Why are you up at this time of night?

[applestar]

Ah ha! HERE’s the one you reminded me of —

An Etiquette Guide for Long COVID - The Atlantic

What Not to Ask Me About My Long COVID
A brief guide

By Jennifer Senior
February 15, 2023

…
My eyeballs spin freely in their sockets for the first 20 minutes of each morning, for instance.
…

[Gary350]

Hm. I found the article from a year ago, but I thought I’d saved links to recent articles with findings from a more recent research. Here’s the Fortune article link with an excerpt:

What are the symptoms of Long COVID? | Fortune
BY ERIN PRATER
March 31, 2022 5:43 PM EDT

The Lancet study lists a dizzying array of symptoms. Among the most common: fatigue, elevated temperature, extreme thirst, menstrual issues, heart palpitations, rapid heartbeat, tightness in chest, muscle aches, joint pain, worsening allergies, sore throat, blurred vision, shortness of breath, dry cough, diarrhea, loss of appetite, frequent headaches, altered taste/smell, and itchy skin.

And those were just the physical symptoms.

Frequent mental symptoms included anxiety, irritability, insomnia, brain fog, memory loss, and difficulty finding the right words. Also reported: suicidality, delusions, inability to yawn, inability to cry, sensation of “brain warmth/on fire,” ludic dreams, sleep apnea, inability to record new memories, speaking unrecognizable words, and hallucinations.

I have not been able to taste or smell much since I had that stomach virus March 28, 2022. Hospital did a covid test on me it was negative. I was in the hospital 2 days with IVs in my arm. Wife had the same stomach virus 3 days after me, her covid test was negative also. It took 2 months to get over that. Brain fog is nothing new allergies cause that all the time, I hate brain fog it is like being a Zombie and can't think of anything. Memory loss is not new either. I am thirsty most of the time, I eat a lot of salt, I like salt, I carry a salt shaker with me in the vehicle. Allergies cause fatigue really bad some times for several days. Blurred vision comes and goes with allergies but lately blurred vision is here to stay. Twitchy eye comes and goes too. Eye doctor told me once, never come get your eyes tested if your having bad allergies. I tried to ride my bicycle and was all over both sides of the road like a drunk. I did not feel dizzy but I had a terrible time trying to keep the bike balanced. I use to be able to ride that same bike in a straight line.

[applestar]

I remember you and your wife were severely ill, and that they did test for COVID, but results were negative.

I remember thinking at the time (late March~early April 2022) that Omicron BA.2 was starting to dominate in the US (already major in the UK), and digestive issues had been mentioned as an emerging symptoms.

I suppose this is good news and bad news: IF in fact you and your wife did have COVID and the strain had been the BA.2, there were recent research results reported showing being vaccinated + experiencing Omicron currently gives you better protection from future infections than being vaccinated with the full series to the bivalent alone….

[Gary350]

Leg cramps woke me up about 4 pm. Wow leg cramps are painful. I had to get out of bed to make most of the cramps stop. Every time I get back into bed leg cramps return. I have to stay vertical to reduce cramps. Walk from bed to kitchen I am still having mild cramps. All day yesterday I felt like I was not drinking enough liquid I was thirsty all day. Doctor said, take 400 mg of Magnesium every day, that was helping but now it is not. Drinking too much water can reduce salt so I need to eat a lot of salt with every meal. I don't want to be awake at 4 am. Now it is 5:23 am I'm going to see if I can sleep 1 more hour.

[applestar]

I get leg cramps too. Calf most often, sometimes big toe or arch of foot, less often thigh and also, back muscles in core lumbar region (somewhere inside).

Staying hydrated is important. I tend to drink tea — black, green, herbal … usually no sweeteners — alternating with water.

I use sea salt and Himalayan salt, but I’m cutting back for the colder month, now that it’s not hot and I’m not outside perspiring all the minerals away. During the winter months, my skin gets so dry my entire skin care regimen has to be adjusted.

I can sometimes “will” the cramps away with biofeedback to RELAX the affected area. For me, this involves initiating the thought to relax the cramping, then NOT thinking about those specific muscles to NOT send any more electrical impulses. This also means not acknowledging the sensation of pain to minimize nerve interaction (“It doesn’t hurt, it doesn’t, hurt. I don’t feel anything, Its not there….”)

This is easiest with smaller bundles like toe or arch. NEVER worked for large muscles like the back.

Because of this “concept,” I avoid moving — contracting those muscles — when attempting this method. In fact, if I can repress the initial “Ouch!” impulse to flinch by countering with “RELAX!”, chance of success is greater.

I also take magnesium (I think citrate? I’ll have to check) but not every day.

And I have this spray called “magnesium oil” which is supposed to be directly absorbed through the skin when sprayed on the area. It’s very slick so I don’t always use it but my Mom has also said it works for her.

Finally, if biofeedback doesn’t work, and I can reach them or get someone to hand them to me, I always have one pellet each of HOMEOPATHIC “Zincum metallicum” and/or “Cuprum metallicum” and “Arnica montana”. Some people don’t believe they work. They seem to work for me and I don’t care even if it’s all placebo effect.

[applestar]

By the way, I get something called “internal vibrations” which is a sensation of pounding inside the skin — it translates to feeling like the floor is vibrating, or the bed is shaking … but it’s a form of neuropathy and the sensation is only in the nerves and not actual — mine is a milder form and only felt where the part of the body is in contact with a surface like floor under feet or mattress under calf or hip, etc.

If you feel the area of feet or leg, etc. there’s nothing discernible going on physically. Not even heat as in inflammation, etc.

I’m feeling it right now. It’s so weird. I used to think maybe a construction or street cleaning vehicle was passing by my house… or maybe an earthquake.

