Long COVID
Moderate → near normalIll 7 months before improving or writingNeeds ongoing treatment
Long COVID with brain fog and POTS, nearly back to normal after paced rest and B vitamins
- Condition
- Long COVID
- At worst
- Moderate (mostly housebound)
- Ill before improving or writing
- 7 months
- Last post
- Feb 2025
In their words
- Condition: Long COVID
I've had Long Covid for almost 2 years
In context ↗ - At worst: Moderate
At my worst I would say I was a 3- still able to walk around but pretty exhausted all the time and lots of brain fog/vision issues.
In context ↗ - Now: Near normal
I feel as good as I did before the reinfection now (about 90% of my before Long Covid life).
In context ↗ - Began after: COVID
I got Covid in January 2022
Read from 230 of their posts and comments; links to the 37 this page draws on
Summary
After COVID in January 2022, a person was ill for months with constant headache, brain fog, light and noise sensitivity, POTS and fatigue. After pushing through full-time work for about six months, they took two months off and practised paced rest; water, electrolytes, snacks and B vitamins helped them improve. By early 2023 they were back to part-time work at about 40–50% of their previous capacity, still managing POTS symptoms.
Ask Miruvor AI
What they tried
What they credit
resting and pacing· Helped a lot · maintaking a few months off work and cutting out screens· Helped a lotIvabradine (Lancora)· Helped a lot · mainB Vitamin Complex (Thorne)· HelpedCOVID boosters· Helped · wore offVitamin D3· Helpednattokinase· Helpedvagus nerve stimulation (Sukie Baxter videos)· Helped10 minute bedtime yoga and deep breathing· Helpedcutting out caffeine, dark chocolate, sodas, sugars and alcohol· Helpedcutting out caffeine, dark chocolate, sodas, sugars and alcohol· Helpedcutting out caffeine, dark chocolate, sodas, sugars and alcohol· Helpediron supplement· HelpedDLPA· Helpedzinc· Helpedtime· Helped
Also tried
timed walks, leg raises and glute bridges, light dumbbells· Helpedfitbit / Charge 5 smart watch· Helpedsmaller meals with balanced snacks between· Helped2-3 litres of water a day, electrolytes and extra salt· Helpedmagnesium citrate· Helpedcompression socks· Helpedcold water at the end of my shower, cold face splashes· Helpedosteopath· No changetestosterone (T)· No changeintermittent fasting· WorsePycnogel and other vasodilator supplements· WorseNOVA Probiotics Daily Immunity· Not saidH1 antihistamines (unspecified)· Not said
Their words about each treatment
- resting and pacing · Helped a lot
As my understanding of resting/pacing has gotten better, so have I. ... Pacing saved me.
- taking a few months off work and cutting out screens · Helped a lot
I took 3 months off work and noticed a huge improvement at about week 3 when I cut back completely on reading and screen time.
In context ↗ - timed walks, leg raises and glute bridges, light dumbbells · Helped
The walking helped boost my mood a lot, so I worked on increasing the time walking by 10% increments every two days for a while.
In context ↗ - fitbit / Charge 5 smart watch · Helped
To help monitor physical exertion, I got a fitbit and focused on keeping my heart rate under my anaerobic threshold
In context ↗ - smaller meals with balanced snacks between · Helped
Having smaller meals throughout the day and having balanced snacks in between
In context ↗ - 2-3 litres of water a day, electrolytes and extra salt · Helped
more water and electrolytes probably helped decrease my brain fog by about 10%
In context ↗ - B Vitamin Complex (Thorne) · Helped
I've been taking Thorne's B Vitamin complex every other day and I have felt more energetic and need to rest less throughout the day.
In context ↗ - magnesium citrate · Helped
Taking magnesium citrate (150mg) at night helped with my muscle cramps after a few weeks of taking it.
In context ↗ - compression socks · Helped
For POTS I found it really helpful to get compression socks
In context ↗ - COVID boosters · Helped
I have had two boosters since developing Long Covid and I found them moderately helpful both times.
In context ↗ - Vitamin D3 · Helped
I often take vitamin D3 and a vitamin B complex and found I had more energy as well.
In context ↗ - nattokinase · Helped
I've been taking nattokinase for the last month and it gave me 3 days of acute symptoms ... Since then I seem to be able to walk and react faster than I previously could.
