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Long COVID Moderate → near normalIll 2 years before improving or writing

Long COVID with GI issues, insomnia and brain fog, now much improved with rest and time

Mesa 64438 on RedditLast post May 2025

Condition
Long COVID
At worst
Moderate (mostly housebound)
Ill before improving or writing
2 years
Last post
May 2025
In their words
  • Condition: Long COVIDI got sick and tested positive early-mid December 2020. LH started almost immediately after, I had no respite. In context ↗
  • At worst: ModerateI couldn't climb stairs without a rocketing heart rate and dizziness at my worst. Talking and teaching for 6+ hours became impossible. In context ↗
  • Now: Near normalI'm pretty much recovered. ... None that I can attribute to LC except for slight GI issues.
  • Began after: COVIDI got sick and tested positive early-mid December 2020.
Read from 222 of their posts and comments; links to the 58 this page draws on

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Summary

A UK primary school teacher who caught COVID in December 2020 had long COVID with predominantly GI issues (reflux, nausea, eating problems), insomnia, brain fog and joint pain. They taught full time from January to July 2021, then resigned and rested at home for a few months, crediting time and rest most, with CBD oil helping sleep and esomeprazole for reflux. A second Pfizer dose in August 2021 caused joint and pelvic pain and a setback, though some symptoms slowly improved. By late 2021 they were much improved but not fully recovered and were considering returning to work.

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What they tried

What they credit

CBD oil· Helped a lotrest / quitting teaching job· Helped a lot · mainpacing· Helped a lottime· Helped a lotprobiotics (Biokult)· HelpedCetirizine (Zyrtec)· HelpedVitamin D· HelpedFamotidine (Pepcid)· Helpedwedge pillow· Helpedcoconut water· HelpedPfizer COVID vaccine· HelpedEsomeprazole (Nexium)· Helpediron supplements· Helped

Also tried

Lansoprazole· Helped · wore offCalm Sleep app· Helpedessential oils· HelpedGaviscon Advance· HelpedSterimar nasal spray· HelpedNOW Foods Gastro Comfort capsules· HelpedL-lysine· Helpedmagnesium glycinate· HelpedJune's Journey app· Helpedpsyllium· Helpedthrush cream· Helpedvitamin B and multivitamin· No changeantibiotics· WorseOmeprazole· Worserestrictive diets· Worselow histamine diet· Worseblue light filter· Not saidManuka honey· Not saidaloe vera juice· Not saidMirtazapine (Remeron)· Not saidHormonal birth control (unspecified)· Not said
Their words about each treatment
  • Lansoprazole · HelpedLansoprazole cured my heartburn for a few months but did nothing much for my acid reflux and made my throat worse towards the end. In context ↗
  • antibiotics · WorseI had taken a round of antibiotics a week or so after my acute covid infection for a sinus infection, and that is where I suspect my GI issues started. In context ↗
  • CBD oil · Helped a lotCBD restored my sleep after weeks of insomnia. In context ↗
  • Calm Sleep app · HelpedI use an app called Calm Sleep to help me doze off. In context ↗
  • essential oils · Helpeddiffuse essential oils throughout the evening, it helps to calm and relax my mind before I go to sleep. In context ↗
  • blue light filter · Not saidSwitched on the blue light filter to help with my insomnia, initially. In context ↗
  • Omeprazole · WorseI tried Omeprazole for a bit and it didn't agree with me, made me feel even more bloated and gave me abdominal pains. In context ↗
  • Gaviscon Advance · HelpedI still take Gaviscon Advance every night before bedtime. Anything else didn't seem to help much. In context ↗
  • restrictive diets · WorseI've tried most of the diets recommended on here and felt no difference, in fact I was at my worst on a restricted diet. In context ↗
  • low histamine diet · WorseI've tried sticking to a low histamine diet as best as I could but I felt even more awful In context ↗
  • probiotics (Biokult) · HelpedI used Biokult for about a year and it helped with bloating, digestion and bowel regularity. In context ↗
  • Cetirizine (Zyrtec) · HelpedCetirizine for MCAS type symptoms. In context ↗
  • Vitamin D · HelpedVit D, Iron, NOW Foods Gastro Comfort capsules for my GI symptoms. In context ↗
  • vitamin B and multivitamin · No changeVits D, B, multivitamin etc but getting little to minimal results. In context ↗
  • Sterimar nasal spray · HelpedIt went away (mostly) for me. Cetirizine and Sterimar helped a ton. In context ↗
  • Famotidine (Pepcid) · HelpedOnce I started taking Famotidine I felt its benefits over Lansoprazole straight away. In context ↗
  • wedge pillow · HelpedI stopped eating 4-5 hours before sleeping, bought a wedge pillow, started Famotidine and I think that's what made the most difference. In context ↗
  • NOW Foods Gastro Comfort capsules · HelpedThe supplement that seemed to help the most was NowFoods Gastro Comfort capsules. In context ↗
  • Manuka honey · Not saidI also took 3 tsp of Manuka honey throughout the day for a while and aloe vera juice. In context ↗
  • coconut water · Helpedthese helped the most ... Coconut water In context ↗
  • Pfizer COVID vaccine · HelpedI, personally, believe the vaccine helped my recovery. In context ↗
  • L-lysine · HelpedI tried the l lysine, it helped with the mouth ulcers In context ↗
  • Esomeprazole (Nexium) · HelpedEsomeprazole (PPI) is what worked the best for me after trying Omeprazole and Lansoprazole In context ↗
  • iron supplements · Helpedthe only thing I've felt has remotely helped is taking iron gummies In context ↗
  • magnesium glycinate · Helped500mg magnesium glycinate capsules In context ↗
  • June's Journey app · Helpeda mobile game called June's Journey once I was able to tolerate screens In context ↗
  • rest / quitting teaching job · Helped a lotI didn't start getting better until I quit my teaching job and stayed at home for almost a year to recover. In context ↗
  • pacing · Helped a lotPacing myself helped the most and giving my body what it was asking for, which was unconditional rest. In context ↗
  • time · Helped a lotTime and rest, as clichéd as it sounds, helped the most. In context ↗
  • psyllium · HelpedI'm more regular now that I take a probiotic and psyllium every day. In context ↗
  • thrush cream · HelpedThe only thing that helped in the end was thrush cream. In context ↗
  • Mirtazapine (Remeron) · Not saidIt left me almost unable to move the next day lol my muscles felt overly relaxed and all I wanted to do was sleep. In context ↗
  • Hormonal birth control (unspecified) · Not saidI do feel less like a bloated raging wreck since coming off though. In context ↗

