Long COVID with insomnia and cut exercise, nearly back to normal but still pacing
- Condition
- Long COVID
- At worst
- Mild (working or studying, with limits)
- Ill before improving or writing
- Not stated
- Last post
- Aug 2026
In their words
- Condition: Long COVID
I took the 3 Pfizer vaccines and got LC when I got sick with Delra/Omnicron.
In context ↗ - At worst: Mild
The only way I can remain functional so far is by going onto half of a 7.5 mg zopiclone tablet each night so that I get about 6-7 hour sleep.
In context ↗ - Now: Near normal
Successfully ran a marathon even with dysautonomia (I remembered my first run post Covid was 2 km!) , now spending 6 hour+ at the gym a week...
In context ↗ - Began after: COVID
got LC when I got sick with Delra/Omnicron
In context ↗
Read from 5 of their posts and comments; links to the 5 this page draws on
Summary
Glacier 76618 developed long COVID after a Delta/Omicron infection despite three Pfizer vaccines. In 2023 insomnia left them wired but tired and forced them to cut exercise; half a 7.5 mg zopiclone nightly gave six to seven hours' sleep, while melatonin, vagus nerve exercises and beta-blockers did not help. They later recovered enough to run a marathon and spend six hours a week at the gym, still pacing around dysautonomia, PEM and high-histamine food at night.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- zopiclone · Helped
The only way I can remain functional so far is by going onto half of a 7.5 mg zopiclone tablet each night so that I get about 6-7 hour sleep.
In context ↗ - quantiapine · Not said
Dr did not know what to do with my LC, could only gave me zopiclone and quantiapine.
In context ↗ - natural melatonin · No change
Definitely try out natural melatonin, vagus nerve exercises, cold exposure ... None of those work for me so far, but it might help for yours!
In context ↗ - over the counter beta-blockers · No change
over the counter beta-blockers etc ... None of those work for me so far, but it might help for yours!
In context ↗ - no high histamine food at night · Helped
no high histamine food at night for me ... the MCAS +nervous system dysautonomia will knock my sleep with nervous system rhythm
In context ↗ - creatine · Helped a lot
if you're dealing with mitochondria dysfunction, try creatine. Creatine especially has been a massive help to me.
In context ↗ - pacing · Helped
Watching your body battery is key to pacing properly. There are days when I'll skip gym days knowing if I over-do it, it'll trigger Post-Exertional-Malaise
In context ↗ - Garmin smartwatch (HRV and body battery) · Helped
If you can, invest in a Garmin with HRV function and join the "beat Long Covid with a Smartwatch" fb group.
In context ↗
Approaches: Diet · Pacing · Supplements
Their path
How ill they were on the ME/CFS severity scale, estimated from what they describe at each point, in the order they describe; they don’t give enough times to place each step. Hover or tap a point. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| — | long COVID after Delta/Omicron infection despite three Pfizer vaccinesgot LC when I got sick with Delra/OmnicronIn context ↗ | Not stated |
| 2023-02-07 | severe insomnia, wired but tired, had to cut exercise routineThe only way I can remain functional so far is by going onto half of a 7.5 mg zopiclone tablet each night so that I get about 6-7 hour sleep.In context ↗ | Mild |
| 2026-07-14 | back to running, marathon completed, six hours a week at the gymSuccessfully ran a marathon even with dysautonomia (I remembered my first run post Covid was 2 km!) , now spending 6 hour+ at the gym a week...In context ↗ | Near normal |
| 2026-08-29 | still pacing with a smartwatch and skipping gym days to avoid PEMThere are days when I'll skip gym days knowing if I over-do it, it'll trigger Post-Exertional-Malaise and tired-but-wired dysautonomia.In context ↗ | Near normal |
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Sleep problems
Long covid insomnia sucks!
In context ↗ - Post-exertional malaise
if I over-do it, it'll trigger Post-Exertional-Malaise
In context ↗ - POTS & dysautonomia
tired-but-wired dysautonomia
In context ↗ - Mast cell (MCAS) & allergies
no high histamine food at night for me
In context ↗
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