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Long Covid is associated with cognitive slowing

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Re: Long Covid is associated with cognitive slowing

#61

Since 2019 I've been: - Vaccinated for COVID once - Infected with COVID 3 times - Infected with RSV once - Infected with unknown ?? upper respiratory, two times. I am absolutely less "sharp". It feels like both my cognitive and physical ability have taken a serious blow. I'm far less creative, less excited about work, less interested in challenging topics, and less capable of solving complex problems. I will sometime…

When I was suffering from this I tried to hack it and what I noticed was that when I got more blood to the brain (e.g. by being upside down), it improved (for a minute or two). So that led to the brain hypoperfusion theory and then I decided to ramp up the red blood cell count to give my brain the ability to do more with less, by taking liposomal iron, lactoferrin and liposomal sublingual B12. This led to a massive b…

Do you have test results to show that your red blood cell count increased?

Re: Long Covid is associated with cognitive slowing

#62
post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Agree. Also testosterone. I was lucky enough to have lab work before and after getting covid twice. My T numbers halved in less than a year. I was still within the “normal range” so it took some arguing with the doctors to get a prescription for a very low dose. Within 24 hours of starting, I felt like myself again. Brain fog was gone, energy was back, my mood rebounded. No negative side effects thus far. I had tried…

This piques my interest because when I first started noticing these symptoms that's actually the first thing I thought of. I'm in my mid 30s and I've heard that's around when T starts to drop off. Probably worth mentioning this to my doctor eh?

Doesn’t hurt. Be prepared for resistance though. The steroid taboo means there are very few doctors in the US that are both experienced and comfortable prescribing.

I saw massive results at 1ml per month, try pitching that. The dose is so low it rules out abuse and lowers the possibility of side effects.

Re: Long Covid is associated with cognitive slowing

#63
post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hey, to chip in: try cardio, especially running. Men loose muscle mass with age, as you are already aware, resistance training is important, but cardio should be on top of your list. I was there with you in terms of brain fog, general mental slowdown, what is called cognitive decline, and mind you, I presume we are healthy, without cognitive degeneration or serius injuries or conditions. Running 3 times per week shou…

Re: running / activity... I've always been a runner of sorts, but not super consistent. On average I would say I run 2-3 miles a week. But that could mean 15 miles in 1 week, followed by 2-3 weeks of low, or even zero running. My main problem is consistency and I can only hazard a guess that its consistency that produces the really beneficial effects? Because on those weeks where I do run a lot, I generally don't fee…

I hear you. Consistency is key. Scheduling a race few months in the future can clarify the immediate 'why' - the big picture is not the race but health. The path is the goal, really. This becomes clearer with consistent training. Like with anything, progressive overload comes naturally as consistent training builds endurance and an/aerobic capacity. You just operate at the increasing levels of effort your body and mind can handle. Consult your doctor if any health concerns arise as you progress and observe your body. Good luck, I'm off to my morning run!

Re: Long Covid is associated with cognitive slowing

#64

Since 2019 I've been: - Vaccinated for COVID once - Infected with COVID 3 times - Infected with RSV once - Infected with unknown ?? upper respiratory, two times. I am absolutely less "sharp". It feels like both my cognitive and physical ability have taken a serious blow. I'm far less creative, less excited about work, less interested in challenging topics, and less capable of solving complex problems. I will sometime…

fine. I believe you because I am experiencing the same things. did you eliminate depression as a possible cause? I don't know how. there is no "expert help" in my country. I believe everyone around me is faking whatever they are doing, including therapy. another thing to note: isolation. i think my isolation level just kept increasing. i entered a hole with the lockdown and i never got out, contrary. isolation could…

Do you exercise?

I forced myself to do workout classes like it was important non negotiable work

Re: Long Covid is associated with cognitive slowing

#65

Since 2019 I've been: - Vaccinated for COVID once - Infected with COVID 3 times - Infected with RSV once - Infected with unknown ?? upper respiratory, two times. I am absolutely less "sharp". It feels like both my cognitive and physical ability have taken a serious blow. I'm far less creative, less excited about work, less interested in challenging topics, and less capable of solving complex problems. I will sometime…

I've had 5 covid vaccines, and never had covid (as far as I know). My wife and kids all got it, I never did... and yes i tested a heap.

