Dr. Martina Melzer, published: 02/07/24
In 2022, Nadine falls ill with Covid-19. She initially has typical but quite severe cold symptoms. Later, other symptoms are added. Weeks later, she is still not
feeling well. The search begins, appointments with doctors follow. It turns out: she has Long Covid.
In the video interview, Nadine explains how she managed to recover within a year using a holistic approach. She is now able to work and study full-time again. The video is in German.
Please activate the subtitle and choose in a second step your language!
The key recovery points from the interview:
- Conventional medicine: a doctor found a low cortisol level in a saliva test (note: cortisol = the body's own stress hormone). She was given cortisone as a test, which helped her to finally get out of bed. Later, physiotherapy also helps her to get back on her feet physically. Painkillers relieve her muscle, joint and bone pain.
- Social support: She makes contact with a local self-help group for people with Long Covid. The contact with other sufferers helps her a lot. She finds two fellow sufferers there. The three of them support each other on their journey to recovery (and are all well again!).
- Books mentioned: Jeffrey Rediger - Cured; Stefanie Nüßlein - Mit Long Covid zurück ins Leben (German).
- Diet: She has an anti-inflammatory diet and avoids sugar, gluten, dairy products, alcohol and convenience foods.
- Pacing: Pacing was an important component. She says that this is something very individual and that you have to learn to listen to your body. "If you feel something unwell in your body, then rest," was her approach.
- Nervous system, brain: She did her own form of brain retraining, shutting down her nervous system by learning deep relaxation methods such as meditation, yoga nidra, etc.
Here she mentions Jennifer as a yoga expert: @jennifer.pilatesberlin (Instagram)
Website: https://www.jenniferconzendorf.com/
- Acquiring knowledge: understanding what Long Covid is, what pain memory is all about, etc. was extremely important to her. The books mentioned above, among others, helped her with this. She realized: "I have to stimulate my self-healing powers."
- Psyche, mindset: She says it is important to deal with yourself, to recognize stress factors, the "head" also plays an underestimated role. She also says: "That was the worst, but most instructive time". And: "It was clear to me that there was a way out of Long Covid."
- Green-lipped mussel and other supplements: A herbal remedy with green-lipped mussel and omega-3 fatty acids was the final factor that "got the clockwork running with all the little gears". Other special supplements had a positive effect too.
- Other factors: sleep routines, slowly approaching movement, trusting herself to do more again, acupuncture and other things that she describes on her Instagram account. "You just try everything," she says.
In the interview, Nadine describes how she successfully reintegrated into work. Very interesting!
Her message: "There is a way out of Long Covid. And: recovery is like a mountain hike - it's always up and down, and at some point the waves get less high."
How to find Nadine:
Instagram: @raus_aus_longcovid (German)
Important: Everything Nadine and I discuss in the interview is not a substitute for talking to a doctor or therapist.
Also, the content on this page is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for talking to your doctor or other therapist. Please talk to your doctor or therapist before making any decisions about your physical or mental health. Every way into a mind-body syndrome is something individual, and every way out.