…It’s apparently an identified symptom among the Long COVID as well as ME/CFS syndrome sufferers. Some people have more severe nerve sensations or even twitching or shaking.

[Gary350]

By the way, I get something called “internal vibrations” which is a sensation of pounding inside the skin — it translates to feeling like the floor is vibrating, or the bed is shaking … but it’s a form of neuropathy and the sensation is only in the nerves and not actual — mine is a milder form and only felt where the part of the body is in contact with a surface like floor under feet or mattress under calf or hip, etc.

If you feel the area of feet or leg, etc. there’s nothing discernible going on physically. Not even heat as in inflammation, etc.

I’m feeling it right now. It’s so weird. I used to think maybe a construction or street cleaning vehicle was passing by my house… or maybe an earthquake.

…It’s apparently an identified symptom among the Long COVID as well as ME/CFS syndrome sufferers. Some people have more severe nerve sensations or even twitching or shaking.

Power aid & Gater aid helps me with leg cramp. I add about 10% to each glass of water.

I sometimes have strange vibration feelings like someone touched me with the plastic part of an electric tooth brush. I can be, setting, walking, driving, etc. then get a weird vibrations wiggle feeling on my, leg, side, arm, etc. and there is nothing there. Weird.

I have neuropathy pretty bad in my legs and feet it could be side effects from eating too much sugar or nerve damage from being out side in cold winter weather until my feet were so numb I could not feel my feet. Doctor told me buy Capzasin HP cream it works great for neuropathy pain. Capzasin HP is made from hot spicy chili peppers. Squeeze a tiny amount of Capzasin HP the size of an okra seed on 1 finger then rub it around your ankle, do same to the other ankle. Capzasin HP is a nerve blocker it stops pain in my legs and feet. After applying Capzasin HP with your finger wash finger 3 times and don't scratch your itchy eye or you be sorry.

I had to experiment with Capzasin HP to see what works best, a tiny amount on left and right side of each ankle then spread the cream as far as you can spread it.

Wife puts Capzasin HP on the side of her fingers and wrist for arthritis pain.

[imafan26]

It sounds a bit like restless leg syndrome.
"Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a movement condition that causes a strong urge to move your legs when you’re resting. You may also feel sensations like itching, pulling, crawling or throbbing.

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a brain, nerve and sleep condition that causes a strong, nearly irresistible urge to move your legs that’s at least partially relieved by movement. Symptoms are more common when your body is at rest in the evening. It usually occurs in addition to uncomfortable sensations in your legs like throbbing or aching. The urge to constantly move can interfere with your ability to relax or fall asleep.

Symptoms of restless legs syndrome include:

Uncomfortable sensations in your legs that make you want to move them.
Sensations get worse when you’re resting.
Relief of discomfort (at least temporarily) when you move your legs.
Twitchy legs or leg jerks in the evening and during sleep.
Symptoms of restless legs syndrome can affect your sleep. This can cause:

Sleep disruptions, difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep.
The urge to get out of bed to stretch or move your legs.
Fatigue or daytime sleepiness.
Behavior or mood changes.
Difficulty paying attention, remembering things or concentrating.
Depression or anxiety."

I get up 3-4 times a night everyday. If I sleep too early I will get up in the middle of the night and can't get back to sleep. I average 6 hours of sleep. Part of the reason is because I am drinking ice tea all day and pretty much not stopping after 8 p.m. like I used to. I probably do have the caffeine effect because of it, I actually need the caffeine to function. It probably also means I need to take a diuretic so I don't have to pee as much at night. And lastly, it means I did not get enough exercise during the day so I am not tired enough to stay asleep all night. Diuretics, will always cause night cramping. Which is why I hold off on taking them until I have to.

[Gary350]

It sounds a bit like restless leg syndrome.
"Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a movement condition that causes a strong urge to move your legs when you’re resting. You may also feel sensations like itching, pulling, crawling or throbbing.

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a brain, nerve and sleep condition that causes a strong, nearly irresistible urge to move your legs that’s at least partially relieved by movement. Symptoms are more common when your body is at rest in the evening. It usually occurs in addition to uncomfortable sensations in your legs like throbbing or aching. The urge to constantly move can interfere with your ability to relax or fall asleep.

Symptoms of restless legs syndrome include:

Uncomfortable sensations in your legs that make you want to move them.
Sensations get worse when you’re resting.
Relief of discomfort (at least temporarily) when you move your legs.
Twitchy legs or leg jerks in the evening and during sleep.
Symptoms of restless legs syndrome can affect your sleep. This can cause:

Sleep disruptions, difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep.
The urge to get out of bed to stretch or move your legs.
Fatigue or daytime sleepiness.
Behavior or mood changes.
Difficulty paying attention, remembering things or concentrating.
Depression or anxiety."

I have had restless leg syndrome for 20 years. If I ride my bicycle 20 miles every day my legs have no pain. When I am laying in bed horizonal I have no leg pain, but about 5am I start to hurt all over and need to get out of bed. I use to ride my bike sometimes 3000 miles every summer. I use to ride with bike groups in college and we road our bikes to Chicago one summer. We had plans to ride bikes to Grand Canyon once but no one could be gone for 2 whole months. Traffic is so dangerous these days it is not safe to ride bikes on the highway. A man was killed 1½ miles from my house last week. If you ride on an asphalt road do not wear clothes the same color as the road it makes you appear invisible to drivers. When I hurt my back 10 years ago I could not ride a bike for several years until I found an honest doctor then I was ok again. Allergies sometimes makes be dizzy as a drunk I can't keep a bike balanced I wreck over and over like drunk. We have about 20 pine trees east side of the yard I wish those tree were gone. I like free pine needles in the garden. When it gets cold and stays cold I have no allergies.

If you can lay on the floor without hanging on your not drunk. LOL.