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Long COVID Severe → relapsedIll 3 years before improving or writingNeeds ongoing treatment

Housebound with long COVID, gains from rest and diet, then a months-long crash

Dew 45619 on RedditLast post Oct 2026

Condition
Long COVID
At worst
Severe (mostly bedbound)
Ill before improving or writing
3 years
Last post
Oct 2026
In their words
  • Condition: Long COVIDI have long covid with ME/CFS type symptoms going on 10months. In context ↗
  • At worst: SevereI was bed bound/housebound for months. My husband had to basically become my carer. In context ↗
  • Now: RelapsedI had some pretty good months for a while last year. ... But overall just have more worse days than good days despite rest, good diet, pretty good sleep. In context ↗
  • Began after: COVIDI have long covid since an infection late November 2023
Read from 476 of their posts and comments; links to the 92 this page draws on

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Summary

A person in Ireland developed ME/CFS-type long COVID after a COVID infection in November 2023 and became housebound, while still working remotely from bed. They credited rest/pacing, diet changes and supplement advice from a nutrition practitioner with slow, non-linear gains, but had a months-long crash after endometriosis surgery and shingles. By October 2024 they were improving again, with mild POTS and fatigue still limiting them.

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What they tried

What they credit

dairy-free, sugar-free, refined-carb-free diet· Helped · maindairy-free, sugar-free, refined-carb-free diet· Helped · maindairy-free, sugar-free, refined-carb-free diet· Helped · mainlow-sulfur diet· Helpedrest and pacing· Helped · mainVisible, Garmin and Bearable tracking· Helpedthiamine (B1)· HelpedNAD+ capsules· Helped · wore offvitamin C· Helped · wore offlactoferrin· HelpedL-carnitine· HelpedL-glutamine· Helpedphosphatidylcholine· Helpedselenium· Helpediodine· Helpedmanganese· Helpedvitamin A· Helpedvitamin E· Helped

