Long COVID: in bed with standing heart-rate spikes, now somewhat better with duloxetine
- Condition
- Long COVID
- At worst
- Severe (mostly bedbound)
- Ill before improving or writing
- Not stated
- Last post
- Oct 2026
In their words
- Condition: Long COVID
I had all the scans and bloods needed for a long covid referral
In context ↗ - At worst: Severe
Today I have spent sitting/lying in bed, occasionally getting up to get a drink or go to the bathroom.
In context ↗ - Now: Somewhat better
the duloxetine is doing a good job with the nerve pain, not completely gone, but manageable
In context ↗ - Began after: COVID
I had all the scans and bloods needed for a long covid referral
In context ↗
Read from 10 of their posts and comments; links to the 7 this page draws on
Summary
Ridge 57510 is still being tested for long COVID, spent a day sitting or lying in bed with a heart rate that spikes on standing, and is on long-term sick leave from teaching. Pacing with the Visible app helped predict out-of-balance days; private appointments with Dr Gill (£480, then £250) helped kick-start NHS tests and brought prescriptions and supplements. Duloxetine caused a rough first week but eased nerve pain after about a month; a later dose increase left the pain manageable but not gone.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- Visible · Helped
I've subscribed to Visible to track symptoms and it's been great to to help me pace myself and to predict out of balance days.
In context ↗ - ferritin / iron · No change
Mine was 9, now up to 24, though I can't feel a difference get.
In context ↗ - duloxetine · Helped
I felt awful for a week, then it took about a month before I felt an impact on the pain.
In context ↗
Approaches: Pacing
Their path
What they say at each step doesn’t fit the worst point or outcome above on the severity scale, so the steps are listed as they describe them. Dates are when they posted.
| When | What happened |
|---|---|
| — | long COVID, undergoing referral workupI had all the scans and bloods needed for a long covid referralIn context ↗ |
| 2025-05-16 | day spent sitting or lying in bedToday I have spent sitting/lying in bed, occasionally getting up to get a drink or go to the bathroom.In context ↗ |
| 2025-05-18 | crash after exceeding pace pointsI've been in a crash and far exceeded my pace points for a few days, despite all my efforts.In context ↗ |
| 2025-05-28 | burn-out cycle led to long-term sick leavethis cycle is essentially how I ended up on long term sickIn context ↗ |
| 2026-05-26 | private appointments with Dr Gill led to tests, prescriptions and supplementsIt's been being taken seriously that has made such a difference to meIn context ↗ |
| 2026-06-19 | duloxetine began easing nerve pain after about a monthit took about a month before I felt an impact on the painIn context ↗ |
| 2026-10-07 | increased duloxetine dose; nerve pain manageable but not goneI've increased the dose a little, the duloxetine is doing a good job with the nerve pain, not completely gone, but manageable.In context ↗ |
Adverse events
- Duloxetine (Cymbalta)“I felt awful for a week, then it took about a month before I felt an impact on the pain.” In context ↗ Side effects
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Post-exertional malaise
I've been in a crash and far exceeded my pace points for a few days, despite all my efforts.
In context ↗ - POTS & dysautonomia
My heart rate spikes when standing, is classed as active when sitting, and only goes to rest when I'm lying down.
In context ↗ - Neuropathy & tingling
the duloxetine is doing a good job with the nerve pain, not completely gone, but manageable.
In context ↗
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