Easing into exercise after long covid

[Anonymous]

Could you share your experience?

[Anonymous]

I just had regular Covid but my neighbor had awful long Covid. She says it’s important to really take it easy and not exercise before you’re ready. Now she just takes long walks with her dog.

I eased back in with walking after my bout, too.

[Anonymous]

My DH has long Covid. It’s been 7-8 months. He can get winded from a 10 min walk to drop kid off at school…so my advice is to take it very very easy. You do not want to push it. A slow walk around the neighborhood, a treadmill walk etc, fine. But slow is key.

[Anonymous]

Agree with others, take it VERY slow. For a while there, my sibling with long Covid's cardio exercise was standing up straight for 60 seconds. Be kind to yourself and I hope you're feeling better soon, OP.

[Anonymous]

Be slow and forgiving. I started running again at 4mph and built back up from there. Currently running at 6mph about 8 weeks later. Goal is to get back to 8mph for 3-5 miles.

[Anonymous]

I have a friend who is a hospitalist physician and got long covid. She pushed herself to go back to FT work too soon (on her feet seeing patients all day) and got really, really sick. Be careful, take care care of yourself.

[Anonymous]

I didn’t have long Covid but I did have pneumonia. I haven’t exercised in 3 weeks. I’m easing back with a walk tomorrow.

[Anonymous]

Agree with all the others about just going slow. Slower than you would like. My GP was useless when I got COVID the first time, and though I was fortunate not to develop any long term issues I had to figure it all out on my own. I used a return to play protocol from the NCCA and adapted from there.

[Anonymous]

I didn’t have long Covid but had heart problems from Covid (pericarditis and scarring on the heart). I took about three months off from cardio because I would have chest pains. I finally started adding in a peloton ride or two a week and have worked up to four rides a week over about six weeks. Take it slow. Definitely talk with a doctor.

And ignore dipsh**ts like above who say it’s in your mind. They clearly do not understand that Covid affects people differently!

[Anonymous]

My experience as a runner (3-5 miles a day, 5 days a week) was that for a week or so I was really tired and even just walking the dog left me winded. During that time I didn’t run at all. After that it got better little by little until I ran again for the first time maybe 2 weeks afterwards. Running again seemed to help and I was soon back at it exercising regularly. Honestly I wish I had tried more sooner.

My advice is just to do what you think you can and see how you feel. Try running on a treadmill or something so that if you get tires you can just stop. Being sedentary is just going to lead to more tiredness and exercising will help you get back to normal faster.