Long COVID
Moderate → much betterIll 2 years before improving or writingNeeds ongoing treatment
Long COVID brain fog, PEM and fatigue, now much better after psychedelics and Lexapro
- Condition
- Long COVID
- At worst
- Moderate (mostly housebound)
- Ill before improving or writing
- 2 years
- Last post
- Feb 2026
In their words
- Condition: Long COVID
I got Long Covid starting in August 2020.
In context ↗ - At worst: Moderate
3-4 energy drinks a day just to function, barely able to remember new peoples' names, just being a zombie
In context ↗ - Now: Much better
at least more functional than the beginning ... Still exhausted but some days better than others.
- Began after: COVID
First had COVID in August of 2020.
In context ↗
Read from 128 of their posts and comments; links to the 32 this page draws on
Summary
Valley 57312 got COVID in August 2020 and spent about two years as a zombie, barely able to answer texts, with brain fog, PEM, headaches and fatigue. Psychedelics (psilocybin, LSD) gave the only substantial relief and they felt mostly recovered by late 2023, but COVID around New Year 2024 set them back, and they had another round in January 2025. Lexapro, started December 2025, eased headaches and fatigue; they said it helped but was not a cure and they still weren't cognitively the same.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Benadryl· Helpedprayer & surrender / focusing on Jesus· HelpedAleve· Helpedmagnesium glycinate· Helpedimmunity support supplements· No changehealthy diet· No changemarijuana· No changedaily exercise / 75 Hard / running a mile a day· WorsePfizer COVID vaccine· Worsephlebotomy· WorseMulti-Vitamine· Not saidLithium Oratate· Not saidpre/probiotic· Not saidB-vitamin complex· Not saidOmega-3· Not saidCoQ10· Not saidiron supplements· Not saidTylenol· Not saidVitamin D· Not saidzinc· Not said
Their words about each treatment
- immunity support supplements · No change
Immunity support supplements, daily exercise, healthy diet, etc. did not do it for me either. Helped in subtle ways but nothing major.
In context ↗ - daily exercise / 75 Hard / running a mile a day · Worse
ran a mile every day for 30 days straight. Nothing changed. Just exacerbated symptoms
In context ↗ - healthy diet · No change
healthy diet, etc. did not do it for me either. Helped in subtle ways but nothing major.
In context ↗ - Pfizer COVID vaccine · Worse
It didn’t alleviate my LC & my immune system went haywire.
In context ↗ - psilocybin mushrooms · Helped a lot
Psilocybin & LSD helped me tremendously with brain inflammation, memory, cognitive functioning, and overall energy.
In context ↗ - LSD · Helped a lot
LSD did restore skin sensation that I didn’t even realize I had lost
In context ↗ - Benadryl · Helped
Benadryl helped a little.
In context ↗ - 5-HTP · Helped
L-Tyrosine & 5-HTP have helped as well but more subtle.
In context ↗ - L-Tyrosine · Helped
L-Tyrosine & Ashwaganda definitely helps.
In context ↗ - Multi-Vitamine · Not said
Ashwaganda/Multi-Vitamine
In context ↗ - Lithium Oratate · Not said
just started taking Lithium Oratate in hopes of positive impact
In context ↗ - pre/probiotic · Not said
also on a pre/probiotic
In context ↗ - B-vitamin complex · Not said
B-vitamin complex
In context ↗ - Omega-3 · Not said
Omega-3 + CoQ10 fish oil
In context ↗ - L-Arginine/L-Citrulline complex · Helped
I have experienced a noticeable difference with them, they help circulation and inflammation.
In context ↗ - marijuana · No change
It just put me to sleep & didn’t have any cognitive benefit the day after.
In context ↗ - phlebotomy · Worse
they misdiagnosed me and due to the phlebotomies to treat depleted my iron
In context ↗ - iron supplements · Not said
So now I’m on iron supplements & am seeing neurology.
In context ↗ - prayer & surrender / focusing on Jesus · Helped
I’m still a zombie but prayer & surrender has definitely helped.
In context ↗ - Aleve · Helped
Aleve is what works for me, if anything.
In context ↗ - Tylenol · Not said
Sometimes cycle with tylenol.
