Long COVID with fatigue, brain fog and POTS, somewhat better a year on
- Condition
- Long COVID
- At worst
- Mild (working or studying, with limits)
- Ill before improving or writing
- 1 year
- Last post
- Sep 2026
In their words
- Condition: Long COVID
I am still working through CFS/POTS/Long Covid
In context ↗ - At worst: Mild
My energy feels cut in half. Even moderate walking or long social days leave me achy and wiped out, and I still can’t work out without crashing.
In context ↗ - Now: Somewhat better
I am not where I want to be yet ... I can be up right more, talk more, and walk an average 3k steps.
In context ↗ - Began after: COVID
I came down with COVID and the flu at the start of September
- Says they never had: Headaches & migraine
No brain fog, no cough, no headaches
Read from 23 of their posts and comments; links to the 21 this page draws on
Summary
A 20-year-old student caught COVID and flu together in September 2025, leaving him with fatigue, early brain fog, weakness, POTS, heat intolerance and nerve pain. Recovery was slow and unsteady, with crashes after pushing activity; propranolol, compression stockings, electrolytes, B12 shots, L-theanine and Mestinon each eased particular symptoms. A year on he could stay upright more and walk about 3,000 steps a day, still short of where he wanted to be.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- paleo diet · Not said
already eat paleo because of brain injury
In context ↗ - antihistamine diet · Helped
The diet is what helps with histamines the most. I’ve learned some nuts and gluten destroy me
In context ↗ - run and treadmill walking · Worse
I tried to run a little once a month ago but it wasn’t helpful and I crashed
In context ↗ - Cymbalta (duloxetine) · Not said
I am 100% having bad cymbalta withdrawals but it lowkey just feels like PEM
In context ↗ - fluoxetine · No change
Fluoxetine didn’t work for me, but I’ve heard it works wonders for some
In context ↗ - propranolol · Helped
Today I tried 20 mg of proponalol ... as the day as progressed my symptoms are clearly better
In context ↗ - compression stockings · Helped
I am telling you now, just wear them. They help a fair bet along with electrolytes tablets
In context ↗ - electrolyte tablets / extra strength electrolytes · Helped
They help a fair bet along with electrolytes tablets and there is downside.
In context ↗ - b12 shots · Helped
I am now taking b12 shots, extra strength electrolytes and L’theanine. With those all added in my heart rate has gone from usually spiking 30-50 to maybe 10-25 now when getting up
In context ↗ - L’theanine · Helped
With those all added in my heart rate has gone from usually spiking 30-50 to maybe 10-25 now when getting up
In context ↗ - Mestinon · Helped
Mestinon has helped me stay upright longer and sit in chairs longer. Kinda took some malaise off.
In context ↗ - Tirzepatide (Tirz) · Helped
Tirz helped greatly with joint pains and muscle aches—actually now that I mention it, I haven’t had severe muscle aches and joint pains since I took it
In context ↗ - querticin (quercetin) · Not said
I can’t really tell, I take querticin, and some H1s.
In context ↗ - Allegra and Zyrtec · Helped
Allegra and Zyrtec r what I rotate through, but to be honest I feel like they don’t do much anymore.
In context ↗ - ketofin (ketotifen) · Not said
I order ketofin
In context ↗ - pacing · Helped
When pacing (I’ve gotten my HR under control), I don’t know when to stop walking bc I’m at line 95 BPM
In context ↗ - working on controlling anxiety · Helped
starting and working on controlling my anxiety absolutely makes my day to day and quality of life better
In context ↗
Approaches: POTS medication · Amino acids and carnitine · Beta-blockers · Diet · Supplements
Their path
What they say at each step doesn’t fit the worst point or outcome above on the severity scale, so the steps are listed as they describe them. Dates are when they posted.
| When | What happened | After |
|---|---|---|
| September 2025 | caught COVID and flu togetherI came down with COVID and the flu at the start of September ... The first few weeks were brutal ,total fatigue, brain fog, and weaknessIn context ↗ | |
| 2025-10-07 | able to attend class and walk moreMy symptoms have gradually gotten better--I have been able to go to class and walk a fair amount during the dayIn context ↗ | |
| 2025-11-08 | could be social a few times a week without crashingI can be social a few times a week now without crashing like I used toIn context ↗ | |
| 2025-11-09 | setback after overdoing itI’ve had improvement over time but just yesterday I had a setbackIn context ↗ | |
| 2025-12-04 | stuck at a plateau, energy halvedI’ve improved very slowly, but I’m stuck at a plateau. ... My energy feels cut in halfIn context ↗ | |
| 2026-01-02 | largely normal at home, tested a 30-minute treadmill walkI feel largely normal during daily life at home ... I walked on a treadmill for 30 minutes at 1.5 mphIn context ↗ | |
| 2026-02-27 | heart rate spikes on standing reducedmy heart rate has gone from usually spiking 30-50 to maybe 10-25 now when getting upIn context ↗ | Vitamin B12 |
| 2026-08-26 | upright more, walking about 3,000 steps a day, not where he wants to beI can be up right more, talk more, and walk an average 3k steps. ... I am not where I want to be yetIn context ↗ | Mestinon / pyridostigmine |
Adverse events
- Duloxetine (Cymbalta)“I am 100% having bad cymbalta withdrawals but it lowkey just feels like PEM ... No brain zaps but vertigo and flu like symptoms.” In context ↗ Withdrawal problems
- Salt, electrolytes and fluids“I also just eat sooo salty. It causes hypertension but that’s the price we pay.” In context ↗ Other
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Post-exertional malaise
For reference I have been dealing with POTS, heat intolerance, inability to sweat, PEM, and SFN
In context ↗ - Brain fog
The first few weeks were brutal ,total fatigue, brain fog, and weakness
In context ↗ - POTS & dysautonomia
I clearly have some sort of dysautnomia
In context ↗ - Temperature regulation
I feel hot, and icky afterwards
In context ↗ - Neuropathy & tingling
Every time I move and try to do very minimal walking to build up my baseline—my sfn flares up
In context ↗ - Muscle weakness
My muscle just don’t feel as weak
In context ↗ - Pain & fibromyalgia
Tirz helped greatly with joint pains and muscle aches—actually now that I mention it, I haven’t had severe muscle aches and joint pains since I took it
In context ↗ - Anxiety & low mood
I’m starting to really struggle mentally
In context ↗ - Heart symptoms & palpitations
my heart rate has gone from usually spiking 30-50 to maybe 10-25 now when getting up
In context ↗ - Mast cell (MCAS) & allergies
I don’t have hives but I get bad flushing
In context ↗
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