.
In context ↗ - Began after: COVID
February 2022 COVID with subsequent LC (symptoms never subsided)
Read from 114 of their posts and comments; links to the 40 this page draws on
- Jul 2025
- Jul 2025
- Dec 2023
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Summary
A man in Germany who fell ill with COVID in February 2022, aged 23, developed persistent breathlessness and brain fog, chest pain that later eased, and DPDR-like symptoms that were worst for about a year. He was off work, at his worst around 8-16 months in. GABA, cannabis, lithium orotate, an anti-inflammatory diet and fasting eased symptoms, but he credited most of his slow improvement to time. By early 2025 he hoped to get back to work but was still far from recovered.
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What they tried
What they credit
time· Helped a lotGABA· Helped · mainyoga/meditation/relaxation· Helpedanti-inflammatory diet· Helpedcreatine· HelpedNAC· HelpedTHC / cannabis· Helped · mainlithium orotate· Helped · wore offpassion flower tea· Helpedvitamin C· Helped16/8 intermittent fasting· HelpedH1 antihistamines (incl. cetirizine)· Helped · wore offtaurine· Helpedcaffeine· HelpedL-carnitine· HelpedL-arginine· Helpedgreen tea· HelpedB1· Helped
Also tried
nattokinase· Helped · wore offalcohol (beer)· Helped · wore offreflexive breathing therapy· Helpedenergy drinks· Helpednicotine (e-cigarette)· Helpedstretching exercises and posture· Helpedquercetin· No changeCBD· No changeinhaler (budesonide)· No changepantoprazole· Worsevitamin D· Not saidB12· Not saidomega 3· Not saidblack cumin oil· Not saidH2 antihistamines· Not saidyarrow tea· Not saidCOVID vaccination as treatment· Not said
Their words about each treatment
- GABA · Helped
GABA has helped the most so far
In context ↗ - yoga/meditation/relaxation · Helped
my parasympathetic nervous system is working better (relaxation, stretching, yoga, GABA, THC)
In context ↗ - anti-inflammatory diet · Helped
I find anti-inflammatory diets and 16/8 fasting very helpful.
In context ↗ - nattokinase · Helped
nattokinase makes my eyes look normal
In context ↗ - quercetin · No change
I've also tried other things like natto, lithium, quercetin etc. but that didn't bring any long-term improvement.
In context ↗ - creatine · Helped
I also find creatine and NAC helpful, cheap and effective.
In context ↗ - THC / cannabis · Helped
Helps me the most of all things, also against anxiety and other neurological problems.
In context ↗ - CBD · No change
Only CBD is not really helpful for me, unfortunately.
In context ↗ - alcohol (beer) · Helped
I drank beer in the first year of LC (had helped with shortness of breath and brain fog
In context ↗ - lithium orotate · Helped
5mg of lithium orotate a day has helped me the most
In context ↗ - passion flower tea · Helped
I would rate GABA (or passion flower as a light variant) and THC as the most important for me personally.
In context ↗ - vitamin D · Not said
I take Vitamin D as Supplement from Oktober to April.
In context ↗ - vitamin C · Helped
Vitamin C seems to help me best (1.5-2.5g per day).
In context ↗ - B12 · Not said
vitamin C, D, B12, nattokinase, quercetin, omega 3, black cumin oil, creatine
In context ↗ - H1 antihistamines (incl. cetirizine) · Helped
initially also antihistamines
In context ↗ - H2 antihistamines · Not said
Antihistamines H1 & H2
In context ↗ - pantoprazole · Worse
I have tried pantoprazole on the advice of my lung doctor. It didn't bring more than strange stomach pains.
In context ↗ - reflexive breathing therapy · Helped
I've had 12 hours of reflexive breathing therapy over the last few months. That has helped somewhat
In context ↗ - energy drinks · Helped
After a 300-500ml can of Monster or other energy drinks I feel like in the RB commercials.
In context ↗ - nicotine (e-cigarette) · Helped
A lot of nicotine via my e cigarette does give me a cognitive boost somehow.
