Mostly bedbound with long COVID, now much better with acupuncture and herbs
- Condition
- Long COVID
- At worst
- Severe (mostly bedbound)
- Ill before improving or writing
- 2 years
- Last post
- Jul 2026
In their words
- Condition: Long COVID
I’m a bit over one year into living with LC.
In context ↗ - At worst: Severe
At my worst, I couldn’t even hold a three-minute conversation with my partner and walking to the bathroom felt like a marathon.
In context ↗ - Now: Much better
my baseline has gradually increased from mostly bedbound with orthostatic intolerance to being able to walk and stand with relative ease (I still get tired, don’t get me wrong, but no crash!)
In context ↗ - Began after: COVID
I had my first COVID infection in April 2023, which was mild to moderate.
Read from 26 of their posts and comments; links to the 12 this page draws on
Summary
Birch 99066 developed long COVID in June 2023 after a mild-to-moderate COVID infection, and was mostly bedbound with severe PEM, brain fog, insomnia and orthostatic intolerance. Acupuncture, TCM herbs, an anti-inflammatory diet, COVID vaccines and physical therapy with salt and compression gradually raised their baseline. By spring 2025 they could walk 20 minutes in a park and work again with accommodation, though still tiring easily.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- paxlovid · Worse
I took paxlovid and experienced paxlovid rebound, so my acute infection lasted nearly three weeks.
In context ↗ - COVID vaccine · Helped a lot
I got one in October, and I felt so much energy for the first time in months!
In context ↗ - TCM herbal blend · Helped a lot
I’ve been seeing a TCM doctor who prescribes me a herbal blend. It’s definitely helped me get to and stay in remission.
In context ↗ - Acupuncture · Helped
Acupuncture worked miracles for my insomnia!
In context ↗ - Practicing stillness · Helped
Practicing stillness has been crucial for my healing, as well
In context ↗ - l-glutamine · Worse
supplements that are otherwise helpful but keep me up at night (e.g. l-glutamine)
In context ↗ - 5htp · Helped
I tired 5htp and magnesium glycenate about an hour before bed, which helped with falling asleep
In context ↗ - anti-inflammatory diet · Helped a lot
I’ve also switched to an anti-inflammatory diet. Not the most fun, but I can tell a HUGE difference in my symptoms.
In context ↗ - PT at a Long Covid Clinic · Helped a lot
I’ve also made the biggest steps in healing through PT.
In context ↗ - Salt and compression · Helped
Salt, compression, and easy exercises to get circulation pumping helped get me over the threshold
In context ↗ - gua sha · Helped
gua sha has been really helpful. I just started a couple months ago and have already seen a difference.
In context ↗ - Recuren Plus Seborrheic Dermatitis Shampoo · Helped
The shampoo brand is Recuren Plus
In context ↗ - Dermoscribe’s Seborrheic dermatitis cream · Helped
That product is Dermoscribe’s Seborrheic dermatitis cream. I’ve seen a huge difference
In context ↗
Approaches: POTS medication · Alternative therapies · Diet · Physiotherapy and rehab · Radical rest · Vaccination
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 2023 | long COVID onset two months after a mild-to-moderate COVID infectionStarting in June 2023, I’ve had severe PEM, brain fog, insomnia, dizziness, and body aches to the point of barely functioning.In context ↗ | Moderate | |
| October 2023 | Moderna vaccine gave months of energy and lifted brain fogI got one in October, and I felt so much energy for the first time in months! My brain fog lifted and I could even be on my feet long enough to do a few chores.In context ↗ | Moderate | COVID vaccination as treatment |
| March 2024 | vaccine benefit faded, back in bed or on the couchAfter five months, that energy started to dwindle, and I was back at being in bed or on the couch.In context ↗ | Severe | |
| May 2024 | mostly homebound, barely able to leave bed or couchI’m mostly homebound and on most days I can barely leave the bed or couch.In context ↗ | Severe | |
| May 2024 | Pfizer vaccine restored energy after a day of feeling illI decided to get another vaccine last week, and after the 24-hour ick, I’m back to feeling energized again.In context ↗ | Moderate | COVID vaccination as treatment |
| December 2024 | physical therapy, salt, compression and easy exercise built activity back upI’ve also made the biggest steps in healing through PT. I didn’t think I’d be able to walk or exercise ever again!In context ↗ | Moderate | Physical therapy / physiotherapy |
| February 2025 | no longer bedbound, mostly over orthostatic intoleranceAfter a year and a half of LC, my baseline functioning has gotten much better, as I’m no longer bedbound and have mostly overcome orthostatic intolerance.In context ↗ | Moderate | |
| April 2025 | baseline rose gradually: can walk in a park and work again with accommodationI’ve even been able to walk around a local park for 20 whole minutes! My brain fog is minimal, so I’ve also been able to start working again with some accommodation.In context ↗ | Mild |
Adverse events
- Paxlovid / nirmatrelvir“I took paxlovid and experienced paxlovid rebound, so my acute infection lasted nearly three weeks” In context ↗ Made symptoms worse
- Glutamine“not to take supplements that are otherwise helpful but keep me up at night (e.g. l-glutamine)” In context ↗ Insomnia from treatment
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Post-exertional malaise
My most consistent symptom has been PEM following any mental, physical, or emotional activity.
In context ↗ - Brain fog
My brain fog is minimal
In context ↗ - POTS & dysautonomia
In the beginning I also had POTS symptoms (dizziness, rapid heartbeat, etc.), which cleared up after about six months, thank god.
In context ↗ - Sleep problems
severe PEM, brain fog, insomnia, dizziness
In context ↗ - Muscle weakness
physical weakness
In context ↗
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