5 Best Treatments I've Tried For Healing Long COVID
My eyes were open, but I couldn't see.
"Jason!" I called out.
It had been a routine morning. I was getting ready to brush my teeth, and before I knew it, I was hot, nauseous, and lost my vision.
In terror, I wondered, "Is this it?" Followed by, "And I'm wearing laundry day pjs?!"
I could feel the panic bubble up inside my chest. I searched with my hands to find the wall and slid to the floor. A few moments later, Jason came in, and my vision started to return.
I later discovered that this first vertigo episode was an early sign of COVID, followed by more than a year of lingering symptoms, including ongoing vertigo, heart palpitations, uncontrollable coughing, brain fog, shortness of breath, fatigue, anxiety, and insomnia. Long Covid is the gift that keeps punching you in the face.
7 doctors and 8 months later, a neurologist identified that these extended symptoms pointed to long COVID. Figuring out how to heal has taken longer.
The initial bout of vertigo lasted three straight months. Every day and every night, I went to bed and woke up dizzy. It was like I had taken six shots of tequila on an empty stomach and then got on a boat in rough waters.
Walking across the room took all my focus and energy. Taking a shower was nerve-racking because I was afraid to fall and further injure myself. Extreme fatigue made it feel heavy to lift a pen. Anxiety had already checked in, and depression was right around the corner.
There were days when I couldn't make myself breakfast because turning around in the kitchen exacerbated the dizziness. On other days, I threw up from nausea. Somedays, I was in tears, feeling powerless to care for myself.
After being dismissed by several doctors, I dove into the research and found individual specialists who helped me put the pieces together. It turns out my system was overloaded. Inflammation from COVID (they referenced "spike protein"), a neck injury, and before any of this, there was the groundwork and toxic stress of 2020 and 2021 and legal battles (over pausing our conference) that changed me forever.
As a longtime green juice-drinking wellness junkie, I knew this was a recipe for disaster. As a yoga app creator, I felt like a fraud and a failure when I couldn't heal myself like I usually would before COVID.
It was all too much, all at once.
And then, slowly, I started finding little glimmers of hope. The first was with my acupuncturist, Dr. Tracie. She was a source of strength through the most challenging times of this illness, even before I had a diagnosis—a bright light and wealth of knowledge who found an early study for treating long COVID.
Dr. Tracie introduced me to my therapist, Emily, who became an amazing health advocate for me. Having someone remind me to put my oxygen mask on first was crucial. Emily helped me set better boundaries so that I could focus on healing. I wouldn't be where I am today without these two on my team.
I started taking small steps forward. I learned that belting out the lyrics to Viva La Vida has actual medical benefits, and ultimately I found treatments that work. Let's dive in.
Here are the 5 best treatments I've found, plus a new (free) one I'm testing.
#1 Functional Neurology:
A neurologist provided much-needed clarity. After undergoing hours of testing at a brain clinic, they were the first to determine it was long COVID. Not good news, but not knowing was worse.
For vertigo and brain fog, I did 6 weeks of cognitive rehabilitation and autonomic conditioning therapy (3x a week, several hours per session), including treatments in the GyroStim. This WebMD article explains autonomic conditioning therapy and the autonomic nervous system as it relates to long COVID.
I only discovered this after I started opening up and talking about my symptoms, but in the early months, I did not have a diagnosis. I did not know how to explain what was happening (and all the primary care doctors kept sending me home, so you start to feel like you’re just broken).
On the phone with a friend, I shared that I had been dizzy… for months, and she mentioned this “NASA chair” had helped her friend with vertigo associated with vestibular migraines. I asked all the specialists I was working with if anyone had heard of this chair, and eventually, someone recognized it. That’s how I found the brain clinic. They had the chair (technically called the GyroStim). In the end, this machine wasn’t the best fit for me, but finding my neurologist at the brain clinic led to progress and answers.
After the initial treatment, the neurologist gave me at-home exercises, including the "dots on the wall" and iPad exercises 2-3x a week (ongoing) to help maintain my results.
