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Post COVID for 21 months now and still declining
Hello,
I'm a mid-40s male in good health (or was). I contracted COVID in Oct 2020 and never recovered from it. I had what they called a "mild" case where my blood oxygen level didn't drop below 90% and I wasn't hospitalized. I had a fever for about two weeks, migraines, and numerous varying symptoms over that period of isolation. Once I finally got out of isolation, I still encountered heavy fatigue, muscle weakness, and heavy inflammation. I teach computer science and cybersecurity at a small university and consult on the side. I was missing 2-3 days of class a week due to an inability to function well enough to lecture. I was sent to the ER twice, once due to possible stroke and again for a kidney stone (never had one before in my life).
I was vaccinated in the Spring of 2021 because the stories of it improving Long COVID suffering, it didn't. A couple months later in June, I started to relapse badly, and have been slowly declining since. I had to withdraw from my doctorate program because I was unable to keep up with the work as I struggle to keep a thought for more than a couple minutes. This is also impacting lesson planning, lecturing, consulting, etc.
Currently, I am struggling to move very far physically. I try to walk for 20 min a couple times a week, but it takes 2-3 days to recover from it. My body is constantly in pain from the inflammation (6 or 7 on a scale of 1-10), with spikes from time to time. I struggle to walk, type, or perform many activities. High temperatures amplify the pain and weakness, so this summer has been far from relaxing. I've had to use a cane to walk, but my grip and arm strength is not good, so it's not much of a benefit. I'm used to working 8-10hrs a day and right now am lucky to get 2-4hrs in a day. I'm the sole source of income for my family so I can't just stop and rest until better.
I've been visiting the Vanderbilt Adult Post-Acute COVID clinic for over a year now. We've tried many different treatments, mostly wholistic focused, but with minimal success. All the treatments that have worked for other patients in the program have not shown noticeable improvements for me. I'm running out of ideas for things to try. I have to resume teaching in a month and I'm not sure how I'm going to survive the semester in my current state.
I'm on a base set of a good pro-biotic, Vit B complex, Vit C, Vit D, baby aspirin, one or two other supplements. I've tried PEA supplements, NMN supplements, Cortisol managers, and others. We tried a common steroid to try and alleviate some of the pain from inflammation, but it didn't prove any benefit, only major side effects.
Any ideas of things that may help are welcome.
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I have lived this way since November 2020-found a great neurologist that suggested Botox-it has worked so far-fingers crossed that it continues. It is worth a try! Take care.
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1 ReactionThere are many credible studies published on the benefits of Lion's Mane on neurons. They are shown to benefit neurons + neural connections. A web search will bring these studies up for your review.
This is my first post here.
I am now just 60 years old and I’m at 37 months post-COVID.
The KETO diet - NO carbs - high protein helped heal the inflammation issues for me. That and drinking a FULL 128 oz = 1 gallon of good quality water - daily!
I’ve also focused on the TOXIN load in my diet and cleaning products in my home. Every little bit helps in all areas of our lives. I now use a lot of Essential Oils for cleaning, air purification and even subliminal, but quality is a HUGE issue. I only use doTERRA products.
The fatigue is what I still struggle with the most and yes, it is still getting worse!
I am having to realize I can spend my bodies ‘energy’ like I spend my money - on a budget. If I over do one day - I have no energy for 2-3 days, but if I pace myself slowly over 3-4 days I don’t crash and get a little more done. It is a very hard mindset to adjust to, but adjust I must!
Finally, I’ll share this. My faith and understanding of HOW Forgiveness releases ME - has helped my partially heal - emotionally and mentally.
I had to find forgiveness in so many areas. For the creation of COVID, for the spread of it, for the way it impacted my body and my life for three months in Nov., Dec 2019, and into Jan 2020.
Then, I had to forgive my body, my mind, my emotions and then - MY whole SELF -fully! Easy to say. Hard to do! I am still working on this mindset!
Forgiveness is an easy thing to say and talk about, but truly is a PROCESS.
The best book I’ve read next to scripture is: Forgiving What You’ll Never Forget by Dr David Stoop. Best $6 you’ll ever spent on Amazon or anywhere else. And no, I do not benefit in anyway by making this endorsement! Please read it - you’ll be a better human being for spending just 1-2 hours of your time. Then, go back and dissect it line by line, chapter by chapter until you better understand the process. HINT: you FIRST have to DECIDE you want Forgiveness in your own life to learn how to forgive others.
