If this was a video game, my life gauge would be at 50-60% range as of today.
I lost 10lb in a week during active infection, but gained back 6lb so far.
I'll start going dance parties, though. 50-60% is a big progress from red zone (below 20%) right after I got out of bed around Christmas (10 days ago). I'll test my body out, slowly, without pushing hard yet.
To facilitate my recovery, I am using some supplements.
Following is an email I sent to my colleague, who also got covid and wanted to know what kind of supplements I am using.
"Hi, xxxx,.
There are 7-25% (or more) of former covid patients who get “long covid”. They have some symptoms (brain fog, fatigue, etc) even after 3-12 months. There are many hypotheses for the cause(s). We can test some supplements that can work on the possible causes and see if they help our own recovery.
(a) A hypothesis states that increased senescent cells generated during active infection are causing long covid. For that, we can try senolytics.
Fisetin, quercetin, and apigenin, are ones we can buy easily from Amazon. Some supplements are sold as combined senolytics.
(b) Another hypothesis concerns mitochondrial damage and lowered energy generation, not unlike chemo/radiotherapy after-effects. Possibly relevant to fatigue.
Co-Q10, acetyl-L-carnitine, alpha-lipoic acid, PQQ, and NAD+ supplements are said to help mitochondrial function or regeneration. Fasting is also said to aid mitochondrial recovery.
(c) Others that may help.
Taurine, Fish oil, green tea, ginseng, and “Tonic”-type Traditional Chinese medicine (Shi Quan Da Bu pian 十全大补片, Bi Zhong Yi Qi pian 补中益气片). These Chinese medicine are used in Japan to aid reducing sickness during cancer therapies.
Pick some that you like. Some supplements come as combination. If you want I can send product links.
Hope this helps. "
So now I have a collection of supplements. I'll keep using the supplements until I use up the bottles (about 1 month supply), and will see if they worked or not.
Since it is impossible to set up appropriate controls, it is not a proper scientific experiment. But I don't want to wait for someone to run proper clinical trials either.
Besides, I don't think they do harm anyways (unless over-dosing). In the case, either they work, or they don't work. Nothing will be lost. Only gain if they work.
Most things in life are N=1 experiment. Got to live with it.
Note: I don't sell these supplements nor know who sells. No conflicts of interest. Test them at your own risk.
