Long COVID, up a few hours a day at worst, now much better with pacing and naltrexone
- Condition
- Long COVID
- At worst
- Moderate (mostly housebound)
- Ill before improving or writing
- 2.5 years
- Last post
- Oct 2026
In their words
- Condition: Long COVID
My LC symptoms spike when I get tired/mid afternoon and the poisoned feeling, along with light intolerance, is huge.
In context ↗ - At worst: Moderate
I was always able to get up for a few hours a day, though.
In context ↗ - Now: Much better
it made a huge difference in my stamina. I am still being very careful in increasing my activity - but I have not had a crash since.
In context ↗ - Began after: COVID
two and a half years since I had Covid
In context ↗
Read from 15 of their posts and comments; links to the 12 this page draws on
Summary
Bluebell 40511 fell ill with long COVID in about September 2023 and was at their worst in autumn 2025, putting their affairs in order though they could get up a few hours a day. Pacing, supplements, alpha lipoic acid and low-dose naltrexone helped, bringing energy close to pre-COVID levels. Flights and exercise classes at 80% recovered caused setbacks. By October 2026, three weeks of 50 mg naltrexone brought far more stamina and no crashes.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- Hot showers or baths · Helped
Hot showers or baths have helped, for an hour or two, same as you.
In context ↗ - sauna · Helped
But when I went to the local sauna/cold plunge place, I'd skip at least one afternoon crash and sometimes two.
In context ↗ - supplements (the usual ones) · Helped
Before taking the LDN, I started taking supplements and pacing, which helped with the fatigue.
In context ↗ - LDN / naltrexone · Helped a lot
The LDN felt like a turbo-boost. With pacing and LDN, my energy level was close to pre-COVID levels.
In context ↗ - sleeping pills · Not said
I still use sleeping pills half of the time.
In context ↗ - NAD · Helped
NAD, ALA and LDN and very careful pacing helped.
In context ↗ - Alpha Lipoic Acid · Helped a lot
Alpha Lipoic Acid. It took me from nearly disabled to just struggling.
In context ↗ - pacing · Helped
With pacing and LDN, my energy level was close to pre-COVID levels.
In context ↗ - exercise classes · Much worse
I was feeling 80% cured so I figured I could go to my old exercise class and make 50% effort. Huge setback.
In context ↗
Approaches: Pacing · Supplements
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 2.2 years 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| about September 2023 | long COVID after a COVID infectiontwo and a half years since I had CovidIn context ↗ | Not stated | |
| autumn 2025 | lowest point, putting their affairs in orderThis fall, I was quietly putting my affairs in order for my kids. I was always able to get up for a few hours a day, though.In context ↗ | Moderate | |
| January 2026 | started low-dose naltrexone at 1.5 mg, mildly better within daysStarted at 1.5 mg and felt mildly better within days, even with the nausea.In context ↗ | Moderate | Low-dose naltrexone |
| February 2026 | raised to 3 mg, big jump in clarity and energyWith pacing and LDN, my energy level was close to pre-COVID levels.In context ↗ | Near normal | Low-dose naltrexone |
| March 2026 | joint pain and fatigue flare after vacation flightsit really caused my joint pain to flare up and my fatigue was back to the old level for a few days after three out of the four flightsIn context ↗ | Moderate | |
| March 2026 | crashed after returning to their old exercise class at 80% recoveredI was feeling 80% cured so I figured I could go to my old exercise class and make 50% effort. Huge setback. It's been two weeks and I'm still back where I was months ago.In context ↗ | Moderate | |
| August 2026 | alpha lipoic acid took them from nearly disabled to strugglingIt took me from nearly disabled to just struggling.In context ↗ | Mild | |
| September 2026 | increased naltrexone to 50 mg, big jump in stamina, no crashesit made a huge difference in my stamina. I am still being very careful in increasing my activity - but I have not had a crash since.In context ↗ | Mild | Low-dose naltrexone |
| October 2026 | gentle yoga class with no crash, more day-to-day energyI took a similar class last week, with no sign of fatigue or a crash in the week since.In context ↗ | Mild |
Adverse events
- Low-dose naltrexone“I found it kept me awake and alert later than I liked at first. That's faded.” In context ↗ Insomnia from treatment
- Low-dose naltrexone“Started at 1.5 mg and felt mildly better within days, even with the nausea. ... Still dealing with some nausea.” In context ↗ Gut side effects
- Low-dose naltrexone“My side effects: some minor gastric upset in the first week, but that went away and didn't come back when I went to 3 mg.” In context ↗ Gut side effects
- Low-dose naltrexone“My only side effect is that I'm wide awake in the evening instead of fighting sleep at 6pm and it's harder to get to sleep before midnight.” In context ↗ Insomnia from treatment
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Post-exertional malaise
I got stupid and went to a HIIT exercise class s a week ago and it has cost me a week.
In context ↗ - Brain fog
Less brain fog, less fatigue.
In context ↗ - Pain & fibromyalgia
it really caused my joint pain to flare up
In context ↗ - Light & noise sensitivity
the poisoned feeling, along with light intolerance, is huge
In context ↗ - Sleep problems
I still use sleeping pills half of the time.
In context ↗ - Gut problems
Post LCN, it's always present and I have no appetite.
In context ↗ - Flu-like symptoms
It helped with fatigue and flu-like symptoms
In context ↗
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