In context ↗ - vagus nerve stimulation (Sukie Baxter videos) · Helped
I started trying vagus nerve stimulation techniques I learned on youtube, and I found that really helpful as well.
In context ↗ - 10 minute bedtime yoga and deep breathing · Helped
I've also done a couple of 10 minute 'bedtime yoga' sessions that really energized me.
In context ↗ - Ivabradine (Lancora) · Helped a lot
The biggest game changer for me was Ivabradine, which I take 2.5mg x2 a day.
In context ↗ - intermittent fasting · Worse
it works for some people, but my blood sugar tanks and I actually feel worse
In context ↗ - cold water at the end of my shower, cold face splashes · Helped
Cold feels better for me!
In context ↗ - Pycnogel and other vasodilator supplements · Worse
I've taken a few of them and they tend to make me feel worse and not better, likely because of my Covid-induced POTS.
In context ↗ - cutting out caffeine, dark chocolate, sodas, sugars and alcohol · Helped
I did find that limiting things like caffeine, dark chocolate, sodas, sugars, and alcohol has been a net-positive.
In context ↗ - iron supplement · Helped
Taking magnesium, zinc, and iron as the user suggested has helped me as well, but it is a slower process
In context ↗ - DLPA · Helped
The DLPA has really improved my mental fatigue, mood, and trouble focusing
In context ↗ - zinc · Helped
Taking magnesium, zinc, and iron as the user suggested has helped me as well
In context ↗ - NOVA Probiotics Daily Immunity · Not said
I've been using the NOVA Probiotics Daily Immunity capsules. They seem fine and I haven't had any adverse reactions.
In context ↗ - osteopath · No change
She had some good advice regarding pacing, but ultimately was not super helpful in terms of treatment.
In context ↗ - testosterone (T) · No change
I've been on T for 7 years or so and don't notice any long covid symptom changes based on my cycle.
In context ↗ - time · Helped
Time helped. Rest helped. Pushing myself a little bit (but not too much) helped.
In context ↗ - H1 antihistamines (unspecified) · Not said
I found myself completely unable to concentrate while using some of the anti-histamines that seem to work for lots of people. Had to go off them.
In context ↗
Approaches: POTS medication · Amino acids and carnitine · Anticoagulants · Diet · Mind-body practices · Pacing · Radical rest · Supplements · Vaccination · Vagus nerve stimulation
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. Dates are when they posted. What the levels mean.
Show as a table
| When | What happened | Where they were | After |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 2022 | COVID-19 infection; initial long COVID symptomsI got Covid in January 2022 and noticed some severe sensitivity to visual and auditory stimuli right away as well as not being able to walk very far without feeling a lot of brain fog.In context ↗ | Mild | |
| about 2 weeks after getting covid | crashed after overdoing thingsAbout 2 weeks after getting covid I was improving and nearly felt normal, and then I really overdid things and crashed super hard.In context ↗ | Moderate | |
| months 4-6 (mid-2022) | hardest period: constant headache, sensory sensitivity, brain fogThe hardest times were around months 5-6 for me.In context ↗ | Moderate | |
| July 2022 (after 3.5 weeks off work) | took a month off work and restedAfter 3.5 weeks, I felt my constant headache lift and my energy improve a lot. I felt like being around people again, and could walk again.In context ↗ | Mild | Pacing and the energy envelope |
| late 2022 | returned to work 2 hours a day, 4 days a weekI restarted work at 2 hours a day, 4 days a week, and increased each week by adding 15 minutes to my days for the first while.In context ↗ | Mild | Pacing and the energy envelope |
| early 2023 | plateaued at 6-hour workdaysI was able to slowly increase and work about 6 hours per day, 5 days a week without very much brain fog but felt I was plateauing.In context ↗ | Mild | Pacing and the energy envelope |
| early 2023 (after a few days on Ivabradine) | Ivabradine lowered heart rate; energy and cognition improvedAfter 3 days of taking Ivabradine I was working 8 hours a day, felt like I was more engaged when seeing friends, and was able to increase my physical activity level by walking farther and faster.In context ↗ | Near normal | Ivabradine |
| August 2024 | COVID reinfection set recovery back for a few monthsI was reinfected in August. ... the reinfection did set me back in my recovery for the first few monthsIn context ↗ | Mild | |
| February 2025 | back to about 90% of pre-illness life, still managing POTSI feel as good as I did before the reinfection now (about 90% of my before Long Covid life).In context ↗ | Near normal |
