Excellent info! Can totally relate to your au natural approach! Doctors are still in left field…
Here’s my take..
Unfortunately, too many doctors cannot even think of adding long hauler to their concerns regarding patients. I am a long hauler for 3 years now…and functioning as if cured…but not.! Had to take it upon myself to save my own life after seeing way too many doctors who were, frankly, useless. I am fully aware of their lack of knowledge as understanding of Covid and subsequent treatments develop, BUT the profiteering in long Covid treatment centers and encouragement regarding same by major medical institutions is blatant.
So, I’ve spent the last 3 years requesting testing to confirm that my symptoms weren’t (aren’t) going to kill me…, once able to resume exercising slowly building up to pre-covid modified routine, tolerating the horrible fatigue with determination not to completely atrophy, read any and all literature I could find on the internet, incorporating every supplement that showed any influence on mitigating symptoms ( now at 41 supplements…with my recent
( and final) Cleveland Clinic PCP annual visit, via her body language and haughtiness…unaccepting of my approach that is “working”). Covid fatigue, pins and needles in lower legs and bottom of feet remaining as primary symptoms. I take no medications. ALL of my bloodwork is within range. The doctors have very typically disregarded the printed research findings I have handed them the last three years, handing it back to me with a distrust and since “ all of my testing is “normal.”
I exercise everyday and have built back up to 10 and 15lb weights, treadmill speed walking, resistance bands. AND I have totally healthy eating habits for many years because of my dedicated exercising habits for many many years.
Punchline: I am a 76 year old female. ( Covid at 73) AND I HAVE NEVER BEEN IN PUBLIC WITHOUT A MASK SINCE COVID.
My next focus is on the very recent validation of mitochondria involvement in Covid fatigue. I will Google and gather as much info as possible in order to address possible tests and treatments…
Kudos for you for sharing important details.
Hi @rmca. I'm entering year 4. Your approach to managing with LC sounds like mine. I research all I can, often sharing findings and studies with various providers. I've found they don't have the time to research and this is a very fluid field. And traditional medicine doesn't inform treatment.
I've made some great improvement especially in my 3rd year, and am now focusing on rebuilding mitochondria. My LC clinic doc prescribes Mitocore by Orthomolecular Products. The important thing is to pair L Acetyl-Carnitine (LACAR) with Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA). ALCAR alone can actually deplete mitochondria - it needs an antioxidant to counter balance the oxidation it created.
Dr. Bruce Ames has done extensive research in this area and found that a ratio of 500 ALCAR to 200 ALA is best. Mitocore fits this ratio as does Juvenon's Cellular Health product. I've used both, most recently Cellular Health.