1. < Post-COVID Recovery & COVID-19

Long COVID: What bloodwork and vitamin/supplement recommendations?

Posted by bba3 @bba3, Jan 10 5:37pm

My daughter has debilitating fatigue as well as other symptoms (including but not limited to brain fog, cognitive issues, sudden onset nerve pain in feet, cough, shortness of breath). She's looking for non-western medical advice in addition to traditional. Any info you can provide would be greatly appreciated?

Two part question:
1) What blood tests do you recommend requesting for LC?
In addition to CBC, my thought was vitamin panel, ferritin bloodwork, CRP. Any others?
2) What supplements / herbs, etc. have been helpful?
All B vitamins, Vitamin D, Turmeric, Quercetin, NAC (not sure that that is, but read it in a posting), Magnesium, Zinc.

Thank you!

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Post-COVID Recovery & COVID-19 Support Group.

bba3 | @bba3 | Jan 14 4:24pm
In reply to @searcher1 "From: Medical and Life Science (published 1/12/24) "Association between vitamin D supplementation and fatigue" Fatigue is..." + (show)
@searcher1

From: Medical and Life Science (published 1/12/24)
"Association between vitamin D supplementation and fatigue"
Fatigue is a common denominator in many autoimmune diseases. Researchers advocate a plasma vitamin D test in patients with fatigue symptoms since low blood vitamin D levels are frequent in these individuals, and treatment resulted in a significant decrease in fatigue severity.
Serum vitamin D levels below 20 ng/mL indicate deficiency, and those between 21 and 29 ng/mL indicate insufficiency. A daily consumption of 600–800 IU of the vitamin provides optimal bone health, but a daily intake of 1,000–2,000 IU is necessary to maintain plasma levels above 30 ng/mL.
https://www.news-medical.net/news/20240112/Association-between-vitamin-D-supplementation-and-fatigue.aspx

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Well that is extremely helpful to know!
Months ago her GP said she had one of the lowest levels of vit D she’s seen but only recommended her to take 500 IU. She was to go back to get follow up bloodwork but that’s when she fell and tore her labrum in hip and 4 bulging discs so that has put other things on hold.
I don’t know if she had the type of blood test you mentioned so that is another thing I’ll list on notes for when she sees this new GP. I just pray that this new Dr is more willing to spend time and effort on helping her.
Thank you SO much for this information. Thank you.

REPLY
rmca | @rmca | Jan 15 11:34am
In reply to @searcher1 "I started on NAC in November for a bout of shin tendonitis. It helped the tendonitis..." + (show)
@searcher1

I started on NAC in November for a bout of shin tendonitis. It helped the tendonitis and I have stopped taking it recently but I am feeling mild Long Covid symptoms again and should go back to it.
I have had similar symptoms. Your daughter may be deficient in some nutritional requirements, like I was. I would recommend sublingual (under the tongue liquid) B12 and zinc. Sublingual is better absorbed. I take the zinc in the middle of the night. Try to take zinc 2 hours away from anything else. I take the B12 first thing in the morning. They are better absorbed if taken on a empty stomach.
Zinc helps the immune system fight the long covid and B12 is needed to form the red blood cells to convey the oxygen throughout our body.
Last year, I was taking a small amount of zinc with other supplements, but it was not getting absorbed and my immune system was losing the battle.
I would also recommend keeping a “Health Journal”. I have several on Word. One is a day by day journal on symptoms and what I am trying. The others are special areas, like natural blood thinners to dissolve the microclots caused by Covid. There are natural products and foods that are mild blood thinners, such as berberine that is from pineapple. (If you cut up a fresh pineapple, save the core and put it in a mini-food processor with a little water to grind it up. The berberine supplement makers get berberine from pineapple cores. The rest of the pineapple as some, but the core is highest.) Another natural blood thinners is ginger. I have ginger tea each morning. I put a teaspoon of ground ginger in a mug, add hot water and some citrus juice and use a mini-wisk blender.
I will give you some links for natural blood thinners:
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322384#faq
https://draxe.com/health/natural-blood-thinners/
https://curehht.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Blood-Thinning-Foods-to-Avoid.pdf
I will give you a link for an article on the Japanese fermented beans, natto. The nattokinase, K1, is a known blood thinner. I have been “preaching natto” on the blog, but no takers. (I am assuming your daughter is not currently on any blood thinners. No one should do both the meds and natto.)

