Long COVID with memory, reading and speech problems, much better on guanfacine
- Condition
- Long COVID
- At worst
- Mild (working or studying, with limits)
- Ill before improving or writing
- 10 months
- Last post
- Apr 2023
In their words
- Condition: Long COVID
something that's been working well for me with neurological/fatigue longhaul covid
In context ↗ - At worst: Mild
My first and worst symptom was being unable to read ... insomnia, breathing trouble, fatigue
In context ↗ - Now: Much better
By week 5, I felt amazing ... I still start to stutter when I'm tired, and lose words sometimes
In context ↗ - Began after: COVID
In April of 2022, I came down with Delta (I was sequenced).
Summary
Otter 41060 developed long COVID after a Delta infection in April 2022 and a reinfection weeks later, with inability to read, memory problems, insomnia, head pressure, breathlessness and fatigue. In January 2023 they started 1 mg guanfacine after their PCP agreed, along with OTC NAC; guanfacine cost $2 a month with insurance. By week five their head pressure was gone, their speech caught back up, and they could remember things again. NAC did not help their breathing, which was still shallow, and they still stutter when tired.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- guanfacine · Helped a lot
By week 5, I felt amazing. My weird head pressure was gone.
In context ↗ - NAC · No change
The NAC doesn't really seem to be helping the breathing issues, but I don't care.
In context ↗
Approaches: Other drugs and medicines
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 |
|---|---|---|
| April 2022 | COVID Delta infection; unable to read, brain fogIn April of 2022, I came down with Delta (I was sequenced). My first and worst symptom was being unable to read.In context ↗ | |
| two weeks after I recovered (2022) | COVID reinfection with fever, aches, sore throattwo weeks after I recovered, a friend thought they had allergies while I gave them a ride, and boom I've got covid again.In context ↗ | |
| 2022 | long COVID: could not read for 12 weeks, memory loss, insomnia, breathing trouble, fatigue, head pressureIt took about 12 weeks until I could read again.In context ↗ | |
| around week 3 of guanfacine (late January 2023) | stutter waning, energy coming back, no longer sleeping through alarmsAround week 3, I noticed my covid stutter was waning. My energy levels were coming back up.In context ↗ | Guanfacine |
| by week 5 of guanfacine (February 2023) | felt amazing; head pressure gone, speech and memory backBy week 5, I felt amazing. My weird head pressure was gone.In context ↗ | Guanfacine |
| 2023-04-05 | still taking NAC; concentration and memory about 75% improved, breathing still shallow, stutters when tiredI'm still taking NAC because it's OTC and isn't hurting me, but my breathing is still more shallow than pre covid.In context ↗ |
Adverse events
- Guanfacine“Adjusting was very difficult. This drug made me sleeeeepy.” In context ↗ Side effects
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Brain fog
I still start to stutter when I'm tired, and lose words sometimes
In context ↗ - Headaches & migraine
My weird head pressure was gone.
In context ↗ - Breathlessness
my breathing is still more shallow than pre covid
In context ↗ - Anxiety & low mood
Lots of frustration, depression, anxiety.
In context ↗ - Flu-like symptoms
Fever, aches, sore throat.
In context ↗
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