Long COVID with POTS and brain fog, much better; antihistamine eased brain fog
- Condition
- Long COVID
- At worst
- Severe (mostly bedbound)
- Ill before improving or writing
- 15 months
- Last post
- Jun 2021
In their words
- Condition: Long COVID
I've been long hauling for about 3 months now after an acute covid infection during March 2020 (weird gap, I know).
In context ↗ - At worst: Severe
For months I was essentially non-functional (aside from work) and mostly bed-bound.
In context ↗ - Now: Much better
I'm recovering very slowly, but nowhere near where I used to be at pre-long-haul.
In context ↗ - Began after: COVID
after an acute covid infection during March 2020
Read from 39 of their posts and comments; links to the 16 this page draws on
Summary
Summit 95190 caught COVID in March 2020; smell loss lasted six months, then they felt well until long COVID began on 1 February 2021 with palpitations, feverishness and chest pain, later POTS and a heavy neuro flare at months 3-5. The first Pfizer dose brought two days of relief then a two-week relapse; the second only temporary side effects and brief GI improvement. An antihistamine (Claritin) greatly cut brain fog. By late June 2021 they could walk a mile every other day but were only slowly recovering.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- Pfizer vaccine · Worse
Vaccine didn't do anything to help me longterm sadly.
In context ↗ - Claritin · Helped a lot
Claritin also brought me back to 85-90% of my usual capacity by itself alone.
In context ↗ - beta blocker · No change
I'm currently on a beta blocker to attempt to treat it (which has done nothing for me)
In context ↗ - Pepcid AC · Helped
I definitely notice it help with acid reflux
In context ↗ - multi-vitamin · Not said
I'm on a multi-vitamin, vitamin D, magnesium supplement, beta blockers, and Pepcid.
In context ↗ - increasing fluid/salt intake and compression socks · Helped
I've found compression socks help me feel way more steady on my feet
In context ↗ - azithromycin (z-pack) · Helped
Got prescribed a z-pack (azithromycin) for mine as well, felt good while on it, felt slightly better after I ran out
In context ↗ - PT · Not said
Just began PT for that today
In context ↗ - limiting screen time · Helped
limiting screen time does seem to help at least somewhat
In context ↗ - sleeping on my side · Helped
Sleeping on my side completely eliminates this, and I haven't dealt with them in months.
In context ↗ - time · Helped
Didn't do anything special, it just kind of resolved.
In context ↗
Approaches: H1 antihistamines
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 | After |
|---|---|---|
| March 2020 | Acute COVID infection, mild, resolved in a week except smell lossMild case with fever, chills, sore throat, loss of smell, cough, lethargy. Resolved within a week, but for the loss of smell.In context ↗ | |
| October 2020 | Sense of smell returned; felt back to full healthAnosmia resolves. Back to 100% good health.In context ↗ | |
| February 2021 | Long haul begins after the gym with palpitations, feverishness, chest painAfter coming home from the gym, I'm hit with heart palpitations, feeling feverish, chest pains.In context ↗ | |
| late May 2021 | Claritin markedly reduced brain fogClaritin also brought me back to 85-90% of my usual capacity by itself alone.In context ↗ | Loratadine (Claritin) |
| 2021-06-25 | Slow recovery; mile-long walks every other dayEven now, mile long walks every other day are what I can do without paying for it later. ... I'm recovering very slowly, but nowhere near where I used to be at pre-long-haul.In context ↗ |
Adverse events
- COVID vaccination as treatment“it gave me back every LH symptom I had ever had at that point but magnified. My life was hell for 2 weeks ...” In context ↗ Made symptoms worse
- COVID vaccination as treatment“My life was hell for 2 weeks and I had a fun little trip to the emergency room.” In context ↗ ER visit
- COVID vaccination as treatment“I felt a bit feverish ... I was exhausted the next day and eating a bit less than usual” In context ↗ Side effects
- COVID vaccination as treatment“didn't sleep well” In context ↗ Insomnia from treatment
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Loss of smell or taste
I had anosmia for about 6 months post-infection.
In context ↗ - Heart symptoms & palpitations
After coming home from the gym, I'm hit with heart palpitations, feeling feverish, chest pains.
In context ↗ - Brain fog
My own neuro symptoms have been debilitating brain-fog, anxiety/depression, headaches, facial/neck pain, and some vision blurring.
In context ↗ - Post-exertional malaise
Even now, mile long walks every other day are what I can do without paying for it later.
In context ↗ - Gut problems
Some GI symptoms temporarily resolved but I feel them creeping back slowly.
In context ↗ - Headaches & migraine
debilitating brain-fog, anxiety/depression, headaches, facial/neck pain
In context ↗ - Sleep problems
I noticed that these surges would occur anytime I tried to fall asleep on my back.
In context ↗ - Anxiety & low mood
Anxiety/Depression are pretty standard fare with any possibly-life-threatening-and-neverending disease
In context ↗ - Vision problems
Difficulty focusing on things/feeling my vision slip out of focus more often + trouble seeing far distances.
In context ↗ - Flu-like symptoms
Mild case with fever, chills, sore throat, loss of smell, cough, lethargy.
In context ↗ - Temperature regulation
fever, chills, sore throat, loss of smell, cough
In context ↗
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