Stuck in a chair with long COVID, now somewhat better with steroids and ivabradine
- Condition
- Long COVID
- At worst
- Severe (mostly bedbound)
- Ill before improving or writing
- 3 years
- Last post
- Dec 2024
In their words
- Condition: Long COVID
generalised “long Covid” symptoms
In context ↗ - At worst: Severe
generally I’m stuck in the chair because doing small tasks makes me feel terrible.
In context ↗ - Now: Somewhat better
I have no pressure or discomfort in the chest, not getting tachycardic doing menial tasks, less breathless, panic is reduced, much calmer and easier to move around. Washed my hair without needing to lay down afterwards.
In context ↗ - Began after: COVID
a lot of my generalised “long Covid” symptoms
Read from 4 of their posts and comments; links to the 4 this page draws on
Summary
Three years into long COVID they were stuck in a chair, small tasks making them feel terrible and their heart racing for no reason; a month earlier they thought they would die. Steroids for sinus inflammation greatly reduced their dysautonomia and PEM, and ivabradine, started days before their last post, calmed them, eased breathlessness and let them wash their hair without lying down.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- cool packs · Helped
I have found using cool packs, heat packs and a massage gun very helpful for these same issues.
In context ↗ - prednisolone · Helped
put me on prednisolone and then the nasonex
In context ↗ - ivabradine · Helped
no pressure or discomfort in the chest, not getting tachycardic doing menial tasks
In context ↗
Approaches: POTS medication · Other drugs and medicines
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 2.9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | long COVID began3 years in here.In context ↗ | Not stated | |
| 2024-11 | very ill, thought they would die; stuck in a chairA month ago I thought I was going to die. ... generally I’m stuck in the chair because doing small tasks makes me feel terrible. | Severe | |
| 2024-12 | sinus inflammation treated; dysautonomia and PEM reduced greatlyDysautonomia and PEM reduced greatly.In context ↗ | Moderate | Corticosteroid pulses |
| 2024-12-18 | started ivabradine; calmer, less breathless, washed their hair without lying downmuch calmer and easier to move around. Washed my hair without needing to lay down afterwards.In context ↗ | Moderate | Ivabradine |
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Post-exertional malaise
Dysautonomia and PEM reduced greatly.
In context ↗ - Heart symptoms & palpitations
My heart is in good shape but races for no good reason
In context ↗ - Breathlessness
less breathless
In context ↗ - Anxiety & low mood
panic is reduced
In context ↗ - Headaches & migraine
I have found using cool packs, heat packs and a massage gun very helpful for these same issues.
In context ↗
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