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Has anyone had success with acupuncture or Lymphatic drainage massage?

Posted by dawg @dawg, May 20 2:14pm

Hi. Four months into LC from my second infection. Was hospitalized with Delta and Covid pneumonia in 2021. Released to home (on oxygen) after 7 days. Had heavy fatigue initially but got better every day. Fully recovered in about a month or so. Second infection late January this year. Milder case (after Paxlovid). Had similar fatigue symptoms so tried to work thru them like last time. Fatigue was tough some days but never debilitating, so assumed I could work through it. Took a scheduled trip in late Feb and after 9 hours of driving had crash the following day. Ended up in an ER thinking I was having heart attack. Checked out fine on cardio. After crash stuck in a chair for a week until my wife drive us home. After follow up cardio tests, sleep study (have mild apnea and I wear an appliance), everyone concurs it’s long covid. Have gone thru the standard of resting and feeling a bit better, then overdoing it and paying for it with crash. After reading way too much on internet, I’ve seen anecdotal information on people having some luck with both acupuncture as well as lymphatic massage. I’ve had two sessions of each and planning on giving each four sessions to see if I’m getting any result of all. Feel like I’m throwing spaghetti against the wall to see if anything sticks. Anyone have any luck at all with either of these treatments?

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joanland | @joanland | May 20 5:17pm

Sorry you have these symptoms and to this degree. LC is a bi-ch. I'm at 1 year +. Energy is simply gone, or if I have a bit of energy and use it doing something in the yard or inside, there is no energy the following day. My adult daughter had Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and was sick for 18 years; I'm so grateful she didn't get LC when she got Covid from me. We were out of the US and Paxlovid was not available in the country where we were. Some things that have helped me: make certain you have a thyroid panel run, T3 needs to be checked as well as TSH; B12 and Vitamin D levels also need checking. If they are not ordered or haven't been done in the last 6 mo or so, ask your PCP to have them checked. No point in having anything that is easily corrected also dragging you down. (All of those mentioned, I was found to be low on and getting levels back to normal has helped.) Long COVID has been a long, slow process for me. I'm learning to take 1 day at a time, and I simply can't do what I used to do. I now have a 40-ish woman come in a couple of times a week to help me. Again my very best wishes to you. And please keep posting what you try and your responses.

REPLY
1 reply
covidstinks2023 | @covidstinks2023 | May 20 5:28pm

dawg, Bless You. I have long COVID and we sound like twins! I had double pneumonia in 2022 with my first bout of COVID. I was in bed almost 3 weeks with it and exhausted. I was diagnosed with Long COVID last year.

I went to an Integrative Medicine Doctor who was wonderful and was very versed in treating Long COVID. I could not tolerate the infusions with the Glutathione which is supposed to help with Long COVID and boost your immune system. I reacted to everything he tried with me. Testing showed I have gene mutation issues. I could not tolerate the folates given to me for that. I felt worse. I quit going after 6 months. He felt like he had failed me, but, he hadn't. It's not cheap, but, an Integrative Medicine doctors help a lot of folks as they think outside the box.

He recommended red light therapy....I have not tried it yet, but, have heard wonderful things about it. You put your whole body in this machine (it almost looks like a tanning bed) and the person sets the machine to target the medical issues.

I use to get lymphatic massages for Fibromyalgia....they helped...but they are painful when you are already in pain. You actually can feel the lymph node release. I have not tried them for Long COVID.

I went to the Cardiologist as well thinking it was my heart with my first bout of COVID as my heart rate was so high and my chest hurt. My chest still hurts at times from having had COVID, but, everything checks out fine. They did an Echo stress test that turned out fine.

Praying for you and I hope you find some answers and help.

REPLY
1 reply
dawg | @dawg | May 20 5:50pm
In reply to @covidstinks2023 "dawg, Bless You. I have long COVID and we sound like twins! I had double pneumonia..." + (show)
@covidstinks2023

dawg, Bless You. I have long COVID and we sound like twins! I had double pneumonia in 2022 with my first bout of COVID. I was in bed almost 3 weeks with it and exhausted. I was diagnosed with Long COVID last year.

