Unable to walk or stand with long COVID, now somewhat clearer headed with probiotics
- Condition
- Long COVID
- At worst
- Severe (mostly bedbound)
- Ill before improving or writing
- 5.5 years
- Last post
- Oct 2026
In their words
- Condition: Long COVID
I had a barely noticable case of COVID and then got really ill with what they call long COVID or post viral chronic fatigue
In context ↗ - At worst: Severe
I can't even leave the house without someone pushing me in a wheelchair, and I can barely move off the seat I sit in day in and day out
In context ↗ - Now: Somewhat better
i didnt realise how much better I was doing, until it got worse again
In context ↗ - Began after: COVID
I had a barely noticable case of COVID and then got really ill with what they call long COVID or post viral chronic fatigue
In context ↗
Read from 15 of their posts and comments; links to the 10 this page draws on
Summary
A UK man developed long COVID after a mild infection in late 2021 and spent two to three months unable to walk or stand without help. Pushing his stamina brought partial improvement, then brain fog set in and became persistent; by 2023 he used a wheelchair, was in constant pain and had stopped work. Probiotics and a protein-rich diet, plus quitting tobacco and medical cannabis, left him somewhat clearer headed, though antibiotics had wrecked his stomach and cannabis was only a coping tool; a cold in October 2026 set him back years.
Ask Miruvor AI
What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- self driven pushing to increase stamina · Not said
A long journey from this point self driven to increase my stamina, this took a few months before starting to feel able to leave the house on my own.
In context ↗ - b12 injections · Not said
I done b12 injections, iron tablets, folic acid, vitamin d.
In context ↗ - Pregabalin · No change
Pregab (pointless)
In context ↗ - Co-codamol · Not said
Co-codamol short term
In context ↗ - Amitriptyline · No change
Amitriptyline currently taking 40mg and have to for three more weeks before they try anything else, in there words I need to take the same dose in the evening for 7 weeks straight before they will accept it does nothing.
In context ↗ - A whole boat of different vitimens and minerals · Not said
A whole boat of different vitimens and minerals
In context ↗ - Mindfulness, meditation · Not said
Mindfulness, meditation, and other cognitive behavioural methods
In context ↗ - pain distraction · Worse
Also pain distraction, which just ended up becoming too self distructive.
In context ↗ - CBD oil · No change
there was CBD oil low dose which might as well not have bothered, but that was off Amazon
In context ↗ - cannabis · Helped
the only thing that gives me any sort of relief, is smoking cannabis
In context ↗ - venlafaxine · Not said
I'm currently on 375mg of venlafaxine a day for an snri, but unfortunately cannot do anything with the dose
In context ↗ - learning about tbi's or traumatic brain injuries · Helped
something that helped me a little bit, was also learning about tbi's or traumatic brain injuries
In context ↗ - metronidazole · Worse
biggest improvement in saw was after being prescribed metronidazole and flucloxacilin, I dont think it was because of these antibiotics, I had an infection, and they actually ruined my stomach for about 10 weeks
In context ↗ - optivac then optibac · Helped
All in all though I think one of the biggest differences was the optibac, and some research suggests that was the case.
In context ↗ - low fodmap diet · Not said
I had to be on a low fodmap diet due to my stomach being ruined
In context ↗ - eating 3 meals a day, moderate to high protein · Not said
Changed my diet from eating once a day in the evening, to eating 3 meals a day, moderate ti high protein
In context ↗ - gave up tobacco, moved to vaping cannabis · Not said
I quit smoking tobacco mixed wirh canabis, gave up tobacco completely and moved to vaping canabis.
In context ↗
Approaches: Supplements
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 |
|---|---|---|
| late 2021 | mild COVID infectionI had a barely noticable case of COVID and then got really ill with what they call long COVID or post viral chronic fatigueIn context ↗ | |
| early 2022 | could not walk, stand alone or move without help2-3 months of not being able to walk, stand up alone or move without helpIn context ↗ | |
| mid 2022 | self-driven stamina building, able to leave the house aloneself driven to increase my stamina, this took a few months before starting to feel able to leave the house on my ownIn context ↗ | Graded rehab and self-made programmes |
| October 2022 | brain symptoms stopped improvingI had a bad brain stint and it didn't get betterIn context ↗ | |
| December 2022 | body exhaustion and aches returnedAs of 48 hours ago, the body exhaustion has returned, I can feel my body going back to how it was at the beginingIn context ↗ | |
| July 2026 | clearer headed after antibiotics, probiotics, diet change and medical cannabisI was starting to feel clearer headed and less foggy (still worse than original me, but a lot better than my worst place)In context ↗ | Probiotics and fermented foods |
| October 2026 | crashed after a friend's ill baby visitedToday i wake up at 7am, and its like i backtracked 3 years of recovery in 1 nightIn context ↗ |
Adverse events
- Metronidazole (Flagyl), Flucloxacillin“I had an infection, and they actually ruined my stomach for about 10 weeks” In context ↗ Gut side effects
- Venlafaxine (Effexor)“the withdrawal is so intense even when I'm an hour or two late for my dose” In context ↗ Withdrawal problems
- CBT and psychotherapy“Also pain distraction, which just ended up becoming too self distructive.” In context ↗ Mood or psychiatric effects
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Post-exertional malaise
I have learnt I can't push myself too much, or too little. Both make it worse
In context ↗ - Brain fog
confusion, disorientation, difficulty concentrating memory issues
In context ↗ - Muscle weakness
I can barely stand or walk 20 steps on my good days
In context ↗ - Anxiety & low mood
the wave of hopelessness returned like a sack of bricks
In context ↗ - Gut problems
they actually ruined my stomach for about 10 weeks
In context ↗
Ask Miruvor AI
Similar stories
-
Unable to walk around house with long COVID, much better after pacing and antihistamines
A Canadian man with long COVID for about three years was unable to walk around the house for the first two years, with constant migraines, brain fog and PEM. From year three, pacing, rest, stress reduction, H1/H2 antihistamines, hydroxyzine for sleep,…
-
ME/CFS at rock bottom, now much better but still often in bed with pacing
Cedar 14930 has had ME/CFS for over 30 years, with a sudden flu-like onset, and deteriorated until hitting rock bottom around 11 years before 2020; since then they have improved but remain far from well, often spending 16–23 hours a day in bed and unable to…
-
Housebound with long COVID, now much better and back at work after rest and acupuncture
An Australian academic in their forties got long COVID in May 2024 after a third infection: brain fog first, then crippling fatigue that left them housebound and crashing daily for months. Rest, time and treatments including acupuncture greatly improved…
-
Severe ME/CFS, housebound and often bedbound; walking better after physio, then relapsed
Pebble 29054, in the UK, has suspected ME/CFS and describes a decline from mild to severe after NHS GET/CBT and exercise, now housebound and often bedbound with crashes, sleep disruption, headaches, dizziness, GI/IBS and electrolyte problems. A private…