In context ↗ - magnesium glycinate · Helped
I take around 1,000mg magnesium glycinate at bedtime and that does seem to make mornings slightly less heavy on the brain/body.
In context ↗ - nicotine via Zyn pouches · Helped
It does seem to allow me to function closer to normal
In context ↗ - Lexapro (escitalopram) · Helped
Lexapro has also been a godsend for me.
In context ↗ - Adderall XR · Helped
Lexapro & adderall are the only things carrying me through.
In context ↗ - Vitamin D · Not said
Vitamin D, zinc, magnesium, lexapro & adderall XR (diagnosed ADHD prior to LC).
In context ↗
Approaches: SSRIs · Amino acids and carnitine · Other drugs and medicines · Stimulants · 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 2020 | COVID-19 infection, start of long COVIDFirst had COVID in August of 2020.In context ↗ | Moderate | |
| 2022 | zombie mode, energy drinks to function, cognition wrecked3-4 energy drinks a day just to function, barely able to remember new peoples' names, just being a zombieIn context ↗ | Moderate | |
| 2023-02 | significant relief in cognition, memory and energySignificantly improved cognition, memory, concentration & overall energyIn context ↗ | Mild | |
| 2023-10 | mostly recovered while on maintenance psychedelicsConsider myself mostly recovered at this point.In context ↗ | Mild | |
| January 2024 | back to square one after third COVID infectionThen it was back to square one of dogshit brain, fatigue, anhedonia, and feeling like trash.In context ↗ | Moderate | |
| 2025-10 | more functional than at the beginning, but still not as beforeat this point we’re 5 years deep & at least more functional than the beginningIn context ↗ | Mild | |
| 2026-02 | Lexapro eased headaches, mornings and energy; fog and fatigue remainLexapro has been a positive for me. Not cure but has definitely helped manage.In context ↗ | Mild | Escitalopram (Lexapro) |
Adverse events
- COVID vaccination as treatment“1st shot seemed to actually help, 2nd shot put me right back to zombie mode” In context ↗ Made symptoms worse
- COVID vaccination as treatment“my immune system went haywire and I was sick with everything possible for the next four years” In context ↗ Autoimmune or inflammatory flare
- Nicotine patches“the nicotine stimulates my brain in a way that does create a little tension ... it does feel like it exhausts the brain at the end of the day” Side effects
- LSD (including microdosing)“Two at once always made me feel slightly nauseated & was too much” In context ↗ Gut side effects
- Psilocybin (magic mushrooms)“With the 7G My body was physically sore, as if I’d gotten jumped, and it was intermittent consciousness.” In context ↗ Side effects
- Everyday exercise and activity“Did 75 hard, felt like death ... ran a mile every day for 30 days straight. Nothing changed. Just exacerbated symptoms” In context ↗ Made symptoms worse
- Blood donation / therapeutic phlebotomy“they misdiagnosed me and due to the phlebotomies to treat depleted my iron lol” In context ↗ Refeeding or deficiency problems
- Cannabis (THC, marijuana)“It just put me to sleep & didn’t have any cognitive benefit the day after.” In context ↗ Side effects
Symptoms mentioned
Anxiety & low moodBrain fogHeadaches & migraineMuscle weaknessNeuropathy & tinglingPOTS & dysautonomiaPost-exertional malaiseSleep problems
Their words about their symptoms
- Brain fog
I do still have headaches, fog, etc.
In context ↗ - Post-exertional malaise
Nothing sets me back worse than exercise or poor sleep.
In context ↗ - Headaches & migraine
Lexapro has helped me considerably with calming the brain & relieving some aspects of the headaches.
In context ↗ - Neuropathy & tingling
Persistent symptoms: Brain fog, Post Exertion Malaise, Dizziness, Slight Numbness/neuropathy
In context ↗ - POTS & dysautonomia
Persistent symptoms: Brain fog, Post Exertion Malaise, Dizziness
In context ↗ - Muscle weakness
general weakness/sensitivity
In context ↗ - Anxiety & low mood
The anhedonia from LC is just insane.
In context ↗ - Sleep problems
sleep hasn’t been entirely robbed from me but disrupted for sure
In context ↗
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