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Any tips to help recovery for a COVID Long-Hauler?
I was diagnosed with COVID-19 at the end of Feb 2021. Nearly three months later, neither my taste nor smell has been fully restored. My husband also tested positive and was completely out of it for one full week. He could not even get out of bed. My case seemed to be mild. Though I felt ill, I was not bed-ridden nor did I feel debilitated. Most of my activities (household and work) were not halted. My husband has zero lingering effects from his infection, meanwhile I am still experiencing chills, headaches, fatigue, and body aches on and off weekly. Additionally, I'm undergoing testing for heart valve issues. It's becoming increasingly difficult to tolerate these lasting symptoms with no end in sight. Any suggestions/tips to aid in a faster recovery would be welcomed and very much appreciated.
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Welcome @pattysgirl. I'm sorry to hear that your family member is dealing with long Covid. You've come to the right place to get tips and support from others who are also living with and recovering from long COVID.
You'll notice that I moved your first post to this existing discussion:
- Any tips to help recovery for a COVID Long-Hauler? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/long-hauler/
I did this so you can read through past posts with helpful information and so that you can connect easily with other members like @azdreamer @strongevergreen @welchllb @rp1972 @earthangel @lauriekh @weeds @ldropps @mimi24 @tiredmommy and many others.
Since you mentioned tremors & anxiety, you may also be interested in these related discussions:
- Post COVID: Anyone experiencing internal vibrations? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/internalvi-ratio-upon-waking/
- Post covid anxiety https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/post-covid-anxiety/
Pattysgirl, has your family member been to a Post Covid Care Clinic?
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2 ReactionsNo so far we haven't been able to find one close. Was wondering about any that would do telehealth visits.
Lost my taste from covid...had the virus twice ..plus I have been vac x2 and booster and still got sick..I just wish my taste would return...any suggestions ??
I’m not allowed to get the vaccine because of my heart birth defect. So I’ve been unlucky to have caught Covid five different times. Case #1 April 2020 was bad, Case #2 Dec 2021 was mild. Case #3 March 10th 2022 was very bad. Lost my taste 25 days later, 6 days after that I lost my sense of smell. I’ve been a long hauler ever since. Both came back but disappears off and on. Case #4 May 10th, Variant VA.4 and was mild. Then Case #5, July 2022 Variant BA.5, very nasty, easy to catch, symptoms were over the top wicked, less than 2 days after exposure, I had bad earaches in both ears. By day 3, I felt a strange sense of pressure inside my right ear, then a popping sound and I was totally deaf in my right ear. It took almost two weeks before some hearing came back but not fully.
I still suffer from intermittent lose of taste and smell and my hearing is still affected. I know one woman with both taste and smell gone for almost 1 1/2 years. So even though I’m still a long hauler since March 2022, I still suffer from it. The thing I’m learning is you may be a long hauler for years. It also seems if you lose taste and smell and it comes back in weeks, your less likely to be affected by it again. My best friend had both shots plus the booster and still got Covid again. She gave it to her two children and her grandmother who ended up in the hospital. That’s when she lost her sense of taste, then got it back. So it seems no one knows how long it’ll take to get better, each person is a different case Good luck.
I read the following on a credible medical website and applied it to my loss is smell and taste. The operating concept is to stimulate the nerves to recover. It was recommended to apply a sm amount of flavors such as citrus juice, cinnamon, etc to your tongue at least every 4 hrs while awake. Also, inhale individual fragrances + odors up each nostril which I did in between. I used peppermint oil, lavender and other essential oils. I gradually regained full + accurate senses of the taste + smell.
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2 ReactionsShould read " THROUGH" each nostril, not up each nostril. (Colloquialisms)
Look for long Covid studies and therapy sessions in your area. I’m in two Chicago university hospital studies and they pay me to get blood work, EEGs, MRIs, DNA, etc done. One gave me a referral to a long Covid therapy center for occupational and speech therapy to help me with memory issues. I know another long covider who had therapy twice a week to learn how to cope, adapt, and be supported.
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1 ReactionSeason's Greetings!!
What help is available to us?
April 2020 -
My whole body and structure are not what it was before the COVID.
I appreciate the information and support.
Thank you kindly
Welcome, @juni888. I moved your message to this existing discussion:
- Any tips to help recovery for a COVID Long-Hauler? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/long-hauler/
Reading through the discussion is a good place to start and to connect with others. You may wish to browse through recent discussion in the Post-COVID Recovery group too https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/post-covid-recovery-covid-19/
What is your most challenging change? What helps you recover?
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1 ReactionI tested positive for Covid on Wednesday, Dec 7, and finally negative on Monday, the 19th. I feel better of course, but still suffer from on and off fatigue as I try to gradually transition into my normal activities. I assume this is a normal part pf recovery for some people. Is there any average amount of time that it may take before I feel more "normal." How long is the recovery before they call it long Covid?