Long COVID
Mild → relapsedIll 7 months before improving or writing
Long COVID symptoms came and went; improved, then a Lexapro trial left them mostly in bed
- Condition
- Long COVID
- At worst
- Mild (working or studying, with limits)
- Ill before improving or writing
- 7 months
- Last post
- Oct 2020
In their words
- Condition: Long COVID
All of my "covid" symptoms started in late march.
In context ↗ - At worst: Mild
I've been having symptoms ranging from chest pain, heart palpitations, extreme fatigue/weakness
In context ↗ - Now: Relapsed
I hadn't had symptoms these severe in months
In context ↗ - Began after: COVID
All of my "covid" symptoms started in late march.
In context ↗ - Says they never had: Anxiety & low mood
despite having no stress or history with anxiety
Read from 1 of their posts and comments; links to the one this page draws on
Summary
Their COVID-like illness began in late March 2020 with chest pain, palpitations, extreme fatigue and weakness that sent them to the ER, and symptoms came and went over the months. By October 2020 they felt much better than usual, but a 5-day Lexapro trial, prescribed after doctors called it anxiety, brought back severe cardiac symptoms and weakness and left them mostly in bed or at the computer; they were told to stop the drug.
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What they tried
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- SSRI (lexapro) · Worse
I took the medicine for 5 days so far. ... starting on the 3rd day, I experienced similar cardiac symptoms as I did in late March when it all began.
In context ↗
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 |
|---|---|
| late March 2020 | COVID-like illness began with chest pain, palpitations and extreme fatigue; ER visitAt first it was extremely bad and I had to go to the ER for fear I was having a heart attack.In context ↗ |
| by October 2020 | symptoms eased to on and off; felt much better than usualFor the later half until now it's mostly been on and off, and recently I've felt much better than usual, relatively.In context ↗ |
| early October 2020 | minor relapse of symptomsI had a minor relapse of symptoms last weekIn context ↗ |
| October 2020 | Lexapro reaction: cardiac symptoms returned, extreme weakness, limited to bed or computer; drug stoppedI was basically limited to laying in bed or sitting down on my computerIn context ↗ |
Adverse events
- Escitalopram (Lexapro)“The first two days felt fine, some stomach cramps and a headache but very manageable.” In context ↗ Gut side effects
- Escitalopram (Lexapro)“some stomach cramps and a headache but very manageable” In context ↗ Other
- Escitalopram (Lexapro)“starting on the 3rd day, I experienced similar cardiac symptoms as I did in late March when it all began” In context ↗ Heart rhythm problems
- Escitalopram (Lexapro)“The 3rd and 4th day I also got painful muscle twitches in the left upper chest which I never experienced before.” In context ↗ Side effects
- Escitalopram (Lexapro)“I hadn't had symptoms these severe in months, so I think its highly unlikely to be a coincidence that they popped up again while I was on the SSRI.” In context ↗ Made symptoms worse
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Heart symptoms & palpitations
I had serious pain in my left chest with heart palpitations
In context ↗ - Muscle weakness
I felt extremely weak and tired
In context ↗ - Pain & fibromyalgia
overall pain/weakness in my left arm and chest
In context ↗ - Gut problems
some stomach cramps
In context ↗ - Headaches & migraine
some stomach cramps and a headache
In context ↗