Long COVID
Moderate → near normalIll 4 years before improving or writing
Housebound for weeks with long COVID, now close to normal after brain retraining
- Condition
- Long COVID
- At worst
- Moderate (mostly housebound)
- Ill before improving or writing
- 4 years
- Last post
- Oct 2026
In their words
- Condition: Long COVID
I had long covid and known physical abnormalities that were tested, and I recovered from brain retraining.
In context ↗ - At worst: Moderate
I was essentially house bound for some weeks in there, used up a ton of PTO from work. I considered myself moderate at that point.
In context ↗ - Now: Near normal
I’m pretty much fully recovered from being housebound in Spring 2025. There’s still room to grow and improve
In context ↗ - Began after: COVID
After getting covid I had very mild symptoms, then I got vaccinated and it was like pouring fuel on the fire.
In context ↗
Read from 106 of their posts and comments; links to the 22 this page draws on
Summary
Ridge 10953 fell ill after COVID in late 2021 and was mild for three years before crashing in April 2025 after a weight-lifting programme, housebound for weeks. From mid-2025 they credit brain retraining, Buteyko breathing, meditation and the FreeMe app, with steady improvement. By mid-2026 they called themselves 90% recovered and very mild, with occasional brain fog, palpitations and situational PEM.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
plant-forward diet· Helpedprescription medications and supplements· Worsehydroxyzine· Worsebenzodiazepines· Worsevitamin D· Worsediet / exercise program with weight lifting· Much worsepropranolol· Not saidpacing· Not saidClaire Weekes’ book “Help and Hope for Your Nerves”· Not said
Their words about each treatment
- Buteyko breathing and meditation · Helped a lot
what really made the difference for me personally was meditation and Buteyko breathing
In context ↗ - brain retraining / neuroplastic work · Helped a lot
Through various brain retraining methods, I’ve gone from moderate to almost non-existent.
In context ↗ - FreeMe app · Helped
Yes I used for a time. It helped a lot.
In context ↗ - prescription medications and supplements · Worse
I spent hundreds on supplements trying to fix my problems, I had a whole counter full of them, nothing helped, and even made things worse
In context ↗ - diet / exercise program with weight lifting · Much worse
I started a diet / exercise program that had a lot of weight lifting ... Then after a couple months I crashed hard
In context ↗ - hydroxyzine · Worse
I tried hydroxyzine when I was experiencing pretty bad insomnia. It helped me sleep but made me feel horrible the next day
In context ↗ - propranolol · Not said
I have a prescription to take as needed but I haven’t taken it in almost a year for this reason among others.
In context ↗ - benzodiazepines · Worse
I used to be dependent on benzodiazepines and getting off those was pure hell.
In context ↗ - vitamin D · Worse
vitamin D gave me extreme insomnia personally
In context ↗ - plant-forward diet · Helped
I did lean heavily on a plant forward diet because I also couldn’t supplement ... It’s helped immensely.
In context ↗ - hydration / drinking water · Helped
Making sure I’m getting enough water noticeably lowered my heart rate.
In context ↗ - pacing · Not said
I still pace a bit when I’m feeling tired or stressed
In context ↗ - Claire Weekes’ book “Help and Hope for Your Nerves” · Not said
I recommend her book “Help and Hope for Your Nerves”.
In context ↗
Approaches: POTS medication · Brain retraining · Mind-body practices
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 |
|---|---|---|
| late 2021 | COVID followed by vaccination; intense brain fog, dizziness, pounding heart, PVCs/PACsAfter getting covid I had very mild symptoms, then I got vaccinated and it was like pouring fuel on the fire.In context ↗ | Mild |
| April 2025 | crashed hard after months of weight lifting; first real PEM, housebound for weeksI was essentially house bound for some weeks in there, used up a ton of PTO from work. I considered myself moderate at that point.In context ↗ | Moderate |
| November 2025 | about 90% normal after a few months of nervous system workI’ve gone from moderate to almost non-existent. I’d say I’m 90 % normal.In context ↗ | Near normal |
| May 2026 | severe food poisoning with a month of raised heart rate and PVCs/PACsIn May of this year, I had severe food poisoning.In context ↗ | Mild |
| August 2026 | one-day flare after pushing too hard at the weekendI just had a small flare up yesterday from pushing too hard this weekend. I had a day of a higher than normal heart rate, brain fog, anxiety / adrenaline rushes, fatigue.In context ↗ | Mild |
| October 2026 | pretty much fully recovered, doing almost everything, some discomfort at timesI’m pretty much fully recovered from being housebound in Spring 2025.In context ↗ | Near normal |
Adverse events
- Hydroxyzine (Atarax, Vistaril)“It helped me sleep but made me feel horrible the next day, so tired and fatigued it was like I didn’t sleep at all.” In context ↗ Side effects
- Vitamin D and sun exposure“You can react to supplements, vitamin D gave me extreme insomnia personally.” In context ↗ Insomnia from treatment
- Benzodiazepines (unspecified)“I used to be dependent on benzodiazepines and getting off those was pure hell.” In context ↗ Withdrawal problems
- Benzodiazepines (unspecified)“I also had severe withdrawal and PAWS” In context ↗ Withdrawal problems
- Benzodiazepines (unspecified)“I’ve had panic attacks on benzos before, because your body just starts reacting to everything as if it were a threat.” In context ↗ Mood or psychiatric effects
- Benzodiazepines (unspecified)“They absolutely make things worse. They can help *while* you’re on them sometimes, but especially with sensitive nervous systems symptoms will be worse when they wear off, and yes, after just one dose.” In context ↗ Made symptoms worse
- “I spent hundreds on supplements trying to fix my problems, I had a whole counter full of them, nothing helped, and even made things worse” In context ↗ Made symptoms worse
- “Prescriptions always made me worse.” In context ↗ Made symptoms worse
- “I basically reacted badly to every medication I tried. My nervous system was so hypersensitive I’d just have paradoxical reactions to calming agents.” In context ↗ Side effects
Symptoms mentioned
Anxiety & low moodBrain fogHeart symptoms & palpitationsLight & noise sensitivityMast cell (MCAS) & allergiesPOTS & dysautonomiaPost-exertional malaiseSleep problemsTemperature regulation
Their words about their symptoms
- Post-exertional malaise
I’ll feel some post exertion malaise for a few hours
In context ↗ - Brain fog
Now I have occasional brain fog
In context ↗ - POTS & dysautonomia
occasional mild dizziness / dpdr
In context ↗ - Sleep problems
severe insomnia, very bad Hypnic jerks over and over when trying to sleep
In context ↗ - Temperature regulation
severe heat sensitivity
In context ↗ - Mast cell (MCAS) & allergies
I had a lot of weird reactions to foods when I was at my worst, and now I don’t have almost any of those.
In context ↗ - Light & noise sensitivity
occasional grocery store syndrome
In context ↗
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