Adverse events
- Graded rehab and self-made programmes“at about the 7 month mark I tried to do some easy push ups and felt my symptoms get worse.” In context ↗ Made symptoms worse
- Nattokinase“I've been taking nattokinase for the last month and it gave me 3 days of acute symptoms, almost the same potency as my original infection.” In context ↗ Herx / die-off reaction
- Pycnogenol and grape seed extract“I've taken a few of them and they tend to make me feel worse and not better, likely because of my Covid-induced POTS.” In context ↗ Made symptoms worse
- H1 antihistamines (unspecified)“I found myself completely unable to concentrate while using some of the anti-histamines that seem to work for lots of people. Had to go off them.” In context ↗ Side effects
- Intermittent fasting“intermittent fasting (it works for some people, but my blood sugar tanks and I actually feel worse)” In context ↗ Side effects
- DLPA / phenylalanine“I stopped taking it when I began to feel anxious -- I felt like that was the sign that my lack of dopamine had been corrected.” In context ↗ Mood or psychiatric effects
- Radical rest“After about 3 weeks of rest, I realized I needed to increase my activity levels because I was not sleeping as well at night (insomnia was never a problem for me).” In context ↗ Insomnia from treatment
- COVID vaccination as treatment“my last booster (the first since getting Long Covid) had me very fatigued for about 2 days” In context ↗ Side effects
Symptoms mentioned
Anxiety & low moodBrain fogGut problemsHeadaches & migraineHeart symptoms & palpitationsLight & noise sensitivityLoss of smell or tastePOTS & dysautonomiaPain & fibromyalgiaPost-exertional malaiseSleep problemsVision problems
Their words about their symptoms
- Post-exertional malaise
About 2 weeks after getting covid I was improving and nearly felt normal, and then I really overdid things and crashed super hard.
In context ↗ - Brain fog
I still get fatigued and foggy at times
In context ↗ - POTS & dysautonomia
I have POTS, so I started with laying down leg exercises
In context ↗ - Sleep problems
I also found myself very anxious about work projects and often had trouble sleeping due to the anxiety.
In context ↗ - Pain & fibromyalgia
I have been taking a Magnesium Citrate at night to address some of my dryness and muscle pain in my legs.
In context ↗ - Headaches & migraine
I had a 24/7 headache, severe sensitivity to light and noise, and a lot of brain fog
In context ↗ - Gut problems
Minor digestive issues here and there.
In context ↗ - Light & noise sensitivity
They still flare up a bit if I'm fatigued at the end of the day but overall it's gotten a lot better.
In context ↗ - Heart symptoms & palpitations
my resting heart rate has gone down and is now around 60-65 laying down at rest, 75-80 sitting, and around 95-100 standing.
In context ↗ - Anxiety & low mood
I have noticed a huge increase in my anxiety since getting Long Covid.
In context ↗ - Vision problems
Blurred vision and sensitivity to light. It's gotten a LOT better after rest and pacing.
In context ↗ - Loss of smell or taste
The smoke smell is something that I experienced for a while and no longer have.
In context ↗
Ask Miruvor AI
Similar stories
-
Bedbound with long COVID, now much better on low-dose naltrexone and Valtrex
They caught COVID in December 2023; by mid-2024 a crash after a trip left them bed-bound, unable to tolerate light or sound. Low-dose naltrexone, titrated slowly from 0.10mg to 1mg, plus Valtrex, beta blockers and other drugs, improved their baseline from…
-
Housebound with ME/CFS, now somewhat better with pacing and radical rest
A US man who developed long COVID in early 2021 became housebound and at times largely bedbound after a third infection in December 2022. Pacing, radical rest, diet changes, leaving a mouldy flat, magnesium, nattokinase, NAC, CBD and nicotine patches brought…
-
Long COVID with brain fog, now close to normal after physical therapy and breathwork
Dune 55643 fell ill with long COVID in January 2023, aged 28, weeks after a brief, mostly asymptomatic Covid infection, with dizziness, head pressure, brain fog, palpitations and chemical sensitivity. Physical therapy for cervical instability, vagus-nerve…
-
On oxygen with long COVID, now much better after second Pfizer vaccine and low-carb diet
A Florida resident in their late fifties caught COVID in March 2020 and was severely ill, on oxygen for about two to three months. They credit a second Pfizer vaccination in 2021 with clearing their breathing, plus low-carb eating, walking and supplements.…