Long Covid study

[Calm]

In case you are interested/affected or know someone who is, an important study on long Covid:

https://www.science.org/content/article/blood-abnormalities-found-people-long-covid
 

“The low cortisol levels in the Long Covid patients, about half of normal levels, aren’t a total surprise: Symptoms such as fatigue and muscle weakness are associated with less of the hormone. The cause remains a mystery. ACTH, a hormone made by the pituitary gland that controls cortisol production, was at normal levels in the Long Covid group. Furthermore, note Putrino and others, some Long Covid patients outside the study have tried short courses of steroids, which can treat low cortisol, but say they haven’t helped. Next, the researchers plan to track cortisol levels throughout the day in Long Covid; the steroid rises and falls on a daily cycle, and the initial research only tested it in the morning.

The Long Covid blood samples were also awash with a category of “exhausted” T cells that can be recognized by certain markers they express. Such cells surge in the ongoing presence of pathogens—suggesting “the bodies of people with Long Covid are actively fighting something,” Putrino says.

This battle would produce chronic inflammation, which matches many Long Covid symptoms. By measuring levels of antibodies against viral proteins released in the blood, the study also noted reactivation of Epstein-Barr virus and other herpesviruses whose genes can sit dormant inside infected cells for extended periods. Iwasaki was intrigued to learn that degree of T cell exhaustion appeared to track with Epstein-Barr virus reactivation, though she doesn’t consider that virus the only potential culprit. SARS-CoV-2 may linger in Long Covid patients, too, she and others say. Epstein-Barr reactivation, low cortisol, and T cell exhaustion have all turned up in some ME/CFS patients.“

[Stargazer]

Covid seems not to have affected me at all once it cleared up, but my wife seems to be dealing with over-tiredness, reduction in ability to taste food, and a couple of other things. She thought it might be rheumatoid arthritis, but the doctor she saw about it, seems not to think that's it. I shall show her the article; perhaps it might lead to a better diagnosis.

Thanks for posting this!!

[Calm]

Thanks for letting me know. I was wondering if still appropriate and then thought maybe there is someone out there that needs to know this.  I hope she can find help. Having just been officially diagnosed with fibromyalgia, I can testify that even just knowing what is wrong can be so helpful as it is wearing to always be wondering ‘what the heck is going on now?’ (I thought several of the symptoms were unconnected rather than aspects of one thing, so it is making more sense now and treatment is better focused).

Edited August 23, 2022 by Calm

[Tacenda]

1 hour ago, Calm said:

Thanks for letting me know. I was wondering if still appropriate and then thought maybe there is someone out there that needs to know this.  I hope she can find help. Having just been officially diagnosed with fibromyalgia, I can testify that even just knowing what is wrong can be so helpful as it is wearing to always be wondering ‘what the heck is going on now?’ (I thought several of the symptoms were unconnected rather than aspects of one thing, so it is making more sense now and treatment is better focused).

I've been making kefir for a couple of years now and it's helped with many issues for my husband and I. Recently started making it for my friend who suffers from peripheral neuropathy. I have to convince her it can be edible, haha. She tried making it once and couldn't gag it down. But she probably made it the way I did the first time. I would make it for you if you lived nearby. But you know me and my trying to get people to try stuff.

I'm sorry you have to have that diagnosis but I'm sure the not knowing isn't fun too.

Here's an article about it: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/fibromyalgia-and-fermented-foods/

[Calm]

59 minutes ago, Tacenda said:

I've been making kefir for a couple of years now and it's helped with many issues for my husband and I. Recently started making it for my friend who suffers from peripheral neuropathy. I have to convince her it can be edible, haha. She tried making it once and couldn't gag it down. But she probably made it the way I did the first time. I would make it for you if you lived nearby. But you know me and my trying to get people to try stuff.

I'm sorry you have to have that diagnosis but I'm sure the not knowing isn't fun too.

Here's an article about it: https://www.culturedfoodlife.com/fibromyalgia-and-fermented-foods/

I go for the straight unsweetened yogurt, love it since a kid. People have always looked at me strangely for asking for that rather than the doctored stuff.  Hate the fruit on the bottom yogurt and most mixed sweetened yogurt as too sweet or poor texture. Got to admit though one of my vices was yoplait. They do a nice balance of flavors and their texture turns it into dessert, so the sweetness works, like eating mousse.  The best stuff was only available in way too tiny containers though. I always ate two, lol. 
 

Once we get a functional new refrigerator (we have had a brand new, empty refrigerator for two weeks because it smells of a nasty chemical or mold that makes me sick every time I open the door no matter what we have tried, they are exchanging it, but don’t have a replacement in inventory yet…several major franchises just had appliance sales), maybe I will try making my own stuff again. I have a woman coming to do the grunt work as a mutual need situation and once the summer projects are done, I was going to have her help with food prep.  She could take care of the boring part while I figure out what fruit and flavors to add.  
 

I have been low salt for a couple of years due to Meniere’s. The past 9 months it has been no sugar (except for light syrup for mandarin oranges and some sugar in a vinegar glaze I constantly use).  Feeling so much better with digestion and just ‘cleaner’ over all. Hoping once summer is over to try Hello Fresh to get back in the habit of more varied food though. I have about three meals I rotate right now so I don’t have to think and I can get a very healthy meal in 5 minutes or less. 

Edited August 24, 2022 by Calm

[Hamba Tuhan]

On 8/23/2022 at 2:56 AM, Calm said:

“The low cortisol levels in the Long Covid patients, about half of normal levels, aren’t a total surprise: Symptoms such as fatigue and muscle weakness are associated with less of the hormone.

Thanks. I'm keen to read this this evening or this weekend. Fatigue and muscle weakness perfectly describe me (plus raw lungs/throat and cough). My fatigue peaks every day mid-afternoon, and I have to go downstairs to the sickroom and lie down for half an hour or so. If I don't, I'll actually start trembling.

The crazy thing is that I went through a thorough medical exam in June, including a whole raft of blood-work and other tests, and I have literally no underlying health conditions. Every single number was in the normal/desirable range.

[Calm]

Iirc, I have had my cortisol tested and the usual test version isn’t that sensitive. But I haven’t researched it much, it was a functional medicine doctor recommended by my GP, who told me that (was working with her when I was desperate, but it is by e-mail and mail and that just doesn’t work for me).  I will be interested in hearing what happens with you if you go in for more testing. 

[Tacenda]

My daughter was anti vaxxer and still is. Several months ago she got sick and her voice changed dramatically, very deep sounding. She still has it and she won't tell me, but I'm thinking she got covid and that's when it started, she has had it a few times along with her husband and daughter. But she won't go get it checked by a doctor, I'm very worried she's a long covid sufferer and her symptom is the deepened voice.

This past week she got really sick and she's congested and missed some work. Her husband got sick first and she immediately did as well. I just wish my daughter and her husband took it more seriously. They even have a good friend that nearly died from it! But deny, deny, deny!