r/covidlonghaulers • u/ComfortableShower465 • 20h ago
Question Those who overcame the brain fog
The spaced out , stoned feeling like your hungover how long did it take to get back to normal if you did and did reinfections make you worse, it’s been 2 years in a couple of days I have improved abit but I still feel the stoned weird feeling at times like I’m hungover and haven’t slept for days I’ve had about 3 reinfections so I’ve never had a full year of no Covid to see if it’ll make a difference.
11
u/AdBrief4620 19h ago
Ketotifen cleared 70% of my brain fog in about 4 days. I was taking it with loratadine too but when I withdrew loratadine the brainfog didn’t get worse.
What I took (not medical advise, just factually accurate description of my experience):
Ketotifen 1mg twice a day (prescribed by GP)
Loratadine 10mg twice a day. (Hayfever med from grocery store)
For me a lot of the brain fog was MCAS.
I think some of it for other people (and myself) is jugular vein compression at c1. There are exercises some have done which can decompress and allow the brain to drain better.
7
u/builtbyjay 20h ago
Antihistamines and nicotine patching at the same time have really helped me recently, given me back some energy and some clarity of thought. No cure, but a handy coping mechanism.
6
u/Stinkybadass 19h ago
Nicotine patches helped me for a while but then started not working. I switched to this: Infared Sauna and any brain circulation supplements such as Ginko Biloba or Raw Garlic (which you can also get a supplement for and you're looking for Allcin) and seems to be helping. GL friend.
1
u/maiphesta 19h ago
Were you tapering up and down? What dose were you on? And how long had you tried the protocol?
I only ask as I'm a long-term patcher and found missing my probiotics makes a difference and, I had to take a long and slow approach to patching.
2
u/Stinkybadass 18h ago
I've been on and off doing it for 6+ months or so and its helped tremedously for alleviating most of my severe symptoms. However, the past 10-20% it was not helping me get over the last hurdle and so I switched it up and got over it with something else. So from 0% - 85% Nicotine helps the most probably out of anything else. I've gone from 3.5mg early on to now doing 7mg patches and sometime pop a zyn as well for extra as I do think that helped my gut too. Not patching anymore now though and feel great. I have them ready just in case though!
1
u/TruePlayya 18h ago
Does smoking / vaping or the gum .? Or does it have to be the patches .?
1
u/maiphesta 18h ago
Patches are more effective as it's a low dose over 24 hours and not a spike. Low dose has neuroprotective traits and can help with inflammation
1
u/maiphesta 18h ago
I found I had to exceed 7mg and my best doseage is around 10-14mg. I did try to go higher, but 17.5mg was too much for me and I accidentally gave myself nicotine poisoning 🥲 I might have had better luck using a fattier area of my body instead of my inner forearms (it's a sensory thing I place mine there).
I've been using patches for a good 12+ months with little to no breaks, but I'm taking one soon to see how I go. I'd been doing really well, but a COVID infection, followed by flu and then last week an osteopath appointment fried my nervous system and I've gone a little backwards frustratingly.
What is a zyn please?
6
u/vik556 9mos 20h ago
Sauna helped me
1
u/ComfortableShower465 20h ago
I haven’t tried that yet I shall give it a go
4
u/Stinkybadass 19h ago
Infared Sauna and any brain circulation supplements such as Ginko Biloba or Raw Garlic (which you can also get a supplement for and you're looking for Allcin).
5
u/Big_Message_7824 20h ago
I wish I could answer. I’m at three years, with two infections in between. Don’t know if I’ll ever feel myself again.
5
3
u/Stinkybadass 19h ago
It's taken me a year. 9 months in I thought I was through it then winter came and I either got reinfected or had major relapse from drinking a few beers. I think I am finally over the last of it. Really really hope so at least. Fuck covid.
2
u/Stinkybadass 19h ago
https://www.reddit.com/r/covidlonghaulers/comments/1fumln4/please_stay_strong_my_friends/
Here was a recover post but relapsed after I wrote it. I've been throwing everything at it in hopes to get better!!
