Extreme exhaustion after normal exertion?

I will be 78 in June and had Covid in March 2021, just three days after my one and only Moderna shot. While I had Covid, my blood pressure (ordinarily a little high) went down to 74/47, 68/39, 92/45—and remained similarly low for the duration. With Covid, I felt extremely weak and couldn't stand without feeling as though I would fall. Lying down or sitting alleviated that feeling of absolute exhaustion. Along with hair loss and breakage, this may have been a result of the low iron and ferritin levels that I was experiencing as a result of Covid. Taking iron sulphate daily brought my iron numbers back into the normal range, albeit low normal and while the feeling of total exhaustion has somewhat abated, I still feel slightly exhausted in the mornings, and shortness of breath (which has only occurred since Covid) is still with me, more than two years later. I too had a stress test and echocardiogram—just recently in fact—and there are no problems with my heart. Doctors say my lungs sound clear. I have no choice but to conclude that this is "long Covid." They say that it will disappear eventually but let's face it, this is a brand new virus and they don't really know.

When exercising in the gym, if I overdo it, there comes a point where suddenly I start to feel weak and a bit ill. If I exercise but stop immediately when that point is reached, I do not have a strength setback. So, even though I want to regain lost muscle quickly with heavier weights, I am not doing that. I am slowly increasing weight, but never going for muscle failure. This help me from relapsing where I have no strength to exercise. So, although I look way out of shape and want to jump into exercise to reverse things, the fastest way is through very gradual increases of exercise weights and time worked out.

I have a similar problem. I am 79 in a few days. I had Covid from 1 June to about 20 June when symptoms subsided. I have been trying to get back into exercise mainly bike riding with some walking and swimming.
My at rest blood pressure has gone from 130 over 75 to about 145 over 80 however after a hard bike ride it will be about 130 over 75 with a pulse rate of about 90 quickly falling to 75 then, as I recover my pulse will drop further but then increase to about 85 and my blood pressure will go up to 150 over 80.
Has anyone else experienced an increased at rest systolic blood pressure that drops after substantial exercise to a precovid level but then increases again by 20 to 25 points after rest. Does it mean I should exercise less or more. During exercise I feel normal and ride at about my precovid rate.
Any help would be great.
6189

Oh the fatigue !! Finally not totally consuming. No aerobic exercise has helped a lot. Very short dog walks only.. I too have had every test . Some blood work necessitated taking supplements that I never took before! I completely surrendered to the LC beast and it really helped me!!! If I am tired I lie down . As soon as I feel that chest tightness and body crumbling I lie down ! My friends ask where I have gone as I was always so active. I never listened to or respected my body as much as I do now and it helps. Listen to your body and that will help! Arthritis has been going gangbusters tremors sharp pains in hands and feet !! So many symptoms. No wonder doctors are so confounded by this beast! At least I truly believe we are finally at least being believed .

I get it. !! Feels good to have affirming members. I am now almost a year in and I have improvements. Accupuncture helped. But rest and B complex , zinc and the rest of the spectrum too.
I also bought some Iberogast. Not sure about it. Eating ginger soothes my stomach. And peppermint.
Even if I’m tired I push myself now and then but then I’ll have a “spell” as I call it. Flat out on couch. That too is waning. I’ve decided it’s mind over matter. I’ve been told there is NOTHING wrong. So I believe it and move on. There are many of us out there! The doctors are overwhelmed w complaints but have NO answers. We have to figure out for ourselves I’ve decided.
Hope all can find some peace and healing.

Hi @6189. The activity part of covid is sooooooo frustrating. I use to be on my feet 8-10 hrs a day 5 days a week lifting and constantly aerobic. Now a year and half later I am able to carry pitcher of water to water plants and I conserve my energy during day moving from bed to couch to bathroom to refrigerator so I can get to sprinkler in evening. My whole body systems are compromised and yes the blood pressure, heart rate, metabolism . . all over the place. From what most post covid posts appear to share, the battery analogy and really having to listen to our bodies is critical. Feeling fine and able to exert oneself can deplete your energy at cell level which continues this frustrating everchanging unknown territory. I can say my doctor says I was the worst case and I feel fortunate to look back a year and a half and know I am here and grateful pacing with restraint found small improvement of lasting recovery instead of constant setbacks. Hope this helped and know we all wish you a healing journey🌈

Oh I am so sorry. This is devastating. It is so discouraging to see the response of medical folk o( or most people) when an overweight female is involved! I’ve gained a ton of weight on a Med years ago and then lost it. The before and after is stunning. This virus messes with all systems— including our hormones, but I do NOT think just hormones cause weight gain. Your body has major signals messed up: temp dysregulation and weight gain are a common complaint for women, from what I’m seeing on this chat. You aren’t alone in this. MANY of us are fighting this, and so far no one in Med is addressing it. I’m going to do a deep dive into my Long Haul sources, and will get back. But do not give up.

The before and after of people’s reaction to me, I mean

thanks law69, I feel ok exercising so I think I will keep some records for a few weeks before consulting a doctor. I wish you well on your journey through post covid.

Same for me. I had Covid over the Christmas holidays, and have been fatigued ever since. The only thing that perks me up is a few days on a low dose of prednisone. I am 75.