That said, I’ve been in two debilitating car accidents at ages 26 & 33 and had YEARS of recovery with each one. I healed about 90% from each accident using this positive mindset and I believe I can do it again with COVID.
I believe this old world is a TESTING GROUND to PROVE our faithfulness and fortitude. If we want the HIGHEST REWARDS in the Heavenly Realms we must be tested here to our Highest Abilities! I PLAN on PASSING ALL these tests - FULLY!!
I refuse to ‘Give in to COVID’ or give up. That is too easy…
•I believe in MIRACLES!
•I believe our God IS a God of MIRACLES - IF we allow Him to GIFT us that!
•I believe God did not create our bodies to be in chronic pain!
•I believe God is good and wants to BLESS our lives as we conform to do HIS WILL.
I have created many Miracle healings in my own life - many times - for my self, my beloved husband’s cancer and even for each one of our three children. I know I will be allowed to create another MIRACLE healing for myself with COVID too.
God bless each of us to find our healing and recover our health using positivity, our faith and human kindness as one of the many healing modalities available to all mankind - the world over! Amen.
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10 ReactionsLong Hauler since 9/2020
Blessings! God is our Healer.
http://www.evangelicalpoetry.com
(My personal website)
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4 Reactionspost covid since Dec of 2019...thank you for the book title, i just ordered one, hang in there, i too have had miracles in my life...Bless you!
Thank you! Very kind and extremely helpful to know others out there have been dealing with this longer than me! God bless you.
Keep the FAITH going and share here what you glean from this MIGHTY powerful little book.😇
Boy do I understand. I tested positive for COVID on 8/28/22 and the full six months since then have been very challenging, with some respite. Like you, I had high fevers the first days and couple of weeks. This, along with an odd confusion, trouble with communication, dizziness that was at times severe with nausea, and other times lightheadedness that was annoying but not debilitating. I had severe balance problems which have led to me using a walker. These balance problems have only recently started to show improvement. I’ve found the most help from high quality PT (using the Andago Neurological Gait Training robot) and the Vector system. My brain can’t seem to figure out “how” to do things. (But, at times there are respites). Before COVID I had some balance problems with falls but not like what I have going on now. And the exhaustion comes with both mental and physical exertion. I’ve been out of work this whole 6 months. It’s hard to prove things (are as they are) for insurance companies not especially eager to understand or believe this can be this debilitating.
I hope you find a couple of health care supporters… for me the best help (outside my family) has been PT and speech therapy. I have difficulty with breathing in air but my pulmonologist says all he sees is post COVID asthma. He doesn’t see anything objective to explain the inspiratory pain/chest tightness/continued coughing.
This is not in your head honey. Too many of us are right where you are. I pray you find health care support and some healing and improvement however slowly. Don’t give up hope.
Recently, my balance has shown some improvement and the dizziness has subsided some. The inspiratory pain has worsened. My mind works better for longer which is improving relationships and communications.
I wish you well. Try to find small positives and don’t beat yourself up for not getting better faster. It can get better and small improvements add up. Hang in there.
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2 ReactionsI had my first bout of Covid July '22 and developed vertigo symptoms 3 months later that are unusual and persistent, BPPV but resistant to treatment. I’ve been seeing an ENT and a vestibular PT and the PT suggested long covid as an explanation for the unusual symptoms and resistance to treatment. I've had CT and MRI, both negative. I've gotten better gradually and have started vestibular rehabilitation. I’m now recovering from my second covid infection. I REALLY didn't need this! I’m very concerned about both making my ongoing vertigo issues worse again and developing other long covid symptoms with this second infection. Has anyone experienced a second infection and if so, how did it affect you?
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2 ReactionsI've gone through three confirmed rounds of COVID (Have Long COVID since the first one in Oct 2020), and 1-2 rounds of unconfirmed (by testing) COVID.
It's been different each time and the people I know that have gone through similar situations have told me they experienced different symptoms each time as well. I don't think we can predict what might happen due to the highly variable nature of COVID right now.
Have they tested you for micro vascular disfunction? I just read that it’s been historical overlooked in men. As COVID damages the endothelial cells, it is a possibility. Also did they do a cardio fitness test on you? My anomalies showed up then. BTW, a micro vascular disfunction won’t necessarily show up on a EKG, ECHO, or CTA.