Long Hauler Bear

Don't overdo it. It's not all in your head. Seek healthcare providers that listen to you. Be ready for unexpected turns and big setbacks. Ask for help.

The H1/H2 histamine receptor blockade  helps manage inflammation and overactive immune system for many people as they recover from Covid-19. This may help you treat a temporary condition called Histamine intolerance. The H1/H2 blockade can help reduce your overall symptoms, including ones that are seemingly unrelated to your immune system. Select one from the H1 category and one from the H2 category. You can find a full list here . Many are available over-the-counter. Take them for a period of two weeks. If things are not getting better, select a different medication from the H1 or H2 list. Keep a journal of your symptoms over time. (I like to use an app called Bearable .) Through trial-and-error, I found that Claritin and Pepcid AC were best for me -- but everyone is different. I no longer take Pepcid, but Claritin still helps reduce some symptoms. Keep in mind that H1 blockers can cause drowsiness, so you might want to take them before a nap or before bedtime. Also it may not be ...

CovidLongHaulers.com is a service run by a company called IncellDX , who have developed a test that they say can identify immunologic profiles unique to COVID long haulers. They've published a study and have created a service that includes testing, suggested medication and in some countries, a doctor referral network for Long Haulers. Keep in mind that I have no way to confirm or refute that their treatment is effective, other than that I've heard many anecdotal success stories from other long haulers. IncellDX seems to be "ahead of the pack," at least, for now. They've identified a regimen of suggested prescription medications. These medications can be prescribed off-label; they've been widely available for years and and have well-established safety profiles. There's a $360 fee to get the blood test, and a $199 consulting fee for each telehealth consultation. You'll also need to have your own doctor who will prescribe the medications for you. The pr...

Many folks, including those recovering from Covid, report that their symptoms get worse when sitting or standing. They may be experiencing a phenomenon called Orthostatic Intolerance, or OI. Sometimes, OI is caused by Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, also known as POTS. There are other related conditions, such as OCHOS. I'll post more about these syndromes soon. In the meantime, you can use these guidelines to help determine if you have OI -- and possibly to get some degree of relief. How to manage & check for POTS syndrome There are some practical things you can do to manage POTS and orthostatic syndromes. In a nutshell, you need to encourage increased bloodflow to your upper body and brain. Everyone's a little different. "Trial-and-error" may be the best way to identify which ones work best for you. Check with your doctor before making any major changes. 1. Increase fluid and salt intake Increase fluid and salt intake to increase blood volume, ensuring...

Blogger Anisha Sekar nails it in  A Practical Guide to Long-Haul Covid . It's "a practical description of what has and hasn’t worked for me as I continue to battle long Covid." And it aligns quite closely with my own experience.

I use the the Bearable app to journal my symptoms, energy levels, sleep, medications and more. This has helped me to see progress over time and determine which interventions are helping. There's a bit of a learning curve, but after a couple days it becomes quite easy to do. The real value is tracking things over time. Looking back at the last year, I can see clear progress in certain areas -- and setbacks in others. You can customize the app quite a bit. If it seems overwhelming, you can customize the home page to display fewer points of data. Heck, you could even use it just to track mood and energy in just a few seconds each day. You can optionally automatically sync health metrics from your smartphone, watch or other wearable device.

When you're recovering from Covid, you may experience a sudden worsening of symptoms. Many of us call them "crashes." When a crash happens, stop and think about what you've done in the last few hours, and in the last couple of days. Crashes may happen as a delayed consequence of increased activity. If you encounter a crash, here are some things you can do to manage through it. This post needs some updating. I'll post more here when I can. Below are two really good articles about managing POTS ( Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome)  and PEM (Post Exertional Malaise). Using a heart rate monitor to manage Post Exertional Malaise CDC guide into treating your most disruptive symptoms My Experience: I used the formula to calculate my first estimated "ceiling." From then on, I started paying very close attention to how I felt and would check my pulse when I started to feel something "coming on." This gave me a better picture of when to stop a...

An interesting scientific paper suggests that  Covid-19 hyperinflammation and post-Covid-19 illness may be rooted in Mast Cell Activation Syndrome . Is it MCAS, or just an overactive immune system? Hopefully time will tell.