Severe brain fog and panic with long COVID, now somewhat better with diet and Claritin
- Condition
- Long COVID
- At worst
- Mild (working or studying, with limits)
- Ill before improving or writing
- 9 months
- Last post
- Jun 2024
In their words
- Condition: Long COVID
my doctor was finally willing to say that I more than likely was suffering from LC
In context ↗ - At worst: Mild
I hovered around 50-60% recovered
In context ↗ - Now: Somewhat better
Most of my symptoms are slowly falling off. I still have DPDR slightly and fatigue as well as a little bit of brain fog but for the most part I’m starting to do better.
In context ↗ - Began after: COVID
I got sick back in November and tested negative for everything they tested me for but it seems now that it was covid.
In context ↗
Read from 32 of their posts and comments; links to the 13 this page draws on
Summary
Bramble 17108 fell ill with presumed COVID in November 2022 and was diagnosed with long COVID, with severe brain fog, anxiety and panic attacks, palpitations and fatigue; they rated themselves 50-60% recovered. Diet changes helped a little and daily Claritin more, lifting them to about 75-80%, though that benefit later faded. By mid-2024 most symptoms were slowly falling off, with slight DPDR, fatigue and some brain fog left.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- lexapro · Helped
I’m currently taking lexapro which does wonders for the anxiety but it only adds to the fatigue and brain fog.
In context ↗ - beta blocker · Not said
I’m also taking a beta blocker to help control my heart rate.
In context ↗ - daily multivitamin · No change
I’ve started taking a daily multivitamin, vitamin b complex, fish oil, and SAMe. ... I’ve probably tried like 10+ supplements and nothing has helped me nearly as much as a simple antihistamine has.
- diet changes · Helped
Diet changes before the antihistamines helped a little bit but the antihistamines was what really pushed it over the edge for me.
In context ↗ - nattokinase · Worse
Started taking nattokinase today and have started feeling a little wonky after taking it.
In context ↗ - Xyzal · Worse
I tried xyzal and Benadryl but both of those would put me to sleep super quick.
In context ↗ - Claritin · Helped
I’m currently taking Claritin 10mg once a day and wow…. I feel a lot better.
In context ↗ - Zoloft · Worse
I also took Zoloft which absolutely sucked. It turned me into a lethargic zombie.
In context ↗ - quitting vaping · Worse
I tried quitting vaping a couple months ago and it made my neuro symptoms worse.
In context ↗ - Magnesium · No change
Magnesium, coq10, natto, and many more. ... Haven’t had anything have as much of an impact as antihistamines.
In context ↗ - a little bit of exercise · Helped
Been exercising a tiny bit too which helps a lot with anxiety.
In context ↗ - time · Helped
Mine has gotten a lot better with time and acceptance of where I’m at.
In context ↗
Approaches: Diet · Exercise and activity
Their path
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 1 month 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
| When | What happened | Where they were | After |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 2022 | became ill after a presumed COVID infectionI got sick back in November and tested negative for everything they tested me for but it seems now that it was covid.In context ↗ | Not stated | |
| December 14, 2022 | first episode: high blood pressure, dizziness, poor focus, sudden severe anxietyDecember 14th I had my first episode where I started feeling really awful all of a sudden.In context ↗ | Mild | |
| 2023-08-06 | felt a lot better after daily Claritin plus diet changes, from 50-60% to 75-80% recoveredPrevious to taking them I’d say I hovered around 50-60% recovered but now I feel like I’m around 75-80% recovered.In context ↗ | Mild | |
| late 2023 | quit vaping; anxiety and brain fog much worseI tried quitting vaping a couple months ago and it made my neuro symptoms worse.In context ↗ | Mild | |
| 2024-04-13 | relatively functional off supplements; a little exercise helped anxietyI’m relatively functional. Most of my symptoms are neurological.In context ↗ | Mild | Everyday exercise and activity |
| 2024-06-22 | most symptoms slowly falling off; still slight DPDR, fatigue and a little brain fogMost of my symptoms are slowly falling off.In context ↗ | Mild |
Adverse events
- Escitalopram (Lexapro)“I’m currently taking lexapro which does wonders for the anxiety but it only adds to the fatigue and brain fog.” In context ↗ Made symptoms worse
- Nattokinase“Started taking nattokinase today and have started feeling a little wonky after taking it.” In context ↗ Side effects
- Levocetirizine (Xyzal), Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)“I tried xyzal and Benadryl but both of those would put me to sleep super quick.” In context ↗ Side effects
- Sertraline (Zoloft)“I also took Zoloft which absolutely sucked. It turned me into a lethargic zombie.” In context ↗ Side effects
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Brain fog
I have pretty severe brain fog
In context ↗ - Anxiety & low mood
anxiety/panic attacks
In context ↗ - Heart symptoms & palpitations
heart palpitations
In context ↗ - Sleep problems
Sleep issues and fatigue are two of the things I haven’t been able to shake.
In context ↗ - Headaches & migraine
Headaches, anxiety, sleep problems, dp/dr, and heart palpitations.
In context ↗ - POTS & dysautonomia
I believe I have a very mild case of pots.
In context ↗ - Post-exertional malaise
The fatigue I personally experience is only exacerbated by trying to over do it.
In context ↗
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