Long covid - vitamins

[SmileyPiuPiu]

Hi, just wondering what vitamins etc any fellow long covid suffers have been recommended? My GP has suggested vitamin C, zinc, and vitamin D. just wondering if there's anything else anyone is finding helps them? I get fatigue, headaches and muscle/joint pain.

How do you calm the nervous system @Hillsmakeyoustrong ? I would love some pointers.

Ok well my personal experience would say

1. Exercise but not anything that is cardio heavy or adrenalin inducing. So I enjoy walking and yin yoga (other yoga's are quite physically demanding).

1. Yoga nidra is amazing. Lie down every day for 15 or 20 minutes and close your eyes in a quiet room. No distractions. Honestly a lie down is a real tonic.

1. Breath from your tummy not your chest when you remember.

1. Reduce caffeine. If you can stop it even better (I couldn't long term)

1. A weighted blanket at night has been amazing for me. It is clinically proven to calm the nervous system. The correct weight is important. You can go too light and too heavy. They say between 8 to 12% of your body weight is good.

1. Sertraline has worked brilliantly for me as well in reducing my anxiety levels which were chronically high.

1. Magnesium supplement at night to help deeper sleep.

Thank you so much. It's a whole new way of thinking for me as I've just been thinking about inflammation.

Sad to read about the caffeine! I've been drinking a lot of green tea to fight inflammation. Making the two cancel each other out!

I did a Pilates class yesterday, a gentle one full of older people, and felt so much better for it. Your post has inspired me to keep that up.

And I'll look into yoga nidra. And I've got some magnesium in my bathroom cupboard.
Thanks

Oh and turmeric is an amazing anti inflammatory. Turmeric tea is good as it doesn't take much to make you feel sick or have indigestion. There is one amazing supplement for inflammation with joints but it's VERY expensive. Hang on..

I was wondering about turmeric as I made a curry the other day and I swear it reduced the pain in my knees.

@SmileyPiuPiu results can be pretty quick with turmeric. People give up on it though as it upsets the gut. But if you can find a way to take it the. It's very good. They say turmeric with black pepper is an even more effective combo.

@Perfectlystill Pilates will be perfect!

Thanks! I didn't know it upsets the gut. I will try and incorporate it into my diet more. It may have just been a complete fluke but I was like what is this wonder curry!

17 months in here.

I take zinc, not sure if it does much though. I also take iron and B12 (vegetarian diet). I've been taking vitamin D too (god knows how I manage to have a deficiency, I live in the south of France ffs).

I agree with the advice on gentle exercising, I do try and do a bit of cardio too (on an exercise bike, so at least I'm sitting down). Stretching is also really important, I have a set that I do every other day, it's important to hold the positions for at least 45 seconds, it's really made a difference with regards to muscle/joint pain.

I've not found anything that helps with the chronic fatigue though 🥱

@LaChatte yes agree on the bike and holding the stretching positions for a little while. That's why I like yin yoga. Most of Europe is deficient during the winter and I'm not sure if our fascination with suncream helps. But the vitamin D worked wonders for me after a short while. I don't take it religiously during the summer though as you can take too much.

Just joining this thread as I think I might have long covid and looking for ideas x