Is "Long Covid" Legit? 🤔🤧🤒😷

**WillBrink** · 03-12-23, 17:22

Originally Posted by Inkslinger

I will say I think so. I’ve had covid 3 times. The first two times I only really felt bad for 2 days and start to finish it was 5-7 days. The third time I never had the 2 bad days and overall it was mild. The down side was it hung around for almost 2 months. Where it really stood out was my first gym workout after I was feeling better.

Lifting wasn’t a problem. I was definitely lifting less, but after a month out of the gym, that was expected. The real oh shit moment was when I got on the treadmill. I thought I would do a light mile to shake things out a little. I do quite a bit of trail running so a mile is no big deal for me. I couldn’t make it a quarter of a mile without hitting my max heart rate and had to stop. It was over an hour after stopping that my heart rate returned to under 100bpm. My normal resting heart rate is usually between 50-55. It stayed 20-25 bpm higher for about two weeks and I was exhausted the whole time. My HRV stayed in the medium to high stress range even when sleeping. I eventually started to feel normal and get restful sleep. It’s taken me about another month to get back to being able to do an unbroken mile on the treadmill at a little under 10 min mile pace. Was it long covid? I don’t know, but something hung a boat anchor on my heart after having it.

You should see a doc about being tested for any cardio - pulmonary issues, perhaps miocarditis related. I'd rule that out. Recent thoughts/recs on long covid: https://brinkzone.com/addressing-long-covid/

**Inkslinger** · 03-12-23, 18:42

Originally Posted by WillBrink

You should see a doc about being tested for any cardio - pulmonary issues, perhaps miocarditis related. I'd rule that out. Recent thoughts/recs on long covid: https://brinkzone.com/addressing-long-covid/

I do feel like I’m over whatever the issue was. I’m progressing with my cardio. Resting heart rate is back to normal and so is my HRV. I was definitely considering it during the two weeks of wtf. I’ll probably stick to the treadmill for another week or two. I’ll have to see how things go when I hit the trails for a real run. I was planning on doing the tough mudder again this year which is in 2 months, so I’ve got a lot of catching up to do for a 15k. I appreciate your reply though and I will read your article.

**TehLlama** · 03-13-23, 01:01

The most recent overall thing I've been researching basically points towards some cases, the BA1 and later (Xi-Omicron) variants basically unlocking the memory B cell cap on old viruses, and letting people get absolutely clapped by old viruses they had (stuff like Mono getting a second pass through, simultaneously with other stuff, to where you basically get fibromyalgia symptoms with chronic fatigue).
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/art..._campaign=news
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles...22.949787/full
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-022-01836-9#Bib1 [Older links]

In my case, my immune system just couldn't be bothered to do anything about Hand Food & Mouth, which turned into a proper five week crapfest (nothing quite like sloughing up multiple layers of skin with lesions on 90% of my body, and losing toenails that have only partially grown back 10 months on).

The same really varied reactions to getting infected are also kinda there for the vaccination, just varying extents. Similar deal, the way in which I experience migraines has become totally different - in some ways more manageable, but the frequency stepped up to where I had to start trying new medications, which is really frustrating.

I'm back to trying to overtrain, but I really need to take my fat arse out on my bike and start putting down 12-20mi sessions down to start getting up to speed now that the weather is decent.

**WillBrink** · 03-13-23, 09:36

Originally Posted by TehLlama

The most recent overall thing I've been researching basically points towards some cases, the BA1 and later (Xi-Omicron) variants basically unlocking the memory B cell cap on old viruses, and letting people get absolutely clapped by old viruses they had (stuff like Mono getting a second pass through, simultaneously with other stuff, to where you basically get fibromyalgia symptoms with chronic fatigue).
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/art..._campaign=news
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles...22.949787/full
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-022-01836-9#Bib1 [Older links]

In my case, my immune system just couldn't be bothered to do anything about Hand Food & Mouth, which turned into a proper five week crapfest (nothing quite like sloughing up multiple layers of skin with lesions on 90% of my body, and losing toenails that have only partially grown back 10 months on).

The same really varied reactions to getting infected are also kinda there for the vaccination, just varying extents. Similar deal, the way in which I experience migraines has become totally different - in some ways more manageable, but the frequency stepped up to where I had to start trying new medications, which is really frustrating.

I'm back to trying to overtrain, but I really need to take my fat arse out on my bike and start putting down 12-20mi sessions down to start getting up to speed now that the weather is decent.

And the outbreak oh shingle outbreaks following covid infections and so forth.

The importance of GSH in this can't be overestimated, yet it continues to be in the sci/med community. Viruses require an oxidative environment to replicate, and that involves generation of ROS and inflammation and redox balance disturbances, resulting in tissue damage and ongoing mitochondrial damage and dysfunction. GSH is the linchpin to all of it. I'd strongly encourage you to read my article and recs, and sources both long covid, and the full deep dive linked in that article.

GSH As it pertained to covid is a must read and tip of of the iceberg:

https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsinfecdis.0c00288

**glocktogo** · 03-13-23, 14:52

Originally Posted by WillBrink

You should see a doc about being tested for any cardio - pulmonary issues, perhaps miocarditis related. I'd rule that out. Recent thoughts/recs on long covid: https://brinkzone.com/addressing-long-covid/

Originally Posted by TehLlama

The most recent overall thing I've been researching basically points towards some cases, the BA1 and later (Xi-Omicron) variants basically unlocking the memory B cell cap on old viruses, and letting people get absolutely clapped by old viruses they had (stuff like Mono getting a second pass through, simultaneously with other stuff, to where you basically get fibromyalgia symptoms with chronic fatigue).
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/art..._campaign=news
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles...22.949787/full
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-022-01836-9#Bib1 [Older links]

In my case, my immune system just couldn't be bothered to do anything about Hand Food & Mouth, which turned into a proper five week crapfest (nothing quite like sloughing up multiple layers of skin with lesions on 90% of my body, and losing toenails that have only partially grown back 10 months on).

