Ancestors

Written by Fullmetal Manager 🌈💖🔥 on 2025-01-06 at 20:04

I'm learning that with long COVID, my body needs additional supplies of vitamins, enzymes, and other bits that it's running short on

I don't like being on so many medications and supplements, but I tried rotating a few off and found the hard way that my body needs something from them

So in case it helps others or someone else found something I haven't yet, these are supplements that I now know I have to take regularly:

Multivitamin — generally useful

Vitamin D — frequently low in long COVID

Magnesium — helps prevent cramps (frequent cramps are a signal of low magnesium)

Molybdenum — essential for breaking down toxins (especially important for vegan, vegetarian, or gluten free diets!)

Biotin — supports skin, nails, and hair growth

Unclear value/result:

Omega-3

Cod liver oil

Haven't yet tried:

Glutathione — haven't tried yet but recommended for fatigue & CFS

Thyroid complex — many long COVID symptoms match hypothyroidism

COQ-10

Non-supplement things:

Hydration, electrolytes, and ample sleep are a crucial foundation

Pacing and resting are essential for chronic fatigue and PEM

[#]LongCovid #ChronicFatigueSyndrome #fatigue #CFS #PEM #PostExertionalMalaise

=> More informations about this toot | More toots from saraislet@infosec.exchange

Toot

Written by Fullmetal Manager 🌈💖🔥 on 2025-01-06 at 20:34

Theoretically, human bodies can manufacture most chemicals or nutrients that it needs, from general carbohydrates, fats, and proteins — but the reality is that most bodies are deficient in doing one part or another

Conditions like ADHD often indicate that a body is under-producing some enzyme to create enough of an essential chemical such as dopamine. Injured or sick bodies need additional nutrients and energy to repair.

Long COVID patients especially need additional supplements because for unclear reasons the body isn't fully functioning. Since COVID, I need lactase pills to break down lactose, and I seem to run out of other things more than usual.

Since COVID, my body suddenly reacts to gluten like an allergy. My body is generally more reactive (autoimmune responses? Mast cell activation syndrome? cytokine storm? 🤷🏼‍♀️). Low FODMAP diet helped me identify foods that trigger reactions, and I learned to recognize when general stressors put my body into a more reactive mode, so I can reduce stressors and get out of that mode. Rest helps but sometimes Benadryl or hydroxyzine help dial back that reaction. I thought I could go without hydroxyzine now that it's more stable — NOPE! Bonus: hydroxyzine is one of the drugs that reduce likelihood of COVID infections (same as cetirazine/loratidine IIRC)

Digestion, gut motility, and general GI issues (IBS, SIBO, GERD, acid reflux, heartburn) are frequent in long COVID (and some drugs like hydroxyzine are anticholinergic, which in particular slows bowel movement). Fiber intake (both soluble and insoluble!) is crucial but often insufficient: there are both OTC and prescribed options to help with that (e.g., osmotic laxatives like Miralax to put water in intestines, and stimulant laxatives like senna to increase bowel movement). GI health is core to Long COVID treatment.

Blood sugar issues and diabetes are frequent in people who had COVID. Get ANNUAL blood labs, including A1C (3 month average of blood sugar). My A1C was prediabetic after COVID but went UP to type 2 diabetic despite dietary and exercise changes! Metformin can help manager blood sugar (bonus: may reduce risk of COVID infections)

Wearing a mask should go without saying. Reduce your time spent in large groups of people, or with people indoors, or where air isn't sufficiently filtered or circulated. But most of all, wear masks and encourage others to wear masks to reduce COVID risks, especially on air flights or public transit!

I'll add to this list if I think of anything later

[#]LongCovid #LongCovidTreatment #CovidRecovery

=> More informations about this toot | More toots from saraislet@infosec.exchange

Descendants