Long COVID fatigue and crashes, now near normal after antihistamines and Pfizer doses
- Condition
- Long COVID
- At worst
- Moderate (mostly housebound)
- Ill before improving or writing
- 3 months
- Last post
- Mar 2024
In their words
- At worst: Moderate
I jumped from about a 30% to about an 80%.
In context ↗ - Now: Near normal
I barely notice long hauler flair ups anymore (other than just randomly being a little more tired some days
In context ↗ - Began after: COVID
I caught alpha strain Covid in the end of 2020
Read from 37 of their posts and comments; links to the 20 this page draws on
Summary
A man caught COVID in December 2020 and was left with crushing fatigue, post-exertional crashes, gut problems, brain fog and sinus headaches. Antihistamines, famotidine and vitamins D, C and niacin gave a dramatic improvement within a week in early 2021, and each Pfizer dose helped more. He returned to running and lifting, with occasional mild relapses; by 2024 he felt near normal but had persistently low testosterone.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- exercise (dumbbells, running, walking) · Helped
Forcing myself to move and exercise more really helped.
In context ↗ - generic Zyrtec (cetirizine) · Helped
Anti histamines really helped me. I just use generic Zyrtec, and famotidine (pepcid ac).
In context ↗ - famotidine (pepcid ac) · Helped
I just use generic Zyrtec, and famotidine (pepcid ac).
In context ↗ - high dose vitamin D · Helped
I also supplement with high dose vitamin D, high dose extended release vitamin C, and high dose niacin every other day
In context ↗ - high dose extended release vitamin C · Helped
high dose extended release vitamin C
In context ↗ - high dose niacin · Helped
I started the Niacin every other day, but after building a tolerance to the flush, I added it everyday
In context ↗ - Pfizer COVID vaccine · Helped a lot
About a week later, I noticed a marked improvement in my overall LH symptoms.
In context ↗ - stretching · Helped
Thankfully, I'm mostly fine if I spend an hour or so stretching out my body. Its a bit much, but it makes a huge difference.
In context ↗ - anxiety journal · Helped
It's a therapy technique I picked up when my LH symptoms were severely and artificially ramping up my symptoms of anxiety. I'm not sure why it works so well, but it really helped.
In context ↗ - finasteride · No change
I'm on both finasteride, and oral minoxidil, and have been for 2 years, and my hair is disgustingly thinner than it was last year.
In context ↗ - oral minoxidil · No change
I'm on both finasteride, and oral minoxidil, and have been for 2 years
In context ↗ - Sertraline (Zoloft) · Helped a lot
going on an SSRI, setraline HCl (Zoloft), has been a night and day difference. I feel a billion times better.
In context ↗ - daily Spanish exercise on Duolingo · Helped
Exercising as much as I could, mostly cardio, and I do a daily Spanish exercise on Duolingo.
In context ↗ - plant based diet · Not said
decided in January to completely switch to healthy, plant based diet (and down 25 pounds)
In context ↗
Approaches: H1 antihistamines · H2 blockers · Exercise and activity · Supplements · Vaccination
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 | After |
|---|---|---|
| end of December 2020 | caught COVID (alpha strain) at age 30I got hit with alpha hard before vaccines were available right at the end 2020.In context ↗ | |
| February 2021 | back at work, about 80% normal but crashing after exerciseIt's been almost 2 months since I've "recovered"... and most of the time, I feel okay. About 80% normal.In context ↗ | |
| March 2021 | dramatic improvement on antihistamines and vitaminsBut after about a week, I experienced a dramatic improvement in my overall health and well-being.In context ↗ | Cetirizine (Zyrtec) |
| April/May 2021 | ran a mile again after the vaccinesince recieving the vaccine in April, my body has noticeably been doing loads betterIn context ↗ | COVID vaccination as treatment |
| August 2021 | long hauler malaise and sinus headache returned with daily treadmill runningSince becoming more and more active, I've been noticing more of my long hauler symptoms returning lately.In context ↗ | |
| October 2021 | up to about 90-95% after the vaccine courseI have continued to improve to the point I'm about a 90 or 95%, though with occasional very mild relapses.In context ↗ | COVID vaccination as treatment |
| December 2021 | relapse of brain fog and sinus issuesAnd this past month I've been relapsing with my brain fog and sinus issues.In context ↗ | |
| March 2024 | exercising freely, labs show persistently low testosteroneApart from those random issues from time to time, I am fine, and my body is able to do what I want to with exercise.In context ↗ |
Adverse events
- Niacin (vitamin B3)“The niacin flush was really uncomfortable at first, you feel hot and itchy and turn super red” In context ↗ Side effects
- COVID vaccination as treatment“I had no real reaction to either vaccine other than being a little tired.” In context ↗ Side effects
- Sertraline (Zoloft)“I've only ever had sexual side effects. Reduced libido, and difficulty reaching orgasm.” In context ↗ Side effects
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Post-exertional malaise
anytime I try to exercise at even a moderate level, I spend the following few days feeling like I'm going to die
In context ↗ - Brain fog
I can say my brain fog is much better
In context ↗ - Gut problems
I occasionally have Gerd issues, but nothing consistent.
In context ↗ - Pain & fibromyalgia
And severe cramping in weird places throughout my body.
In context ↗ - Headaches & migraine
constant sinus headaches
In context ↗ - Breathlessness
I feel like I'm suffocating. I can still breathe deeply, but it doesn't feel nourishing.
In context ↗ - Sleep problems
Impossible, overwhelming fatigue but somehow unable to sleep.
In context ↗ - Anxiety & low mood
I had fallen into a bit of a deep depression
In context ↗ - Hair loss
My hair is still thinning, and is a hell of a lot more grey
In context ↗ - Flu-like symptoms
I feel like I'm getting over a cold, all the time. Just mildly run down.
In context ↗ - Muscle weakness
My strength is finally back
In context ↗
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