Long COVID
Mild → near normalIll 20 months before improving or writing
Long COVID with tachycardia and joint pain, now nearly back to normal
- Condition
- Long COVID
- At worst
- Mild (working or studying, with limits)
- Ill before improving or writing
- 20 months
- Last post
- Jan 2023
In their words
- Condition: Long COVID
Since my Covid infection in May 2020, I have been experiencing joint pain/swelling.
In context ↗ - At worst: Mild
I have to work but I have to sleep.
In context ↗ - Now: Near normal
Now 2.5 yrs later, most everything is back to normal except my joints.
In context ↗ - Began after: COVID
Since my Covid infection in May 2020
Read from 9 of their posts and comments; links to the 9 this page draws on
Summary
A nurse who caught COVID in May 2020 at age 49 was ill for three weeks, then kept tachycardia, joint swelling and pain, poor sleep and word-finding trouble. They improved gradually, and by January 2023, about 2.5 years in, most of it was back to normal except their joints. They took Wellbutrin for post-COVID anxiety and depression and NSAIDs daily for joint pain; a December 2020 vaccine changed nothing.
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What they tried
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- Wellbutrin · Helped
Wellbutrin helped with my anxiety/depression from this journey
In context ↗ - NSAIDs · Helped
I am taking NSAIDS every day & they help some
In context ↗ - glucosamine/chondroitin · No change
I also started glucosamine/chondroitin a couple of months ago but have not experienced any relief
In context ↗ - Benadryl · Worse
I tried Benadryl but I feel so loopy in the morning after
In context ↗ - gabapentin · Worse
My doctor gave me gabapentin. Oh man. Nope.
In context ↗ - Flexeril · Worse
Flexeril. Knocked me out for 10 hrs.
In context ↗ - statin · Helped a lot
The only thing that got my levels in order was a statin
In context ↗ - edibles · Worse
I tried to use edibles for insomnia & it gave me panic attacks.
In context ↗ - vegetarian diet · No change
I went vegetarian at one point & it made no difference to my Cholesterol
In context ↗ - COVID vaccine · No change
Vaccine in Dec 2020 resulted in no change to symptoms
In context ↗
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 |
|---|---|---|
| May 2020 | COVID-19 infection, ill for three weeksI was hit pretty hard & was ill for 3 wks.In context ↗ | Mild |
| January 2022 | mostly back to normal, hands and word-finding still affected20 months after my infection & Im mostly back to normal.In context ↗ | Near normal |
| 2022-01-15 | joint pain and swelling progressively worseningIt is progressively worsening, especially in my hands/shoulders/ankles.In context ↗ | Mild |
| 2022-03-04 | slight improvement, brain fog and joint issues remainI can’t tell if I’ve just gotten used to it or if things have improved a little. Still struggle with the brain fog & joint issues but I’m rolling with it.In context ↗ | Mild |
| 2023-01-07 | most everything back to normal except jointsNow 2.5 yrs later, most everything is back to normal except my joints.In context ↗ | Near normal |
Adverse events
- COVID vaccination as treatment“It really activated our immune systems each time & we both felt flu-ish for 12-36 hrs after injection.” In context ↗ Side effects
- Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)“I tried Benadryl but I feel so loopy in the morning after, which I don’t like.” In context ↗ Side effects
- Gabapentin (Neurontin)“My doctor gave me gabapentin. Oh man. Nope.” In context ↗ Side effects
- Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril)“Flexeril. Knocked me out for 10 hrs.” In context ↗ Side effects
- Cannabis (THC, marijuana)“I tried to use edibles for insomnia & it gave me panic attacks. I gave up.” In context ↗ Mood or psychiatric effects
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Pain & fibromyalgia
The joints in my hands, wrists, knees, ankles & feet still swell/hurt off & on.
In context ↗ - Brain fog
I still struggle with spelling & finding the words I want to use when conversing.
In context ↗ - Sleep problems
I can’t get comfortable ... stay there longer than 5-6 hrs
In context ↗ - Heart symptoms & palpitations
The tachycardia never went away after
In context ↗ - Anxiety & low mood
I also had never had a panic attack in my life until after Covid & now I’m on Wellbutrin for anxiety/depression.
In context ↗