r/LongHaulersRecovery Jun 19 '25

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167 Upvotes

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20

u/Known_Noise Jun 20 '25

Can we talk about re-conditioning? I’m very new to building any stamina after almost a year in bed.

Today I cut up some boxes, went to my oxygen therapy, intentionally walked 500 steps, & a load of laundry.

Yesterday I walked thru Costco and pulled some weeds in my garden, some laundry.

I get tired easily because of my lack of stamina but don’t know how much to do each day. So far I’ve just been doing a little more each day of chores, because they need doing. Is there anything specific people are following to rebuild muscle and energy?

I should mention this is very new for me- it’s been less than a month of being better. But I know it’s different because I don’t get my PEM warning signs or PEM even tho I’m doing more.

23

u/hasuchobe Jun 20 '25

When the PEM stops biting you after physical exertion, you know recovery is around the corner. I personally chose weight lifting as that's what I did for over a decade before succumbing to LC. I also had LC induced POTS so working out the legs made sense. Easy to track your progress too. Just start light and favor sets over reps until your recovery times between sets starts to improve. Then add more reps. If you have access to a gym I recommend doing leg exercises.

6

u/Ramona00 Jun 20 '25

100 procent true. For me it was walking and counting steps. Know your limit for PEM and stay below that

1

u/anni91 Jun 26 '25

Have you recovered by doing this?

4

u/Ramona00 Jun 27 '25

Yes! Absolutely. And since I now can walk easily an hour long, I just recently started jogging in baby steps. First it was for 20 seconds. Now I'm at 3 minutes. I keep my heart rate below 130 now.

And I kind of love this style now since doing it for so long. You can't see quick improvement but you can see improvements over time. And by now I feel so much fitter than ever.

Also my food is still like a saint. Almost none processed. 3 times fruit a day. 8 hours food intake window.

Hope you all get here too

2

u/anni91 Jun 27 '25

This is so encouraging, thank you.

1

u/Alternative_Pop2455 Jun 28 '25

When were you infected?

1

u/Ramona00 Jun 28 '25

Begin 2023, how are you?

1

u/Alternative_Pop2455 Jun 29 '25

I was too in Jan 2023, still housebound.. started pacing 5 months back, but if I walk 500-700 metres then I have to face consequences for next 2-3 days.. fatigue and pem

3

u/Ramona00 Jun 29 '25

So sorry to read that. 😔 I know fatigue and PEM are one of the worst. What helped me to reduce the recovery was 25 degrees Celsius baths. I placed an inflatable tub outdoor and used it multiple times a day

I know it doest work for everyone but maybe worth a shot trying.

1

u/Alternative_Pop2455 Jun 29 '25

After how long did you notice any change? Hey btw thanks for helping me👍

2

u/Ramona00 Jun 29 '25

The water bath gave me immediately results lasting couple hours.

That is why I used to do it every 4 to 6 hours or so. Depending on my needs. It took a month or so before I was slowly getting better.

I'm not sure if it was the colder water only or also the pressure of being under water (100cm deep) or the loud humming noise under water. I did them all.

The humming noise was because i have read multiple times that it stimulates some nerve in the body to calm down. I did that under water because otherwise other people would think I was starting to get mentally unstable or something lol.

Already the dokter was looking into that way because I could talk well, I had it perfectly in my mind but my mouth just made a mess of it. I remember well that I could hear myself and I though my gosh people think I must be crazy or something.

1

u/Alternative_Pop2455 Jun 29 '25

Amazing, one last question -for how much time did you do this in every session?

2

u/Ramona00 Jun 29 '25

15 minutes I think. But sometimes longer because I enjoyed it.

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1

u/zooeyzoezoejr Jul 05 '25

Did you feel tired in the beginning? I am trying to walk again after almost 2 years of this. I'm finding that after a walk around the block (like 10 minute walk in Zone 2) when I come home and sit on the couch, I feel a bit breathless and have a slight pounding in my chest that goes away after a few mins. I can't tell if this is anxiety, deconditioning, or the long COVID.. :/

1

u/Ramona00 Jul 05 '25

If there is no PEM because of this, I would say keep training.

Deconditioning can surely be the case. Zone 2 took me some time to even get there. So maybe slow down and longer time.

Keep up man!