Long COVID fatigue, brain fog and POTS, a little better with L-theanine and rest
- Condition
- Long COVID
- At worst
- Not stated
- Ill before improving or writing
- Not stated
- Last post
- Jul 2024
In their words
- Condition: Long COVID
it's likely that my stress, fatigue and brain fog symptoms were worsened by covid
In context ↗ - Now: Somewhat better
Mine's currently a bit rough because I recently had covid again, but before that it did seem to be getting a little better.
In context ↗
Read from 6 of their posts and comments; links to the 6 this page draws on
Summary
Reddit user with stress, fatigue, brain fog and POTS, with the first three worsened by COVID, posting October 2023 to July 2024. L-theanine 500 mg twice daily eased the stress, fatigue and brain fog and improved sleep; ivabradine seemed to help control POTS heart rate. Their condition was slowly improving with rest, diet, exercise (not overdoing it) and mental activity until a COVID reinfection. Metoprolol caused peripheral neuropathy symptoms that resolved on stopping.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- L-theanine · Helped
L-theanine in the morning seems to be working across all three of those fronts for at least half the day. Another dose in the evening seems to reduce the physical basis of the stress, leaves me a bit calmer, and I have a better night's sleep.
In context ↗ - Ivabradine · Helped
I take Ivabradine for POTS ... the reason it was prescribed to me was as both an overall rate limiter and to control the increment of heart rate jumps upon postural change. I've been on it a few months, and it does seem to work on both fronts.
In context ↗ - Metoprolol · Worse
I developed peripheral neuropathy symptoms as a side effect of a drug called Metoprolol, which I was using to treat POTS. I assumed it was a POTS symptom or comorbidity, but it resolved when I discontinued the medication.
In context ↗ - ventolin · Worse
I got switched from ventolin to symbicort, and then to pulmicort, when it became clear that the ventolin (and maybe the symbicort) was exacerbating tachycardia associated with POTS.
In context ↗ - pulmicort · Not said
The routine is to use the pulmicort regularly as a preventer, even if I don't feel short of breath. That minimizes the chances of acute shortness of breath and bronchospasm happening at all.
In context ↗ - getting enough rest · Helped
Things that I felt were contributing to that were getting enough rest
In context ↗ - healthy diet (leaning towards mediterranean) · Helped
healthy diet (leaning towards mediterranean for me)
In context ↗ - exercise (but not overdoing it) · Helped
exercise (but not overdoing it)
In context ↗
Approaches: Exercise and activity · Pacing
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 | Where they were | After |
|---|---|---|---|
| — | stress, fatigue and brain fog symptoms, later worsened by COVIDit's likely that my stress, fatigue and brain fog symptoms were worsened by covidIn context ↗ | Not stated | |
| 2023-10-21 | L-theanine eased stress, fatigue and brain fogL-theanine in the morning seems to be working across all three of those fronts for at least half the day.In context ↗ | Not stated | |
| 2024-06-14 | ivabradine helped heart rate control in POTSI've been on it a few months, and it does seem to work on both fronts.In context ↗ | Not stated | Ivabradine |
| 2024-07-01 | brain fog slowly getting better with rest, diet and gentle exercisebefore that it did seem to be getting a little betterIn context ↗ | Mild | Pacing and the energy envelope |
| 2024-07-01 | covid reinfection, brain fog rough againMine's currently a bit rough because I recently had covid againIn context ↗ | Not stated | |
| 2024-07-29 | smell and taste back but weak after second lossThen it was just a little bit weak even once it was fully back.In context ↗ | Not stated |
Adverse events
- Albuterol / salbutamol (Ventolin)“it became clear that the ventolin (and maybe the symbicort) was exacerbating tachycardia associated with POTS” In context ↗ Heart rhythm problems
- Metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol)“I developed peripheral neuropathy symptoms as a side effect of a drug called Metoprolol ... it resolved when I discontinued the medication” In context ↗ Nerve pain
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Brain fog
my stress, fatigue and brain fog symptoms were worsened by covid
In context ↗ - POTS & dysautonomia
I take Ivabradine for POTS
In context ↗ - Heart symptoms & palpitations
exacerbating tachycardia associated with POTS
In context ↗ - Neuropathy & tingling
I developed peripheral neuropathy symptoms as a side effect of a drug called Metoprolol
In context ↗ - Loss of smell or taste
I've lost it twice.
In context ↗ - Breathlessness
That minimizes the chances of acute shortness of breath and bronchospasm happening at all.
In context ↗ - Sleep problems
I have a better night's sleep
In context ↗
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