Long COVID
A podcast reiterating the most important points from this case is out!
A 40-something-year-old F presents with signs and symptoms of long COVID. She was bedridden with it in 2020 and most s/s have started since then.
Main Signs/Symptoms:
Migraines
Diarrhea
Stomach aches and pains by numerous triggers
Fatigue
Congestion
Patient also presented with:
Neck pain
C2 instability
Nerve pain
Irregular periods
Dizziness
Jaw pain
Anxiety
Allergies
Blurred vision
Hemorrhoids
Indigestion
Sharp stomach pains 1x/month
Weight gain
Post-exertional malaise
Frequent urination
Brain fog
Abnormal sweating
Muscle weakness
Dates of treatment:
2nd appointment: feels like the aching and heaviness in her muscles moved to the extremities. She has nerve pain in her pelvic region.
Stomach pain lessened, less diarrhea for 2d post-tx.
Anxious, brain fog, flu-like today.
3rd appointment: stool has firmed up over the week and become more “normal”. Mucus in the morning is less green and less in quantity.
Energy has increased since last time.
Taking her herbs regularly for 3 days and feeling better since taking them. Inflammation feels like it has decreased.
4th appointment: lower abdominal cramping and some moodiness right now during ovulation.
Calves and lower back are achy.
Mucus in the mid-morning, not in the afternoon or at night anymore.
5th appointment: got sick a couple of days ago; clear liquid out of nose, achy, coughing up phlegm, head and ear congestion, alternating hot and cold.
Told her to stop herbs until next visit.
6th appointment: mucusy; was active yesterday and now feels fatigued and drained. Felt “hungover” this morning - rundown, shaky. Having diarrhea.
***We are not sure if her s/s are from an acute infection or from detox - covid test was negative.
Restarted herbs today.
7th appointment: digestion was doing well, but she had coffee and it gave her diarrhea. BMs are complete and frequent on herbs.
Congestion is gone, and mucus has gone down significantly.
Noticed better blood sugar regulation.
Energy is up. Able to go to the gym.
Period cramps consistently. Bleeding for 3 full days. 1 day of spotting. Medium flow. Feeling “hormonal” recently.
Refilled herbs and changed 1-2 herbs out since the dampness is concentrating in the lower jiao (SI, UB, KD).
8th appointment: slight trouble breathing recently.
Phlegm every other day, and very little comes up.
Tired and muscle fatigue this weekend.
Digestion/stomach sensitivity is improving.
Some nerve pain in the arms.
9th appointment: had a stomach bug months ago and has had a flare-up of sharp stomach pains at least 1x/month since then. Hasn’t happened since treatments began, except for last night, where it lasted until 3 am - ate differently the day before.
She has more energy.
10th appointment: very little PMS s/s with her period coming up. Mild occipital headache and slight moodiness and fatigue, but only for 1 day vs multiple in the past. She was still able to go to a family function yesterday and participate in the festivities.
Stomach pain is connected to cold dairy.
No coughing up phlegm in the last few days.
Poop is more well-formed.
Energy improved. Mental health is improving.
11th appointment: removed dairy and has noticed a difference in phlegm. Feels overall improvement, with some ups and downs. Headache and stomach pain last week post-tx. Some occipital pain last night.
Period came; no spotting on 4th day like it would’ve in the past. Less pain and cramping. Less clots.
Some nerve pains and also achiness/heaviness of limbs.
Finished the 2nd round of herbs. Felt dry after the last round of herbs. Adjusting her new prescription.
12th appointment: traveling a lot, around central heat, feeling dried out.
Started herbs while away - they are helping with her nerve pain.
Was able to do hard hikes without post-exertional malaise. Has been taking fewer naps overall.
No phlegm. Introduced dairy again while traveling, and it hasn’t caused any phlegm or stomach pain. Eating foods that she wasn’t able to before, with no problems.
More gas since herbs, but nothing crazy - microbiome turnover.
Key takeaways:
I definitely spot some improvements and patterns. I wanted to dive a little deeper so they’ll be in a podcast ep next week! Stay tuned for that. I’ll talk more about the reasoning behind taking a week break from the herbs, and other tips for navigating chronic illness.