Long COVID with destroyed sleep and PEM, somewhat better, B vitamins improved sleep
- Condition
- Long COVID
- At worst
- Not stated
- Ill before improving or writing
- 5.5 years
- Last post
- Jun 2026
In their words
- Condition: Long COVID
I have had major sleep disorders for 3 years (been long hauling for 3 years).
In context ↗ - Now: Somewhat better
But they're at a more manageable level now and hit less often.
In context ↗ - Began after: COVID
I had almost no symptoms when I had Covid. I wasn't even sure if I had Covid.
Read from 24 of their posts and comments; links to the 12 this page draws on
Summary
He has had long COVID since March 2021, over five years, with sleep destroyed, PEM, histamine intolerance, gut problems and parosmia now almost gone. B vitamins improved sleep; nattokinase, saffron and magnesium gave little or no clear benefit, LDN and betaine HCl outcomes are unclear, and some later supplements worsened his sleep. He reports all symptoms improving very slowly, with frequent urination and broken sleep still his worst problems, now more manageable. He remained ill at his last post.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- Magnesium L-threonate · Helped
Magnesium L-threonate helped me at the beginning, but then it lost its effect.
In context ↗ - Nattokinase · No change
I used Nattokinase after reading comments of people saying they see a decrease in some of their symptoms after using it. ... It didn't have any good or bad effect on me.
In context ↗ - Vitamin B complex (Solgar Vitamin B Complex 50) · Helped
Since using Vitamin B complex, my sleep has improved significantly.
In context ↗ - Potassium · No change
I've been taking 5 mgs a day for 2 months. It doesn't solve it.
In context ↗ - stopping lactose and histamine, eating clean and less · Helped
You feel the difference when you stop consuming lactose and histamine.
In context ↗ - Ibuprofen · Helped
Ibuprofen helps body calm down a bit. It doesn't solve it, too.
In context ↗ - Betaine HCl + Pepsin · No change
I used it for a while but it didn’t really change the trajectory of my illness.
In context ↗ - saffron · No change
I even tried saffron in a neuroprotective dose, but no effect.
In context ↗ - LDN · Not said
I started LDN last month at 0.5mg.
In context ↗ - breathing exercises, meditation, yoga · Helped
these calm the nervous system down and they help me
In context ↗ - vagus activation · Helped
Vagus activation does relieve my symptoms
In context ↗ - David Burns' Feeling Good and Feeling Great · Helped
They gave me a completely different perspective.
In context ↗
Approaches: Diet · 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. The chart starts 3.3 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 |
|---|---|---|
| March 2021 | long COVID began; sleep destroyedBefore Covid, I had minor stress-related sleep problems. When the long covid started, the first thing that was destroyed was my sleep.In context ↗ | Not stated |
| July 2024 (40th month) | no life left, everything smells of garbage, only rice eatenI have no life left after Covid. The only thing connecting me to life is that all my symptoms are slowly getting betterIn context ↗ | Moderate |
| January 2025 | parosmia almost gone, sleep slightly improvedAll my symptoms are getting better more slowly than a turtle. I have had slightly improved sleep.In context ↗ | Moderate |
| June 2026 | symptoms more manageable but still presentBut they're at a more manageable level now and hit less often. ... I'm recovering at turtle speed.In context ↗ | Mild |
Adverse events
- “The supplements I was using had a negative impact on my sleep. I stopped taking all. It’s been a week, and there’s been some improvement in my sleep.” In context ↗ Insomnia from treatment
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Sleep problems
I have had major sleep disorders for 3 years ... My sleep was terrible.
In context ↗ - Post-exertional malaise
I still get PEM, bloodshot eyes, an irregular heartbeat when PEM hits
In context ↗ - Heart symptoms & palpitations
I don't get chest pain, but I have heart rate issues.
In context ↗ - Loss of smell or taste
My parosmia is almost gone.
In context ↗ - Gut problems
Gut issues during PEM → diarrhea / half-diarrhea state
In context ↗ - Mast cell (MCAS) & allergies
Histamine intolerance
In context ↗ - Anxiety & low mood
Anxiety disorder (partially linked to nervous system)
In context ↗ - POTS & dysautonomia
Vagus activation does relieve my symptoms, since dysautonomia is pretty central to what I have.
In context ↗ - Neuropathy & tingling
I don’t get goosebumps, but I do get tingling.
In context ↗ - Breathlessness
rarely some dizziness and shortness of breath
In context ↗
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