These treatments have helped the most with brain fog, cognition, and short-term memory. It's hard to write about this and relive it, but some symptoms were similar to having a stroke. For example, I couldn't have written this post 14 months ago because of brain fog. Pre-COVID, I would write, exercise, or do breathwork to feel better, but none of that was possible at the time.
#2 Acupuncture:
During the first four months, I had uncontrollable coughing (one of the most common long COVID symptoms). I did acupuncture 2-3x a week, along with a high dose of herbs prescribed by my acupuncturist, and I took raw honey. With this protocol, we resolved the coughing within about 4 months.
Mostly the coughing kept me (us) up at night, and I'd have to try to sleep sitting up, propped up on pillows. I used the Finger Pulse Oximeter to monitor my oxygen. The fear of having shortness of breath was heightened at night. I tossed and turned, wondering, "am I going to wake up in the morning?"
These physical symptoms contributed to anxiety, so regular acupuncture sessions became a source of relief. Overall, acupuncture helped to reduce vertigo, heart palpitations, anxiety, insomnia, and tinnitus that had become so piercing that it made me feel outside my body.
#3 Electro-Therapy:
The heart palpitations and tremors kicked in next. It felt like the symptoms were passing the baton to each other.
It struck for the first time late one night following a high-stress day. The pounding in my chest was scary. I rushed to get EKGs twice before I learned there was an issue with my parasympathetic nervous system. My body wasn't self-regulating. Plus, the lymph was stuck, and there was inflammation overload.
In-office Electro-Therapy:
Combined with acupuncture, a PEMF or electro-magnetic pulse helped clear the initial bout of vertigo and reduce inflammation.
The electro-magnetic pulse also helps increase blood flow connected to the vagus nerve (more on this below). Some pro football teams have PEMF tables, and I found a medical grade table available to the public in Charlotte, NC (DM me for info). There are some smaller-scale PEMF mats for sale to consumers, but I haven’t researched those enough yet. I know the table works.
At-home Electro-Therapy:
My neurologist recommended a device you can use at home called the Alpha-Stim. It helps balance heart palpitations, reduces anxiety, and supports sleep.
I've relied on this device, especially if something gets stirred up and my heart starts beating too fast when it’s time to sleep. It was a significant investment but worth it. My neurologist said the device also helps reduce symptoms of POTS, which I've read is common among long haulers.
#4 Lymph Drainage:
My lymph specialist explained that sometimes your lymph (the liquid in the lymphatic system) can get stuck in the head, which could be one reason I'm experiencing prolonged vertigo. I started improving again when I learned how to help the lymph flow.
The lymph system plays a significant role in the immune system, so if your lymph is stuck, you're more likely to have inflammation/sickness. Assisted Lymphatic Therapy (ALT) stimulates the healthy flow and drainage of the lymphatic system. ALT uses an in-office device that I've had success with, but you can also do manual lymphatic drainage on yourself at home. For at-home lymph drainage, walking and swimming are highly recommended.
Recently, I discovered the oscillating plate. I use this LifePro Waver most mornings, before breakfast (fasted), at speed 99. After only a few weeks of use, it's already reduced my dizziness and "stuck" lymph symptoms.
#5 Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS):
The vagus nerve is part of your parasympathetic nervous system and is responsible for a lot, including your immune system, digestion, and heart rate.
Cleveland Clinic cites, "For those with long COVID-19 symptoms, new research shows that the virus may have adverse effects on the vagus nerve, causing persistent voice problems, dizziness, and low blood pressure."
I learned that one of my favorite breathing techniques, Alternate Nostril Breathing, helps heal the vagus nerve. Lingering COVID symptoms at the time, however, prevented me from comfortably breathing through my nose, so I kept searching. Singing and cold therapy can also help. This was when I started playing Viva La Vida on repeat (singing supports both the vagus nerve and lymph).
Again, I started asking everyone I spoke with about the Vagus Nerve, and I was referred to VNS specialist Dr. Arianne Missimer. I practice the exercises in her helpful how-to video.
