Severe long COVID breathlessness after Omicron, now near normal with Spiriva
- Condition
- Long COVID
- At worst
- Mild (working or studying, with limits)
- Ill before improving or writing
- 3 months
- Last post
- Jul 2022
In their words
- Condition: Long COVID
On June 24th I had an appointment with a Long COVID specialist.
In context ↗ - At worst: Mild
There were days I couldn't even go to work because I couldn't stop trying to gasp for a satisfying breath.
In context ↗ - Now: Near normal
I'm running again - short distances. I can't run as fast or as far as I used to but a month ago I couldn't even run for more than 1 minute at a time with walking in between so I know it's getting better.
In context ↗ - Began after: COVID
For background, I had Omicron in April 2022.
Read from 9 of their posts and comments; links to the 6 this page draws on
Summary
After Omicron in April 2022 they had severe breathlessness, dizziness, headaches, palpitations and panic attacks, and some days could not go to work. Symptoms eased in patches from May, and Spiriva was the medication that helped most (prednisone also helped but side effects were bad); a specialist found air trapping on lung function testing. By late July 2022 they were back to baseline at rest and running short distances, though not yet at their old pace.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- Prednisone · Helped a lot
I had three rounds of oral prednisone back in April that also helped a TON but the side effects got to be too bad for me.
In context ↗ - breathing exercises · Worse
I tried to do breathing exercises today but I made it worse.
In context ↗ - Ativan · Not said
Ativan for the panic/heart rate spikes
In context ↗ - Symbicort · Not said
Symbicort (a steroid inhaler)
In context ↗ - Spiriva · Helped a lot
I figured out that the medication working the best for me was Spiriva.
In context ↗ - Levabuteral · Not said
Levabuteral (a rescue inhaler similar to Albuterol but without the pulse racing side effect)
In context ↗ - aspirin · Not said
aspirin (in case of blood clots?)
In context ↗ - flonase · Not said
flonase and claritin to block histamines
In context ↗ - singulair · Not said
symbicort, flonase and singulair for my breathing
In context ↗ - walks and jogging · Helped
I began working out a little. Mostly walks
In context ↗ - detailed log · Not said
keeping a detailed log where I tracked my exercise, which meds I was on, my resting heart rate and how bad my dyspnea was every day
In context ↗ - cut out caffeine · Not said
I cut out caffeine
In context ↗
Approaches: 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. Dates are when they posted. What the levels mean.
Show as a table
| When | What happened | Where they were |
|---|---|---|
| April 2022 | Omicron infection; dizziness, headaches, palpitations, racing pulse, panic attacks and severe breathlessnessThere were days I couldn't even go to work because I couldn't stop trying to gasp for a satisfying breath.In context ↗ | Mild |
| May 2022 | dizziness, headaches and breathlessness began to ease in patches; palpitations and heart rate spikes liftedIn May my neurological symptoms got a bit better - the dizziness and headaches.In context ↗ | Mild |
| June 2022 | Spiriva identified as the medication that worked; breathing much better, panic attacks stoppedI'm on Spiriva, feeling WAY better and haven't had a panic attack in several weeks either!In context ↗ | Mild |
| July 2022 | back to baseline at rest, exercise tolerance growing, short runs againI'm running again - short distances. I can't run as fast or as far as I used toIn context ↗ | Near normal |
Adverse events
- Meditation, yoga, breathwork“I tried to do breathing exercises today but I made it worse.” In context ↗ Made symptoms worse
- Corticosteroid pulses“I hate the side effects of the steroids too.” In context ↗ Side effects
- Corticosteroid pulses“I had three rounds of oral prednisone back in April that also helped a TON but the side effects got to be too bad for me.” In context ↗ Side effects
- Corticosteroid pulses“I was having racing pulse episodes and a lot of dizziness so I cut out caffeine- the prednisone certainly didn't help those and in fact it made them worse.” In context ↗ Made symptoms worse
- Corticosteroid pulses“I am still working off my prednisone weight.” In context ↗ Side effects
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- POTS & dysautonomia
I was having racing pulse episodes and a lot of dizziness so I cut out caffeine
In context ↗ - Headaches & migraine
My neurological symptoms got a bit better - the dizziness and headaches.
In context ↗ - Heart symptoms & palpitations
My cardiac stuff started lifting - no more palpitations and heart rate spikes
In context ↗ - Anxiety & low mood
haven't had a panic attack in several weeks either!
In context ↗ - Brain fog
I didn't notice a day when the brain fog and fatigue suddenly lifted
In context ↗ - Post-exertional malaise
I had bad exercise intolerance / exertion fatigue
In context ↗
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