My Radical Experiment Treating Long Covid

I am playing amateur doctor/researcher/herbalist on myself and for one good reason.

by Ben Cohen

I contracted Covid-19 five weeks ago. 10 days after testing positive, I tested negative and was able to get back to some semblance of normality, but some of my symptoms persisted. Once my fever, chills, and extreme fatigue subsided, I was left with a 24 hour migraine like headache, muscle and joint pain, and irregular but powerful back spasms.

After about two weeks my headaches mercifully went away, but I was left with myalgia and the crippling back spasms. This means I am officially a “long Covid” sufferer, joining millions of other people battling a terrifying array of symptoms.

The past few weeks have been physically and mentally challenging to say the least. I don’t think I have ever suffered like this, and the toll has left me physically drained and emotionally battered. I already suffer from migraines and the chronic pain disorder fibromyalgia, and contracting Covid appears to have made things dramatically worse. The virus found my weak spots and exploited them mercilessly. Having two small children to care for means I cannot afford to be sick like this, so I am taking dramatic steps to get better.