Long COVID with crippling fatigue, now much better with pacing and low-histamine diet
- Condition
- Long COVID
- At worst
- Moderate (mostly housebound)
- Ill before improving or writing
- 2 years
- Last post
- May 2026
In their words
- Condition: Long COVID
Before I had long Covid induced anxiety, I enjoyed drinking and very occasional marijuana use.
In context ↗ - At worst: Moderate
2 years in was my lowest point ... I lost 40 pounds and had crippling fatigue, anxiety, muscle cramps, and about 10 other symptoms.
- Now: Much better
4 years in, I'm better day to day. I can work, I snowboard a little.
In context ↗ - Began after: COVID
Before I had long Covid induced anxiety
Read from 39 of their posts and comments; links to the 19 this page draws on
Summary
Former mountain-bike racer who fell ill with long COVID in late 2021; two years in was their lowest point, with 40 pounds lost and crippling fatigue, anxiety and cramps. They improved from about 26 months, crediting time, pacing, a low-histamine diet, electrolytes and supplements. By four and a half years they were around 70% of normal, working full time but still limited by post-exertional malaise.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- low histamine diet · Helped
Low histamine, clean eating, and lots of electrolytes seem to help.
In context ↗ - ashwaganda · Not said
Low histamine diet, ashwaganda, CBD, magnesium, coq10.
In context ↗ - CBD · Not said
Every once in a while I'll do a CBD, THC, THN for sleep.
In context ↗ - magnesium · Helped
I take a lot of different forms of magnesium and drink electrolytes all day. It helps a little.
In context ↗ - no dairy, gluten or added sugar; cut out sugar, caffeine, alcohol, processed food · Helped
I'm not doing dairy, gluten, or added sugar either.
In context ↗ - electrolytes (LMNT, Redmond Re-lyte, salt pills, endurolytes) · Helped a lot
I now drink electrolytes all day. High salt like LMNT. I've been doing Redmond re-lyte because it's a lot less. I also take endurolytes/ salt pills. It's been a game changer for sure.
In context ↗ - breathing exercises · Helped
Breathing exercises help.
In context ↗ - LDN · Worse
I couldn't get above 1.5. it made me feel weird during the day and gave me insomnia at night.
In context ↗ - Zok device · Not said
I bought one of those Zok devices. Not sure if it helped, but I continue to use it.
In context ↗ - pacing · Helped
I feel that time, pacing, low histamine diet, tons of electrolytes, and the right supplements have helped the most.
In context ↗ - acupuncture · Helped
Also had good luck with acupuncture that I had never tried before.
In context ↗ - Zyrtec · Helped
Zyrtec has been good.
In context ↗ - protein shakes · Helped
I had luck with protein shakes in the morning with Creatine.
In context ↗ - Creatine · Helped
I had luck with protein shakes in the morning with Creatine. Hydrate with electrolytes. I drink Redmond Relyte all day. I'm not anywhere near normal, but my muscles got a lot better.
In context ↗
Approaches: H1 antihistamines · POTS medication · Alternative therapies · Diet · 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. The chart starts 2 years after onset: the story doesn’t say how ill they were before that. 1 step says too little to place on the scale and is only in the table. Dates are when they posted. What the levels mean.
Show as a table
| When | What happened | Where they were | After |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Long COVID beganI'm 3 years in next monthIn context ↗ | Not stated | |
| 2 years in | Lowest point: 40 pounds lost, crippling fatigue, anxiety and cramps2 years in was my lowest point.In context ↗ | Moderate | |
| 26-27 months | Rounded a corner; back to workingI rounded some sort of corner around 26-27 months. Still 50-60% of normal, but I've been working again.In context ↗ | Mild | Time and spontaneous remission |
| September 2024 | Working full time, riding an ebike, golfing and building againI'm about 75-80 percent. Still get bad post exertional fatigue. But I'm working full time, riding my ebike, golfing, and building again.In context ↗ | Mild | Time and spontaneous remission |
| February 2026 | Around 70% of normal; can work and snowboard a littleOver four years, but I'm around 70%.In context ↗ | Mild | |
| May 2026 | Better day to day but hard to enjoy things; PEM still limits exertionI'm 4 1/2 years in. This is an improvement over the first couple years.In context ↗ | Mild |
Adverse events
- Low-dose naltrexone“My Dr had me start at 1.5 and was supposed to build to 4.5. I couldn't get above 1.5. it made me feel weird during the day” In context ↗ Side effects
- Low-dose naltrexone“gave me insomnia at night” In context ↗ Insomnia from treatment
- Low-dose naltrexone“I tried LDN a couple years ago, but it made my sleep awful. ... I started on .5 for LDN with the intention of getting to 1.5. I never made it past .5.” Insomnia from treatment
- “I struggle with it. My stomach doesn't like it. Gassy and Sulfuric.” In context ↗ Gut side effects
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Anxiety & low mood
I had crippling anxiety for a year and a half.
In context ↗ - Post-exertional malaise
My worst symptom now is PEM.
In context ↗ - Brain fog
I couldn't think of words, especially places.
In context ↗ - Neuropathy & tingling
I have a little neuropathy, but that's mostly better too.
In context ↗ - Headaches & migraine
I still get headaches
In context ↗ - Muscle weakness
My legs are always tired and weak.
In context ↗ - Sleep problems
If I know I'm stressed, it helps me stay asleep.
In context ↗ - Temperature regulation
I used to love the heat, now I struggle with it.
In context ↗ - Gut problems
Just working on gut health and PEM.
In context ↗
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