Post COVID Symptoms: Brain fog and tingling lips

@drleiferman- Hello! My answer is absolutely, yes to both. It took quite a while for my neurological symptoms to disappear after I had the vaccine so I'm not surprised that you have some residual things going on after having the real thing. Boy, you had the grand slam with both of these, one right after the other. And after the year that we've had, and then some, I think we all have some brain fog to get over. But having brain fog after COVID- 19 is not uncommon.

I'd like to invite @hopeful33250 to join in this conversation as she has had Shingles too.

Other than these two things how do you feel? Will you be getting the vaccinations?

I haven't gotten the vaccine yet, but will be as soon as I can. I have had numb/tingly lips ever since having shingles. I also have slight blurry vision. My nurse practitioner got me on paroxetine which has not helped fight brain fog and just sort of robbed me of joy in my opinion. A month or two ago I was so brain fogged that I didn't even trust myself to make good decisions, but I do now.

Since I had Covid in July 2020 I suffer from severe muscle and joint pain. What medicine may I take for the pain?

@rolla0812 - Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. We can't recommend medications as we are not medical staff. We are patients who help each other. We can't advise you on what would be best for your pain. You must be so frustrated and angry that your symptoms have lingered for so long. "Long Haulers" are people who experience long-term effects from COVID-19, usually about 8 months or so. Also, about 72% of "long Haulers experience the types of complaints that you have. Research is ongoing concerning this. But that doesn't help you right now.

I think that the medication for pain that you need also depends on your medical history and the medicines that you are presently taking. Have you been taking anything up to this point for pain? Have you spoken with your doctor?

I'm using brufen, and it doesn't helps a lot.

@rolla0812 - Have you asked your doctor for something stronger, or perhaps pain management?

I wholeheartedly agree with Merry. Long term pain requires an assessment and strategy for managing so you don't just curl up in a ball of misery.
I think many docs are beginning to believe many post-Covid issues are neurological, which responds well to pain management strategies, not so well to typical pain relievers.
I spent all of last summer and fall in PT and working with a doc to get my long-term pain controlled - it was a combination of arthritis and irritated nerves. It was hard work, uncomfortable at times, but I'm in a good place now. And I am able to tell which pain is from arthritis and which is from nerves reacting (what we call "pain buddies" in our family) so that I know which strategies to employ.
Sue

Followers of this discussion might also be interested in this blog on Connect written by Mayo Clinic experts studying post COVID syndrome and treating patients:
- Post-COVID Recovery blog https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/post-covid-recovery/

Follow the blog to get updates when new blog posts are made.

@rolla0812 @drleiferman, there was a recent news story about some COVID longhaulers experience a relief or subsiding of their symptoms after being vaccinated. You might be interested in reading more here:
- Can a COVID-19 Vaccine Improve Symptoms for People with Long COVID? https://www.healthline.com/health-news/can-a-covid-19-vaccine-improve-symptoms-for-people-with-long-covid

A new UK study found evidence that after a vaccine people with long COVID-19 may feel better. But more research is needed to know if it’s really the vaccine helping.

I'll be interested to hear if your symptoms get better after vaccination.

diarrhea after prizer 2 vaccine

I had pfizer dose 2 about 3 weeks + ago. I have had diarrhea every day since then. I have eliminated all fruits, veggies, beans, etc., anything with fiber. No relief. I am a senior citizen, and have never had this symptom . So it is extremely out of my ordinary health state. I am generally healthy, no pre-existing conditions. Any commonts are welcome.

@jshdma- That's a long time to have diarrhea. You must be feeling very poorly. Not having fiber could be contributing to it because that's what keeps your bowels firm. . Stomach problems are common after the covid vaccine but not as common as headaches or fevers.

If you had no preexisting symptoms prior to having the vaccine you are one lucky lady! Letting diarrhea go for this long can be very serious because you are also losing a lot of fluid. You could have coincidently had a stomach bug or infection too. We seem to think that after having the COVID-19 vaccine that anything after that is caused by the vaccine, but that's simply just in our minds because we expect something different after something new has been introduced into our system. There are still common colds, infections, etc. bugging people.

Have you taken any medication for it? I suggest that you call your doctor and see what he suggests ASAP. I would advise you to call today. I consider this an emergency.