Long COVID with severe exhaustion and brain fog, somewhat better on LDN and nerve blocks
- Condition
- Long COVID
- At worst
- Moderate (mostly housebound)
- Ill before improving or writing
- Not stated
- Last post
- Oct 2026
In their words
- Condition: Long COVID
I already had a long covid diagnosis from Hartford Healthcare's long covid department before it shut down
In context ↗ - At worst: Moderate
I had severe exhaustion and brain fog ... I'm not up to concerts or movies, but the library is ok.
- Now: Somewhat better
I still have PEM, a lot of it, and there's a lot of pacing.
In context ↗ - Began after: COVID
Then I got covid and now have severe exhaustion and brain fog for different reasons.
In context ↗
Read from 71 of their posts and comments; links to the 35 this page draws on
Summary
They have long COVID after a COVID infection, with severe exhaustion and brain fog, insomnia, headaches, a years-long cough, fibromyalgia and MCAS. Speech therapy, CBT-I sleep restriction, LDN, propranolol, magnesium and occipital nerve blocks each helped some symptoms; by late 2026 the cough had largely gone and sleep was easier, though a lot of PEM remained. LDN caused cramping and diarrhoea.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- LDN · Helped
It's helped me with brain fog.
In context ↗ - Propranolol · Helped a lot
Propranolol has been a lifesaver for me.
In context ↗ - Lexapro · Helped
Lexapro and propranolol have helped my depression and anxiety enough for me to notice, which is good.
In context ↗ - CBT-I · Helped a lot
CBT-I helped me so much when it comes to falling asleep and staying asleep. It took about two months and was not easy,but I am doing much better now.
In context ↗ - CPAP · Helped a lot
I had severe exhaustion and brain fog and it turned out to be sleep apnea. Once I started using a CPAP things got so much better.
In context ↗ - H1 antihistamine · Helped
She prescribed H1 and H2, which made a noticeable positive difference.
In context ↗ - NAC · Helped
NAC, LDN, and speech therapy helped me a lot.
In context ↗ - Magnesium (Slow Mg) · Helped
My cardiologist recommended Slow Mg and it's made a noticeable positive difference for me.
In context ↗ - Speech therapy · Helped
Speech therapy helped me a lot, though there are still times where someone asks me a question and I'll just stare at them because words won't come.
In context ↗ - Occipital nerve blocks · Helped
I get occipital nerve blocks every four months. That helps me a lot.
In context ↗ - Ubrevly · Helped
The two things that have helped me the most are occipital nerve blocks and Ubrevly (a migraine preventative).
In context ↗ - Gabapentin · Helped
I've been on gabapentin and tessilon pearls for years to treat the cough and they've helped.
In context ↗ - Tessilon pearls · Helped
I've been on tessilon pearls for years to control my cough
In context ↗ - Physical therapy · Helped
Physical therapy and prisims in my glasses have helped me a lot.
In context ↗ - Vestibular therapy · Helped
Vestibular therapy helped me a lot. It can be hard to find a vestibular therapist though.
In context ↗ - Memory and word games · Helped
Doing memory games and word games helps too. Logic games frustrate me but did help a lot with brain fog.
In context ↗ - Raising the bed to sleep at an angle · Helped
raising my bed so I sleep at an angle
In context ↗ - SAD light · Helped
A SAD light helps me on hard days.
In context ↗ - Prescription sunglasses · Helped
I have prescription sunglasses. They help with so much.
In context ↗ - Yale's long covid clinic · Helped
Yale's long covid clinic has helped me.
In context ↗ - Pacing · Not said
I still have PEM, a lot of it, and there's a lot of pacing.
In context ↗ - Valium · Not said
I use Valium to help with dentist visits and am looking for a dentist who can do work while I'm sedated.
In context ↗ - Amoxicillin · No change
I have to take four 500 mgs of amoxicillian before dental appointments. Haven't noticed it making a difference with my MCAS one way or the other.
In context ↗ - SAM-E · Not said
SAM-E might help with joint pain. I take it for my fibromyalgia pain.
In context ↗ - Sleep hygiene · No change
Sleep hygiene hasn't helped much.
In context ↗
Approaches: CBT & mindset · H1 antihistamines · H2 blockers · Other drugs and medicines · Physiotherapy and rehab · Supplements
Their path
How ill they were on the ME/CFS severity scale, estimated from what they describe at each point, in the order they describe; they don’t give enough times to place each step. Hover or tap a point. 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
| When | What happened | Where they were | After |
|---|---|---|---|
| onset | COVID infection; severe exhaustion and brain fog followedThen I got covid and now have severe exhaustion and brain fog for different reasons.In context ↗ | Not stated | |
| 2026-02-09 | started CBT-I and had the first decent sleep in a long timeI just started CBT-I and had the first semi-decent sleep in a long time.In context ↗ | Moderate | CBT and psychotherapy |
| 2026-05-21 | years-long cough much better after meds and speech therapyA year ago I thought the cough would never go away, but now I'm much better.In context ↗ | Moderate | |
| 2026-10-24 | sleep easier and cough largely gone, but still a lot of PEM and pacingI still have PEM, a lot of it, and there's a lot of pacing.In context ↗ | Moderate | CBT and psychotherapy |
Adverse events
- Low-dose naltrexone“I went from 1.5 mg to 3 mg to 4.5 mg in three weeks at the recommendation of my long covid doctor and it was rough” In context ↗ Made symptoms worse
- Low-dose naltrexone“6.75 was too much for me” In context ↗ Side effects
- Low-dose naltrexone“LDN does not play nice with my gastrointestinal system, especially at higher doses” In context ↗ Gut side effects
- Low-dose naltrexone“Cramping and diarrhea mostly, some nausea.” In context ↗ Gut side effects
- CBT and psychotherapy“The sleep restriction period was harsh but the results are great.” In context ↗ Side effects
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Post-exertional malaise
I still have PEM, a lot of it, and there's a lot of pacing.
In context ↗ - Brain fog
It's helped me with brain fog.
In context ↗ - Sleep problems
Sleep quality remains a struggle.
In context ↗ - Pain & fibromyalgia
I take it for my fibromyalgia pain.
In context ↗ - Headaches & migraine
I have headache/migraine issues from a concussion and covid.
In context ↗ - Heart symptoms & palpitations
My cardiologist recommended a magnesium supplement to help with heart palpitations.
In context ↗ - Anxiety & low mood
Propranolol has been a great help with my anxiety.
In context ↗ - Light & noise sensitivity
I have prescription sunglasses. They help with so much.
In context ↗ - Vision problems
convergence insufficiency, which I had after a concussion seven years ago
In context ↗ - Mast cell (MCAS) & allergies
Haven't noticed it making a difference with my MCAS one way or the other.
In context ↗
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