Long COVID
Severe → near normal
Bedridden for months with long COVID, now nearly back to normal after colchicine, vaccine
- Condition
- Long COVID
- At worst
- Severe (mostly bedbound)
- Ill before improving or writing
- Not stated
- Last post
- Dec 2025
In their words
- Condition: Long COVID
After my acute phase I began my long haul.
In context ↗ - At worst: Severe
I was bedridden.
In context ↗ - Now: Near normal
I’m happy to report that I am completely back to normal! ... I still get the realization if I have panic attacks
In context ↗ - Began after: COVID
I caught covid for the first time in mid-december.
- Says they never had: Tinnitus
I haven't had tinnitus while on my long covid journey
Read from 92 of their posts and comments; links to the 38 this page draws on
- Jun 2021
- Feb 2021
- Jun 2025
- Mar 2021
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Summary
Caught COVID in mid-December 2020 and was largely bedridden for months with pericarditis, chest pain, headache, vertigo and fatigue. Colchicine, quercetin and niacin made her functional within weeks, and the Pfizer vaccine lifted her from 30% to 70%; she was 85-90% back by month nine. A flu infection in January 2022 briefly returned chest pain and PEM, and she reported full recovery about two years after onset.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
hydroxyzine· Helped a lotibuprofen (Motrin)· HelpedCBD and hemp oil· Helpedmeditation· Helpedashwagandha· HelpedExcedrin· Helpeddrinking water· Helped · wore offZoloft (sertraline)· Helpedmultivitamin· No changevitamin E· No changevitamin K· No changeheadache meds· No changeWellbutrin· No changelow histamine diet· Worseexercise· Worseintermittent fasting· Much worseClaritin· Not saidPepcid· Not saidZyrtec· Not saidDayQuil· Not saidNyQuil· Not saidinhalers· Not saidgrape seed extract· Not saidcaloric deficit diet· Not saidtherapy· Not said
Their words about each treatment
- ibuprofen (Motrin) · Helped
Both the colchicine and ibuprofen helped.
In context ↗ - colchicine · Helped a lot
I started taking colchicine and I went from 30% to 80% in a matter of one week.
In context ↗ - quercetin · Helped a lot
It also seems to make sense why quercetin and niacin got me from 30% to 70%.
In context ↗ - niacin · Helped a lot
Niacin and Ashwaganda work MIRACLES as well.
In context ↗ - CBD and hemp oil · Helped
I found that taking the CBD gummies actually helped me.
In context ↗ - meditation · Helped
Meditation really helped me when my anxiety was bad the first few weeks.
In context ↗ - ashwagandha · Helped
I could definitely tell that it helped with anxiety and depression.
In context ↗ - multivitamin · No change
I didn't list those because they didn't seem to affect my symptoms at all.
In context ↗ - vitamin E · No change
I'm also taking a multi, vitamin e, vitamin k one and two, and several other supplements.
In context ↗ - Claritin · Not said
Take antihistamines such as quercetin, Claritin, prilosec, etc.
In context ↗ - Pepcid · Not said
I personally hadn't noticed any interactions with pepcid Claritin and CBD
In context ↗ - Zyrtec · Not said
So I guess I have to keep doped up on Zyrtec.
In context ↗ - DayQuil · Not said
I take dayquil everyday and NyQuil every night.
In context ↗ - inhalers · Not said
also some scrips like -- colchicine, 800mg ibuprofen, two diff inhalers...
In context ↗ - grape seed extract · Not said
I stopped taking almost all my supplements except for my grape seed extract and a multivitamin.
In context ↗ - Excedrin · Helped
I started taking lots of Excedrin.
In context ↗ - headache meds · No change
I was prescribed lots of headache meds, but none of them worked except excedrin.
In context ↗ - low histamine diet · Worse
the low histamine diet didn't help me at all. It actually gave me severe heartburn and acid reflux.
In context ↗ - intermittent fasting · Much worse
I had a huge relapse last week after beginning intermittent fasting to lose some of my long covid weight.
In context ↗ - caloric deficit diet · Not said
I have been on the caloric deficit in an effort to lose weight.
In context ↗ - exercise · Worse
Exercise would help with my symptoms while I was exercising. But after I finished, every single time I would relapse for three days.
In context ↗ - Pfizer vaccine · Helped a lot
I had a huge improvement after both of my shots. Still not 100%. But the shots took me from 30% to 70%.
In context ↗ - drinking water · Helped
My derealization went away for about a week, I started really focusing on drinking water and that seemed to help.
In context ↗ - Wellbutrin · No change
I'm currently on Wellbutrin. I don't think it's helping with anything if I'm being honest.
In context ↗ - Zoloft (sertraline) · Helped
I got on Zoloft. It's helping so far. Less panic attacks and fear of death in general.
In context ↗ - hydroxyzine · Helped a lot
After taking the hydroxyzine two times a day for two days straight it completely went away.
In context ↗ - therapy · Not said
Around that time I was also in therapy and my psychiatrist prescribed me hydroxyzine for my panic attacks.
In context ↗ - Prozac · Helped a lot
I got on Prozac to help with my anxiety and I rarely if ever experience derealization now.
