Long COVID with POTS and brain fog, nearly back to normal after treating Lyme
- Condition
- Long COVID
- At worst
- Mild (working or studying, with limits)
- Ill before improving or writing
- 3 years
- Last post
- May 2025
In their words
- Condition: Long COVID
My wife and I had COVID back in December 2020 and I've been long-hauling since.
In context ↗ - At worst: Mild
While I wasn't ever bed bound, my heart would jump from ~60-70bpm to 120-130bpm at worst ... I work at a desk and even that can be draining.
- Now: Near normal
I'm able to walk 8 miles and not have a relapse/crash anymore ... Still not normal, but I can lift weights occasionally and go on long walks.
- Began after: COVID
My wife and I had COVID back in December 2020 and I've been long-hauling since.
In context ↗
Read from 17 of their posts and comments; links to the 12 this page draws on
Summary
Ridge 80120 developed long COVID after a December 2020 infection, with POTS/dysautonomia, severe brain fog, fatigue and vision problems but was not bedbound. A corticosteroid, beta blocker, dairy-free diet and gradual walking helped; by late 2023 they could walk 8 miles without crashing and lift occasionally, though not back to normal. Lyme disease and babesiosis were later found and treating them gave most benefit. Antibiotics for sinusitis caused C. difficile.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- Clindamycin · Much worse
I took Clindamycin. Totally wrecked my gut microbiome.
In context ↗ - fludrocotisone · Helped
Medications: fludrocotisone and metaprolol. These helped keep my heart rate low.
In context ↗ - metaprolol · Helped
These helped keep my heart rate low. I no longer get heart palpitations or have my blood pressure skyrocket just from standing up.
In context ↗ - light exercise (walking) · Helped a lot
Light (I hesitate to even use the word) exercise: walking a short distance every day ... I used that to slowly build back my stamina by walking further and further distances.
- activity modification · Helped
Activity modification: do less than you think you can do. ... I have learned to take breaks.
In context ↗ - no dairy · Helped a lot
Diet: no dairy. None. ... Strangely, this made a massive difference in how I feel.
In context ↗ - lions mane capsules · Helped
but those have helped me a lot ... No major changes for me.
- magnesium · Helped
lions mane capsules and magnesium. I take a lot in addition to this, but those have helped me a lot.
In context ↗ - B complex · Not said
I also take lions mane, B complex, and magnesium, among other supplements.
In context ↗ - modafinil · Worse
I did not notice increased concentration or more energy. But, it did make me very irritable and interrupted my sleep.
In context ↗ - Ritalin · Helped
Ritalin, on the other hand, was very effective at 5mg daily and I did notice a difference in my energy and cognitive functioning.
In context ↗ - coffee · Not said
I drink coffee every morning and sometimes in the afternoon to help with my mentally taxing job.
In context ↗ - xylitol nasal spray (Xclear) · Helped
I only started using xylitol nasal spray and I have had a dramatic reduction in all nose symptoms
In context ↗ - colloidal silver nasal spray · Helped
I started taking Xylitol spray and a colloidal silver nasal spray. Each two times daily. This has fixed all my nose issues
In context ↗ - Malarone, Doxycycline and herbals with an LLMD · Helped a lot
Most of the benefit I got was from treating the underlying infections ... I took Malarone and Doxycycline. I added in herbals, including Japanese knotweed, cats claw, and cryptolepis. This was done with an LLMD.
- certain strains of probiotics · Not said
I can only handle certain strains of probiotics and have found some with my local pharmacy that agree with me.
In context ↗ - non-name brand of florastor · Worse
The non-name brand of florastor made me really sick. Didn’t know until I was two days into taking it, which is when I had horrendous stomach pain, cramping, and gas.
In context ↗
Approaches: POTS medication · Antibiotics · Beta-blockers · Diet · Exercise and activity · 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 14 months after onset: the story doesn’t say how ill they were before that. 2 steps say too little to place on the scale and are only in the table. Dates are when they posted. What the levels mean.
Show as a table
| When | What happened | Where they were | After |
|---|---|---|---|
| December 2020 | COVID-19 infection; long haul beginsMy wife and I had COVID back in December 2020 and I've been long-hauling since.In context ↗ | Not stated | |
| 2022-02-22 | daily activities no longer a challenge after medication, diet and activity changesI have finally gotten to the point where daily activities aren't a challenge and I no longer feel like a burden.In context ↗ | Mild | Fludrocortisone / Florinef |
| 2023-04-07 | C. difficile infection after antibiotics for sinus infectionI ended up with C. Difficile due to taking antibiotics for a sinus infection. It took over my intestines and I had bloody stools/pain/diarrhea for months.In context ↗ | Not stated | Clindamycin |
| 2023-12-05 | walking 8 miles without crash; occasional weightlifting; still not normalI’m able to walk 8 miles and not have a relapse/crash anymore. I can also do some weightlifting, but I can’t deadlift or bench like I used to.In context ↗ | Near normal | Everyday exercise and activity |
| 2024-08-29 | Lyme/babesiosis treatment gave most benefitMost of the benefit I got was from treating the underlying infections.In context ↗ | Near normal | Lyme / co-infection protocols |
| 2025-05-13 | breathing better; still allergies and stuffiness; stopped nasal sprayI still have some allergies, still have occasional stuffiness and white mucus (thank you, deviated septum). But my breathing is better.In context ↗ | Near normal |
Adverse events
- Modafinil / armodafinil“But, it did make me very irritable and interrupted my sleep.” In context ↗ Mood or psychiatric effects
- Modafinil / armodafinil“But, it did make me very irritable and interrupted my sleep.” In context ↗ Insomnia from treatment
- Modafinil / armodafinil“No side effects from modafinil, other than some headaches and very mild withdrawal symptoms.” In context ↗ Side effects
- Modafinil / armodafinil“No side effects from modafinil, other than some headaches and very mild withdrawal symptoms.” In context ↗ Withdrawal problems
- Metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol)“The beta blockers made my brain fog worse, but helped my heart.” In context ↗ Made symptoms worse
- Clindamycin“I ended up with C. Difficile due to taking antibiotics for a sinus infection. It took over my intestines and I had bloody stools/pain/diarrhea for months.” In context ↗ Gut side effects
- Clindamycin“I took Clindamycin. Totally wrecked my gut microbiome. It took several rounds of intense antibiotics before I was better.” In context ↗ Gut side effects
- Probiotics and fermented foods“The non-name brand of florastor made me really sick. Didn’t know until I was two days into taking it, which is when I had horrendous stomach pain, cramping, and gas.” In context ↗ Gut side effects
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Post-exertional malaise
I’m able to walk 8 miles and not have a relapse/crash anymore.
In context ↗ - Brain fog
My symptoms are POTS/dysautonomia, tachycardia, brain fog (severe), fatigue, vision issues (floaters/black spots).
In context ↗ - POTS & dysautonomia
I still have heart rate fluctuations and palpitations.
In context ↗ - Pain & fibromyalgia
which were the root cause of all my “long covid” issues (brain fog, POTS symptoms, body aches, recurrent illness, etc.)
In context ↗ - Gut problems
I had bloody stools/pain/diarrhea for months.
In context ↗ - Flu-like symptoms
I get the "achies" at around 1430-1600 each day, where I feel fevered and tired.
In context ↗ - Vision problems
vision issues (floaters/black spots)
In context ↗
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