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Long COVID Severe → near normalIll 2 years before improving or writing

Severe long COVID fatigue and brain fog, now close to normal after diet and metformin

Ocean 93297 on RedditLast post Jun 2026

Condition
Long COVID
At worst
Severe (mostly bedbound)
Ill before improving or writing
2 years
Last post
Jun 2026
In their words
  • Condition: Long COVIDI’ve had LC since mid 2020 In context ↗
  • At worst: SevereDuring the worst of the long COVID I was basically bed ridden - unemployed and barely able to manage. In context ↗
  • Now: Near normalI’ve never fully and permanently ‘bounced back’ to my old self but I’m much better than the worst of it. In context ↗
  • Began after: COVIDI caught it in August 2020 despite masking, socially distancing etc.
Read from 318 of their posts and comments; links to the 43 this page draws on

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Summary

Caught COVID in late summer/fall 2020 and had severe fatigue and brain fog. A dietitian's food-sensitivity testing and elimination diet from summer 2022 helped a lot, and metformin added physical energy. She reached about 90–95% mentally and 75–85% physically, with nearly full-time work, still limited by cardio.

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What they tried

What they credit

dietitian-prescribed food-sensitivity elimination diet (LEAP/MRT)· Helped a lot · mainmetformin· Helped a lot · mainvagal nerve exercises and vagus nerve music· HelpedB12 then a broader B-complex· HelpedB12 then a broader B-complex· Helpedubiquinol / CoQ10· Helpedelectrolyte drinks and high water intake· Helpedpacing· Helpedgentle floor-based exercises, walking and weight training with a trainer· Helped

Also tried

magnesium (CALM brand)· Helped a lotvitamin D· Helped a lotCPAP· Helpedzinc· Helpedoccupational and speech therapy· HelpedTrintellix· Helpedprednisone· HelpedHRT with estrogen and testosterone cream· HelpedHRT with estrogen and testosterone cream· HelpedHRT with estrogen and testosterone cream· Helpedremdesivir· No changeWellbutrin (bupropion)· No changeomega-3· No changeLunesta· No changePfizer COVID vaccine (three doses)· Worsedaily ibuprofen· Worseprobiotic supplements· Not saidALA, vitamin K and chromium· Not saidoccasional glass of red wine for resveratrol· Not saidfamotidine / acid reflux medication· Not saidMSM (sulfur)· Not saidBuspirone (Buspar)· Not said
Their words about each treatment
  • dietitian-prescribed food-sensitivity elimination diet (LEAP/MRT) · Helped a lotThis dietician got me feeling MUCH better within a few weeks. In context ↗
  • metformin · Helped a lotAbout 2-3 weeks after I started the metformin, I noticed a BIG improvement in my energy. In context ↗
  • remdesivir · No changeI did try remdesivir and I didn’t notice any difference. In context ↗
  • vagal nerve exercises and vagus nerve music · HelpedThe OT had me do vagal nerve exercises which helped a lot and taught me about proper rest. In context ↗
  • CPAP · HelpedI also got a CPAP and while it helps with the brain fog I think, it hasn’t been the magic bullet I’d hoped for. In context ↗
  • magnesium (CALM brand) · Helped a lotUpping my magnesium helped my relaxation and sleep dramatically. In context ↗
  • B12 then a broader B-complex · HelpedI’ve had severe long COVID and low B12 and supplements helped me. In context ↗
  • zinc · HelpedZinc supplements under my doctor’s guidance have helped my sense of smell a lot. In context ↗
  • vitamin D · Helped a lotBefore LC, vitamin D testing and supplements were a HUGE help In context ↗
  • ubiquinol / CoQ10 · HelpedYes I’d been taking COQ10 and working on my diet for about 9 months prior to taking metformin and it DID help. In context ↗
  • probiotic supplements · Not saidI was put on probiotic supplements by my dietitian. In context ↗
  • ALA, vitamin K and chromium · Not saidI’m on Magnesium*, B complex (super helpful)*, Zinc, Vitamin D, Ubiquinol aka COQ10, ALA, vitamin K, and chromium. In context ↗
  • occasional glass of red wine for resveratrol · Not saidhave an occasional glass of red wine for reservatrol In context ↗
  • electrolyte drinks and high water intake · HelpedI found a LOT of benefit from electrolytes drinks but found I have to eat food with anything sugary. In context ↗
  • pacing · HelpedOnce I learned to pace myself things steadily improved. In context ↗
  • gentle floor-based exercises, walking and weight training with a trainer · HelpedI did a lot of gentle exercises on the floor like seated yoga and that helped In context ↗
  • occupational and speech therapy · HelpedThey have a protocol they use on stroke victims. It wasn’t amazing but did help. In context ↗
  • Wellbutrin (bupropion) · No changeWe tried experimenting with my dosage but I don’t think it did anything for my fatigue. In context ↗
  • Trintellix · HelpedI’m on Trintellix now and I DO think it helped my fatigue although only partially. In context ↗
  • prednisone · HelpedI had a lingering cough after COVID and the prednisone helped the cough but not much else. In context ↗
  • famotidine / acid reflux medication · Not saidI was taking it after dinner (night time is my worst reflux) and I still had vitamin deficiencies. In context ↗
  • omega-3 · No changeFunny, I tried that (Omegas) but didn’t see a benefit. In context ↗
  • MSM (sulfur) · Not saidI actually started taking MSM (a form sulfur) because I was having issues for this reasons. In context ↗
  • HRT with estrogen and testosterone cream · HelpedI’m in perimenopause and am taking HRT and some estrogen and testosterone cream and both have also helped a lot with my energy. In context ↗
  • Pfizer COVID vaccine (three doses) · WorseI had such a severe reaction the CDC called me ... Still within a few weeks I had a severe relapse in fatigue. In context ↗
  • daily ibuprofen · WorseBe careful about daily ibuprofen- it chewed up my stomach. In context ↗
  • Lunesta · No changeI’d been taking Lunesta and it wasn’t reliable for me In context ↗
  • Buspirone (Buspar) · Not saidI was on buspirone for years and had just accepted that I’d feel gross for a hour or two after taking it (headaches). In context ↗

