Long COVID with PEM and migraines, somewhat better with pacing and breathing exercises
- Condition
- Long COVID
- At worst
- Mild (working or studying, with limits)
- Ill before improving or writing
- Not stated
- Last post
- Nov 2025
In their words
- Condition: Long COVID
I’ve been long hauling for almost three years now.
In context ↗ - At worst: Mild
Back in work fully but with some major adjustments.
In context ↗ - Now: Somewhat better
I have managed to get my sleep to around 5 hours uninterrupted from 1,5 hour. ... Pacing get me through the day
- Began after: COVID
I discovered i have long covid 3,5 years ago.
In context ↗
Read from 12 of their posts and comments; links to the 11 this page draws on
Summary
Otter 73720, a man in his early 40s, had long COVID for about three years. He had PEM, diaphragm problems, migraines, vision and sleep issues, later joint pain, but kept a part-time airport job and returned fully to work with adjustments. Breathing exercises helped reflux and pacing got him through the day; two reinfections caused no lasting worsening. He remained limited, with most hobbies gone, and said graded physiotherapy was not the way to go.
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What they tried
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- Breathing exercises (slow belly breathing) · Helped
Breathing exercises (slow belly breathing)seem to have solved the reflux and “lump” feeling whent away.
In context ↗ - Less screen time and more mid-range looking · Helped
My main solve is less screen time and more med range looking.
In context ↗ - graded physiotherapy · Worse
from the hospital till after I completed 1,5 years of graded physiotherapy. Wich turns out is not the way to go.
In context ↗ - pacing · Helped
Took it really easy and did my pacing.
In context ↗ - keto and whole30 · Not said
I did both keto and whole30 for about 4 months last year.
In context ↗ - disc golf · Helped
I’ve started playing disc golf with a mate of mine. It’s nowhere near as active as i used to be but i get out and the nature aspect helps.
In context ↗ - cool gel eye mask · Helped
Accidentally found out about the cool gel eye mask. Feels like a treat. Highly recommended.
In context ↗
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 19 months 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Long COVID beganI discovered i have long covid 3,5 years ago.In context ↗ | Not stated |
| 2023-09 | Sleep improved from 1.5 to 5 hours uninterruptedI have managed to get my sleep to around 5 hours uninterrupted from 1,5 hour.In context ↗ | Mild |
| 2024-12 | Returned to full-time work with adjustments after physiotherapy/ergotherapyBack in work fully but with some major adjustments.In context ↗ | Mild |
| 2025-04 | Joint pain and feeling agedNow all my joints hurt.In context ↗ | Mild |
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Post-exertional malaise
Pem for 3 years here.
In context ↗ - Brain fog
longhaul PEM/brainfog
In context ↗ - Sleep problems
still have trouble sleeping
In context ↗ - Vision problems
my eye muscles are “like an old mans”
In context ↗ - Breathlessness
have had the same complaints for about three years now
In context ↗ - Pain & fibromyalgia
Now all my joints hurt.
In context ↗ - Gut problems
Had some pretty bad acid reflux for awhile.
In context ↗ - Flu-like symptoms
I did have the obvious “extra ill/fever”.
In context ↗