The Neck Injury That Re-Triggered Vertigo
Shortly after I had COVID, my neck was injured at a salon. My neurologist said they see these salon injuries all the time, and it was likely the tipping point in my system due to the existing inflammation from COVID.
There are different salon shampoo bowls; some are safer for the neck and keep the head slightly upright, and others overextend the neck. My old salon had the latter and no padding. The stylist reclined me back into the shampoo bowl, overextending my neck, and my neurologist suspects that my brainstem hit the bowl's rim at just the right speed and impact for injury.
There was nothing between my neck and the bowl—not even a hand towel. At the moment of impact, I instantly had a sickly, swimmy feeling, followed by vertigo—all over again. Round two.
I also learned that these shampoo bowl accidents could, in rare cases, lead to Beauty Parlor Stroke Syndrome. These days, I make sure there’s a thick layer of towels on the bowl before I recline—slowly.
Autophagy Fasting: (Free) Cellular Level Healing
The new, free treatment I'm trying is autophagy through fasting. Autophagy is when the body recycles the damaged cells and makes new, healthy ones. Thanks to the fasting guidebook Fast Like A Girl by Dr. Mindy Pelz., I'm working to heal on a cellular level. Her book explains the how, why, and best times for women to fast for autophagy.
It’s fascinating how the 24-48-hour fasts allow the body to focus on healing. I start feeling better quickly when doing these longer fasts, which makes me feel hopeful.
Over the last year, I’ve been determined to get my health back, but months of trial and error have been time-consuming, expensive, and out-of-pocket.
Figuring out how to heal from long COVID has been a full-time job.
My heart breaks for anyone else dealing with this, and I'm hopeful that the fasting protocols can be just as successful as the expensive, high-tech treatments (the data makes me optimistic).
The Fallout & New Normal
On a personal note, going through this forced me to create better boundaries and perform somewhat of a social autophagy. When you have to focus on healing and putting your oxygen mask on first, it quickly becomes clear who supports you versus who is draining you.
Who always asks for something or *only* wants to hang out over drinks. There's a sharp contrast between those conversations and the loved ones sending you good vibes. I'm grateful to the people who helped me feel less alone or let me cry through it with you over zoom.
Professionally, there's been a lot of loss. I've often had to pause or hand off projects when vertigo strikes or I get a spinning headache and can't look at the computer screen (this is still a trigger, I have to limit myself). At first, when I had a window of feeling better and clear, I would try to knock out too many action items, but it would set me back. It was like someone suddenly unplugged me, and I had zero energy.
Lately, I’ve had more good days than bad, but one sleepless night can be debilitating. For example, if my cortisol spikes at bedtime and I’m wide awake until 3 or 4am, I have to ignore the sleep shamers and sleep in (I’ll write about this in another newsletter, but I did cortisol testing and I’ve made progress here with the right supplements).
I’m so grateful to my partner Jason for taking me to all those doctor’s appointments, holding me in the middle of the night as I cried, and always encouraging me whenever the fear and anxiety tried to swallow me whole. 🫶
COVID Acts Like An “On Switch”
While receiving treatments at the brain clinic, I encountered other long-hauler stories. One patient had the gene for ALS but had no idea. My doctor explained that COVID sometimes acts like an "on switch" for whatever already exists in a person's body. COVID "turned on" these genes, and now he can't move the left side of his body. She said she was seeing "a lot of this." Heartbreaking.
I only wish I had found a neurologist sooner. It would have eliminated months of confusion and dead-end appointments.
Keep Things Flowing
My hope in sharing this is to hand a resource to someone in my shoes. As an INFJ, I hope this helps you or someone you love.
If you take ONE thing away from my experience, take this: learning about the lymphatic system and how to keep the lymph "flowing" was a critical part of my healing (and still is). The most highly recommended methods were walking and swimming. And singing is another way to boost lymph flow—your call on the Coldplay 🫶
I’m not a doctor, and this is not medical advice. Always do your own research (i.e. Reddit).