Long COVID
Severe → much betterIll 4 years before improving or writingNeeds ongoing treatment
100 days in bed with long COVID, now about 70% after daily walks and scheduled eating
- Condition
- Long COVID
- At worst
- Severe (mostly bedbound)
- Ill before improving or writing
- 4 years
- Last post
- Jan 2026
In their words
- Condition: Long COVID
LC since Jan 22'
In context ↗ - At worst: Severe
Since Dec 21' I've spent close to a year in bed, either in the hospital, in an ER/urgent care or my bed for 23 of 24 hours.
In context ↗ - Now: Much better
currently sitting at about 70% which is about as good as I get nowadays
In context ↗ - Began after: COVID
Got sick 12/23/21, 238lbs ( 6'2").
Read from 27 of their posts and comments; links to the 20 this page draws on
Summary
A Los Angeles builder caught COVID in December 2021 and spent 100 days in bed, 10 of them in hospital. Forced daily walking and eating on schedule helped him recover to roughly 70% after his first infection, and later probiotics gave some relief, though further infections repeatedly set him back, as did a 12-mile family hike. He still works construction with POTS, brain fog, gut problems and no sense of smell; nebivolol controls his blood pressure and heart rate.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Pacing· HelpedOregano in gel cap form· HelpedNicotine patches· HelpedLosartan· HelpedDiltiazem· HelpedAfrin nasal spray· HelpedBRAT diet· HelpedZyrtec· No changeStrict clean diet· No changeFamotidine· Not saidNAC· Not saidMagnesium· Not saidBreathwork· Not saidWater and sodium intake· Not saidElectrolyte drinks (LMNT, Liquid IV)· Not saidFaith and prayer· Not said
Their words about each treatment
- Forced exercise: daily walks and light weights · Helped
Movement is key for me, I keep pressing, it is uncomfortable, but I got to the point where I REFUSE to die in a bed.
In context ↗ - Bystolic (nebivolol) · Helped
It's the only part of the LC I've got under control.
In context ↗ - Lactobif 30 · Helped
I've been on them for about 3 months and I'm noticing a bit of recovery in my brainfog but the biggest improvement has been on my newly acquired anxiety issues while driving.
In context ↗ - Pacing · Helped
Pace and planning can help a lot.
In context ↗ - Oregano in gel cap form · Helped
I take 2 the day after the brain fog hits hardest and it gives me some relief for a few days.
In context ↗ - Nicotine patches · Helped
I used the 7mg patch today and it helped with brain fog & vertigo.
In context ↗ - Losartan · Helped
For 3 years I used diltiazim for my pots & losartan for bp. Side affects sucked but I adjusted.
In context ↗ - Diltiazem · Helped
My palpitations are reduced to exercising & sunlight.
In context ↗ - Famotidine · Not said
went to 1/2 my famodatine (20mg twice per day)
In context ↗ - NAC · Not said
2 weeks ago I stopped all supplements and my brainfog lessened quickly, though it isn't gone.
In context ↗ - Magnesium · Not said
I couldn't shake the brainfog (usual stuff, NAC, Magnesium, you know em all..).
In context ↗ - Breathwork · Not said
do my breath work (nothing crazy, in through nose/out thru pursed lips 4 or 5 times, relaxes vagus nerve)
In context ↗ - Zyrtec · No change
I tried Zyrtec but wasn't much relief.
In context ↗ - Afrin nasal spray · Helped
Afrin will give me about an hour of clear thinking.
In context ↗ - Water and sodium intake · Not said
I need to be careful with sodium due to BP, but I try to stay around 3000 mg to retain water
In context ↗ - Electrolyte drinks (LMNT, Liquid IV) · Not said
I've tried all kinds of different electrolyte drinks and they actually mess up my stomach unfortunately. ... LMNT- best for me
In context ↗ - BRAT diet · Helped
At this point I start eating smaller meals and use the brat diet to keep my stomach under control.
In context ↗ - Strict clean diet · No change
I've been so strict and always felt like crap, so why not, whats the worst that could happen, I feel like crap? ... and honestly I feel the same.
In context ↗ - Faith and prayer · Not said
my faith sees me thru
In context ↗
Approaches: Beta-blockers · Exercise and activity · 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. Dates are when they posted. What the levels mean.
