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Anyone experiencing muscle atrophy/muscle wasting due to Long COVID?

Posted by tatjohns @tatjohns, Dec 2, 2024

I have long covid (2 1/2 years) and have been experiencing progressive muscle atrophy/muscle wasting which is unrelated to inactivity. To the contrary, I have tried to stay very active with walking, swimming, resistance training, but none of it does any good. The muscle atrophy continues and is debilitating. The head of the local long covid clinic said I was the only patient out of the 3,000 patients he has seen in LC clinic with this symptom.

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frouke | @frouke | Sep 30 10:17am

I’ve been reading about all of the things that everyone has been going through from LC, I had covid in 2022 and for two years I suffered from rapid heart beats and heavy sweating, both have thankfully calmed down. What shocked me was the stories about muscle loss and atrophy, I too noticed that in the past year my skin is loose looking and wrinkled, being thin already I was able to see that my muscles are smaller. I never went to the doctor because I assumed that it was due to my age along with other symptoms, however I am not so sure about this anymore. I am curious about something, has anyone ever heard about these issues from younger people who had covid?? Many people mention their age, I’m 75, this was the biggest factor as to why I didn’t seek medical attention, I thought the doctor would laugh at me and remind me of my age, this is why I’m asking this question about younger women and men also seeing muscle loss and atrophy.

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h2998sc | @h2998sc | Sep 30 1:01pm
In reply to @frouke "I’ve been reading about all of the things that everyone has been going through from LC,..." + (show)
Profile picture for frouke @frouke

I’ve been reading about all of the things that everyone has been going through from LC, I had covid in 2022 and for two years I suffered from rapid heart beats and heavy sweating, both have thankfully calmed down. What shocked me was the stories about muscle loss and atrophy, I too noticed that in the past year my skin is loose looking and wrinkled, being thin already I was able to see that my muscles are smaller. I never went to the doctor because I assumed that it was due to my age along with other symptoms, however I am not so sure about this anymore. I am curious about something, has anyone ever heard about these issues from younger people who had covid?? Many people mention their age, I’m 75, this was the biggest factor as to why I didn’t seek medical attention, I thought the doctor would laugh at me and remind me of my age, this is why I’m asking this question about younger women and men also seeing muscle loss and atrophy.

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@frouke Well,if ya don't eat,you will lose muscle mass.That's what happened with me...5 years ago.2021.Virtually NO appetite throughout this deal.Have to really push to eat anything most of the time.I don't feel sick.Went from 172 to 140...haven't been able to get it back at all.140.Stuck.Yeah I'm angry.I'm almost there....virtually no covid pains now.Just this eating thing.I eat,but obviously 'not enough'?Things change.I aint givin up on feeling myself again.And I'm well aware this thing is not super popular with Dr's lol.Stay the course on whatever shows improvement...fun times...

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RealLife | @erinhastedt | Sep 30 1:11pm
In reply to @tkinder "What medication or treatments are you referring to specifically?" + (show)
Profile picture for tkinder @tkinder

What medication or treatments are you referring to specifically?

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@tkinder the medication is Diamox and the treatments involve respiratory therapy - basically getting your breathing patterns in order, stopping the hyperventilation, and water therapy. Submerging your body in water for 15 minutes or more each day will help with breathing and building back CO2. Disclaimer: This is all from my DR and I'm still on the path but the chemistry makes sense. I'll be happy to report any progress!

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law59 | @law59 | Oct 2 4:31am
In reply to @frouke "I’ve been reading about all of the things that everyone has been going through from LC,..." + (show)
Profile picture for frouke @frouke

I’ve been reading about all of the things that everyone has been going through from LC, I had covid in 2022 and for two years I suffered from rapid heart beats and heavy sweating, both have thankfully calmed down. What shocked me was the stories about muscle loss and atrophy, I too noticed that in the past year my skin is loose looking and wrinkled, being thin already I was able to see that my muscles are smaller. I never went to the doctor because I assumed that it was due to my age along with other symptoms, however I am not so sure about this anymore. I am curious about something, has anyone ever heard about these issues from younger people who had covid?? Many people mention their age, I’m 75, this was the biggest factor as to why I didn’t seek medical attention, I thought the doctor would laugh at me and remind me of my age, this is why I’m asking this question about younger women and men also seeing muscle loss and atrophy.

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Hi @frouke. Just assuring you believe you are spot on regarding muscle loss not just older age or less food etc as I am previous healthcare worker who was in excellent physical condition at time of getting covid first time ‘21 quickly developing into post covid. My trauma physical therapist had had post covid herself as well as doctors I worked for treating covid patients from small children to the elderly all over the world and muscle loss explained in so many ways as one of the perplexing symptoms that I have personally experienced at different levels from round one ‘21 and continuing through round 2 ‘24 with significant more muscle loss effect despite PT rehab techniques and those of my former physician employer who was past olympian himself believe more informed regarding muscle rehab 🙃 Slow and steady for our own individual medical histories for some of us appears necessary with light at the end of the tunnel🌈

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