Approaches: H1 antihistamines · H2 blockers · Proton pump inhibitors · Other drugs and medicines · Pacing · Radical rest · Supplements · Vaccination

Their path

Very severeSevereModerateMildNear normalRecoveredonset12 mo2 y3 y4 y

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
WhenWhat happenedWhere they wereAfter
December 2020COVID-19 infection; long haul began immediatelyLH started almost immediately after, I had no respite. In context ↗Mild
early 2021 (months 1-6)worst point while teaching full time through GI pain, no appetite and fatigueI was at my worst during Months 1-3. In context ↗Moderate
July 2021quit teaching and rested at home for a yearI'm a teacher and leaving work sped up my recovery. In context ↗MildRadical rest
2021-08-27crashed after second Pfizer dose with joint, back and pelvic painThe second Pfizer shot took me weeks to get over. In context ↗Mild
October 2021put herself at around 95% of normalI'm at around 95% too. In context ↗Near normalCOVID vaccination as treatment
May 2022tailbone injury stalled her recoverya tailbone injury has stunted my progress In context ↗Near normal
December 2022pretty much back to her pre-Covid selfI'm almost two years post acute infection and pretty much back to my pre-Covid self. In context ↗Near normal
January 2025pretty much recovered and back to full-time teaching, slight GI issues leftAs the title states, I'm pretty much recovered. In context ↗Near normal

Adverse events

Symptoms mentioned

Anxiety & low moodBrain fogFlu-like symptomsGut problemsHeadaches & migraineHeart symptoms & palpitationsLoss of smell or tasteMast cell (MCAS) & allergiesNeuropathy & tinglingPOTS & dysautonomiaPain & fibromyalgiaPost-exertional malaiseSleep problemsTinnitusVision problems
Their words about their symptoms
  • Post-exertional malaiseMy PEM was consistent for months, I'd say. In context ↗
  • Brain fogThankfully, my brain fog has improved massively. In context ↗
  • POTS & dysautonomiaI couldn't climb stairs without a rocketing heart rate and dizziness at my worst. In context ↗
  • Mast cell (MCAS) & allergiesCetirizine for MCAS type symptoms. In context ↗
  • Sleep problemsI had insomnia for weeks following my acute infection. In context ↗
  • Pain & fibromyalgiaI had severe lower back and pelvic pain after my second Pfizer shot. In context ↗
  • Headaches & migraineIt was an intense pressure behind my eyes, nose and forehead that no painkiller or NSAID could touch. In context ↗
  • Gut problemsNone that I can attribute to LC except for slight GI issues. In context ↗
  • Heart symptoms & palpitationsI could physically feel and hear my heartbeat all over my body In context ↗
  • Neuropathy & tinglingPins and needles. Nerve pain. In context ↗
  • Anxiety & low moodIt was depressing and the closest I'd felt to suicidal thoughts in my life. In context ↗
  • Flu-like symptomsI feel achey and flu-ey. In context ↗
  • Loss of smell or tasteTaste and smell returned pretty rapidly, within two weeks or so. In context ↗
  • TinnitusFirstly, I have tinnitus. In context ↗
  • Vision problemsVSS and eye pain. In context ↗

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