Long Covid and tiredness......my update and a report ive just read.

[Dave7]

Some may recall that got Long Covid... it must be 4+ years ago now. It was confirmed after 2 spells in hospital.
The ways it affected me (it varies among sufferers) were/are .........
1. Loss of balance. Falling off bike and simply falling while walking.
2. Severe loss of strength, particularly in my legs. I couldnt stand from sitting without assistance and had to 'haul' myself up the single door step. For 6+ months i used a strollator and even in the house used a zimmer frame.
3. Weight loss. I lost 31/2 stone in 6 weeks.
4. Complete change to my taste buds.
My update.......
I still get very tired and sleep a lot**
My appetite is now quite good.
I can walk now but have to be very careful when crossing roads as changing direction makes me lose balance.
I still cant cycle and doubt I ever will.
I have put 21/2 stone back on.
**It did worry me but the study I've just read says Long Covid affects blood flow to the brain with tiredness a result (they dont know why that is).
All in i am very pleased with progress and have come to accept it.....there are many sufferers far worse than me, some fatally so.
Sorry if this has bored any of you but this report brought it all up in my mind so thought I would share it.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Some may recall that got Long Covid... it must be 8+ years ago now. It was confirmed after 2 spells in hospital.

I feel for you, Dave, but couldn't you also have another health condition?
Covid only spread here in 2020, 6 years ago.

 

[fossyant]

It's affected a school mate and a colleague. The school mate now has oxygen most of the time, and a colleague suffers chronic fatigue, and struggles to ride his bike anymore, and he's early 40's. Glad you've seen some improvement.

 

[Dave7]

I feel for you, Dave, but couldn't you also have another health condition?
Covid only spread here in 2020, 6 years ago.

Sorry, I put 8+ years... its actually 4+ years** since the hospital diagnosed it. My hospital/doctors letter confirming it is dated Nov 2023 (just checked it).
It started a couple of years earlier but my Doctor said (i quote) "I am not convinced that Long Covid actually exists". It was only after i had been admitted to hospital etc that she wrote to me confirming the hospital's diagnosis.
**I was starting to suffer various affects some time earlier. They seemed to be slowly fading but same back with a vengeance. It was then I went into hospital.

 

[N0bodyOfTheGoat]

I've found beetroot helps a bit with both brain fog and reducing cycle fatigue.

After buying the 500g Tesco packs of boiled beetroot for a few months, replacing the similar price pickled packs my better half used to get, I only recently thought to consume the pack juice rather than throwing it away. A teaspoon on my lunch definitely helped relieve brain fog.

So this week I'm trying a 1l carton of beetroot juice instead of the boiled beetroot packs, having a glass when I wake up. Not sure if the extra juice is making me more awake, but it tastes nice once chilled!

Some cyclists have been eating/drinking this stuff for years to get marginal gains, but healthy trained athletes need to consume far more.

It doesn't cure long covid, but it certainly helps me a bit with some symptoms.

Getting the ebike around Easter '25 has been a game changer and having the Mahle SP1 battery extender has helped even more this year, to go further and/or get more motor assist.

 

[Tenkaykev]

I've found beetroot helps a bit with both brain fog and reducing cycle fatigue.

After buying the 500g Tesco packs of boiled beetroot for a few months, replacing the similar price pickled packs my better half used to get, I only recently thought to consume the pack juice rather than throwing it away. A teaspoon on my lunch definitely helped relieve brain fog.

So this week I'm trying a 1l carton of beetroot juice instead of the boiled beetroot packs, having a glass when I wake up. Not sure if the extra juice is making me more awake, but it tastes nice once chilled!

Some cyclists have been eating/drinking this stuff for years to get marginal gains, but healthy trained athletes need to consume far more.

It doesn't cure long covid, but it certainly helps me a bit with some symptoms.

Getting the ebike around Easter '25 has been a game changer and having the Mahle SP1 battery extender has helped even more this year, to go further and/or get more motor assist.

Some of the long distance running community also take beetroot " shots " during events. I read that it's high in nitrates 🤔

 

[MontyVeda]

The two people i know who had long covid have seem to have mostly recovered, one amazingly so since it hit her really hard for a good few years

 

[SpokeyDokey]

The two people i know who had long covid have seem to have mostly recovered, one amazingly so since it hit her really hard for a good few years

Same here: one young lad who was hugely affected has made a remarkable recovery.

 

[Dave7]

Same here: one young lad who was hugely affected has made a remarkable recovery.

That's good.
I honestly thought I was going to die at one stage. Its hard for me to believe the improvement my body has made.
Sometimes, like the last 3 days, I still get the strange sensation that my legs dont want to do what my brain is telling them to do.
Generally I am very happy with the way things are.

 

[yello]

Some of the long distance running community also take beetroot " shots " during events. I read that it's high in nitrates 🤔

<aside> I've heard it called nature's EPO. Somehow enables the blood to carry more oxygen. Interestingly, it's not the beetroot itself that gives it these properties but something the body does (in saliva as I recall, but I'm sketchy now) in response to (aid the digestion of?) beetroot.

 

[nogoodnamesleft]

Hoping OP starts recovering
<aside> Whilst I'm no medic, I have a nagging thought that long-Covid might just be another variant of post-viral fatigue/ME/CFS and through all the terrible impacts of long-Covid I'm hoping that it might also incentivise further research into causes and treatment of ME/CFS.

 

[yello]

Generally I am very happy with the way things are.

Good for you, that's the way to be imho.

Time can sometimes be a healer, and I think it's worth thinking that way when one is in the midst of illness (or diagnosis) Hope might not heal but it's certainly a better state of mind to be in! Tbh, I'm amazed at the body's ability to repair, and if not repairing then finding a workaround. My own feeling is that we often don't have the time (nor sometimes the patience) to allow it to work its magic - because we've got to be back at work tomorrow/next week, or whatever.

 

[fossyant]

I take beetroot extract tablets - good for oxygen uptake and lowering blood pressure.

I've found beetroot helps a bit with both brain fog and reducing cycle fatigue.

 

[Dave7]

I take beetroot extract tablets - good for oxygen uptake and lowering blood pressure.

Never heard of beetroot tablets. I must look into that.
Q.....if i take them for eg a week will I be able to run again

 

[Gillstay]

I know a chap with long covid and he still struggles, has to plan a walk to ensure he can get home again and has a spot to rest.

Managed to get back to work and is very positive, but it must be a real pain in the arse. I felt very sorry for him.

Cannot cycle at all due to the lack of balance.