Anyone with long covid?

[Psm92]

Just looking for support really. I have been struggling with this for more more 2 years now and a few months ago had a huge relapse. Since the relapse I've still not gone back to my pre-relapse level of functioning and still struggle to walk for around 10 mins outside. Anyone in a similar situation? It's like even if I start to feel better my exercise tolerance has not really increased.

I had it a while back. I found it got substantially better after I caught covid a second time but took my time to recover from it. It was very odd.

Ask your GP if they can refer you to any program for recovery. The one I was on was called Hope for Long Covid

I do. At the start of my long covid, I pushed through just enjoying the exercise - now I can do hardly anything. I don't know what to suggest I'm sorry. I can walk for ten minutes sometimes if I do it really really slowly. Hope someone comes along with some advice for you soon.

Accupuncture helped me

I've had long Covid for 2 years (2 years exactly tomorrow actually). It's been horrendous. I've had more time on sick leave than I've been at work. 😳My job is hanging by a thread. I suspect my career is finished.

However, I am doing much better than I was. I've had 2 relapses (currently recovering from the second one). What has helped me is sleeping as much as I need. I average 3 hours/night more sleep now than I did pre-Covid. And finding a very fine balance between pushing myself as far as I can and not overdoing it. I have learnt the hard way as I have got that balance very wrong many times. I was told early on by a long Covid specialist that I shouldn't do more than 60% of what I feel capable of. I'm not very good at estimating 60% but I've learnt stop early and/or say no as I might feel fine at the time but I will be hit hard a day later and be knocked out for days. It takes a lot of discipline, especially when most people don't understand and think I'm just being lazy / rubbish / weird. I've learnt to ignore them and prioritise my health.

The other thing I've done throughout is go to the gym 3 days a week to do weights. There are only 2 periods of 2 weeks in that entire 2 year period when I was too unwell to go to the gym. Other than that, I have dragged myself there. Even when just the effort of travelling to the gym wiped me out. Even when my heart rate is showing as at 100% maximum during my warm up (cue PT freaking out and checking the defibrillator was working just in case). By building my muscular strength up, it means I have improved my cardio fitness without doing lots of cardio. It has helped my breathing a lot, and helped my walking etc. I'm now capable of doing 1 hour of weights ( e.g. I deadlifted 75kg for 3 sets of 12 yesterday) plus 30 mins of heavy bike work. It's taken me 2 years to get to this (pre-Covid I was very fit and trained 6 days/week and was lifting a lot more than 75kg) and it's been incredibly hard. I have spent a lot of time lying on mats in gyms and hating Covid and myself. But my goal has been to turn up and do it no matter how bad I feel. Most weeks those 3 gym sessions have been all I have been capable of. But consistency is what matters and slowly I am feeling physically better. I still need a ton of sleep but it feels like there is some light at the end of the tunnel.

I also use an app called Impulse Brain Training every day to work on my cognitive issues. It's basically games that help memory attention, problem solving, etc. That has really helped too.

I just came on here to ask exactly the same! I have had long covid since April 2020 and desperate for any help, advice, etc.

This for me is a good day - having the energy to type a few sentences! I haven't returned to work (was a deputy head in a primary school) and have left my house 4 times (for hospital appointments) since April 2020.

It would be lovely to hear 'good news stories' of people who've improved - especially people who got covid pre-vaccine as I did in early 2020. (Although I may not see any replies for a while as I often can go days without being able to read/write anything. Hard to believe I was an active, v busy deputy head pre-covid.)

Have you tried supplements to see if they help? I was recommended vitamin c + zinc, vitamin D and magnesium