Long-COVID-like mystery illness with PEM, somewhat better with training and therapy
- Condition
- Condition not stated
- At worst
- Mild (working or studying, with limits)
- Ill before improving or writing
- Not stated
- Last post
- Jun 2023
In their words
- Condition: Condition not stated
This triggered some mystery disease which looks a bit like long covid.
In context ↗ - At worst: Mild
I am in a similar conundrum; I need the exercise to stay mentally well.
In context ↗ - Now: Somewhat better
I'm nowhere near recovered, but I'm in a better place than I was last year.
In context ↗ - Began after: another virus
I had a CMV infection which started right before my second moderna shot was due. This triggered some mystery disease which looks a bit like long covid.
In context ↗
Read from 7 of their posts and comments; links to the 7 this page draws on
Summary
A Reddit user described a long-COVID-like mystery illness after a CMV infection, with intermittent low-grade fevers, nausea, PEM and sinus tachycardia. By mid-2023 they were nowhere near recovered but better than the year before, crediting focused training, therapy and psychosomatic physiotherapy, which steadied their hand. Nicotine patches were horrible; vitamins, aspirin and citrulline did nothing.
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What they tried
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- second moderna / Pfizer booster · No change
I had side effects for exactly 24h starting about 5h after the shots, and then went back to my normal level
In context ↗ - cannabis · Worse
it just makes me sleepy even if I used just a little bit
In context ↗ - ADHD stimulant medication · Not said
I could sleep on high doses. ... I am not touching the stuff now because it will make it worse.
In context ↗ - chiro · Helped
All chiro did for me was release a muscle which I am very happy with
In context ↗ - physio · Helped
I would not have healed from that particular problem without my own effort and physio
In context ↗ - ginger · Helped
use ginger). ... Not miracles but it's good enough for now.
In context ↗ - vitamins · No change
I tried vitamins: no effect
In context ↗ - nicotine patches · Worse
I tried nicotine patches: horrible
In context ↗ - Wellbutrin · Helped
I'm on Wellbutrin (for comorbid depression): bit more focus
In context ↗ - aspirin · No change
I tried aspirin: nada
In context ↗ - citrulline · No change
I tried citrulline: not even close (but given I still have a massive pot I'm going to see if it prevents winter fingers if taken in time
In context ↗ - pushing it · Worse
I tried pushing it: bad idea
In context ↗ - ibuprofen · Helped
I recently found out ibuprofen helps a bit for PEM.
In context ↗ - finding things where I can save energy · Helped
finding things where I can save energy
In context ↗ - psychosomatic physio · Helped
Oh and psychosomatic physio. Helps counter the sympathic dysregulation by training parasymathic activation
In context ↗
Approaches: CBT & mindset · Pacing · Physiotherapy and rehab
Their path
What they say at each step doesn’t fit the worst point or outcome above on the severity scale, so the steps are listed as they describe them. Dates are when they posted.
| When | What happened |
|---|---|
| 2021 | CMV infection triggers a mystery illness resembling long COVID, with intermittent feversI had a CMV infection which started right before my second moderna shot was due. This triggered some mystery disease which looks a bit like long covid.In context ↗ |
| — | pushed through symptoms and got worseI tried pushing it: bad ideaIn context ↗ |
| 2023-06 | better than the year before but nowhere near recovered, after training, therapy and psychosomatic physioI'm nowhere near recovered, but I'm in a better place than I was last year.In context ↗ |
Adverse events
- COVID vaccination as treatment“I had side effects for exactly 24h starting about 5h after the shots” In context ↗ Side effects
- Cannabis (THC, marijuana)“it just makes me sleepy even if I used just a little bit” In context ↗ Side effects
- Stimulants (unspecified)“I could sleep on high doses. ... I was really slow and sleepy that one day I accidentally took 2 tablets.” In context ↗ Side effects
- Nicotine patches“I tried nicotine patches: horrible” In context ↗ Side effects
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Flu-like symptoms
my normal level of intermittent fevers
In context ↗ - Post-exertional malaise
I recently found out ibuprofen helps a bit for PEM.
In context ↗ - Gut problems
I make sure to eat when I am less nauseous (typically in the afternoon vs worse in the evening)
In context ↗ - POTS & dysautonomia
even the inappropriate sinus tachycardia seems to respond to focused training
In context ↗ - Anxiety & low mood
I'm on Wellbutrin (for comorbid depression): bit more focus
In context ↗
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