Long COVID head pressure and irregular heartbeats, now near normal with antihistamines
- Condition
- Long COVID
- At worst
- Mild (working or studying, with limits)
- Ill before improving or writing
- 8 months
- Last post
- Mar 2024
In their words
- Condition: Long COVID
I got longhaul after my first infection in January but it started getting better.
In context ↗ - At worst: Mild
my LHC is relatively mild compared to some of the cases I'm reading about here. Mainly head pressure and occasional arrhythmias that don't last long
In context ↗ - Now: Near normal
I am generally doing better ... I've managed my sequela through diet and exercise ... I'm generally in a better place than I was in 2022.
In context ↗ - Began after: COVID
Pretty sure I got COVID in late December 2021, right before New Year's Eve. Been hauling ever since.
In context ↗
Read from 21 of their posts and comments; links to the 12 this page draws on
Summary
Moon 88743 got COVID in late December 2021 and had lingering head pressure, irregular heartbeats and histamine problems described as relatively mild. A suspected reinfection in April 2022 made symptoms worse. Antihistamines helped quickly — Benadryl first, then daily Zyrtec, credited with a major improvement. After two months Zyrtec was cut back over dehydration worries, and a later dose brought heavy brain fog and a setback; by 2024 diet and exercise kept it manageable.
Ask Miruvor AI
What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- Benadryl · Helped
Started out with Benadryl and noticed an immediate positive impact, though short-lived due to the way Benadryl works.
In context ↗ - anti-anxiety meds · Helped
I was given some anti-anxiety meds and that seemed to help a little.
In context ↗ - Zyrtec · Helped a lot
Began taking Zyrtec about 10 days ago and have noticed a major improvement.
In context ↗ - fasting mimicking diet (FMD) · Helped
I almost got to day 3, and I did notice an improvement in overall health.
In context ↗ - moderate exercise · Helped
I need exercise or begin to feel like crap.
In context ↗ - plant-based, low-histamine diet · Helped
It's manageable when I eat a plant-based diet and avoid the obvious no-nos like alcohol and refined sugars.
In context ↗
Approaches: H1 antihistamines · Diet · Exercise and activity
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 |
|---|---|---|
| late December 2021 | COVID infection; long haul beganPretty sure I got COVID in late December 2021, right before New Year's Eve. Been hauling ever since.In context ↗ | Mild |
| April 2022 | suspected reinfection made symptoms more intenseGot another (suspected) infection in April and the symptoms have been more intense since then.In context ↗ | Mild |
| September 2022 | antihistamines made symptoms manageableBegan taking Zyrtec about 10 days ago and have noticed a major improvement.In context ↗ | Mild |
| 2022-11-22 | cut back daily Zyrtec; bad brain fog after a doseAbout a week ago took a Zyrtec for the first time in about a week and it just wrecked me the next day.In context ↗ | Mild |
| 2023-07-22 | symptoms manageable on a plant-based dietIt's manageable when I eat a plant-based diet and avoid the obvious no-nos like alcohol and refined sugars.In context ↗ | Mild |
| 2024-03-28 | generally better; sequela managed with diet and exerciseI am generally doing better. Did not end up getting LC and I've managed my sequela through diet and exercise.In context ↗ | Near normal |
Adverse events
- Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)“Benadryl is a pretty strong sedative” In context ↗ Side effects
- Cetirizine (Zyrtec)“I initially got sleepy earlier than usual but that was only the first night or two.” In context ↗ Side effects
- Cetirizine (Zyrtec)“I stopped taking Zyrtec daily because I was feeling some dehydration and not producing as much urine.” In context ↗ Liver or kidney problems
- Cetirizine (Zyrtec)“took a Zyrtec for the first time in about a week and it just wrecked me the next day ... But I had massive brain fog.” In context ↗ Side effects
- Cetirizine (Zyrtec)“Zyrtec helped for about 1-2 months but then started noticing that I wasn't urinating as frequently and had some significant brain fog (side effects of regular usage).” In context ↗ Side effects
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Headaches & migraine
Mainly head pressure and occasional arrhythmias that don't last long.
In context ↗ - Heart symptoms & palpitations
Also noticed that I got colds, upset stomachs, and arrhythmia with more regularity.
In context ↗ - Brain fog
Ironically, I haven't had significant histamine problems lately but am still dealing with brain fog.
In context ↗ - Mast cell (MCAS) & allergies
this site is where I learned about histamines in my diet
In context ↗ - Anxiety & low mood
I suspect that what made last Monday's episode so bad was my anxiety
In context ↗ - Gut problems
I got colds, upset stomachs, and arrhythmia with more regularity.
In context ↗
Ask Miruvor AI
Similar stories
-
Housebound with long COVID, now much better with ketogenic diet and magnesium
Horizon 16724, a powerlifter in northern Europe, fell ill with long COVID around 2020 and was housebound for a couple of months in 2021/2022 with brain fog, insomnia and gut dysbiosis. A low-calorie bean diet with zone-2 cardio gave a brief full remission in…
-
Long COVID brain fog, migraine and fatigue, improved on diet and gut reset then relapsed
Infected in July 2020, they had brain fog, an 18-month migraine and fatigue, worst around 7-9 months; they worked coding from home. They credit a low-histamine then low-FODMAP diet, a gut-biome reset with Alinia plus Paxlovid, LDN, dopamine and GABA…
-
Long COVID, barely able to stand, now nearly normal with antihistamines and montelukast
Tulip 50738 had long COVID for five years, relapsing and remitting in six- to twelve-month stretches; at worst they could barely stand for two minutes or work at a desk for fifteen. In the fifth year an allergist suggested MCAS, and antihistamines, a steroid…
-
Not enough detail to draw a path
Long COVID with two hours of energy a day, improved on antihistamines then relapsed
Grove 12773 fell ill with long COVID in 2022 and for over two years needed two naps a day, with about two hours of energy, constant head pressure and brain fog. Antihistamines, famotidine, molybdenum, blood donation and better sleep helped them reach about…