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.