Long COVID: Accepting my new normal

Posted by da69 @da69, Feb 1 11:50am

Has anybody else just gave up and said....This is my new normal?
Long story short...I have been vaccinated and 1 booster.
2+ years ago i got covid and could have had it prior to tests being available as well.
Devoloped bad anxiety after recovering which i still have but is much better with meds now.
Most of my other symptoms have got better...(Sleep, Brain Fog,Depression,Sore muscles etc etc).
The 2 symptoms i can't shake are Fatique and Shortness of breath!
All the normal tests came back fine.
No amount of exercise...vitamins etc help.
I lose my breath just walking up my stairs at home and everyday is a struggle to get through.
Anything physical and i am wiped out and it takes forever for my breathing to return to normal.
I still work everday....But at the end of the day i am beat.
I have to hire out things to be done that i used to be able to do prior to getting covid.
I am so sick of doctors appointments and tests that i have givin up and basically accepted this as my new normal.
I tell myself that i should be happy for the things that have improved
and i do think of those so worse off than me.
Anybody else in my situation?....I don't see any other options but to accept it at this point and hope advancements and research in post
covid care happen.
After 2+ yrs of this i don't see it getting any better on it's own.
Thanks for listening.

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

Yes. I feel the same way. I try to work but it wipes me out for hours/days

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@danver

Yes. I feel the same way. I try to work but it wipes me out for hours/days

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@danver certainly a symptom of Long COVID. That's either PEM and/or Exercise Intolerance. Best advice Mayo gave me was "treat yourself like an injured athlete, you can't just go back out and perform at the same level". I am practicing moderation and that means no more than 10 minutes on the elliptical focused on muscle and not aerobic strength. I wish you the best in your recovery.

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Yes. Very much the same, although my strongest symptoms are brain fog and fatigue. Still working, but much less capable at work now. Pacing is my best remedy although very hard with three kids and job. I have had this since March 2020. Reached acceptance about 6 months ago when I ran out of treatments and therapies to try. Currently maintaining with a mix of duloxotene, meloxicam, and buproprion. I, too, hope for more research and advancements!

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@npinner04

Thank you 🩷

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How is npinner04 doing today?

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@cropdoc

How is npinner04 doing today?

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I am doing ok today. Just been resting all day. How are you doing today @cropdoc ?

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@somde

FYI - I was very sick with Covid middle of Sept/23 for a whole month. I thought I was a goner. The shortness of breathe really scares you.
I am not sure I want to get my next shot this month..?.? I had 5 previous shots.
I have lost my sense of taste and smell which I am hoping come back.

Funny thing I was taking medication for arthritis in my right hip and osteoporosis in my right knee. During my bout with Covid the pain disappeared and I did not take any pain meds. Sometimes I fee a bit of discomfort but I do not need the pain meds. Weird eh? Anybody experience similar outcomes? Thank you!

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Your bodies immune system (inflamatory is part of immune system) was very busy during the infection. It could be from two different impacts: 1) less inflamation in hip and knee during the Covid or 2) pain was masked by other more significant pain or symptoms of Covid.

I have Covid (viral) reactive arthritis. I was still in occurence of the flares and in December 2023 had covid again. All the flares subsided during the active infection period and for several more days following. The Covid was a significant episode and lasted near two weeks. I was thankful the flares stopped as the had been ongoing since February 2023. But, when they started again it was very rough (frequency, overlapping, and duration) and is still ongoong with only slight imprvement.

I immeditely noted the remission of CReA in the first day of significant Covid symptoms.

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@leahodell

I have been battling Long Covid since October of 2021. The feeling of acceptance of a "new normal" is very cyclical for me. There are days where my outlook is more positive; when I feel slightly "normal" and I say to myself, "be thankful it's not worse and for how far you've come."

Then, my symptoms flare up and the frustration, resentment, sadness and fear consume me. (Chest pain / tightness, shortness of breath, fatigue, joint pain, and excruciating headaches.) I become afraid that I may not wake up in the morning, or that I will suddenly die carrying out normal activities. I fear that my 2 young children will find me lifeless. I make sure my affairs are in order and that my dying wishes are written where someone can find them.

Next, unwilling to except this pitiful state of being, I begin the process of fanatically seeking answers again, hoping that I can stop the cycle. Each time I learn something a little new. I earn another piece of the puzzle. With each piece, I tell myself I'm one step closer to feeling like myself. If nothing else, a version of myself that doesn't feel the need to plan my own funeral.

Then, there's a glimmer of hope. My symptoms subside for a few days. I make the most of those days, making memories and smiling with my family.

There is peace in knowing there are others like you and me out there and, with any luck, someone reading these forums will help us put the pieces of our puzzles together.

Keep fighting the good fight! Don't lose yourself or hope.
Leah

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A suggestion that has helped me. Remove all types of sugar, all the carbs you can (all, but natural in lentils, beans, peas, nuts, or other vegetables for sure), limit fruits to morning or by lunch, and keep liquid intake optimal (water, but also coffee or tea with no additives). Increase vegetables and fruits that have known significant anti-inflamatory properties such as: broccoli, garlic, asparagus, black sative seed, oil, or extract, green tomatoes, peppers, brussel sprouts, eggplant, cilantro, spinish, black lettuce, beet, turnip, green from peior two same, anise, cinnamon, tumeric, blueberries, and so on. Parsley is also very good as is watercress. Use olive oil for cooking and salad dressing (make your own oil and vinegar and season to taste). Consume brussel sprouts, asparagus, or broccoli daily if not two of these and then add in the other. Fish is best, but chicken or pork next. I still consume beef, but usually only twice per week.

If you do not have allergies and take daily antihistamines, then start taking them (generic Allegra or Zyrtec plus as needed with headache that persists, generic chlorotab). These are all different modes of action. I have to overlap the Zyrtec with Allegra so that the 24 hour periods are offset. If your heaches are pressure related this will stop them, most likely. If they are partial from pressure this will stop them. If they are constriction of blood flow, then you need to have a glass of wine or glass and a half. This thins the blood. Red or white. Dry is better because less alcohol sugar. Take this when the headache is present if the antihistamines have not eliminated the headache. Disregard time of day. This is acting as medicine.

Your food is your medicine or your Achilles.

Jt

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@npinner04

I am doing ok today. Just been resting all day. How are you doing today @cropdoc ?

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Good enough. Covid flares in my wrist and knee which I am mitigating with tools I have had success with, but my head is clear and this is good. I chose not to take the prednisone this morning when the knee flare hit. Rough, but I got through. That one is better now, but a new on in my same wrist has flared midmorning. It is a little tough right now, but the hemp cream, hot water, cold packs, and codeine should have it under "management" in a few hours. Hard to type one finger 🙂

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@cropdoc

Good enough. Covid flares in my wrist and knee which I am mitigating with tools I have had success with, but my head is clear and this is good. I chose not to take the prednisone this morning when the knee flare hit. Rough, but I got through. That one is better now, but a new on in my same wrist has flared midmorning. It is a little tough right now, but the hemp cream, hot water, cold packs, and codeine should have it under "management" in a few hours. Hard to type one finger 🙂

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I can only imagine. I do hope it eases up on you. I know it won't go away that would be too much like right. Question? The help pull helps with joint pain?

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@npinner04

I can only imagine. I do hope it eases up on you. I know it won't go away that would be too much like right. Question? The help pull helps with joint pain?

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Thank you. One day it will be gone. Lots of prayer and singing praises to the Lord now.

....the help pull helps with joint pain...?

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