Long COVID with pain, POTS and brain fog, now much better on buprenorphine
- Condition
- Long COVID
- At worst
- Moderate (mostly housebound)
- Ill before improving or writing
- 2.5 years
- Last post
- Jun 2026
In their words
- Condition: Long COVID
I'm on zepbound. There's some evidence it may help with inflammation. I haven't had such luck
In context ↗ - At worst: Moderate
I've been using it whenever I'm getting (or likely to get) tired. I've been able to use the shorter, accessible lines in many places, which helps a lot with the POTS.
In context ↗ - Now: Much better
I have more energy, less brain fog, better mood, even my POTS isn't as bad. I can actually clean and do productive stuff for the first time in 2.5 years.
In context ↗
Read from 4 of their posts and comments; links to the 4 this page draws on
Summary
Lake 47622 had long COVID for about 2.5 years, with pain, POTS and brain fog, plus insomnia on injection day; cleaning and productive work had been impossible. Zepbound, which they were on by late 2025, gave no physical benefit despite 30 pounds of weight loss. Belbuca (buprenorphine) for pain, started in mid-2026, brought much less pain, more energy, better mood and clearer thinking, and they could finally do productive things again.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- cane · Helped
Honestly, not sure i could have done this without the cane.
In context ↗ - zepbound · No change
I haven't noticed any positive physical effects of losing 30 pounds so far
In context ↗ - Belbuca (buprenorphine) · Helped a lot
I have more energy, less brain fog, better mood, even my POTS isn't as bad.
In context ↗
Approaches: Other drugs and medicines
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 |
|---|---|---|
| about 2.5 years before June 2026 | long COVID onset, years of pain, POTS, brain fog and insomniathat the last couple years didn't have to be so miserableIn context ↗ | Moderate |
| 2024-12-03 | two-week UK trip to attend concerts, using a caneHonestly, not sure i could have done this without the cane.In context ↗ | Mild |
| 2025-12-05 | on Zepbound, lost 30 pounds, no physical benefitI haven't noticed any positive physical effects of losing 30 pounds so farIn context ↗ | Moderate |
| 2026-06-19 | started Belbuca (buprenorphine) for pain: less pain, more energy, less brain fog, milder POTSit's changed everything ... I can actually clean and do productive stuff for the first time in 2.5 yearsIn context ↗ | Mild |
Adverse events
- Tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound)“I have insomnia on injection day, especially if I take it later on the day.” In context ↗ Insomnia from treatment
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Pain & fibromyalgia
I recently started on Belbuca (buprenorphine) to manage pain
In context ↗ - POTS & dysautonomia
even my POTS isn't as bad
In context ↗ - Sleep problems
I have insomnia on injection day
In context ↗
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