Long COVID
Severe → much betterIll 2 months before improving or writing
Mostly bedbound with long COVID, much better after rest and low-histamine diet
- Condition
- Long COVID
- At worst
- Severe (mostly bedbound)
- Ill before improving or writing
- 2 months
- Last post
- May 2026
In their words
- Condition: Long COVID
Yes, I got Covid mid Feb. Started out with flu-like symptoms and extreme fatigue.
In context ↗ - At worst: Severe
The first few months were the worst. I was mostly bedbound.
In context ↗ - Now: Much better
I feel much better (not recovered yet) at 7 months ... Now main symptoms are some lingering fatigue, anxiety, cognitive and brain fog are improving but not back to normal yet.
- Began after: COVID
I got Covid mid Feb.
Read from 43 of their posts and comments; links to the 18 this page draws on
Summary
Petrel 71605 developed long COVID after COVID in mid-February 2025. They were mostly bedbound for the first months with panic, brain fog, fatigue and exertion crashes. Rest, a low-histamine diet, meditation and gradual exercise preceded improvement to about 5,000 steps a day, but symptoms persisted, including MCAS flares, and they got worse again by 2026. Hydroxyzine triggered a severe panic attack and many medications were poorly tolerated.
Ask Miruvor AI
What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
yoga nidra, guided meditation and breathing exercises· HelpedMelatonin / l-theanine (Olly Sleep)· HelpedAtivan· HelpedUbrelvy· HelpedAllegra· Helpedcbt-i app· HelpedClaritin· HelpedIbuprofen· HelpedPepcid· Worseprobiotics· WorseB12 gummies· WorseVitamin d+K2· WorseMagnesium Glycinate· WorseLunesta· WorseZolpidem· WorseZoloft· WorseTHC· Worsehydroxyzine· Much worse
Their words about each treatment
- hydroxyzine · Much worse
I took a hydroxyzine. That's when everything got worse ... my body rejected it and I had a huge panic attack
In context ↗ - light exercise and bodyweight/resistance band workouts · Helped
I stopped and have gradually worked my way up to bodyweight and resistance band exercises and am no longer crashing.
In context ↗ - yoga nidra, guided meditation and breathing exercises · Helped
I do yoga nidra every night before bed. It's very relaxing, love it.
In context ↗ - Pepcid · Worse
Pepcid made me feel weird too when I tried it.
In context ↗ - probiotics · Worse
everything I've taken (including vitamins and probiotics) make me feel worse for some reason
In context ↗ - rest and pacing · Helped
The most important thing to do right now is rest and allow the body to heal more before trying to push any further.
In context ↗ - low histamine diet · Helped a lot
I had to go on a low histamine diet and that has honestly helped a lot.
In context ↗ - brain retraining · Helped
I'm not recovered yet but it's honestly helped me in a lot of ways.
In context ↗ - B12 gummies · Worse
B12 gummies and Vitamin d+K2 - Both gave my anxiety and the vitamin D causes a whomp sound in my ears
In context ↗ - Magnesium Glycinate · Worse
Magnesium Glycinate - was relaxing at night but had horrible anxiety the next day. I only took a few sips of the powder form (Solaray brand).
In context ↗ - Lunesta · Worse
I tried Lunesta last night and that didn't even put me to sleep ... Lunesta - Did not work and I felt like death the next day
- Zolpidem · Worse
I've tried Zolpidem in the past but it always made me groggy and forgetful the next morning.
In context ↗ - Melatonin / l-theanine (Olly Sleep) · Helped
It helps me relax but doesn't put me to deep sleep.
In context ↗ - Ativan · Helped
Low dose of Ativan - .125 or .25mg. Most times well tolerated. Sometimes I'll have rebound anxiety the next day. Hit or miss for sleep.
In context ↗ - Ubrelvy · Helped
Ubrelvy - tiny dose for migraines. Thankfully am able to continue taking this when needed
In context ↗ - Zoloft · Worse
Made me sick for 2 weeks, had no appetite, made me feel worse, had brain zaps for weeks. I only took it twice at 7.5 mg
In context ↗ - Allegra · Helped
I have found relief from MCAS flare ups with tiny doses of Allegra
In context ↗ - THC · Worse
THC always makes my anxiety worse so not sure how I'd do with CBN
In context ↗ - time · Helped
I feel much better (not recovered yet) at 7 months if this gives you hope that things can improve and get better with time
In context ↗ - cbt-i app · Helped
I've finally been able to sleep again though. Through a combination of the cbt-i app, yoga nidra and staying up until I was absolutely exhausted
In context ↗ - Claritin · Helped
I just took some Claritin and Ibuprofen and it helped calm it down
In context ↗
Approaches: Brain retraining · Diet · Pacing · Physiotherapy and rehab
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 1 month 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| mid Feb 2025 | COVID-19 infectionI got Covid mid Feb. Started out with flu-like symptoms and extreme fatigue.In context ↗ | Not stated | |
| week 4 | panic attack and worsening after hydroxyzineThen brain fog and anxiety hit week 4 and I took a hydroxyzine. That's when everything got worse.In context ↗ | Severe | |
| first few months | mostly bedboundThe first few months were the worst. I was mostly bedbound.In context ↗ | Severe | |
| a couple months in | started feeling a little betterIt took a couple months to start feeling a little better.In context ↗ | Moderate | |
| around 3-4 months | crashed after trying light weightsI tried working out with light weights too early (around 3-4 months) but kept crashing.In context ↗ | Moderate | |