I went to an Integrative Medicine Doctor who was wonderful and was very versed in treating Long COVID. I could not tolerate the infusions with the Glutathione which is supposed to help with Long COVID and boost your immune system. I reacted to everything he tried with me. Testing showed I have gene mutation issues. I could not tolerate the folates given to me for that. I felt worse. I quit going after 6 months. He felt like he had failed me, but, he hadn't. It's not cheap, but, an Integrative Medicine doctors help a lot of folks as they think outside the box.

He recommended red light therapy....I have not tried it yet, but, have heard wonderful things about it. You put your whole body in this machine (it almost looks like a tanning bed) and the person sets the machine to target the medical issues.

I use to get lymphatic massages for Fibromyalgia....they helped...but they are painful when you are already in pain. You actually can feel the lymph node release. I have not tried them for Long COVID.

I went to the Cardiologist as well thinking it was my heart with my first bout of COVID as my heart rate was so high and my chest hurt. My chest still hurts at times from having had COVID, but, everything checks out fine. They did an Echo stress test that turned out fine.

Praying for you and I hope you find some answers and help.

Jump to this post

Thanks. The massage so far doesn't hurt - feels great actually-acupuncture too. Just not sure how much difference they'll make in the long run. Not to mention, not cheap and all out of pocket. Will explore red light therapy. Hang in there.

REPLY
1 reply
dawg | @dawg | May 20 5:56pm
In reply to @joanland "Sorry you have these symptoms and to this degree. LC is a bi-ch. I'm at 1..." + (show)
@joanland

Sorry you have these symptoms and to this degree. LC is a bi-ch. I'm at 1 year +. Energy is simply gone, or if I have a bit of energy and use it doing something in the yard or inside, there is no energy the following day. My adult daughter had Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and was sick for 18 years; I'm so grateful she didn't get LC when she got Covid from me. We were out of the US and Paxlovid was not available in the country where we were. Some things that have helped me: make certain you have a thyroid panel run, T3 needs to be checked as well as TSH; B12 and Vitamin D levels also need checking. If they are not ordered or haven't been done in the last 6 mo or so, ask your PCP to have them checked. No point in having anything that is easily corrected also dragging you down. (All of those mentioned, I was found to be low on and getting levels back to normal has helped.) Long COVID has been a long, slow process for me. I'm learning to take 1 day at a time, and I simply can't do what I used to do. I now have a 40-ish woman come in a couple of times a week to help me. Again my very best wishes to you. And please keep posting what you try and your responses.

Jump to this post

Thanks. All bloodwork done as well as thyroid check. Everything where it should be. My DO did recommend I increase my magnesium and start CoQ10 (which I should have been on long ago based on taking a statin). I appreciate the response. Hang it there.

REPLY
cattt | @cattt | May 21 3:54am
In reply to @dawg "Thanks. The massage so far doesn't hurt - feels great actually-acupuncture too. Just not sure how..." + (show)
@dawg

Thanks. The massage so far doesn't hurt - feels great actually-acupuncture too. Just not sure how much difference they'll make in the long run. Not to mention, not cheap and all out of pocket. Will explore red light therapy. Hang in there.

Jump to this post

Make sure to look into beginner or easier lymphatic yoga. The cancer agencies also have really easy exercises to treat lymphatic issues on their sites. YouTube* as well. I find these work on the less energy days as the output is minimal but very beneficial in mind body healing. It all works and co relates to endocrine functioning and infection clearing. Great recipes, and journal tips to track your good, bad and ugly days or goal set, and track info for your physicians. You can find lymph massages that you are able to manage yourself on your off days from treatment.

REPLY
1 reply
joanland | @joanland | May 22 12:08am
In reply to @cattt "Make sure to look into beginner or easier lymphatic yoga. The cancer agencies also have really..." + (show)
@cattt

Make sure to look into beginner or easier lymphatic yoga. The cancer agencies also have really easy exercises to treat lymphatic issues on their sites. YouTube* as well. I find these work on the less energy days as the output is minimal but very beneficial in mind body healing. It all works and co relates to endocrine functioning and infection clearing. Great recipes, and journal tips to track your good, bad and ugly days or goal set, and track info for your physicians. You can find lymph massages that you are able to manage yourself on your off days from treatment.

Jump to this post

Glad to hear you've had those "essentials" checked and all are in appropriate measure. Good work on your part and your doc's. Please keep posting, sharing your journey so that we, too, can learn from you.

REPLY
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