I got sick the other night, the first time I've felt sick in about 4 years... I was achey all over, I got the shiver and shakes and I was sweating non stop. I went to bed and had a very very rough nights sleep. but when i woke up I was fine.

Yet, I definitely feel like in the last 2 years my cognitive abilities have dropped. Also If I dont get at least 7 hours of sleep I'm just a zombie.

My typing accuracy and spelling has taken a massive nosedive.

physical activity is very hard... I used to cycle and do push ups etc all the time, but I'm really struggling to do a bare minimum now. It just feels harder, and I'm not getting the "buzz" or benefits I used to get.

I turn 50 this year, Its got me really concerned about my next 20 years of employability. I've given up drinking, I try very hard to get the sleep i need... but i'm just not seeing improvements.

Re: Long Covid is associated with cognitive slowing

#67
post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I'm far less creative, less excited about work, less interested in challenging topics, and less capable of solving complex problems. So, just to point this out: none of those symptoms are remotely unique to Long Covid, or any other disorder. They correlate with real/known/unsurprising conditions like depression, alcoholism, aging and even stuff like poor diet even more strongly than with covid; and of course they'r…

Yup, that's totally fair and correct. I honestly do not know if its related to COVID or if I'm just getting older and my body / mind are finally starting the inevitable downward spiral that takes place over the next 30-40 years. It's hard to say for sure. All I can say is, relative to who I was in 2019 I feel like I'm easily 50% of that person both physically and mentally. Maybe that's "natural" for someone in their…

There's nothing natural about a downward spiral in your mid-30s. I mean there will be some gradual deterioration but biologically a significant downward spiral doesn't have to hit until your 70s. There are plenty of masters athletes still turning in great performances at advanced ages. And they aren't genetic outliers; mostly they are just persistent and consistent.

Before blaming unlikely exotic causes like "long COVID" I would suggest fully optimizing the basics: sleep hygiene, body composition, nutrition, exercise, sun exposure, alcohol, etc. If you fix all that stuff and still feel worse than you did in 2019 then there may be something else going on.

https://peterattiamd.com/outlive/

https://www.hubermanlab.com/newsletter

Re: Long Covid is associated with cognitive slowing

#68
As the internist told me when, after a long and strange bout with covid at the very beginning of the pandemic (March to July 2020), he diagnosed me with fibromyalgia: "In the end, we may never know if you really have fibromyalgia or not. What matters is will the medication make you feel better."

And boy, did it work. Low dose amitriptyline changed my life.

PS: I was feeling like shit before covid. Covid only made it so much worse that it became impossible to ignore. For me and the multiple doctors I've seen at the time.

Re: Long Covid is associated with cognitive slowing

#69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

fine. I believe you because I am experiencing the same things. did you eliminate depression as a possible cause? I don't know how. there is no "expert help" in my country. I believe everyone around me is faking whatever they are doing, including therapy. another thing to note: isolation. i think my isolation level just kept increasing. i entered a hole with the lockdown and i never got out, contrary. isolation could…

Do you exercise? I forced myself to do workout classes like it was important non negotiable work

no :-| for various reasons, invented or real: 2 big physical injuries in a sequence, depression, tv... at least 2 years of stationary life. there goes the real root of my (our) cognitive impairment, no matter how much i want to blame an external uncontrollable factor.

Re: Long Covid is associated with cognitive slowing

#70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you exercise? I forced myself to do workout classes like it was important non negotiable work

no :-| for various reasons, invented or real: 2 big physical injuries in a sequence, depression, tv... at least 2 years of stationary life. there goes the real root of my (our) cognitive impairment, no matter how much i want to blame an external uncontrollable factor.

find a reason to walk brisky everyday, it sucks when its cold out but my dog is my reason.

The physical injuries are always challenging to work with when trying to be active. My wife deals with all kinds of tendonitis and knee and ankle setbacks.

You gotta dig real deep somehow and fight for it when you got a setback like long covid or injuries.

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