I make natto with fresh natto from Brooklyn as a starter. (Okay, I am weird.) I have it with olive oil (for absorption) and kimchi, Korean fermented cabbage. The combo is supposed to be a good immunity booster. (I am blood type A which means low immunity and I need a booster.) After all that, I will give you a link:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucelee/2021/07/24/can-japanese-natto-beans-help-fight-covid-19-coronavirus-what-this-study-really-showed/?sh=6f7cd492232f
I hope some of this is helpful and feel free to send a private message at any time.

Jump to this post

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.

REPLY
1 reply
searcher1 | @searcher1 | Jan 16 7:11am
In reply to @arichards3 "I started with my local Doctors and took "the journey of what its not" and recommend..." + (show)
@arichards3

I started with my local Doctors and took "the journey of what its not" and recommend you start there too. Ultimately I was diagnosed with Long COVID and went to Mayo Rochester for their program. I contracted LC from my first booster in November '21, here it is January '24 and I feel better after 5 months of executing my Mayo program. Not 100%, but better.

I have learned lots of do this and don't do that along the way which will help me manage my symptoms if I ultimately don't get over them completely.

Jump to this post

You mention that you contracted LC from your first booster. I find that interesting because the symptoms I had after each of my 4 Covid shots continued for more than a year. I do feel that it was from the shots. My blood type is A which is supposed to have a low level of immunity. I am wondering if blood type A's and AB's are more vulnerable to this occurence. Could I ask if you know your blood type and what it is? It would be interesting to know the blood types of all the longhaulers on the blog.

REPLY
3 replies
gila | @gila | Jan 16 11:05am
In reply to @searcher1 "You mention that you contracted LC from your first booster. I find that interesting because the..." + (show)
@searcher1

You mention that you contracted LC from your first booster. I find that interesting because the symptoms I had after each of my 4 Covid shots continued for more than a year. I do feel that it was from the shots. My blood type is A which is supposed to have a low level of immunity. I am wondering if blood type A's and AB's are more vulnerable to this occurence. Could I ask if you know your blood type and what it is? It would be interesting to know the blood types of all the longhaulers on the blog.

Jump to this post

AB negative

REPLY
mimioto | @mimioto | Jan 16 11:45am
In reply to @searcher1 "I started on NAC in November for a bout of shin tendonitis. It helped the tendonitis..." + (show)
@searcher1

I started on NAC in November for a bout of shin tendonitis. It helped the tendonitis and I have stopped taking it recently but I am feeling mild Long Covid symptoms again and should go back to it.
I have had similar symptoms. Your daughter may be deficient in some nutritional requirements, like I was. I would recommend sublingual (under the tongue liquid) B12 and zinc. Sublingual is better absorbed. I take the zinc in the middle of the night. Try to take zinc 2 hours away from anything else. I take the B12 first thing in the morning. They are better absorbed if taken on a empty stomach.
Zinc helps the immune system fight the long covid and B12 is needed to form the red blood cells to convey the oxygen throughout our body.
Last year, I was taking a small amount of zinc with other supplements, but it was not getting absorbed and my immune system was losing the battle.
I would also recommend keeping a “Health Journal”. I have several on Word. One is a day by day journal on symptoms and what I am trying. The others are special areas, like natural blood thinners to dissolve the microclots caused by Covid. There are natural products and foods that are mild blood thinners, such as berberine that is from pineapple. (If you cut up a fresh pineapple, save the core and put it in a mini-food processor with a little water to grind it up. The berberine supplement makers get berberine from pineapple cores. The rest of the pineapple as some, but the core is highest.) Another natural blood thinners is ginger. I have ginger tea each morning. I put a teaspoon of ground ginger in a mug, add hot water and some citrus juice and use a mini-wisk blender.
I will give you some links for natural blood thinners:
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322384#faq
https://draxe.com/health/natural-blood-thinners/
https://curehht.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Blood-Thinning-Foods-to-Avoid.pdf
I will give you a link for an article on the Japanese fermented beans, natto. The nattokinase, K1, is a known blood thinner. I have been “preaching natto” on the blog, but no takers. (I am assuming your daughter is not currently on any blood thinners. No one should do both the meds and natto.)

