Long COVID for 1.5 years, improving then setback; stellate blocks and nicotine patches
- Condition
- Long COVID
- At worst
- Not stated
- Ill before improving or writing
- 18 months
- Last post
- Oct 2025
In their words
- Condition: Long COVID
as I was finally crossing the threshold of recovery from the LC piece after 1.5 years
In context ↗ - Now: Relapsed
Just had that happen as I was finally crossing the threshold of recovery from the LC piece after 1.5 years. Back soooo many steps x(
In context ↗ - Began after: COVID
recovery from the LC piece after 1.5 years
Read from 7 of their posts and comments; links to the 6 this page draws on
Summary
Reddit user with long COVID who, after 1.5 years, was finally crossing the threshold of recovery in October 2025 when a setback put them back many steps. They relied on stellate ganglion blocks about every six months, limited by cost, plus nicotine patches titrated by cutting them and P5P for burning pain. They also described aggressive resting, Epsom salt baths and castor oil packs as helpful, said humming with music made them feel temporarily better, and felt PTSD-like symptoms return as block effects wore off.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- humming (to tone the vagus nerve) · Helped
I do feel temporarily better when I spend some time lying down and humming with music.
In context ↗ - stellate ganglion block · Helped
It's one of my favorite treatments when I can afford it. It is not a cure by any means but it helps shift away from the sympathetic response and lasts about three months for me.
In context ↗ - P5P (particular form of vit b6) · Helped
Have you tried P5P (particular form of vit b6) for the burning pain? It is a bit of a miracle for me in that regard and works pretty quick.
In context ↗ - aggressive resting · Helped
For the rest of the PEM, it's mostly just aggressive resting in my experience.
In context ↗ - epsom salt baths · Helped
epsom salt baths ... (not too hot) ... really help soothe the nervous system and muscles
In context ↗ - castor oil packs · Helped
castor oil packs over the abdomen with heat really help soothe the nervous system and muscles
In context ↗ - nicotine patches · Helped
Whelp, it worked in my direct experience fwiw
In context ↗
Their path
They say too little about how ill they were at each step to draw it on the severity scale, so the steps are listed as they describe them. Dates are when they posted.
| When | What happened |
|---|---|
| 2025-10 | finally crossing the threshold of recovery after 1.5 yearsI was finally crossing the threshold of recovery from the LC piece after 1.5 yearsIn context ↗ |
| 2025-10-31 | setback just as the recovery threshold was reachedJust had that happen as I was finally crossing the threshold of recovery from the LC piece after 1.5 years. Back soooo many steps x(In context ↗ |
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Post-exertional malaise
For the rest of the PEM, it's mostly just aggressive resting in my experience.
In context ↗ - Neuropathy & tingling
Have you tried P5P (particular form of vit b6) for the burning pain? It is a bit of a miracle for me in that regard and works pretty quick.
In context ↗ - Anxiety & low mood
I always feel the sort of PTSD feeling rearing its head as the effects wear off.
In context ↗
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