Anyone have long term recovery?

I haven't had a full recovery (I've "only" been a long-hauler for seven months), but I've been listening to the Long Covid Hope podcast to give me hope that people do make full recoveries from this.

@bekah Thank you. I will check that podcast out.

I am 16 months long Covid. Am best I’ve been but still have bouts of exhaustion & many foods still don’t taste good. Still building up my stamina. Nervous about the summer because last summer I was so short of breath and not sure if that is from humidity or what. I’d say 75-80% better.

Yes, I am one year out from being at my absolute worst and I am 90% back to normal. I've been working (nearly) full time since November. You MUST supplement heavily, and normal doctors (and specialists) do not have the information that you need. I'm not trying to be inflammatory, it's just the truth. Many people have recovered from long haul Covid and IT IS possible, but it often takes doing your own research, trial and error for what works for you.

What's interesting for me is that I have to continue heavily supplementing to keep my functioning at this level. For me, it was B-3 (niacinamide, non-flushing) that was the most helpful, along with several amino acids (taurine, choline, tryptophan), NAC, glutathione, and an anti-inflammatory, low histamine diet. But I am still spending $100+ on supplements every month or two, and whenever I finish a bottle and think I can go without them, I feel the difference in my body within a few weeks. So I continue with what works, and I am very cautious about not overextending myself in any way (mentally, emotionally or physically).

I wish you ALL the very best. There ARE answers out there. The Facebook long haul Covid group is an excellent resource. Don't let anyone tell you there aren't answers.

I also had COVID in November 2020, before vaccines. I seem to have plateaued in my recovery. I am nothing near the runner, marathoner, weight lifter, gardener, 'Martha Stewart' hostess, voracious reader or ER Nurse in a trauma center that I was a week before becoming ill.
I am not improving, BUT I am better at managing, planning, pacing my days and activities to stay within the limits of my tolerance. Of course, life happens and there are days that will stretch my limits and I pay for it with that horrific Post Exertional Malaise crash. If I know about an event that will exceed my limits ahead of time I can plan to do nothing the day before and the day after. I figure out travel to an event a week ahead (a true cognitive challenge), plan what to wear and bring with me 3 days ahead, shower and wash/dry/style my hair the day before and take a sleep aid the night before. I don't make plans after 2pm and limit appointments/errands to one a day. I walk slow, take the elevator, use handicap parking to avoid shortness of breath, coughing and racing heart rate. I order groceries on line and have them delivered. My meals are very simple, fast and I cook extra to have leftovers for a couple days.
Prioritizing, planning, pacing and acceptance of the 'new me' has made the biggest difference in recovery. As I said, I am not back to what I was but, with PT/OT/Speech I have learned to recognize my limits and live within them as best I can. I know I will not get everything back in my life but need to remember I am 63 and able to live alone in a two story home and take care of my own needs independently which I am grateful for; over 6 million people didn't make it through this pandemic. I am just do the best I can today.

@rinadbq. I am literally tearing up as your post so closely resembles my new life. I had my vaccines and booster and post covid over year now. Your realistic yet empathetic view is what I wish every long haul patient could hear from their healthcare system. Thank you!!🌈

I had covid last summer and long covid for 2 months afterwards. The symptoms resolved spontaneously with nothing apart from rest. After a few weeks of re-conditioning, I was back to my normal life, working full-time, exercising, etc. for the following 3 months. Then, out of the blue, symptoms returned last week. No correlation with anything whatsoever. I am hopeful that this wave will pass too and I will once again have the good days. And that over time these relapses will get rarer and the stretches of good days longer, till they don't come back anymore. I have several acquaintances who went through this before me and warned me that the road ahead will be bumpy, but eventually it does clear.

Also, stories of recovery are supported by the aggregate data: https://www.kff.org/policy-watch/long-covid-what-do-latest-data-show/

Can you recommend the supplements you take?

Hi, this is the second time around I have covid and I am one of those long haulers. I feel my brain is extremely foggy and the chronic fatigue is totally debilitating. I go for walks I do what I have to do but by 3:00 p.m. I am just so exhausted I have to sit down. I'm still a horse and still with a lot of congestion. If you can take eucalyptic oil in your shower to relieve and relax your body. The body aches can be alleviated through gentle stretching. Take care.