Show as a table
| When | What happened | Where they were | After |
|---|---|---|---|
| December 2021 | COVID-19; in bed 100 days, 10 in hospitalMy first LC experience (Dec 21') I was in bed for 100 days (hospital for 10).In context ↗ | Severe | |
| March 2023 | after a bad flu felt amazing for about 6 monthsGot the flu and the same day my water heater went. ... Got home, ate a huge lunch and felt amazing for about 6 months.In context ↗ | Mild | |
| September 2023 | began daily walks, gradually increasingstarted slowly in Sept of 23' (tho I walked everyday, 3/4 of a mile would take me 30-40 minutes)In context ↗ | Mild | Everyday exercise and activity |
| November 2023 | COVID reinfection, but long-haul symptoms reducedUnfortunately I picked up CV again in Nov 23, but the longhaul stuff was reduced.In context ↗ | Mild | |
| January-May 2024 | back to jogging 2 miles and workouts 5-6 days a weekJan-may was great, able to jog 2 miles and workout for 30min (light weights & calisthenics) 5-6 days a week.In context ↗ | Mild | Everyday exercise and activity |
| May 2024 | crashed after a 12-mile family hikewent on an amazing hike with my family (12 miles) but felt horrible for the next 2 weeksIn context ↗ | Moderate | |
| July 2024 | 7th COVID infection; back to bed for a monthpicked up covid for the 7th time at end July 24'. Back to bed for a month, sick & sensitive to everythingIn context ↗ | Severe | |
| December 2024 | back to about 60%, could do things for 6 hoursBy Dec 24' I was about 60% (Meaning I could do stuff for about 6 hours before cfs kicked in)In context ↗ | Moderate | Everyday exercise and activity |
| May 2025 | stopped all supplements, brain fog lessened; 13.5k steps a day, sprintingmy step count was 67.5K stepps (13.5k per day) and I was able to maintain a normal hr during my workoutIn context ↗ | Mild | |
| October 2025 | sitting at about 70%, as good as he getsI've had Covid a confirmed 8 times and currently sitting at about 70% which is about as good as I get nowadays.In context ↗ | Mild | |
| November 2025 | in a crash, operating at about 40%But in a crash rn so I'm operating about 40%, but improvingIn context ↗ | Moderate | |
| December 2025 | 3 months of probiotics; some brain fog and driving-anxiety reliefI've been on them for about 3 months and I'm noticing a bit of recovery in my brainfog but the biggest improvement has been on my newly acquired anxiety issues while driving.In context ↗ | Mild | Probiotics and fermented foods |
Adverse events
- Nicotine patches“On day 2 of stopping i dealt with crazy fatigue ... Realized on day 3 i was withdrawing from the nicotine” In context ↗ Withdrawal problems
- Nicotine patches“Put on a 7mg and was vomiting 2 hours later. Spent the day feeling nauseous” In context ↗ Gut side effects
- Diltiazem (Cardizem)“For 3 years I used diltiazim for my pots & losartan for bp. Side affects sucked but I adjusted.” In context ↗ Side effects
- Losartan (Cozaar)“For 3 years I used diltiazim for my pots & losartan for bp. Side affects sucked but I adjusted.” In context ↗ Side effects
- Nebivolol (Bystolic)“I'm down to 1/2 my BP med, but need to get off of it, the fatigue it causes is crazy (nebivolol)” In context ↗ Side effects
- Nebivolol (Bystolic)“My heart hurts all the time, taking meds for pots and now I'm dealing with bradycardia, super fun.” In context ↗ Heart rhythm problems
- Salt, electrolytes and fluids“I've tried all kinds of different electrolyte drinks and they actually mess up my stomach unfortunately.” In context ↗ Gut side effects
- Salt, electrolytes and fluids“I can't drink Gatorade or sports drinks, they immediately kick me into a diverticulitis flare up and that puts me back into bed.” In context ↗ Gut side effects
Symptoms mentioned
Anxiety & low moodBrain fogGut problemsHeadaches & migraineHeart symptoms & palpitationsLoss of smell or tasteMuscle weaknessNeuropathy & tinglingPOTS & dysautonomiaPain & fibromyalgiaPost-exertional malaiseSleep problems
Their words about their symptoms
- Post-exertional malaise
felt horrible for the next 2 weeks
In context ↗ - Brain fog
crazy fatigue, brain fog, vertigo
In context ↗ - POTS & dysautonomia
Cardiologist says its POTs or dysautonomia.
In context ↗ - Heart symptoms & palpitations
crazy high bp, heart palpitations
In context ↗ - Gut problems
My gut is destroyed so I'm never comfortable
In context ↗ - Anxiety & low mood
depression, anxiety anytime I drive further than a couple miles
In context ↗ - Loss of smell or taste
still can't smell or taste almost 4 years later
In context ↗ - Sleep problems
sleep 7-8 hours (when the insomnia is going)
In context ↗ - Neuropathy & tingling
Winter- peripheral neuropathy kicks in (manageable)
In context ↗ - Pain & fibromyalgia
muscle & joint pain
In context ↗ - Headaches & migraine
Crazy cv headache
In context ↗ - Muscle weakness
Could hardly walk without assistance.
In context ↗
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