Living with Long COVID — understanding the journey
Living with Long COVID can be exhausting, confusing, and isolating. Symptoms may shift from day to day, progress can be slow or uncertain, and reassurance is often hard to find.
Whether you are newly affected, supporting someone you care about, or trying to understand your own recovery, this site aims to help make sense of that experience.
Why LongCovidJourney exists
LongCovidJourney was created to document what living with Long COVID can actually look like over time.
Together with a small number of others who are also living with Long COVID, I share observations, reflections, and evidence-informed approaches to managing symptoms such as fatigue, brain fog, breathlessness, and post-exertional worsening.
Nothing here is presented as a cure or a guarantee. These are simply things that have helped us understand what was happening, and which may be useful to others in similar situations.
What you will find here
You will find articles and guides that explore:
- Common Long COVID symptoms and how they are experienced day to day
- The ups and downs of recovery, including setbacks and relapses
- Practical approaches to pacing, rest, and managing limited energy
- Reflections grounded in lived experience and current evidence
New posts and longer guides are added regularly as understanding develops. If you find the content helpful, you may wish to bookmark this page and return.
Scroll down to explore the latest articles.
Thank you for being here.
Living with Long Covid: Navigating Energy Changes
Living with Long Covid significantly alters one’s energy management, making it unpredictable and limited. Unlike typical fatigue, those affected face a gap between intention and capability, leading to emotional distress and altered identity. Adaptation becomes essential for stability and self-respect, emphasizing understanding energy differently rather than relying on past norms.
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Understanding Sensory Overload in Chronic Illness
The letter describes the struggles of someone with severe illness, detailing how sensory overload from light and sound can overwhelm them, leading to neurological distress. The writer explains their need for a low-stimulus environment to aid recovery, emphasizing that quietness and understanding from others greatly support their healing process.
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Smart Takeaway Choices for Chronic Conditions
The Temptation of Takeaways Let’s be honest some days, even the thought of boiling pasta feels like a triathlon. When fatigue hits hard or brain fog turns meal planning into a cryptic crossword, the siren call of a takeaway can feel like salvation. A friendly delivery driver at the door, hot food you didn’t have…
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Explaining Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO): Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatments in a Post Covid.
A Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) is a common heart opening that can remain after birth, potentially causing complications like blood clots under certain conditions. COVID-19 may exacerbate PFO-related symptoms. Diagnosis involves tests like echocardiograms. Treatment options vary and may include closure procedures if symptoms arise. Consult a GP for concerns.
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Top Herbal Remedies to Alleviate Long COVID Symptoms
As colder months approach, those recovering from COVID-19 may experience fluctuating symptoms like fatigue and circulation issues. Herbal teas with ingredients like elderberry, ginseng, and chamomile can provide supportive relief. This guide emphasizes gentle, nourishing rituals that help restore energy, digestion, sleep, and overall well-being during recovery.
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Tips for Regulating Body Temperature After COVID-19
Individuals recovering from COVID-19 often experience thermal dysregulation, characterized by inconsistent body temperature and sensitivity to heat or cold. This condition is linked to autonomic nervous system dysfunction. To manage symptoms, individuals should improve indoor air quality, explore herbal remedies, and adopt lifestyle adjustments, ensuring comfort during winter.
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The Power of Faith in Healing Chronic Illness
Living with long COVID or chronic illness can be difficult; however, faith and spirituality often provide comfort and resilience. Research highlights that faith reduces psychological distress and fosters positive coping mechanisms. Spiritual practices like prayer, community support, and finding meaning can enhance well-being. Ultimately, combining medical care with spiritual support proves beneficial, though individual experiences…
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The Economic Costs of Ignoring Covid in Britain
Britain faces an economic crisis due to Long Covid, with over two million affected individuals suffering debilitating symptoms. The rise in economic inactivity, currently at 2.8 million, highlights the failure of public health policies. Addressing this requires recognizing Long Covid under disability laws and implementing structural changes to support affected workers.
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Boost Your Productivity with Science-Backed Power Naps
Power naps, lasting 10-20 minutes, enhance alertness, mood, and memory while reducing fatigue. For those with Long Covid, they serve as vital self-care, fitting into a pacing strategy to mitigate symptoms. Even quiet resting, without sleeping, offers significant benefits. Proper timing and understanding personal responses maximize effectiveness and support recovery.
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The Art of Pacing in Long COVID: How to Protect Your Energy and Avoid Crashes
ILiving with Long Covid, ME CFS, or other chronic illnesses often feels like walking a tightrope. Every activity from household chores to a short walk requires careful thought, attention, and restraint. That is where pacing comes in a deliberate evidence based strategy for managing energy preventing post exertional malaise and maintaining quality of life. Pacing…
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Long COVID Recovery: Movement Strategies Based on PEM Severity
Living with Long COVID can complicate exercise recovery due to varied effects on individuals, especially those experiencing post-exertional malaise (PEM). Exercise must be tailored to symptom severity, emphasizing pacing and gentle movements. Successful recovery balances activity with rest, ensuring safety and avoiding debilitating crashes while identifying triggers for better management.
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Are Alkaline Diets Effective for Managing Inflammation?
The alkaline diet claims to reduce inflammation and enhance energy by balancing pH through food choices. While its impact on blood pH is overstated, adopting a nutrient-rich diet of fruits and vegetables can support health, especially for those with Long COVID. It’s essential to focus on overall dietary quality rather than pH.
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The Reality of Long COVID in Aging Populations
The article discusses the misperception surrounding Long COVID in older adults, who are often dismissed due to pre-existing health issues. It highlights the severe impact of Long COVID symptoms, which can significantly disrupt daily life and wellbeing. A call for a paradigm shift in recognizing Long COVID as a serious condition for all ages underscores…
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Long Covid Journey 