In context ↗ - taurine · Helped
I currently use taurine, caffeine and L Carnitine as supplements
In context ↗ - L-arginine · Helped
vitamin C, caffeine, taurine, L carnitine, L arginine and creatine help the most
In context ↗ - green tea · Helped
green tea as a "booster" (caffeine, EGCG)
In context ↗ - B1 · Helped
Currently taurine, L-carnitine, caffeine and B1 are helping well
In context ↗ - inhaler (budesonide) · No change
It feels different and does not react to budesonide or other inhalers.
In context ↗ - stretching exercises and posture · Helped
Stretching exercises and a straight posture, especially in the neck and back, also help to get blood to the brain better.
In context ↗ - time · Helped a lot
Most of it was certainly time.
In context ↗ - COVID vaccination as treatment · Not said
despite 2 Moderna vaccinations (normal "side effects" for 1-3 days each time, nothing more)
In context ↗
Approaches: H1 antihistamines · Amino acids and carnitine · Diet · Mind-body practices · Other drugs and medicines · 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 2022 | COVID infection; brain fog from day 1, breathlessness day 6, chest and heart pain day 10Woke up with brainfog on the first day of the infection and the symptom is still present today.In context ↗ | Moderate | |
| 8-16 months in (2023) | symptom peak: head pressure, DPDR, extreme fatigue, constant breathlessnessThe 1 year mark was about my peak of symptoms. So between 8 and 16 months post-COVID was definitely the worst time.In context ↗ | Moderate | |
| December 2023 | able to hike 12+ miles again, with constant breathlessnessBut I can now hike 12+ miles like before, it's just the shortness of breath all the time that gets me down.In context ↗ | Mild | Time and spontaneous remission |
| February 2024 | symptoms much more manageable; planning a few hours of work from homePersonally, I will be reaching year 2 this month and am able to manage my symptoms much better.In context ↗ | Mild | Time and spontaneous remission |
| October 2024 | sick again from the beginning of OctoberI've also been permanently sick again since the beginning of October.In context ↗ | Mild | |
| July 2025 | breathlessness slowly better; back at work but only about 60% of pre-COVID healthNow, 3 1/2 years later from beginning I have to work again, but symptoms are better, not getting worse with exercise. But I am at maybe 60% health to before Covid.In context ↗ | Mild | Time and spontaneous remission |
Adverse events
- COVID vaccination as treatment“despite 2 Moderna vaccinations (normal "side effects" for 1-3 days each time, nothing more)” In context ↗ Side effects
- GABA supplement (PharmaGABA)“If I take too much, my breathing reflex starts to decrease very uncomfortably, but not with the right amount.” In context ↗ Side effects
- Pantoprazole (Protonix)“It didn't bring more than strange stomach pains.” In context ↗ Gut side effects
Symptoms mentioned
Anxiety & low moodBrain fogBreathlessnessFlu-like symptomsHeadaches & migraineHeart symptoms & palpitationsMuscle weaknessPOTS & dysautonomiaPain & fibromyalgiaPost-exertional malaiseSleep problemsTemperature regulationTinnitus
Their words about their symptoms
- Breathlessness
I have shortness of breath almost permanently, but it's enough to get by.
In context ↗ - Brain fog
I've had Brainfog since 02/2022
In context ↗ - Post-exertional malaise
Fever, headache and sore throat are what I get most with PEM, but I don't really have fatigue any more.
In context ↗ - Sleep problems
I find it difficult to fall asleep because of general insomnia
In context ↗ - POTS & dysautonomia
Dizziness came on very quickly, is still noticeable today
In context ↗ - Heart symptoms & palpitations
Chest pressure and heart pain were added on day 10 and lasted for about 1 1/2 years, now only a higher resting heart rate and less exercise tolerance.
In context ↗ - Headaches & migraine
Pressure and burning and absorbent cotton feeling in the head
In context ↗ - Pain & fibromyalgia
the pain from COVID / LC feels more like overtraining
In context ↗ - Muscle weakness
muscle exhaustion
In context ↗ - Flu-like symptoms
I also feel like I have a slight but permanent cold.
In context ↗ - Temperature regulation
Hands and feet became ice-cold
In context ↗ - Anxiety & low mood
but anxiety/panic/confusion is currently almost gone
In context ↗ - Tinnitus
1 a little, 2 yes, extremely in the first six months or three quarters
In context ↗
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