Long COVID
Severe → much betterIll 4 years before improving or writing
Long COVID severe for eight months, now much better after low-histamine diet and creatine
- Condition
- Long COVID
- At worst
- Severe (mostly bedbound)
- Ill before improving or writing
- 4 years
- Last post
- Sep 2026
In their words
- Condition: Long COVID
I'm a little biased because diet has been the game changer for me after 10 months of LC
In context ↗ - At worst: Severe
I was severe for maybe 8 months total after I got covid
In context ↗ - Now: Much better
this past year that I was on LDN I would consider to be mild, that helped me quite a bit and I've been able to work about 15-20 hours a week standing up
In context ↗ - Began after: COVID
I was severe for maybe 8 months total after I got covid
In context ↗
Read from 66 of their posts and comments; links to the 30 this page draws on
Summary
Nightjar 28412 got long COVID in mid-2022, severe for about eight months then moderate for two years. Chlorphenamine cleared their anhedonia within minutes, and a low-histamine diet and NAC helped too; creatine was credited with gains to roughly 80-90% and a return to part-time work. Nearly four years in they still could not exercise much; in 2026, treating nervous-system dysregulation with TRE and lifestyle changes, they reported rapid improvement.
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What they tried
What they credit
Chlorphenamine· Helped a lot · main · wore offlow histamine diet· Helped a lot · maincreatine· Helped a lot · maintreating nervous system disregulation· Helped a lotWim Hof breathing exercise· Helpedmulti vitamin· HelpedB12 complex· Helpedvitamin D· Helpedvitamin C· Helpedmore salt/water· Helpedspirulina· Helped30 second rule for exercise· Helpedoatmeal every morning· HelpedLDN (low dose Naltrexone)· HelpedTRE (trauma release exercise)· Helpedyin yoga, walking, sitting in nature· Helped
Also tried
cold water therapy / cold showers· Helpedk3· Helpedmagnesium· Helpednasal strips· HelpedNAC (N-acetyl L-cysteine)· Helpedashwagandha root tincture· HelpedCBD· Helpedmelatonin· Helpedantibiotics· Helpedhydroxyzine· HelpedBenadryl· Worse16 hour fast· Worsetrazodone· Worsemore exercise· Much worsecannabis (weed)· Not saidgetting sunlight· Not saidsleep hygiene and bedtime routine· Not said
Their words about each treatment
- more exercise · Much worse
Last week I started to try more exercise because I'd been feeling better, completely overdid it
In context ↗ - Chlorphenamine · Helped a lot
This medication helped me more than anything else I've tried. Within 15 minutes my anhedonia was gone and I was laughing and crying.
In context ↗ - Benadryl · Worse
benadryl which made me feel worse
In context ↗ - Wim Hof breathing exercise · Helped
Wim Hoff method has been working for me with and without the cold therapy
In context ↗ - cold water therapy / cold showers · Helped
They've helped with anxiety, I wouldn't suggest it if you are feeling sensitive as it's caused spirals for me.
In context ↗ - multi vitamin · Helped
I did multi vitamin, k3, B12 complex, d and c and i had some major improvements after a few days.
In context ↗ - magnesium · Helped
I began magnesium a couple months later and that resolved the rest of the covid induced anxiety
In context ↗ - nasal strips · Helped
those nasal strips that open your nose up, I don't use them anymore but they were really a game changer for me when i was having more trouble
In context ↗ - low histamine diet · Helped a lot
Many of my symptoms have improved dramatically since I changed my diet to low histamine.
In context ↗ - NAC (N-acetyl L-cysteine) · Helped
I was taking N-acetyl L-cysteine for a month, started feeling better, then I went off it for a week and was feeling horrible.
In context ↗ - more salt/water · Helped
The things that I think helped were NAC, low histamine diet, more salt/water, spirulina
In context ↗ - 30 second rule for exercise · Helped
the 30 second rule for exercise(walk 30 seconds, stand 30-60 seconds, repeat)
In context ↗ - ashwagandha root tincture · Helped
I also have started something called ashwaganda root as a tincture and that has helped my chest pressure/pain tremendously
In context ↗ - cannabis (weed) · Not said
Cannabis helps me mitigate boredom and helps my appetite, but it increases your heart rate.
In context ↗ - CBD · Helped
CBD or ashwaganda help me to chill out when I'm too stressed
In context ↗ - creatine · Helped a lot
I was at 60% for a while, until November when I started creatine. Now I am doing much better probably up to 80-90%!
In context ↗ - 16 hour fast · Worse
Yeah I tried a 16 hour fast and I was totally out of it for a couple more days
In context ↗ - melatonin · Helped
Have you tried magnesium or melatonin? Those also helped my mental symptoms immensely.
