Long COVID with panic attacks and BP drops, somewhat better after Paxil and therapy
- Condition
- Long COVID
- At worst
- Moderate (mostly housebound)
- Ill before improving or writing
- 2 years
- Last post
- Aug 2023
In their words
- Condition: Long COVID
my therapist highly believes I was experiencing long covid the whole time
In context ↗ - At worst: Moderate
I stopped driving, couldn't stay home by myself (27 years old), couldn't go into a grocery store and many other things
In context ↗ - Now: Somewhat better
Every once in a while, my BP will drop suddenly. I haven't quite figured out what triggers it but for the most part, I am better.
In context ↗ - Began after: COVID
Exactly one month after being diagnosed with the delta strain
Read from 19 of their posts and comments; links to the 12 this page draws on
Summary
They developed long COVID in October 2021, a month after a mild delta infection, with panic attacks, palpitations, tingling and sudden blood-pressure drops. They stopped driving and missed weeks of work. Paxil, therapy, vitamin D, an antihistamine and TAT sessions slowly helped, and a second infection in 2022 may have eased symptoms. By August 2023 they were mostly better, still on Cymbalta and an antihistamine with occasional BP drops.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- antibiotics · Not said
I was treated with antibiotics and the monoclonal antibody injections.
In context ↗ - weed · Worse
I was able to smoke during covid, it helped me sleep ... when LC hit a month later, I had major anxiety/panic attacks when I would take the smallest hit.
In context ↗ - D8 · Worse
I had been trying D8 before I quit everything cause I had less anxiety and paranoia with the D8 but I couldn't use it either after LC hit.
In context ↗ - Paxil · Helped a lot
Doc put me on Paxil (Paroxotine) which has helped me immensely
In context ↗ - therapy · Helped
I slowly was able to get my life back (for the most part) after getting on medication, therapy and seeing many specialists.
In context ↗ - Magnesium · Helped
I can control the palpitations with Magnesium.
In context ↗ - compression socks · Not said
I had to wear compression socks for 2-3 weeks.
In context ↗ - caffeine elimination · Helped
I stopped drinking anything with caffeine in it and felt better.
In context ↗ - Wellbutrin · Worse
they prescribed me wellbutrin to help loose weight and quit smoking but I did not do well on the wellbutrin at all!
In context ↗ - peppermint oil · Helped
I carry peppermint oil around with me every where I go to put under my nose
In context ↗ - deep breathing · Helped
practice deep breathing which seems to help some
In context ↗ - olives and salting food · Helped
I started eating a few olives before bedtime to help keep my BP elevated and it really seems to help.
In context ↗ - TAT therapy · Helped
I would recommend finding a therapist that specializes in TAT. This method helped me with things that I struggled with even before long covid.
In context ↗ - vitamin D · Helped
I take 20mg Cymbalta for the anxiety, vitamin D and an antihistamine every day.
In context ↗ - antihistamine · Helped
allergy meds or antihistamines may have helped some with inflammation related to LC anxiety
In context ↗ - vagus nerve stimulation · Not said
vagus nerve stimulation (can also be done with a chiropractor that uses a laser)
In context ↗ - 428hz healing frequency music · Not said
428hz healing frequency music
In context ↗ - Cymbalta · Helped
I take 20mg Cymbalta for the anxiety
In context ↗
Approaches: CBT & mindset · H1 antihistamines · SNRIs · SSRIs · Diet · Mind-body practices · 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 |
|---|---|---|
| September 2021 | Mild COVID (delta); recovered in 14 days and returned to workI had covid back in September 2021, mildish symptomsIn context ↗ | Mild |
| October 2021 | Long COVID began: panic attacks, ER visits, stopped drivingin October, exactly one month from being diagnosed with covid, I started having extremely weird symptoms againIn context ↗ | Moderate |
| February 2022 | Anxiety attacks returned and they missed workI missed 2 more weeks of work because of themIn context ↗ | Moderate |
| May 2022 | Slow improvement on Paxil and therapyI'm still not 100% but possibly getting better veeerry slowlyIn context ↗ | Mild |
| July 2022 | No spells since recovering from second COVIDI had my second round of covid a few weeks ago and feel like things may be getting betterIn context ↗ | Mild |
| January 2023 | Slowly got their life back with medication, therapy and specialistsI slowly was able to get my life back (for the most part) after getting on medication, therapy and seeing many specialistsIn context ↗ | Mild |
| August 2023 | Mostly better on daily medication, occasional sudden BP dropsfor the most part, I am betterIn context ↗ | Mild |
Adverse events
- Cannabis (THC, marijuana)“when LC hit a month later, I had major anxiety/panic attacks when I would take the smallest hit. ... I had less anxiety and paranoia with the D8 but I couldn't use it either after LC hit.” Mood or psychiatric effects
- Paroxetine (Paxil)“I'm on an anti anxiety medication (which has made me gain 30 lbs since November 😭) ... I gained 30+ lbs after just a few short months of being on it” Other
- Paroxetine (Paxil), Bupropion (Wellbutrin)“I did not do well on the wellbutrin at all! My anxiety attacks came back and I was so sick, so I swapped back to Paxil.” In context ↗ Mood or psychiatric effects
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Anxiety & low mood
I started having horrible anxiety attacks 1 month after contracting delta
In context ↗ - Heart symptoms & palpitations
I did develop heart palpitations and my blood pressure was dropping significantly at times
In context ↗ - POTS & dysautonomia
I would wake up in the middle of the night with my heart racing, clammy hands and feet, and dizzy/foggy feeling
In context ↗ - Neuropathy & tingling
tingling in my hands and feet and heart palpitations came back worse
In context ↗ - Temperature regulation
I get these crazy weird hot flashes that make me feel like I'm going to pass out
In context ↗ - Brain fog
dizzy/foggy feeling
In context ↗ - Breathlessness
have to use an inhaler because I felt like I couldn't get a good breath
In context ↗
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