The same really varied reactions to getting infected are also kinda there for the vaccination, just varying extents. Similar deal, the way in which I experience migraines has become totally different - in some ways more manageable, but the frequency stepped up to where I had to start trying new medications, which is really frustrating.

I'm back to trying to overtrain, but I really need to take my fat arse out on my bike and start putting down 12-20mi sessions down to start getting up to speed now that the weather is decent.

When I was suffering from long covid, my search for answers eventually led me to cardio. I did the stress test and my cardiologist's office called me as soon as the results were back. They scheduled me for a heart catheter the next day!

Said there was a 50% chance I'd already suffered a heart attack. When they went in they found... nothing. I basically went through every specialty medicine discipline that could possibly explain my issues and all I got was a much lighter wallet. One attempted treatment was a cervical injection that really jacked me up for a few weeks. The neurology angle went nowhere either. Eventually I just gave up.

But then, I got RSV back in December. It lasted four WEEKS and somewhere along the line it morphed into something worse. I got meds and cleared it up eventually, but many of the issues I'd been dealing with post-Covid came roaring back, along with a few new ones. The brain fog, insomnia and nerve issues in my extremities are the most annoying. At least the migraines didn't return with them.

Anywho, I began reading again and did read one interesting article about "POTS" or postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome. Apparently complaints have skyrocketed since covid began and getting an official diagnosis is nearly impossible, with actual treatment being unobtainium.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/condition...185615559.html

A life-changing condition called POTS, which can cause fainting, irregular heartbeats and dizziness, particularly among young women, appears to be on the rise as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

But the condition isn't well understood, and many patients are dismissed as having anxiety, delaying diagnosis. Once diagnosed, many patients face waiting lists as long as two years to get treatment from specialists.

POTS stands for postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, a disorder of the autonomic nervous system, which regulates involuntary functions like heart rate, blood pressure and digestion.

"When the autonomic nervous system is not functioning properly, any or all of those things can go a little haywire," said David R. Fries, a cardiologist and POTS specialist at Rochester Regional Health.

POTS patients typically experience a marked rise in heart rate when standing and a complex combination of symptoms, including dizziness, brain fog, fainting, headache and fatigue, among many others.

There is no known cure for POTS, but physical therapy, medications and diet changes related to salt intake can sometimes help.

Experts say there is a dire shortage of medical professionals who know how to care for patients with POTS. Lauren Stiles, president and chief executive of Dysautonomia International, a nonprofit advocacy group, estimates that the number of people with POTS has at least doubled since the start of the pandemic, while the number of specialists has remained the same and waiting lists are getting longer.

"They were overwhelmed and flooded long before covid," Stiles said "We need to increase the amount of experts in this because it wasn't enough before covid, and it's certainly not enough now."

POTS symptoms are often diagnosed as anxiety

Symptoms can vary widely, and in some cases, can be debilitating.

Yep, this reads like a manual for everything I've been through, including one bloody awful ER doc who erroneously put "anxiety attack" in my medical records and that was a HUGE fight with the "system" to get amended.

So three years down the road and I still have lingering health issues with no official diagnosis. I took this article to my GP and she stated and I quote; "OK sure, but does it really matter? There's still no treatment that will help. Do you really want to spend a lot more money for an official diagnosis that won't even buy you a cup of coffee?" Well no, but damnit I'd like to prove that I'm not a ****ing malingerer!

**Gregory234** · 03-14-23, 12:59

What type of Covid was it? Omicron? Or was it at the beginning of the pandemic? My wife caught the virus just before Christmas. Fortunately, she had a mild form, but still felt terrible for three or so days and had to take Canadian Pharmacy Remdesivir (of course, it was a doctor's recommendation). Having read about your experiences, I started thinking that it is better for her to go through a medical check.

**glocktogo** · 03-14-23, 17:04

Originally Posted by Gregory234

What type of Covid was it? Omicron? Or was it at the beginning of the pandemic? My wife caught the virus just before Christmas. Fortunately, she had a mild form, but still felt terrible for three or so days and had to take Remdesivir (of course, it was a doctor's recommendation). Having read about your experiences, I started thinking that it is better for her to go through a medical check.

Very early in 2020, either January or February iirc. It was weeks before they even talked about it on the news.

**Watrdawg** · 03-17-23, 10:10

Originally Posted by markm

None at all. It's very weird. I get some strong smell sensations, but the smell isn't correct. Coffee for example. If I open a can, I get a strong smell, but it doen't smell like coffee.

Funny you mentioned Coffee. I didnt have any taste or smell issues until AFTER I got the Johnson vaccine. I got COVID back in 2021. It was mild and only last about a week. Although once I went back to the gym and doing Crossfit that first work out about killed me. I was exhausted. It took about 2 months to get back to normal.

After I got the Johnson vaccine about a week later everything smelled like burnt coffee. I could smell something cooking on the stove and no matter what it was it smelled like burnt coffee. It was a strong smell also. I could be in a butcher shop which normally when you walk in all you smell is meat and all I smelled was burnt coffee. Everything smelled like burnt coffee. This lasted for about 6 months then it slowly faded away.