I make natto with fresh natto from Brooklyn as a starter. (Okay, I am weird.) I have it with olive oil (for absorption) and kimchi, Korean fermented cabbage. The combo is supposed to be a good immunity booster. (I am blood type A which means low immunity and I need a booster.) After all that, I will give you a link:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucelee/2021/07/24/can-japanese-natto-beans-help-fight-covid-19-coronavirus-what-this-study-really-showed/?sh=6f7cd492232f
I hope some of this is helpful and feel free to send a private message at any time.

Jump to this post

Interesting, thank you. I have started on each of these except the natto….in addition to vit C, vit D, magnesium, L-carnetine and co-Q10 - all as a result of my own research since I’ve been left feeling like I’m on my own with all this after a number of specialists over the course of 18 mos. and no success at eliminating my symptoms. In fact it seems to be progressing. So then my primary said stop everything except prescribed meds, vit-D and magnesium. That was 4 mos ago. After reading your story I’m going to try the B-12, berberine and zinc (during the night-thanks, that was real interesting as I always took it in the morning) and ginger. My question to you is what are the dosages for each of the supplements you’ve mentioned?

REPLY
uget1shot | @uget1shot | Jan 16 12:48pm
In reply to @rmca "Excellent info! Can totally relate to your au natural approach! Doctors are still in left field…..." + (show)
@rmca

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.

Jump to this post

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.

REPLY
1 reply
uget1shot | @uget1shot | Jan 16 12:49pm
In reply to @searcher1 "You mention that you contracted LC from your first booster. I find that interesting because the..." + (show)
@searcher1

You mention that you contracted LC from your first booster. I find that interesting because the symptoms I had after each of my 4 Covid shots continued for more than a year. I do feel that it was from the shots. My blood type is A which is supposed to have a low level of immunity. I am wondering if blood type A's and AB's are more vulnerable to this occurence. Could I ask if you know your blood type and what it is? It would be interesting to know the blood types of all the longhaulers on the blog.

Jump to this post

A+

REPLY
mimioto | @mimioto | Jan 16 5:05pm
In reply to @searcher1 "You mention that you contracted LC from your first booster. I find that interesting because the..." + (show)
@searcher1

You mention that you contracted LC from your first booster. I find that interesting because the symptoms I had after each of my 4 Covid shots continued for more than a year. I do feel that it was from the shots. My blood type is A which is supposed to have a low level of immunity. I am wondering if blood type A's and AB's are more vulnerable to this occurence. Could I ask if you know your blood type and what it is? It would be interesting to know the blood types of all the longhaulers on the blog.

Jump to this post

O+

REPLY
rmca | @rmca | Jan 16 9:59pm
In reply to @uget1shot "Hi @rmca. I'm entering year 4. Your approach to managing with LC sounds like mine. I..." + (show)
@uget1shot

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.

Jump to this post

I’m seeing there are a number of us that got the message early on that we have save ourselves…I’m grateful for your info! Alcar is part of my 41 supplement routine along with R-Lipoic Acid which supposedly better. But the ratio you provided is very helpful. I like being able to put a star next my supplements when someone validates them. Thank you.
All I know is that things are working . I can’t tell which ones, all if it’s all of the above…but the holistic approach has very obviously got me to this point.
The mitochondria is my focus now also. That is THEE most recent revelation in the research with NAD+ appearing to play a major role.
Keep in touch, uget1shot!
Again, thank you!

REPLY
1 reply
uget1shot | @uget1shot | Jan 17 10:48am
In reply to @rmca "I’m seeing there are a number of us that got the message early on that we..." + (show)
@rmca

I’m seeing there are a number of us that got the message early on that we have save ourselves…I’m grateful for your info! Alcar is part of my 41 supplement routine along with R-Lipoic Acid which supposedly better. But the ratio you provided is very helpful. I like being able to put a star next my supplements when someone validates them. Thank you.
All I know is that things are working . I can’t tell which ones, all if it’s all of the above…but the holistic approach has very obviously got me to this point.
The mitochondria is my focus now also. That is THEE most recent revelation in the research with NAD+ appearing to play a major role.
Keep in touch, uget1shot!
Again, thank you!

Jump to this post

wow, 41 supplements! would love to see your list if you're willing to share? I probably take close to that many individual pills a day so I get it. I like your idea to 'star' validations.

You mentioned NAD+. I had forgotten about this. My doc had me taking NAD+ Gold by Quicksilver Scientific earlier in my journey. Are you taking anything for this now?

REPLY
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