Tired 24/7 with long COVID brain fog and pain, now much better
- Condition
- Long COVID
- At worst
- Moderate (mostly housebound)
- Ill before improving or writing
- 3 years
- Last post
- Apr 2025
In their words
- Condition: Long COVID
When I was in a period of crisis due to long Covid, I had very severe joint and muscle pain.
In context ↗ - At worst: Moderate
I was tired 24/7 with mental fog which disabled me.
In context ↗ - Now: Much better
For 6 months I have been getting better and better. ... Now I can do sport again: weight training, running, cycling.
- Began after: COVID
I was infected three years ago.
Summary
A Reddit user infected with COVID three years earlier was tired 24/7 with disabling brain fog and severe joint and muscle pain, worst after 10 minutes of sport. Over the previous six months they had improved steadily without crediting any treatment, with crises becoming more spaced out, each lasting about 15 days. By April 2025 they could run, cycle and lift weights again. Ibuprofen eased brain fog during attacks.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- ibuprofen · Helped
when I have these attacks I take ibuprofen and the anti-inflammatory seems to reduce the brain fog
In context ↗ - SSRIs · Helped
I have been on SSRIs. I admit that it felt good: I had the impression that my psyche was normal
In context ↗ - staying aware of my limits · Helped
Just be aware of my limits, especially when it comes to sport
In context ↗ - retraining yourself little by little · Helped
you have to retrain yourself little by little ... Now I can do sport again: weight training, running, cycling
In context ↗
Approaches: Pacing · Physiotherapy and rehab
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 |
|---|---|
| 2022 (three years before April 2025) | COVID infection; tired 24/7 with disabling brain fog and severe joint and muscle painI was infected three years ago. ... I was tired 24/7 with mental fog which disabled me.In context ↗ |
| about six months before April 2025 | began getting better and better; crises becoming more spaced outFor 6 months I have been getting better and better. ... the “crises” were becoming more and more spaced outIn context ↗ |
| repeatedly, including around April 2025 | crisis after returning to sport too quickly and too hardI want to return to sport too quickly and too hard. I can be sure I will have a seizure after this.In context ↗ |
| April 2025 | back to weight training, running and cycling, with occasional 15-day crisesNow I can do sport again: weight training, running, cycling.In context ↗ |
Adverse events
- Antidepressants (unspecified)“no moments of sadness or anxiety, but no moments of real joy either” In context ↗ Mood or psychiatric effects
- Antidepressants (unspecified)“I had the impression that my brain had “aged” in terms of my reasoning ability and my general condition.” In context ↗ Other
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Post-exertional malaise
The worst was when I did even 10 minutes of sport.
In context ↗ - Brain fog
I was tired 24/7 with mental fog which disabled me. ... the anti-inflammatory seems to reduce the brain fog
In context ↗ - Pain & fibromyalgia
I had very severe joint and muscle pain.
In context ↗
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