I have recently recovered from my second bout of COVID. Unfortunately, I gave it to my husband (who is  now 70 years old) on both occasions. Thankfully, we both recovered very quickly with immune supportive herbs, medicinal mushrooms, zinc, probiotics and vitamins C and D.

I have been helping many clients who are suffering from Long COVID symptoms ranging from fatigue, brain fog, loss of taste & smell, to shortness of breath, insomnia and palpitations.

I have done numerous continuing education seminars on supporting people with long COVID symptoms and hope to share some useful tips and supportive measures.

This blog describes the risk factors for Long COVID, symptoms people can experience, thoughts as to why it occurs in some people and ways to get better, finishing with a lovely case history.

Symptoms of Long COVID:

You are not crazy if you think these symptoms began or did not clear after having COVID. They can include:

  1. Fatigue, sometimes crushingly debilitating
  2. Respiratory symptoms like cough, sore throat and shortness of breath
  3. Cognitive health issues including brain fog, insomnia, anxiety and depression
  4. Neurological symptoms like loss of taste, smell and hearing loss
  5. Inflammatory changes like joint or muscle pain
  6. Kidney, liver and blood changes
  7. Cardiac issues like chest pain and palpitations
  8. Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
  9. Digestive issues like diarrhea and nausea
  10. The list goes on…..

Risk Factors:

  1. Having had a severe case of COVID
  2. Middle age
  3. Being female
  4. Having a pre-existing chronic condition (like an autoimmune disorder or type 2 diabetes)
  5. Stress and social factors

Theories as to why Long COVID occurs:

  1. Viral persistence i.e., we think we’ve cleared the virus but it evades our immune system and still lurks in tissues
  2. Changes in our microbiome due to the infection
  3. Organ damage from the virus
  4. Immune and blood coagulation changes
  5. Ongoing inflammation

What can we do?

  1. Optimise immune function with targeted herbs (including andrographis, elderflower); medicinal mushrooms (reishi, shiitake, maitake), adequate zinc and vitamins D and C
  2. Support a healthy microbiome with a wholefood diet, and appropriate probiotics
  3. Manage stress and ensure restful, adequate sleep
  4. Reduce inflammation (see my blog on natural anti-inflammatory support including specialised pro-resolving mediators {SPMs} and PEA) – https://www.holistichealth.com.au/natural-support-for-pain-inflammation-and-arthritic-conditions/
  5. Optimise energy with nutrients including ubiquinol and magnesium
  6. Investigate underlying ‘drivers’ like nutrient deficiencies, mineral imbalance, exposure to toxins from our environment (like moulds, chemicals in our food, personal care products and food), allergies and inflammation. There are several tests that can help pinpoint potential issues like organic acids testing: https://designsforhealth.com.au/omx/; hair mineral analysis https://www.holistichealth.com.au/hair-mineral-and-heavy-metal-testing-why-how-and-what-do-i-do-with-the-information/; and gut microbiome testing https://www.holistichealth.com.au/why-keeping-our-gut-microbiome-healthy-is-important-and-how-to-test-it/

The good news is you CAN get better with natural, targeted support.I have had many clients improve including *Stefan, a 30 year old student. This is his abbreviated thank you note:

I got Covid in the March of 2020, right at the beginning. I spent most of the two years after that suffering from Long Covid. I’ve been unable to work or study that entire time. I could barely think, I couldn’t exercise, if I went and did anything, like go to the movies with a couple of friends after the lockdowns ended,  I would need to spent the next four days unable to do even the most basic things.

I’ve tried to get help from a lot of people. From several GPs, from specialist clinics like the Royal Melbourne Covid clinic. Every single time I was met with scepticism or a shrug and a “we can’t help you.” One of the GPs I’ve seen, after months of trying to get help had me do a respiratory test and declared that, because that was fine, it couldn’t be Long Covid, and that I was suffering from depression.

Doreen initial session went for almost 90 minutes. She listened to me, and engaged with my concerns. In the couple of months since, has actually helped me with my issues. Thanks to her treatment and advice, my condition has improved a great deal, I feel almost normal now. I’m exercising again, I can think clearly…I still have a way to go to get back to normal, but I’m very hopeful that in another month or two I should be able to find a job again, and get back to my studies next year. (Note he had further significant improvement since this initial response and only check in every few months)

*His name was changed for privacy

If someone you care about would like a complimentary chat as to how I can help them, please book online: https://holistic-health-pty-ltd.au1.cliniko.com/bookings

Doreen Schwegler is a Medical Scientist and Naturopath who works online, in Sydney and Melbourne. doreen@holistichealth.com.au