Long COVID
Moderate → somewhat betterIll 1 year before improving or writingNeeds ongoing treatment
Long COVID exhaustion and breathlessness, somewhat better with cannabis and vitamin C
- Condition
- Long COVID
- At worst
- Moderate (mostly housebound)
- Ill before improving or writing
- 1 year
- Last post
- Feb 2021
In their words
- Condition: Long COVID
I originally got sick in March, and have been super slowly improving since then
In context ↗ - At worst: Moderate
the absolute crushing exhaustion where it was hard to lift my head or open my eyes
In context ↗ - Now: Somewhat better
Not fully recovered, but definitely getting better. ... overall there is clear improvement
In context ↗ - Began after: COVID
I only connected it to COVID after a specific weird incident - I originally got sick in March
Read from 12 of their posts and comments; links to the 11 this page draws on
Summary
A New York Reddit user caught COVID-19 in March 2020 and was left with crushing exhaustion, breathlessness, lung pain, constipation and a racing heart. Most symptoms began easing after about six months; by February 2021 breathing had clearly improved, though they still needed naps, had bad days and remained short of breath. Cannabis edibles eased lung pain and vitamin C helped their symptoms.
Ask Miruvor AI
What they tried
Also tried
Weed edibles (medical marijuana)· HelpedDecaf coffee· HelpedDrinking a lot of water· HelpedCutting out soda· HelpedCranberry pills (vitamin C)· HelpedTea· No changeTrying to exercise· Not saidInhaler· Not saidCaffeine and coffee· Not saidFlu vaccine· Not said
Their words about each treatment
- Weed edibles (medical marijuana) · Helped
they appear to be the only thing that helps with the lung pain, but they really help so that’s something!
In context ↗ - Decaf coffee · Helped
I’ve found decaf coffee helps me shit (a little bit not completely) but even that leaves my hands shaking.
In context ↗ - Tea · No change
Tea is okay these days (thank fuck) but doesn’t help me shit.
In context ↗ - Drinking a lot of water · Helped
the needing to pee sensation is lowest on the days when I drink 100 ounces of water or more, which is way higher than the suggested daily intake
In context ↗ - Cutting out soda · Helped
Also I cut out soda (I’d been drinking the occasional caffeine free root beer) and that seemed to help as well.
In context ↗ - Cranberry pills (vitamin C) · Helped
I also take cranberry pills for vitamin C or if I feel like I’m getting a UTI and they do wonders!
In context ↗ - Trying to exercise · Not said
I also have been trying to exercise (I miss it so much) but it feels unsafe, both in terms of heart rate and feeling like I can’t activate my muscles properly.
In context ↗ - Inhaler · Not said
I got an inhaler yesterday, I’m hoping it will help!
In context ↗ - Caffeine and coffee · Not said
It makes me nauseous and dizzy (more dizzy than I am just existing right now), my body shakes and hurts
In context ↗ - Flu vaccine · Not said
I got a low fever (first time in all of this, I never had above 99° as a Covid symptom) and I was pretty exhausted (more than I have been) ... My arm hurt WAY more than any shot ever has before
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 |
|---|---|
| March 2020 | Caught COVID-19; months of crushing exhaustionI originally got sick in March, and have been super slowly improving since thenIn context ↗ |
| July 4, 2020 | crashed after charcoal grill smoke at a family gatheringthe smoke from the charcoal on the grill completely knocked me outIn context ↗ |
| September 2020 | most symptoms began easing; daily naps and breathlessness remainedIt took about six months for the majority of my symptoms to start easing upIn context ↗ |
| February 2021 | breathing clearly improved, but still short of breath with bad days needing napsI turned a corner a few weeks ago and feel like my breathing significantly improved for the first time in this messIn context ↗ |
Adverse events
- Caffeine and coffee“It makes me nauseous and dizzy (more dizzy than I am just existing right now), my body shakes and hurts” In context ↗ Side effects
- Caffeine and coffee“I drank a cup one morning ... and I didn’t go to sleep until 9AM the next day” In context ↗ Insomnia from treatment
- Cutting out caffeine“even that leaves my hands shaking” In context ↗ Side effects
- Flu vaccine“I got a low fever (first time in all of this, I never had above 99° as a Covid symptom) and I was pretty exhausted (more than I have been) ... My arm hurt WAY more than any shot ever has before” In context ↗ Side effects
Symptoms mentioned
Anxiety & low moodBreathlessnessGut problemsHeart symptoms & palpitationsMuscle weaknessPOTS & dysautonomiaPain & fibromyalgiaPost-exertional malaiseSleep problems
Their words about their symptoms
- Post-exertional malaise
I still have little relapses every few days or if I over exert myself.
In context ↗ - Breathlessness
I am still having shortness of breath but I turned a corner a few weeks ago
In context ↗ - Gut problems
I've become horribly constipated for the first time in my life
In context ↗ - Heart symptoms & palpitations
I've had some tachycardia so I've been tracking it.
In context ↗ - POTS & dysautonomia
it sometimes spikes dramatically when I go from sitting to standing
In context ↗ - Muscle weakness
feeling like I can't activate my muscles properly
In context ↗ - Pain & fibromyalgia
It's still the only thing that completely alleviates my pain.
In context ↗ - Sleep problems
I still take a nap almost everyday, not by choice.
In context ↗ - Anxiety & low mood
I had a distinct improvement in my mental health when I realized this too.
In context ↗