If you’ve recovered from Long Covid: what helped?

[WeAreThePigs]

Desperate for my mum to get better

She is utterly miserable

thanks

"How many times did you go and how many sessions? By a massive stroke of luck I just found out there’s one right near my house which I had no idea about"

They recommend twice a week - I just went once a week though due to other commitments (work) clashing with the opening hours.

I worked on the basis that it couldn't do any harm - it's just oxygen - and it's been scientifically proven to aid recovery and rehabilitation from sports injuries etc.

Worth a try in my not-a-professional-so-am-just-guessing opinion. Especially if there is one just near your house.

Felt like the vaccines helped with tiredness and breathlessness quite quickly, within a few days of each vaccine. Brain fog gradually lifted too - I had felt disconnected from memories, like I had to work hard to remember things. I also felt better initially after 2nd COVID infection but then I had a really active week where I pushed myself and now tiredness and joint pain is back somewhat

This is really helpful, thanks to everyone who has contributed.

I had covid about 6 weeks ago, recovered went back to normal and then crashed. I now seem to be getting worse not better and have taken time off work to sleep. My legs are really painful and I feel breathless even lying down. Feel very upset about it

My brain fog came on about a month after recovering from COVID. It cleared after almost st 5 May bags. At its worst I couldn't drive, remember words and forgot all the 'automatic' things like fastening seatbelts or locking the front door. 9 months on I'm busy relearning all the training I had in the first 6 months of the year. The physical tiredness is something which is gradually improving but I have to keep pushing a little more every day. It is so easy to overdo it though and then I need a day in bed to recovery. The post covid unit has referred me to rheumatology too as if I push too hard my joints become inflamed and sore for a few days.
It does get better, but everyone has their own pace, and you have to keep pushing yourself a tiny bit more all the time. I hope your mum rallies soon.
I'm heartened by a pp who said that a second dose of COVID caused improvement: the new college term for my daughter might bring it home again!

5 months not 'May bags': that was my fingers not my brain fog 😀

Ooh this IS interesting - our beetroot crop had just come in as we all got covid. DH dislikes fresh beetroot, we all love it. Guess who got covid the worst?

Trying to work out if I can convince my mum to drink beetroot juice…..

I did a lot like others so not sure exactly helped or not. I've had long stretches of being better but recently gone down hill- I think stress does not help as the nervous system is so implicated. I take osteocare for the magnesium and other supps, as well as b bits, probiotic, ashwagahanda (for nervous system), iron as I also tested anaemic. I was originally given very strong psychiatrict meds as the COVID caused brain inflammation which led to auditory hallucinations etc and I still experience nightmares every night and I have pins and needles in my head and muscle spasms in my body. I'm now off them finally after 2 years and trying st Johns wort which I think may be helping but early days. I've also found hydration to be key and drink electrolytes every day. One of the weirder things I do is use a tens machine on my ear as it is supposed to stimulate the vagas nerve which runs through your whole body..I noticed a difference in my energy levels immediately after using this and continue to regularly use for 10 mins a day. There are other methods for stimulating this nerve which you can look up online.

Magnesium
Vitamin c + Zinc

Try supplements etc for 3 months before deciding if they work or not

Hi @WeAreThePigs how is your mum doing? I hope you've seen some improvements from the recommendations made.

I had covid in feb 2020 and have been on a rollercoaster ever since, being bed bound for three months at worst but I'm a stage now where although I still suffer it's manageable.

In case you are still looking for ideas one thing that hasn't been mentioned which I felt had a huge positive impact for me was acupuncture. I had it once a fortnight for a few months then once a month for a further six months, now once every couple of months. I was quite sceptical but saw it mentioned in a few articles and was at the try anything stage and in the words of my consultant "it can't hurt" so I gave it a go. I probably felt worse after the first few sessions but then saw big improvements especially with leaden legs and energy levels. Big note though is not to go crazy and do too much when energy levels increase as that just puts you back.

Finally I also had counselling to help me deal with the mental impact of going from being a busy energetic mum with a high flyer career to being the lady who was signed off work sick and was crying on the shower floor because I didn't have the energy to get out of the bathroom. Body and mind need to work together.

Hi @MavisMonkey unfortunately my mum is really Ill and it’s definitely not long covid

She is in hospital undergoing tests for cancer as we speak and she has aged about 20 years in a few months so it’s devastating for us all.

She has also been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease called Polymalgia Rheumatica which was only diagnosed after she lost the vision in one eye two weeks ago

so my point to anybody reading this thread is probably:

DONT ASSUME IT’S LONG COVID

ADVOCATE FOR YOUR PARENTS BECAUSE THEY ARE REALLY VULNERABLE TO BEING FOBBED OFF

BE AGGRESSIVE ABOUT MANAGING SYMPTOMS

CHECK THAT ANY REFERRAL HAS BEEN PUT IN - my mums bowel cancer referral was delayed by two weeks because of incompetence

Hi so sorry your mum is suffering . has she improved. in the same boat