Brain fog and cognitive problems after COVID, somewhat better with CPAP and diet
- Condition
- Long COVID
- At worst
- Not stated
- Ill before improving or writing
- 5 years
- Last post
- Jan 2026
In their words
- Condition: Long COVID
my brain fog and cognitive problems got noticeably worse after I got Covid in 2020, so I consider myself a longhauler
In context ↗ - Now: Somewhat better
mine has slowly gotten better too, although I’m not sure what to attribute my improvement to
In context ↗ - Began after: COVID
I’ve been brain foggy and disassociated since my first Covid infection at the end of 2020.
In context ↗ - Says they never had: Post-exertional malaise
I don’t think I ever had real pem.
Read from 34 of their posts and comments; links to the 20 this page draws on
Summary
Developed brain fog and cognitive problems after a COVID infection at the end of 2020; had COVID several times but noticed worsening only after the first. Dozens of supplements did nothing; CPAP for sleep apnoea, once settings were fine-tuned, gave a modest gain. A keto then carnivore diet gave the clearest improvement, but by early 2026 they were still slowly improving and had fat malabsorption and digestive trouble.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- gluten free diet · No change
Also have tried many variations of diet with no effect. I’ve been gluten free since like 2018
In context ↗ - claritin · Worse
Tried cleratin a few years ago and actually felt worse.
In context ↗ - multivitamin · No change
I was on a good multi for a while and also tried a b complex. Didn’t seem to do anything.
In context ↗ - various supplement stacks (inflammation, mitochondrial energy, immune modulators, nootropics) · No change
Yeah I was on a pretty good stack and never could tell a difference.
In context ↗ - probiotic · No change
Stopped taking everything except a probiotic recently and can tell no difference
In context ↗ - cpap · Helped
Ive got both as well, and cpap definitely helped my brain fog, cognitive issues and fatigue.
In context ↗ - keto diet · Helped
Keto diet helped a little, now I’m trying carnivore and it seems to be helping.
In context ↗ - methylene blue · Helped
The only supplement that ever had any effect for me is methylene blue. I can actually feel a difference in my mental and physical energy levels.
In context ↗ - binders like charcoal · No change
I also had mold in my house and didn’t really see any results from taking binders like charcoal etc.
In context ↗ - liver support stuff · No change
I was on some liver support stuff and a combination of binders for like 8 months and didn’t make a dent in it.
In context ↗ - turbinate reduction surgery · Helped
I got a turbinate reduction surgery. It helped enough that I was able to lower my cpap pressure settings a bit.
In context ↗ - carnivore diet · Helped
I switched from meat heavy keto to strict carnivore 5 months ago and saw some real improvements
In context ↗ - digestive enzymes · Not said
Having some digestive issues so I’m taking digestive enzymes too to help with all the fat
In context ↗ - uridine monophosphate · No change
I stacked it with citicoline, B complex, high DHA omega 3, and ginkgo biloba for over 2 months and I couldn’t tell any difference.
In context ↗ - 48 hour fast · No change
I did a 48 and didn’t notice much but I want to push further to see if there are any additional benefits.
In context ↗ - electrolytes · Not said
I recently stopped every supplement I was taking except some digestive enzymes and electrolytes
In context ↗ - 3 weeks off weight lifting · Helped
I started feeling more energy and mental clarity during my 3 weeks off
In context ↗ - lumbrokinase · No change
Went through a bottle of lumbrokinase and couldn’t tell a difference
In context ↗ - nattokinase · Not said
now I’m trying lions mane and nattokinase
In context ↗ - intermittent fasting · Worse
Intermittent fasting makes me dizzy and weak despite not being in a calorie deficit and having good blood sugar and ketone levels.
In context ↗ - brain retraining · No change
I briefly tried some brain retraining and didn’t get any benefits but I probably should have tried it longer.
In context ↗ - reducing screen time · Not said
I will admit my screen time has been high for years, and am drastically reducing it.
In context ↗
Approaches: Diet
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 | After |
|---|---|---|---|
| end of 2020 | asymptomatic COVID infection; cognitive symptoms worsened within weeksI’ve been brain foggy and disassociated since my first Covid infection at the end of 2020.In context ↗ | Mild | |
| September 2024 | sleep apnoea diagnosed, started CPAP and fine-tuned settingscpap definitely helped my brain fog, cognitive issues and fatigueIn context ↗ | Mild | CPAP and sleep apnoea treatment |
| 2025 | keto then strict carnivore diet; more windows of feeling like their old selfI switched to carnivore 5 months ago and felt even betterIn context ↗ | Mild | |
| 2025-11-18 | returned to weight lifting after three weeks off; fatigue, fog and heavy legs returnedupon returning to working out I’m very tired again, foggy, legs feel heavy etc.In context ↗ | Mild | |
| 2026-01-14 | fat malabsorption and digestive issues on strict carnivorenow I’m struggling with fat malabsorption and digestive issuesIn context ↗ | Mild | |
| 2026-01-26 | slowly improving; unsure whether to credit time, diet or sleep apnoea treatmentI’m 31 and mine has slowly gotten better too, although I’m not sure what to attribute my improvement to.In context ↗ | Mild |
Adverse events
- Carnivore diet“now I’m struggling with fat malabsorption and digestive issues” In context ↗ Gut side effects
- Carnivore diet“started losing too much weight and I’m experiencing symptoms of fat malabsorption now” In context ↗ Refeeding or deficiency problems
- Intermittent fasting“Intermittent fasting makes me dizzy and weak despite not being in a calorie deficit” In context ↗ Made symptoms worse
- Loratadine (Claritin)“Tried cleratin a few years ago and actually felt worse.” In context ↗ Made symptoms worse
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Sleep problems
a bad night of sleep instantly magnifies all my symptoms
In context ↗ - Gut problems
now I’m struggling with fat malabsorption and digestive issues
In context ↗ - Muscle weakness
very tired again, foggy, legs feel heavy etc.
In context ↗
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