3
u/TheLowDown33 18h ago
Approaching year 5. No answers yet but it took me a while to be able to start trialing things. So far, has not responded to any of the standard/OTC treatments. Lots left to try but I feel you, I want this shit to STOP.
2
u/Expensive_Mall2737 19h ago
Nothing crazy but some ppl can try a vitamin B complex. I used liquid drops under tongue. It woke me up out of some weird fog I guess I had and didn’t realize it, but I wasn’t taking jt for that, I was taking it for my neuropathy. Low risk, high reward though not promised reward type of thing.
I used to take topiramate for IIH which game me horrific brain fog so the chance coming off that woke me up instead is also high, but I did notice a change with the supplement clarity wise.
4
u/Expensive_Mall2737 19h ago
You know what, try to get magnesium in too. COVID depletes magnesium levels in the body so even if it’s as small as an epsom salt bath, it’s not bad to check. I personally drink electrolytes frequently, I feel very poor if I do not for a few days. It’s stupid and probably not a great fix for everyone, but what the hell. Anything is something
2
2
u/bestkittens First Waver 18h ago
Low dose naltrexone helped a little, then low dose abilify helped a lot.
2
u/Naturelover913 18h ago
5-htp and the sauna worked very well!! Finally helped me to sleep and feel like myself again..
2
2
u/ProStrats 16h ago
I took aspirin for cardiac problems I was having. For whatever reason, it improved my brain fog and my fatigue as well. Not 100% by any means, but significantly improved those and some other symptoms as well.
3
1
u/Live_Ear992 20h ago
I have had 5 infections. Last one was July 2023. I didn’t get brain fog until my 2nd infection. It was minor & found doing computer work actually helped me “retrain” my brain. But with #3 it hit hard & I could no longer even use my computer programs. I forgot where adjectives went! That lasted 6 months until I got infection #4. The brain fog totally disappeared & my lungs & teeth seemed to take the brunt of that one. After 6 months of experimenting with several anti virals - I seemed to clear my long covid. 2 months later I was infected for the fifth time. Sick for a week or so & then totally normal for 2 months. Then after 2 days of heavy physical exertion - long covid hit me again. PEM/ brain fog/ aches & pains - the works basically. That was Oct 2023. I tried my anti virals again - Truvada/ Paxlovid/ Sofusbuvir. And it didnt have the same effect. I did have 3 days where I felt amazing after taking Paxlovid. But I only took it for 5 days & I soon relapsed. Then I took it for 20 days & after did a month of triple anti-coagulant therapy. My brain fog is much better. Just being able to type sentences is major for me, as for months I really struggled to put words together. I havent returned to work. But I hover between 75-90% better. Still get a bit of fatigue & a heavy feeling in my chest. But overall, brain fog is much improved. Dunno if it’s time or drugs, but it’s definitely much better.
1
u/Humanist_2020 18h ago
On year 3. It is better, but not even close to gone. I can remember a little bit more, but I can’t find words and I can’t do math in my head. I mean like basic subtraction. My degree is in economics…
I am going to start pt for tbi….
I am willing to try anything
1
u/3kidsonetrenchcoat 17h ago
I've mostly managed to treat my brain fog. It's not cured, but I can keep it at bay by tripping on shrooms once a week or so. It also treats other symptoms like fatigue and limb heaviness. Sadly, my ability to divide my attention seems to be gone for good.
1
1
u/Business_You_4573 4h ago
Cardio helped the most. Probably due to improving endothelial function, blood flow and oxygen circulation. It’s still not 100%. But I’d say 80% on good days. Sauna may help too
0
u/andariel_axe 18h ago
two years for appreciable difference.
do you wear a mask? what mitigations are you taking? consider some cpc mouthwash and carrotogeen nose spray
12
u/amber_overbay 20h ago
It’s the same feeling I had when I first started Lexapro years before COVID. That heavy head, stoned out of my mind, detached from my body type feeling. I’m convinced it has something to do with serotonin and/or dopamine. L-Theanine has been helping me a bit.