Approaches: POTS medication · Diet · Exercise and activity · Other drugs and medicines · Pacing · Supplements · Vagus nerve stimulation

Their path

Very severeSevereModerateMildNear normalRecoveredonset12 mo2 y3 y4 y5 y

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
WhenWhat happenedWhere they wereAfter
August 2020COVID infection; initial illness mild with severe fatigueI’ve had LC since mid 2020 - caught it despite social distancing etc. In context ↗Mild
late 2020bedridden at first, then most of a year and a half on the couch, unemployedI was housebound for a while and spent most of a year and a half on the couch (I dislike lying in bed). A good day for me was taking a shower. In context ↗Severe
late 2021nearly back to normal, working full time, slowly jogging againI was nearly back to normal in late 2021 (I’d say I was 90% and working on getting back into jogging - still prone to fatigue but manageable). In context ↗Mild
August 2022dietitian food-sensitivity testing and elimination diet; gut settled, brain fog clearedI started working with a dietitian in August 2022 and that was a HUGE help. Got me to about 70% back to normal (gut settled down and brain fog cleared) In context ↗MildElimination diets (other)
April 2023started metformin; big boost in physical energyAbout 3 months ago I started taking metformin which has given me another 10% of improvement mostly in physical energy. In context ↗MildMetformin
February 2024perimenopause hit with severe hot flashes, heavy bleeding and night sweatsI had a few mild hot flashes starting last year but then in February I started going through absolute hell In context ↗Mild
June 2026about 95% back to normal, full-time work, HRT for perimenopause, still limited on intense cardioI’ve never fully and permanently ‘bounced back’ to my old self but I’m much better than the worst of it. In context ↗Near normal

Adverse events

Symptoms mentioned

Anxiety & low moodBrain fogFlu-like symptomsHeart symptoms & palpitationsNeuropathy & tinglingPOTS & dysautonomiaPain & fibromyalgiaPost-exertional malaiseSleep problems
Their words about their symptoms
  • Post-exertional malaiseI still am struggling with cardio and post exertional malaise (PEM) although these days it takes a lot more to trigger it. In context ↗
  • Brain fogI can still get a little foggy if I’m over tired or multitasking too much In context ↗
  • Pain & fibromyalgiaa lot of my admittedly not severe joint pain and nerve pain cleared up with the dietitian In context ↗
  • Neuropathy & tinglingI was having tingling in my fingers and toes and got questioned for MS, then blown off. In context ↗
  • Sleep problemsMy SEVERE insomnia improved once my severe magnesium deficiency was diagnosed In context ↗
  • POTS & dysautonomiaI had this symptom a lot the first 6 months and then less so over time. The fatigue can bring back dizziness. In context ↗
  • Heart symptoms & palpitationsI was having dizziness and mild heart palpitations. In context ↗
  • Anxiety & low moodI definitely had some depression and anxiety during the worst of it. In context ↗
  • Flu-like symptomsoccasional mild fevers and joint pain In context ↗

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