In context ↗ - antibiotics · Helped
it cleared up after taking the antibiotics and didn't come back
In context ↗ - oatmeal every morning · Helped
Honestly oatmeal every morning is changing my life
In context ↗ - trazodone · Worse
Trazadone made my heart palpitations worse
In context ↗ - hydroxyzine · Helped
hydroxyzine is working alright for now
In context ↗ - LDN (low dose Naltrexone) · Helped
this past year that I was on LDN I would consider to be mild, that helped me quite a bit
In context ↗ - treating nervous system disregulation · Helped a lot
I started treating myself for nervous system disregulation about a month ago and my health is rapidly improving.
In context ↗ - TRE (trauma release exercise) · Helped
something called TRE(trauma release exercise) which I highly recommend to all living people, but be careful it is quite taxing
In context ↗ - yin yoga, walking, sitting in nature · Helped
the things that seem to help the most are yin yoga, walking, sitting in nature
In context ↗ - getting sunlight · Not said
I'm trying to start my days by getting sunlight and talking to and being around people.
In context ↗ - sleep hygiene and bedtime routine · Not said
Doing everything I can to have good sleep hygiene and a consistent routine around bedtime.
In context ↗
Approaches: H1 antihistamines · POTS medication · Brain retraining · Diet · Mind-body practices · Pacing · Supplements · Trauma & somatic work
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | COVID-19 followed by long COVIDI was severe for maybe 8 months total after I got covidIn context ↗ | Severe | |
| 2023-01-24 | crashed after trying more exerciseLast week I started to try more exercise because I'd been feeling better, completely overdid it and now it feels like I'm back to the 2-3 month mark.In context ↗ | Severe | |
| 2023-01-26 | symptoms receded on an antihistamineMakes me really sleepy but my symptoms practically disappeared.In context ↗ | Moderate | |
| 2023-05-16 | stronger, able to do heavy yard workI hulked out on a pile of logs yesterday, I was feeling it in the afternoon.. but I feel fine this morning.In context ↗ | Moderate | NAC (N-acetylcysteine) |
| 2024-01-16 | up from 60% to 80-90% after starting creatineI was at 60% for a while, until November when I started creatine. Now I am doing much better probably up to 80-90%!In context ↗ | Mild | Creatine |
| 2024-05-25 | returned to work 15 hours a weekIm just getting back to work after 22 months as well, this is fuckin brutal and I only work 15 hours a week.In context ↗ | Mild | |
| 2025-09-05 | still limited, cannot exercise or do much for longThere were many corners, but I still can't exercise or do anything for too long(onto year 4 now).In context ↗ | Moderate | |
| 2026-09-25 | began treating nervous-system dysregulation; health improving rapidlyI started treating myself for nervous system disregulation about a month ago and my health is rapidly improving.In context ↗ | Mild |
Adverse events
- Chlorphenamine (Piriton, Chlor-Trimeton)“Makes me really sleepy ... I've noticed they make me feel kind of shitty when my symptoms aren't that bad.” Side effects
- Meditation, yoga, breathwork“I just tried it for the first time and I got really light headed by my 10th exhale and I had to stop.” In context ↗ Low blood pressure or fainting
- Cryotherapy and cold exposure“I wouldn't suggest it if you are feeling sensitive as it's caused spirals for me” In context ↗ Mood or psychiatric effects
- Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)“benadryl which made me feel worse” In context ↗ Made symptoms worse
- Cannabis (THC, marijuana)“it increases your heart rate ... sometimes it clearly makes them worse” In context ↗ Made symptoms worse
- Creatine“But I feel like it's taxing my heart a wee bit too much.” In context ↗ Side effects
- Intermittent fasting“Yeah I tried a 16 hour fast and I was totally out of it for a couple more days” In context ↗ Made symptoms worse
- Trazodone (Desyrel)“Trazadone made my heart palpitations worse” In context ↗ Heart rhythm problems
Symptoms mentioned
Anxiety & low moodBrain fogBreathlessnessGut problemsHeart symptoms & palpitationsMuscle weaknessPOTS & dysautonomiaPain & fibromyalgiaSleep problems
Their words about their symptoms
- Brain fog
it was like a cloud was lifted and I could finally think clearly for the first time in 6 months
In context ↗ - POTS & dysautonomia
my dysautonomia and anhedonia disappeared in 15 minutes
In context ↗ - Anxiety & low mood
Before that i was depressed and anxious 24/7
In context ↗ - Breathlessness
I had shortness of breath from day one until about a month ago
In context ↗ - Heart symptoms & palpitations
Trazadone made my heart palpitations worse
In context ↗ - Sleep problems
it doesn't feel like I'm getting good sleep no matter what I do
In context ↗ - Muscle weakness
the most debilitating muscle weakness has been in my abdomen
In context ↗ - Pain & fibromyalgia
I have been noticing knee pain and leg soreness
In context ↗ - Gut problems
It comes and goes but it's definitely better when I'm eating right
In context ↗
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