In context ↗
Approaches: SSRIs · Other drugs and medicines · Supplements · Vaccination
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| mid-December 2020 | COVID-19 with sudden severe headache and dizzinessI had a very sudden onset -- like one second I was fine one second I was very ill -- of a severe headache and dizziness.In context ↗ | Severe | |
| February 2021 (2 months in) | pericarditis, repeated ER visits, too weak to do anythingAt my worst I felt maybe 30%? Not sure, but it felt like damn near deaths door.In context ↗ | Severe | |
| 2021-02-22 | functional again after colchicine, quercetin and niacin; walked the dog and helped a friend moveI'm definitely not recovered. But I feel functional again.In context ↗ | Mild | |
| 2021-03-08 | crashed after a hike, ER with breathlessness and chest pressureI jumped the gun on a day I felt better and took a hike. Ended up in the ER with SOB and chest pressure and still not recovered 4 days later.In context ↗ | Moderate | |
| 2021-04-07 | chest pain relapse around month 4 after her father's deathI am also at 4 months dealing with a weird chest pain related relapse.In context ↗ | Moderate | |
| 2021-06-03 | major improvement after the Pfizer vaccine, from 70%/30% to 100%/70% daysI saw a major improvement after I got my vaccine. I went from being at 70% on a good day and 30% on a bad day to being at 100% on a good day and 70% on a bad day.In context ↗ | Mild | COVID vaccination as treatment |
| 2021-06-25 | relapse on day four of intermittent fasting, with derealisation and muscle sorenessI had a huge relapse last week after beginning intermittent fasting to lose some of my long covid weight.In context ↗ | Moderate | |
| 2021-09-23 | 85-90% back to normal, only neurological symptoms leftI am honestly 85 to 90% back to normal. The only thing that I have left are my neurological issues.In context ↗ | Mild | |
| late 2021 | completely recovered for about two months and started exercising againuntil last Monday I was completely recovered for about 2 months or soIn context ↗ | Recovered | |
| 2022-01-23 | flu infection brought back chest pain and PEMNow I feel almost exactly like I did a year ago. With scary alarming chest pain. And PEM.In context ↗ | Moderate | |
| 2022-02-13 | post-flu chest pain cleared after two days of hydroxyzineAfter taking the hydroxyzine two times a day for two days straight it completely went away.In context ↗ | Mild | |
| 2022-11-29 | all better on Prozac, derealisation rareI'm actually all better now! I got on Prozac to help with my anxiety and I rarely if ever experience derealization now.In context ↗ | Near normal | |
| 2025-06-15 | completely back to normal; derealisation only with panic attacks after extreme stressall of my symptoms have gone away and I completely feel back to normal.In context ↗ | Near normal |
Adverse events
- “taking too much of it leaves me feeling weird and sleepy during the day.” In context ↗ Side effects
- Excedrin (acetaminophen, aspirin, caffeine)“I ended up getting addicted to in my headache wouldn't leave unless I took the excedrin. Then I got caffeine withdrawal headaches from it.” In context ↗ Withdrawal problems
- Low-histamine diet“the low histamine diet didn't help me at all. It actually gave me severe heartburn and acid reflux.” In context ↗ Gut side effects
- Intermittent fasting“I had a huge relapse last week after beginning intermittent fasting to lose some of my long covid weight.” In context ↗ Made symptoms worse
- Everyday exercise and activity“Exercise would help with my symptoms while I was exercising. But after I finished, every single time I would relapse for three days.” In context ↗ Made symptoms worse
- Bupropion (Wellbutrin)“yesterday I decided to take another at around 6 p.m. ... when I woke up this morning I had a panic attack while brushing my teeth then I had two more panic attacks today” In context ↗ Mood or psychiatric effects
- COVID vaccination as treatment“Got a low grade fever 5 days after each time. Second wasn't as bad as the first.” In context ↗ Side effects
Symptoms mentioned
Anxiety & low moodBrain fogBreathlessnessFlu-like symptomsGut problemsHeadaches & migraineMast cell (MCAS) & allergiesMuscle weaknessNeuropathy & tinglingPOTS & dysautonomiaPain & fibromyalgiaPost-exertional malaise
Their words about their symptoms
- Post-exertional malaise
In the beginning, my pem was nuts and any form of exercise made me feel like I was dying immediately afterward.
In context ↗ - Brain fog
I was dealing with headaches dizziness intense brain fog and anxiety.
In context ↗ - POTS & dysautonomia
Vertigo was my very first symptom. It last about 2-3 weeks.
In context ↗ - Mast cell (MCAS) & allergies
especially those of us really affected by allergies like I am
In context ↗ - Pain & fibromyalgia
Jaw and neck pain that came with a headache.
In context ↗ - Headaches & migraine
my worst covid symptom by far was the terrible headache I had in the very beginning
In context ↗ - Gut problems
my stomach felt like it was trying to eat itself
In context ↗ - Breathlessness
sudden chest tightness, sudden increase in heart rate, shortness of breath, chest pain
In context ↗ - Muscle weakness
I also have severe muscle weakness. Almost like I ran a marathon yesterday.
In context ↗ - Neuropathy & tingling
I had pins and needles and arm tingly numbness
In context ↗ - Anxiety & low mood
I've been dealing with some pretty severe depression all day today.
In context ↗ - Flu-like symptoms
I developed the cough and sore throat a few days later
In context ↗
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