Also tried

osteopathy and acupuncture for back pain· HelpedGutMagnific probiotic, yoghurt and kefir· Helpedcranberry supplement (Natures Plus Cranberry Plus)· Helpedcold brew chamomile tea· Helpedubiquinol (CoQ10)· Helpedvitamin D· HelpedB3 (niacinamide/niacin)· HelpedP5P (active B6)· Helpedmagnesium· Helped · wore offquercetin· HelpedSinutab· Helpedfluconazole· HelpedCanesten cream and suppository· Helpedlow-histamine diet· No changebreathing exercises, yoga nidra and mindfulness meditation· No changetalk therapy· No changeomega-3· No changeL-tryptophan· No changeB12 (methylcobalamin/hydroxycobalamin)· No changeoxaloacetate· No changeelectrolytes, salt and compression tights· No changeelectrolytes, salt and compression tights· No changeparacetamol and NSAIDs· No changepelvic floor physiotherapy· No changegarlic capsules and herbal treatment for yeast· No changeWim Hof breathing· Worseantihistamines· Worseacupuncture· WorseLDN· Worseoral iron supplements· Worsefolic acid/methylfolate· Worsezinc· Worsecreatine· WorseDHEA· Worseatorvastatin· Worsenicotine patch· Worsered light/NIR mat· WorseFSM (frequency specific microcurrent)· Worselumbrokinase and serrapeptase· Worselumbrokinase and serrapeptase· Worseboric acid suppositories· WorsePhysical therapy / physiotherapy· WorseCHOP/Levine protocol· Much worsesinging and vagus nerve exercises· Not saidcastor oil packs· Not saidnattokinase· Not saidmolybdenum· Not saidD-ribose· Not saidSymbioflor 2· Not saidhospital antibiotics· Not saidendometriosis excision surgery· Not saidSAD lamp and full-spectrum light· Not saidNAC (N-acetylcysteine)· Not said
Their words about each treatment
  • dairy-free, sugar-free, refined-carb-free diet · HelpedRemoving dairy helped the most. ... The next most impactful change was removing sugar and refined carbs. In context ↗
  • low-sulfur diet · Helpedif I watch my intake of high sulfur stuff, I don’t get the leg pain. In context ↗
  • low-histamine diet · No changeLow histamine diet gives me no improvement at all either. In context ↗
  • rest and pacing · HelpedI have no doubt that being able to rest is also playing a huge part In context ↗
  • Visible, Garmin and Bearable tracking · HelpedI would not be where I am (much improved) today without it I don't think. In context ↗
  • breathing exercises, yoga nidra and mindfulness meditation · No changeI’ve done lots of coherent/resonant breathe work, yoga Nidra, mindfulness meditation ... none of them helped anything in the slightest. In context ↗
  • Wim Hof breathing · WorseI recently tried Wim Hof breathing technique but I think it crashed me! In context ↗
  • talk therapy · No changeI’ve done talk therapy and none of them helped anything in the slightest. In context ↗
  • singing and vagus nerve exercises · Not saidTried singing and other stuff for autonomic nervous system/vagus nerve. In context ↗
  • antihistamines · WorseAntihistamines can give me the worst restless legs and insomnia In context ↗
  • CHOP/Levine protocol · Much worseI was feeling very well, did two days of this protocol and it crashed me badly for 10 days. In context ↗
  • acupuncture · WorseI tried a series of sessions with the same person for long Covid and I felt maybe it was making me a bit worse short term and no improvement either. In context ↗
  • osteopathy and acupuncture for back pain · HelpedOsteopath acupuncturist visit has helped an awful lot but the pain just comes back after another supine day or two. In context ↗
  • castor oil packs · Not saidI have used castor oil since as a pack and just on my face or neck and haven’t noticed any negative effects. In context ↗
  • LDN · WorseI only tried it for a week or ten days (first at 0.5 then 0.1) but it felt bad and my HR was getting higher on it In context ↗
  • GutMagnific probiotic, yoghurt and kefir · HelpedI think GutMagnific probiotic ... is giving me more blue/rest ... My sleep is also feels better. In context ↗
  • cranberry supplement (Natures Plus Cranberry Plus) · Helpedcranberry and chamomile worked to reduce the BW. In context ↗
  • thiamine (B1) · HelpedSo she put my on 400mg Thiamine/B1 daily for about a month and it definitely helped. In context ↗
  • NAD+ capsules · HelpedI took NAD+ capsules from Epigenetics International ... I think they might have helped me, I was doing better for a while during and after taking them. In context ↗
  • nattokinase · Not saidI am also taking 400mg NAD+, 400mg Thiamine and 4000cfu Nattokkinase per day so it could have been helped by those also. In context ↗
  • ubiquinol (CoQ10) · HelpedYes I find 200mg daily of it in Ubiquinol form helpful. I notice the improved energy levels. In context ↗
  • vitamin D · HelpedI felt a little improvement, I think more stable mood, when I switched from taking vitamin d tablets to vitamin d softgel capsules! In context ↗
  • vitamin C · Helped1000mg of little ol' run of the mill Vitamin C helps. In context ↗
  • omega-3 · No changeI take omega 3 and haven’t noticed much if anything from it. In context ↗
  • lactoferrin · HelpedI feel it helped reduce physical fatigue slightly but noticeable. In context ↗
  • oral iron supplements · WorseIron supplements muck up my gut (even gentle ones) so just using a spray one In context ↗
  • L-carnitine · HelpedI think L-carnitine helped me with this but not certain. In context ↗