| early August 2025 | insomnia after masturbationI masturbated last weekend and I haven't been able to get deep sleep since.In context ↗ | Mild | |
| 6 months out (August 2025) | able to walk about 5,000 steps a day and do yoga/resistance bandsI could barely get out of bed at 8 weeks and now I get around 5K steps per day and am able to do yoga and resistance band workouts.In context ↗ | Mild | Low-histamine diet |
| 7 months in (September 2025) | much better but not recovered; exercise without crashingI feel much better (not recovered yet) at 7 monthsIn context ↗ | Mild | Graded rehab and self-made programmes |
| 4 December 2025 | sleeping again with CBT-i app, yoga nidra and exhaustionI've finally been able to sleep again though.In context ↗ | Mild | CBT and psychotherapy |
| 12 February 2026 | felt better then worse again with no energyyou start to feel better only to feel worse again, you have no energyIn context ↗ | Mild | |
| 30 May 2026 | MCAS flares relieved by tiny doses of AllegraI never tried Nasalcrom but I have found relief from MCAS flare ups with tiny doses of AllegraIn context ↗ | Mild |
Adverse events
- Hydroxyzine (Atarax, Vistaril)“my body rejected it and I had a huge panic attack and felt like I was poisoned” In context ↗ Mood or psychiatric effects
- Probiotics and fermented foods“everything I've taken (including vitamins and probiotics) make me feel worse for some reason” In context ↗ Made symptoms worse
- Famotidine (Pepcid)“Pepcid made me feel weird too when I tried it” In context ↗ Side effects
- Zolpidem (Ambien)“I've tried Zolpidem in the past but it always made me groggy and forgetful the next morning” In context ↗ Side effects
- Sertraline (Zoloft)“Made me sick for 2 weeks, had no appetite, made me feel worse, had brain zaps for weeks.” In context ↗ Made symptoms worse
- Eszopiclone (Lunesta)“Lunesta - Did not work and I felt like death the next day” In context ↗ Side effects
- Magnesium“was relaxing at night but had horrible anxiety the next day” In context ↗ Mood or psychiatric effects
- Vitamin B12“Both gave my anxiety and the vitamin D causes a whomp sound in my ears” In context ↗ Mood or psychiatric effects
- Vitamin D and sun exposure“Both gave my anxiety and the vitamin D causes a whomp sound in my ears” In context ↗ Side effects
- Lorazepam (Ativan)“Sometimes I'll have rebound anxiety the next day” In context ↗ Side effects
- Cannabis (THC, marijuana)“THC always makes my anxiety worse” In context ↗ Mood or psychiatric effects
- Fexofenadine (Allegra)“didn't have any bad reactions besides drowsiness and a little fatigue today” In context ↗ Side effects
- “It gave me restless legs instead lol” In context ↗ Other
Symptoms mentioned
Anxiety & low moodBrain fogFlu-like symptomsGut problemsHeadaches & migraineMast cell (MCAS) & allergiesMuscle weaknessPOTS & dysautonomiaPain & fibromyalgiaPost-exertional malaiseSleep problemsTemperature regulation
Their words about their symptoms
- Post-exertional malaise
I tried working out with light weights too early (around 3-4 months) but kept crashing.
In context ↗ - Brain fog
Now I'm mainly dealing with brain fog, lingering anxiety, fatigue comes and goes and dizziness.
In context ↗ - POTS & dysautonomia
I'm 5 months out and still get light headed sometimes
In context ↗ - Mast cell (MCAS) & allergies
I have found relief from MCAS flare ups with tiny doses of Allegra
In context ↗ - Sleep problems
I've finally been able to sleep again though.
In context ↗ - Pain & fibromyalgia
The time I had burning muscles, it was set off by MCAS and inflammation.
In context ↗ - Headaches & migraine
Ubrelvy - tiny dose for migraines.
In context ↗ - Gut problems
I remember having to force myself to eat, it was awful.
In context ↗ - Muscle weakness
I started having consistent panic attacks, tremors, weakness etc.
In context ↗ - Flu-like symptoms
Started out with flu-like symptoms and extreme fatigue.
In context ↗ - Temperature regulation
the weird taste and coldness has gone away
In context ↗
Ask Miruvor AI
Similar stories
-
Not enough detail to draw a path
Bedbound with long COVID, improved with pacing and diet, then relapsed and mostly bedbound
Eagle 41685 caught COVID in February 2025 and was bedbound for the first months, then improved to about 60-70% by 10 months with time, pacing, a low-histamine diet and gentle exercise. A yogurt-triggered crash in December 2025, followed by a rapid saline IV,…
-
Long COVID with daily migraines, PEM and POTS, now almost back to normal after pacing
Glade 22757 has had long COVID since 2020, with daily migraines, PEM, MCAS, POTS and light, sound and smell sensitivity. Pushing through the first two to three years made them worse, so they quit work and slowed down. Pacing, scheduled rest, vestibular…
-
Long COVID with head pressure and pain, now somewhat better with pacing and rest
A music teacher who has had long COVID since 2023, initially managing only about three hours of activity a day with head pressure and later severe muscle and joint pain. Nicotine patches and hydrolyzed whey protein cleared their head pressure within a week…
-
Long COVID with fatigue and brain fog, now close to normal after pacing and time
Ill from August 2023 with fatigue, PEM, brain fog, insomnia, tachycardia and head pressure, they worsened for six months and were demoted at work. They credited time, de-stressing, brain retraining and very gradual exercise pacing, reaching about 50-70% by…