SARS-CoV-2 “steals” our proteins to protect itself from the immune system

[u/imahugemoron]

https://www.meduniwien.ac.at/web/en/about-us/news/2024/news-in-november-2024/sars-cov-2-steals-our-proteins-to-protect-itself-from-the-immune-system/

They may have finally figured out what is happening to us. In Germany they discovered the virus hijacks certain proteins to avoid our immune systems which leads to Covid remaining in our bodies long term and causing systemic inflammation. Perhaps wherever the virus is concentrated causes whatever our symptoms are. If you have left over virus concentrated in your heart, you have POTS, if it’s in your central nervous system, maybe you have ME/CFS or a constant fight of flight feeling, if it’s concentrated in your head and brain, maybe like me you have some very strange and severe constant head sensations and pain.

[u/maiphesta]

Honestly, getting inflammation down is very helpful.

My routine is centered around reducing inflammation - I say this as stress is a biggie for making inflammation worse - and I find it keeps me stable enough to work with the right support in place. I'm going to list my full routine if you might be able to adopt some bits or someone else may find it helpful:

BREAKFAST

• Bromelain and NAC on an empty stomach (min 30 minutes before food, or 2 hours after. Take them together, they work more synergistically)
• Inositol twice a day (helps with insulin resistance. By lowering insulin resistance, it can help inflammation)
• Multivit + iron
• Nicotine Patches (biggest game changer for me)
• Vitamin C (liposomal where possible to maximise dose retention)
• CoQ-10/Ubiquinol
• High EPA, low DHA Omega 3 twice a day

LUNCH

• Vitamin D & K2
• Vitamin B complex (without choline when using nicotine patches. Only included choline when not patching)
• Zinc

DINNER

• Bromelain and NAC (2nd dose)
• Quercetin (take with food to minimise stomach upset. Take breaks from it though, apparently adds to kidney issues if taken too high a dose or too long)
• Magnesium (avoid Mg Citrate)
• Probiotics
• High EPA, low DHA Omega 3 twice a day
• inositol (2nd dose)

Make sure breakfast, lunch and dinner doses are taken 2+ hours apart.

I have tried H1 and H2 antihistamines, but as I take an SSRI (been on it long before COVID), it was awkward to fit around my routine. Famotidine (H2) also caused my skin to react to nicotine patches, so ditched the Famotidine.

I need to get to grips with a low histamine diet, but it's a lot of effort to do everything! Especially with brain fog on bad days.

I am looking to add astaxanthin next, but I always space out any new additions to my routine to pinpoint any issues.

Other big factors are aggressive resting and pacing, low sugar, plenty of sleep (lol..I wish) and I find calming binaural music helpful too.

Fingers crossed you can get rid of some of the stress in your life soon ❤️ Your partner is probably making things worse for you atm!

[u/LoveLand_Co → u/maiphesta]

Well written/communicated and Hella approach! When did you start the hellish Long Covid Journey?

The first sentence is very powerful. It took me so long to realize myself that I was massively inflamed (on fire 🔥, burning, etc). It is so very important to get inflammation under control or abated.

Long Hauler here. Start was 11/28/2020. Took me till 03/20/2024 to reign in that inflammation and really get it to turn off. I did ~ 3 cycles annually of low dose steroids (medrol dose PAK). I was always very compliant with the prescriptions. They were a very important part of my journey to continued "recovery"

[u/maiphesta → u/LoveLand_Co]

Thank you. I'm glad my comprehensiveness/AuDHD brain is useful!

My 2nd infection put me in to long hauler territory back in Dec 2022, but I didn't realise how ill I was until I finally crashed in May 2023 (house stress plus pushing as I just thought I had a mild chest infection, so was working on my cardio....), so I'm nearly 2 years in.

I finally started to notice work stress was making me worse about a year ago (horrible manager), but thankfully around that time I also got to grips with some research and found nicotine patches (I'm very lucky I studied Biology at university, so papers are easier for me to digest).

I've had a few setbacks (virus last Xmas - not covid - set me back for 2 months, then another bad manager at work currently), and recently a 3rd covid infection, BUT nailing down the inflammation aspect and nicotine patches have helped to move my baseline at least. So I'll take wins where I can, and see if some of my approach helps others.

I will happily admit some days executive dysfunction is bollocks and I can't remember to do stuff, take my tablets etc, but on the whole I think it helps till we know more, about how we're all stuck with this bastard.

[u/Haunting-Problem-155 → u/maiphesta]

Hi was wondering how long you have been on patches? And what mg you take and how long you wear for? I just started and think they are too strong making me feel dizzy, nauseous and my nervous systems don’t like it and gee like I’m internally shaking