1. < Post-COVID Recovery & COVID-19

Extreme exhaustion after normal exertion?

Posted by dawniepoo @dawniepoo, May 1, 2023

I had Covid in October, and soon after developed symptoms in my G.I. tract, my joints, and experienced severe exhaustion after doing normal household tasks that would’ve never bothered me before. It’s so bad that I have to lay down and tell my husband I am “having a spell“. I’ve been to the doctor. My lungs are fine. My blood work is all good, and he has said by heart is fine . Had echocardiogram and, CAT scan and a myriad of tests. We all assume Long Covid ,PS I am 78 years old. It’s become debilitating for me since I am generally very active ,gardening, exercising, walking ,yoga. This has really aged me and I wonder if I will ever get my life back . wondering if anyone has any ideas or has similar experiences.

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gford | @gford | Jul 15, 2023

Had covid January 2022. Long covid started a couple weeks later. By mid summer fatigue and shortness of breath had decreased significantly but still had a cough. After Thanksgiving got pneumonia and everything came roaring b ack. I have had all the usual drugs, inhalers and nebulizers and physical therapy. Nothing worked. Now in a pulmonary therapy specifically for long covid with respiratory problems it is helping both shortness of breath and fatigue. But was told nothing can be done for a dry covid cough. Just have to wait....weeks...months...years.

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lindalk | @lindalk | Jul 15, 2023
In reply to @britnoor "I have had all the vaccines for covid. In January of 2022 I got covid from..." + (show)
@britnoor

I have had all the vaccines for covid. In January of 2022 I got covid from my hubby. I ended up with extreme high BP (normally was low) in ICU. Very fatigued and in ICU for 6 days. Since then on high Bp meds. It has been very hard as like you I used to be very active. I am still very fatigued but little by little improving. Heart doc said high BP was related to covid. I also wanted to mention I also would het your thyroid checked to make sure your levels are o.k. Together we can get through this. This covid has been a hellish thing to deal with. Hugs and keep strong.

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Honey, I have been through so much testing already. Thank you for your encouragement.

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Lucy | @welchllb | Jul 16, 2023

Sounds like me!! I'm just happy to do a few things when I can. Doing laundry today and watering a few house plants - heavy breathing and blurry vision. Yuck!!

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dawniepoo | @dawniepoo | Jul 16, 2023

I now have evolved from no energy at all to some energy but terrible gastric distress.
Trying everything. This Covid just attacks one thing after another

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ursulajsibun52 | @ursulajsibun52 | Jul 20, 2023

This is my second dose of Covid, 14 months after the first one. 2 months of exhaustion last time. I’m hoping it’s shorter this time. I’m 71 years old, (background health issue is ADDISONS D) usually active, walking, exercises, gardening, swimming, but ATM 2 sleeps a day, on day18, breathless on exertion, brain fog.

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jessicajthompson | @jessicajthompson | Jul 21, 2023

Post Exertional Malaise - this is the term I first read about on a different thread through this support group. Went down a rabbit hole reading about it and about how it is different than chronic fatigue.

Where I am stuck is which Dr do I talk to about it. But from what I read there is “just learning to live with it” rather than a way to have a treatment. I’m happy to be wrong about it.

However, just learning what it is and how it functions has made it so I can slowly get back on track. Very slowly. I still get very very frustrated. Yet I do see improvement… and have to remind myself if it.

Here are some links that can get you going -
https://www.cdc.gov/me-cfs/healthcare-providers/clinical-care-patients-mecfs/treating-most-disruptive-symptoms.html
https://www.cdc.gov/me-cfs/pdfs/interagency/Managing-PEM_508.pdf
https://www.cdc.gov/me-cfs/symptoms-diagnosis/symptoms.html

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lovesgreys | @lovesgreys | Jul 21, 2023

It’s exactly the same with me. Covid in October, and same symptoms, though my fatigue is mostly constant with some moments of feeling well. I’m 68. Tests are all normal. I started seeing a nutritionist. She had bloodwork run on me looking for inflammation, and the numbers are off the charts. My body’s response is also off the charts, and she said it explains all of my symptoms. She’s treating me with supplements to fight the inflammation, and has me on an anti-inflammatory diet. Cutting out dairy was the first thing. This is all fairly new. It’s probably been a month. So far my fingers have almost completely stopped hurting. I also found a doctor who practices intergrative medicine. She’s treating me with energy work, plus helping me in other ways. My body responds strongly to the energy work. I’ll have to see what all of this does long term. This has given me hope.

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1 reply
TSB | @terrirussell | Jul 22, 2023
In reply to @lovesgreys "It’s exactly the same with me. Covid in October, and same symptoms, though my fatigue is..." + (show)
@lovesgreys

It’s exactly the same with me. Covid in October, and same symptoms, though my fatigue is mostly constant with some moments of feeling well. I’m 68. Tests are all normal. I started seeing a nutritionist. She had bloodwork run on me looking for inflammation, and the numbers are off the charts. My body’s response is also off the charts, and she said it explains all of my symptoms. She’s treating me with supplements to fight the inflammation, and has me on an anti-inflammatory diet. Cutting out dairy was the first thing. This is all fairly new. It’s probably been a month. So far my fingers have almost completely stopped hurting. I also found a doctor who practices intergrative medicine. She’s treating me with energy work, plus helping me in other ways. My body responds strongly to the energy work. I’ll have to see what all of this does long term. This has given me hope.

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I was just like you at 72 and through massive research and trial and error i distilled my recovery down to the carnivore diet and got almost immediately back on my feet. I now have renown allergy immunologist going through massive blood and urine search for culprits . So far they have 7 flags so that’s good as maybe they will be able to address them. Sounds like you have mast cell activation which has become common in post cOvid cases and post shots cases like mine. You might want to check out MCAS

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1 reply
iamawriter | @iamawriter | Jul 22, 2023

@lovesgreys
Can you list details on the type of blood work and tests that you had run that revealed the inflammation? Would love to lobby my PCP to have them done. Need answers and solutions!

Thanks.

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iamawriter | @iamawriter | Jul 22, 2023
In reply to @terrirussell "I was just like you at 72 and through massive research and trial and error i..." + (show)
@terrirussell

I was just like you at 72 and through massive research and trial and error i distilled my recovery down to the carnivore diet and got almost immediately back on my feet. I now have renown allergy immunologist going through massive blood and urine search for culprits . So far they have 7 flags so that’s good as maybe they will be able to address them. Sounds like you have mast cell activation which has become common in post cOvid cases and post shots cases like mine. You might want to check out MCAS

Jump to this post

@terrirussell
Same kinda question: Can you provide detail on the tests the immuno is doing to locate "flags" and what the "flags" would indicate? Inflammation? MCA?

Thanks.

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