  • L-glutamine · HelpedTaking 1000mg l-glutamine tablet each morning helped for me. In context ↗
  • L-tryptophan · No changeI was taking l typtophan for a while but didn’t notice any difference with it. In context ↗
  • phosphatidylcholine · HelpedI think Phos choline a lot but went off it and gone back on it to test if that’s what it was. (Dipped after stopping, had been taking for a month.) In context ↗
  • B3 (niacinamide/niacin) · HelpedI’m pretty sure B3 in various forms (niacin and niacinamide) ... have helped me a lot. In context ↗
  • P5P (active B6) · HelpedI benefit from b6 but taken in the generally less risky P5P form. It helps keeps my max heart rate a bit lower ... helps a lot for mood. In context ↗
  • B12 (methylcobalamin/hydroxycobalamin) · No changeI have tried oral supplementation of both methyl b12 and hydroxy b12 anyway and don’t see any improvement with either. In context ↗
  • folic acid/methylfolate · WorseI react really badly to folic acid and methyl folate. In context ↗
  • magnesium · HelpedI found magnesium glycinate helped my sleep for almost a year... One day it randomly started making me feel sort of wired and worse though so stopped. In context ↗
  • selenium · HelpedI feel a slight improvement with around 200mcg. In context ↗
  • iodine · Helped250mg Lactoferrin ... 150mcg iodine ... The other things that I THINK are helping me at the moment In context ↗
  • zinc · Worsezinc can sometimes be a bit hard on the stomach ... can cause also cause really bad constipation In context ↗
  • manganese · HelpedI think I feel a bit less awful when taking it. In context ↗
  • molybdenum · Not saidI’m also supplementing molybdenum ... Though I can’t say I notice a huge difference In context ↗
  • quercetin · HelpedI took quercetin last night and I think that’s a bit of a natural antihistamine and anti inflammatory and might have helped mine. In context ↗
  • D-ribose · Not saidI think this may help a small but helpful amount with energy, but I think it’s also causing loose stools. In context ↗
  • creatine · WorseI started with only 250mg and worked up to 3g ... I think it might worsen my mood making me quite irritable. In context ↗
  • oxaloacetate · No changeIt didn’t help me. In context ↗
  • Symbioflor 2 · Not saidI’m currently trying Symbioflor 2 and causing me depression also! ... it seemed to maybe help resting heart rate and my "body battery" ... but the mood is brutal! In context ↗
  • DHEA · WorseMy dhea is low and while taking just 5mg I also seemed to decline. In context ↗
  • atorvastatin · WorseI’m trying 10mg atorvastatin ... I think it might be making me feel worse but I’m not even a week in In context ↗
  • nicotine patch · WorseI tried a piece of a patch for a few days with only negative effects In context ↗
  • red light/NIR mat · WorseFor me it helped with pain but makes my fatigue severe level when it’s usually moderate. In context ↗
  • FSM (frequency specific microcurrent) · WorseI had one session with a GP who offers it and I felt awful after, awful sleep that night and worse than normal for at least a few days In context ↗
  • hospital antibiotics · Not saidI had some reprieve from symptoms after a surgery. I have wondered if it’s due to the antibiotics they had me on in there. In context ↗
  • endometriosis excision surgery · Not saidFor the first two weeks after, I was off work, and despite post surgery pain, my energy levels actually felt better than before the surgery. In context ↗
  • electrolytes, salt and compression tights · No changeI made my own following the WHO formulation for ORS also and it did zilch for me! In context ↗
  • vitamin A · Helpedthe minerals, b vitamins that were in the red, coq10, vitamin e and vitamin a at a third of the recommended dose seem to be helping me. In context ↗
  • lumbrokinase and serrapeptase · Worseusing lumbrokinase and serrapeptase for me caused some severe stomach pain after a bit a of time! In context ↗
  • Sinutab · HelpedSinutab works great, but does spike POTS for me. In context ↗
  • paracetamol and NSAIDs · No changeOther things that aren’t working: paracetamol, nsaids, magnesium In context ↗
  • SAD lamp and full-spectrum light · Not saidI’m trying an SAD lamp in the mornings and a full spectrum light bulb in my lamp! I only started about a week ago so not sure if it’s helping yet. In context ↗
  • pelvic floor physiotherapy · No changeI was going to a pelvic floor physio for a while for it too and nothing helped. In context ↗
  • fluconazole · Helpedshe put me on one fluconazole a month ... for 6 months. That solved it In context ↗
  • Canesten cream and suppository · HelpedCanesten cream and suppository thing does help with symptoms and is OTC where I am. In context ↗
  • boric acid suppositories · Worsethey didn’t help me and actually caused some light bleeding In context ↗
  • garlic capsules and herbal treatment for yeast · No changeI tried herbal stuff too, lots of garlic capsules (orally) ... it didn’t help an iota in all those years. In context ↗
  • Physical therapy / physiotherapy · WorseI went to a physio nearby and she genuinely made me worse so was afraid to go back to her! In context ↗
  • NAC (N-acetylcysteine) · Not saidOne 600mg capsule makes my heart rate go crazy for about 3 days. In context ↗

