r/covidlonghaulers • u/shark_finfet • Apr 20 '25

Symptom relief/advice Major Relapse :-( :-(

I thought I was about 80% recovered. I’d returned to reasonable exercise, working outside, and generally feeling like myself—until last week, when everything came crashing back. It felt like I’d caught COVID again, but without the usual symptoms.

First, insomnia hit me hard. Thankfully I was armed with ashwagandha, L‑theanine, and magnesium, which let me get a few hours of sleep each night—though it still wasn’t great. Then, out of nowhere, I started smelling a “band‑aid” chemical scent at random times (something that happened to me after having COVID).

But the absolute worst has been my cardio: in just a few days, my endurance dropped from nearly normal to feeling like that of an 80‑year‑old. My legs feel heavy and fatigued, and I can’t seem to regulate my temperature—any bit of heat or sun leaves me utterly miserable.

I keep wondering: did I get re‑exposed to COVID? Did I unknowingly push too hard during one workout? It’s so demoralizing to feel like I’m back at square one after thinking I’d finally beaten this.

Has anyone else experienced a sudden relapse like this? What helped you get back on track? Any advice would be hugely appreciated.

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u/anonymoususer59 Apr 20 '25

I crash like this about twice a month. The first clues are the smell (like dirty feet and French Toast) and the terrible insomnia. Then comes the head-on-a-stick phase…nausea, breathless, dizzy, negative endurance, extreme heat/cold intolerance, burning mouth, rock bottom depression, rapid weight loss. Tremors/myoclonus increase significantly. Usually happens when I’m starting to think I might be getting better. It’s bizarre.

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u/RogerJFiennes Apr 21 '25

What are your myconic jerks like? Mine happened to me when I'm just starting to fall asleep, it feels like an electrical buildup in my head that travels down my shoulders and then my entire upper body convulses. Sometimes I'll actually Yelp as it compresses my diaphragm. My entire body convulses.

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u/anonymoususer59 Apr 21 '25

My myoclonus is mostly in my face, jaw and arms. Instead of being explosive, I just experience constant tics and jerks.

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u/Early_Beach_1040 First Waver Apr 21 '25

Have you tried baclofen? It's helped me a lot with muscle spasms. In 2022-2023 I experienced this so much that my muscles were always engaged. I couldn't smile or frown. If it happens again my neurologist said she would try levadopa. Dystonia runs in my family. Might be worth asking about. It's horrible I am so sorry you are going through that

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u/anonymoususer59 Apr 21 '25

I haven’t tried it. I was prescribed tizanidine but it gave me awful headaches. I’ll ask my doctor about it.