Newb Question

Posted by cometboy @cometboy, Apr 27 1:25pm

I feel kind of bad posting here but here goes. My symptoms compared to "real" long Covid are minor but they are still impacting my life significantly.

I have been dealing with a very puzzling set of symptoms that I feel can be traced to a case of Covid about two years ago. It wasn't particularly bad as covid can go but after the illness I have not been able to exercise as much as I used to. About a year after that I got what I call an Atomic level cold (not covid, I tested) and my ability to exercise went down again.

The most striking example of this is two trips I made to the High Sierras. One, before covid, went fine, I hiked with the energy I am used to. A year later, and six months after covid I did the same trip and the same hikes and was out of breath, resting every 100 yards and had this weird tingling in my arms and legs.

I have self diagnosed myself with possible post viral syndrome. But I don't know. Two doctors have done blood tests looking for immune system issues or Epstein-Barr. All the tests come back negative. I am not very happy with either doctor, they are doing the minimum effort and are mostly interested in getting to the next patient.

My question is what kind of doctor might be able to either confirm or rule out a viral cause. I live in Ventura County, Southern California and it would be nice to find a doctor in the area that has experience with covid/viral issues.

Cheers.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Post-COVID Recovery & COVID-19 Support Group.

mpcharles2013 | @mpcharles2013 | Apr 28 5:58am

I have the same issues. Thanks to Mayo, I have learned to deal with my diagnosis. I have fibromyalgia, which I was told is a lot of issues with no cure. You learn to deal with each issue. I have found a mixture of medicines, after several years of different mixtures, that work for me. I love to exercise but have learned what triggers my episodes of severe fatigue, tingling, numbness. Every person is different. Your family physician, a rheumatologist, neurologist can work together to help you. It's worth it to travel for help. You just have to wrap your head around the fact that your life will be changed and you must adapt to it.

zorro12345 | @zorro12345 | Apr 28 6:08am

Trying to deduce illnesses we have that would have normally occured if we never had Covid is what I try to think of rather than hanging my hat on Long Covid for the answer every time. Is it possible that your circlitory system is effecting your problem not enough oxygen in your blood flow for your muscles to respond properly. You might want to consider getting a Brackel Test on your legs for P.A.D.
Just a thought! Not a Physician just an old man that's been through Severe case of Covid an natural illnesses and getting stronger everyday by looking at both sides of the coin. Best of luck on you overcoming your obstacles!

klf58 | @klf58 | Apr 28 7:32am

I have been short of breath for six years post covid. I recently traveled to a high altitude area and in fact have to relocate there for a new job and I am concerned as I was very ill going through high altitude passes and in fact my husband had to drive as I got so lightheaded and then pounding headache. My sats are usually fine, but may take pulse ox on my move to monitor any de-sats at high altitude. Best of luck to you.

beachbum | @arichards3 | Apr 28 8:32am

Check for the possibility of Mold Illness. Watch a Doctor Andrew Campbell YouTube. It took me over 3 years of normal test results by dozens of medical professionals to finally discover I have Mold Illness, Many many symptoms cross over to LC. Best wishes on your journey back to health.

shmerdloff | @shmerdloff | Apr 28 10:49am

In reply to @zorro12345 "Trying to deduce illnesses we have that would have normally occured if we never had Covid..." + (show)

@zorro12345
Yes. Same here. Covid triggered underlying heart issues and Afib. Took a while to figure it out. (Could not do my usual strenuous activities. No breath. Fatigued. etc.)
If you check, you may find that Covid increases your chance of heart problems X 3.

cometboy | @cometboy | Apr 28 11:28am

Thanks for all the comments. I'll look into the specialist named above.

It's impossible to be sure without checking but I'm putting mold issues far down on the list. The correlation between covid and the drop in fitness is just too compelling.

Ditto on the heart issues. For an unrelated reason I had a cardiologist put a heart monitor on me for a week and give me a stress test. No issues found. I do have high cholesterol so a heart attack is not out of the question but there is zero family history of heart attacks so maybe I can dodge that bullet.

Cheers.

pattig09 | @pattig09 | Apr 28 2:23pm

In reply to @cometboy "Thanks for all the comments. I'll look into the specialist named above. It's impossible to be..." + (show)

@cometboy Have your doctors discussed "Dysautonomia"? It's refers to a group of disorders affecting the autonomic nervous system which controls automatic body functions like heart rate and blood pressure. Germany has taken the lead on 2 blood tests when individual Long Covid patients reported symptoms, those results were placed on a graph. Numbers in the attached graph indicate individual participants assigned to a given syndrome and/or syndrome intersections. Take a look at the symptoms overlap for ME/CSF, POTS, MCAS, and SFN (#65) as those individuals had ALL the symptoms for 4 diseases; ME/CSF, POTS, MCAS and SFN. If you have ALL symptoms for the 4 diseases and were diagnosed with just one of the symptom groups you reported without focusing on the other symptoms you have, treatments may need adjusting. Germany testing: altered receptor antibodies, most notably angiotensin II type 1; and, alpha-2B adrenergic receptor antibodies to determine those who are suffering from PACVS. Graphing showed them what to treat.

zorro12345 | @zorro12345 | Apr 28 3:30pm

In reply to @shmerdloff "@zorro12345 Yes. Same here. Covid triggered underlying heart issues and Afib. Took a while to figure..." + (show)

@shmerdloff
Is the X 3 during covid or after recovery?
or a life time endeavor?

shmerdloff | @shmerdloff | Apr 28 4:10pm

After recovery. Many people are having all kinds of Long Covid problems for years after, not all heart related.
I guess you can look up
Covid and heart problems. Good luck🍀

cometboy | @cometboy | Apr 28 5:14pm

In reply to @pattig09 "@cometboy Have your doctors discussed "Dysautonomia"? It's refers to a group of disorders affecting the autonomic..." + (show)

@pattig09

Since I am an engineer graphs like this grab my attention (although not automatically my respect). Do you have the name/paper or any other information about this graph? I'd be curious as to what the numbers refer to.

Cheers.

Update: I did find the original paper. It was written about negative reactions to the covid vaccination. I am aware that some people have this issue but I am not one of them. I had two covid vaccinations before I actually caught the virus. The problem started after this.

Cheers.

Please sign in or register to post a reply.