Approaches: Amino acids and carnitine · Diet · Pacing · Supplements

Their path

Very severeSevereModerateMildNear normalRecovered6 mo12 mo18 mo2 y2.5 y

How ill they were on the ME/CFS severity scale, estimated from what they describe at each point, with time counted from when the illness began. Hover or tap a point. The chart starts 5 months after onset: the story doesn’t say how ill they were before that. 1 step says too little to place on the scale and is only in the table. Dates are when they posted. What the levels mean.

Show as a table
WhenWhat happenedWhere they were
November 2023COVID infection, start of long COVIDCaught it Nov 2023. In context ↗Not stated
April 2024cutting dairy, sugar and apple juice after tracking foodas soon as I cut it (put the supplement in water instead) my fatigue reduced by like 30% or more I would say In context ↗Moderate
May 2024crashed for 10 days after a Levine/CHOP exercise protocolI was feeling very well, did two days of this protocol and it crashed me badly for 10 days. In context ↗Moderate
July 2024endometriosis excision surgery, then first post-surgery period crashFor two weeks after I felt well, then first post surgery period was horrific. In context ↗Severe
August 2024shingles during the crash; housebound, working from bedAnd I came down with shingles, which made things even worse. In context ↗Severe
October 2024back to pre-surgery baselineI'm about 4 months post surgery now and finally feel back to how I was before surgery. In context ↗Moderate
November 2024one year in, mild but working full time remoteI consider myself mild but I work full time remote, so I mostly have to do almost nothing aside from that. In context ↗Mild
early 2025months-long crash after doing too much; left her jobActually probably my worst was month 13-16. In context ↗Severe
September 2025gentle 20-minute walks after gut and nutritional test changesBefore these changes I could sometimes manage a slow ten min walk. Since these changes I can frequently manage a gentle 20 min walk. In context ↗Moderate
November 2025walking 1.3 km two or three times a weekNow I can walk 1.3km 2-3 times a week. In context ↗Moderate
December 2025seasonal winter declineDec to end of Feb last year was the worst for me and in literally the same week of December this year I declined again. In context ↗Severe
February 2026mostly bedbound; short walks only on rare good daysEven in the good months I’m still mostly bed bound. On the rare good day I can get dressed and go for a 10-20min walk. In context ↗Severe
August 2026slow overall decline, mostly bedbound2 years and 9 months in, overall declining but very slowly. In context ↗Severe
October 2026trying enoxaparin and a statin with no clear gain yetBut I still have not improved and currently worse than ever despite also pacing, healthy whole food diet, functional medicine tests and help. In context ↗Severe

Adverse events

Symptoms mentioned

Anxiety & low moodBrain fogBreathlessnessFlu-like symptomsGut problemsHeadaches & migraineHeart symptoms & palpitationsLight & noise sensitivityMuscle weaknessPOTS & dysautonomiaPain & fibromyalgiaPost-exertional malaiseSleep problemsTemperature regulation
Their words about their symptoms
  • Post-exertional malaiseMy feeling is the social exertion causes PEM for me. In context ↗
  • Brain fogJust memory issues in the early months. In context ↗
  • POTS & dysautonomiahave POTs (mild compared to others I think but confirmed by GP with tilt test) In context ↗
  • Sleep problemsMy sleep was horrific for a time but it’s either resolved with time or various supplements In context ↗
  • Pain & fibromyalgiaJust feels like this full ache all over my legs, and sometimes in my arms. In context ↗
  • Heart symptoms & palpitationsSugar gives me heart palpitations and dairy gives me air hunger. In context ↗
  • BreathlessnessI rarely get air hunger now. In context ↗
  • Muscle weaknessI have had super weak legs specifically sometimes that really feels like weak muscles. In context ↗
  • Anxiety & low moodI’m really upset and depressed. In context ↗
  • Light & noise sensitivitySometimes light and sound sensitivity but not extreme. In context ↗
  • Flu-like symptomsSince learning that I barely ever get the sore throat anymore. In context ↗
  • Gut problemsI tend to have soft stools and I have diarrhea when I get my period. In context ↗
  • Headaches & migraineI get migraines occasionally and maybe my migraines are mild In context ↗
  • Temperature regulationYes my feet are constantly cold no matter the temperature. In context ↗

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