Brain Explains Long Covid

Okay, this shit show starts with me, the brain. It's a clusterfuck in here. Long COVID is wreaking havoc, and the neurotransmitters are going haywire. Dopamine? Fucking scarce. Serotonin? Fluctuating like a goddamn rollercoaster. Cortisol? Through the roof, because stress is now our daily bread.

Let me break it down for you. I’m trying to send signals all over the body, but it’s like trying to run a marathon with both legs broken. The hypothalamus, my trusty command centre for all things hormonal, is going nuts. It’s pumping out stress hormones because the body’s in constant survival mode. Fight or flight? More like fight and flail.

The heart’s getting hammered by adrenaline surges. It’s beating too fast, too hard, too often. Tachycardia is the name of this twisted game. Blood vessels are constricting, causing the blood pressure to spike. The poor kidneys are over there trying to filter all this shit out, but they’re struggling. They can’t keep up with the demand, and electrolyte balance is a joke at this point.

Down in the lungs, the alveoli are still inflamed from the initial infection. Oxygen exchange is inefficient as hell. The body is screaming for more oxygen, but the lungs are like, "Fuck you, I’m doing my best." Breathing feels like sucking air through a straw. CO2 levels are rising, making the blood more acidic.

Muscles are cramping and weakening. The constant inflammation has left them fatigued. Mitochondria, the powerhouses of cells, are running on empty. Every movement feels like dragging a sack of bricks.

Now, the digestive system. Christ. The gut-brain axis is shot to hell. Enteric nervous system is sending distress signals. Nausea, diarrhea, and indigestion are daily occurrences. The liver is trying to detoxify all the inflammatory crap, but it’s overwhelmed.

The immune system is on overdrive, producing cytokines like there’s no tomorrow. This cytokine storm is damaging tissues all over the body. Autoimmune responses are kicking in, attacking our own cells.

Brain fog? That’s putting it mildly. Neurons are misfiring left and right. Short-term memory is a sieve. Concentration is non-existent. Myelin sheaths are getting damaged, slowing down neural transmission.

Endocrine system? Wrecked. Thyroid function is erratic, contributing to fatigue and mood swings. Pancreas is struggling with insulin regulation, increasing the risk of diabetes.

Finally, sleep. Or the lack thereof. Circadian rhythms are disrupted. Melatonin production is inconsistent. Insomnia and restless sleep are the new norm. Without proper rest, healing is a distant dream.

If this shitstorm continues unchecked, the body is heading for multiple organ failure. Heart failure, kidney failure, liver failure—you name it. And me, the brain? I’m hanging by a thread, trying to keep this sinking ship afloat.

So, that’s the shit inside the body with long COVID. It’s a brutal, relentless battle on all fronts. We’re fighting to survive, but the odds are stacked against us.