How nutritionist LEE HOLMES healed her long Covid: I always took pride in my health until that damned virus took everything from me. Here’s how I got my life back

As a clinical nutritionist and bestselling author of ten books on health and nutrition, I never imagined I’d find myself on the other side of the health equation.

But in April 2022, during a trip to England, I contracted Covid-19 and my life took an unexpected U-turn.

I thought, “Oh, I’ve got Covid. I guess I’ll have to wait a couple of weeks before hopping on a plane home to Australia.”

Little did I know those couple of weeks would stretch into three gruelling months, challenging not only my physical health but my very identity as a health expert.

As someone who lived and breathed nutrition, when the tables turned, I found myself grappling with a condition that defied my expertise and pushed me to the brink of my physical and emotional limits.

Suddenly, I was no longer the advisor but the patient, struggling to apply my own teachings to a body that seemed to have forgotten everything I thought I knew about health and healing.

At first, the symptoms felt almost flu-like: fatigue, headaches, and fevers. But as the days turned into weeks, I realised I was dealing with something far more complex.

My symptoms began to shapeshift, cruelly offering glimmers of hope one moment, only to come crashing down with renewed intensity the next.

As a clinical nutritionist and bestselling author of ten books on health and nutrition, Lee Holmes (pictured) never imagined I’d find myself on the other side of the health equation

One of the most alarming developments was pericarditis, an inflammation of the heart’s protective sac.

Pericarditis is one of the well-known rare side effects to mRNA Covid vaccines, but few people are aware it can also be triggered by Covid infection.

I had to lie on my front for about a month in bed, barely able to move. This condition, coupled with extreme fatigue, joint pain, and cognitive issues, painted a stark picture of long Covid’s multisystemic impact.

The journey back home to Sydney was difficult in my debilitated state.

Upon arrival, I faced a daunting challenge: 47 steps leading up to my little cottage. I remember crawling one by one on my hands and knees, desperately trying to make it to my front door dragging my suitcase behind me, absolutely exhausted.

‘Suddenly, I was no longer the advisor but the patient, struggling to apply my own teachings to a body that seemed to have forgotten everything I thought I knew about health and healing’

Post-exertional malaise (PEM) had started to affect my day-to-day life, and I knew that once inside, I would need to rest for days to recover from the exertion of the trip home. If I didn’t, I had learned by now the palpitations, fatigue, brain fog, dizziness and malaise would soon return in full force.

But beyond the physical toll of what I now know to be long Covid, I grappled with an overwhelming sense of shame – perhaps the worst ‘symptom’ of all.

Here I was, a clinical nutritionist who talked about health and promoted wellness to clients and across social media, and I literally couldn’t get out of bed.

The embarrassment was crushing. The shame I felt was overwhelming.

As a health expert, I had built my career on helping others achieve vibrant health. Now, I found myself unable to practise what I had long preached.

The irony was not lost on me – here I was, the author of numerous books on nutrition and wellness, barely able to crawl up the stairs to my own bed.

I felt like a fraud, and it made me think, how could I continue to advise others on health when I couldn’t even get out of bed myself? This internal conflict ate away at me, adding a layer of emotional turmoil to my already debilitating physical symptoms.

I worried about what my clients, readers, and followers would think if they knew the truth. This secret battle with long Covid challenged not just my body, but my very identity as a health professional.

It was a humbling experience that forced me to confront my own vulnerabilities and reassess my understanding of health and healing.

Living with long Covid? Here are 10 positive steps you can make today

Prioritise rest and pacing: Listen to your body and avoid overexertion. Pacing involves carefully balancing activity and rest to conserve energy and avoid exacerbating symptoms. Instead of sprinting through your day and crashing at the finish line, pacing helps you break down your tasks into manageable chunks and take regular breaks to recharge.
Adopt an anti-inflammatory diet: Focus on foods that reduce inflammation, such as leafy greens, berries, and omega-3 rich fish. Shifting to an anti-inflammatory diet helps to counteract the qualities of long Covid, which generates dampness and heat internally, driving inflammatory processes that negatively impact the cardiovascular, gastrointestinal systems and metabolic health.
Try a low-histamine approach: Experiment with reducing high-histamine foods to help manage your symptoms. High levels of histamine can contribute to chronic inflammation in the body. By following a low-histamine diet, you’ll be reducing your intake of histamine-rich foods that can contribute to inflammation, and you may experience less inflammation overall and an improvement of long Covid symptoms. High-histamine foods include fermented or aged products like cheese and alcohol, as well as processed meats, canned fish, chocolate and yeast.
Practise gentle movement: Incorporate light stretching or yoga when you feel able but be careful not to push too hard. Practising yoga can reduce stress and tension in the body, helping to downregulate the nervous system.
Implement stress-reduction techniques: Try meditation, deep breathing exercises, or gentle mindfulness practices to help manage stress and anxiety. External vagus nerve stimulation can help reduce the severity as well as reducing stress in your life. Breathing exercises and breath work that can help reduce the severity of your symptoms.
Seek support: Work with healthcare professionals knowledgeable about long Covid to develop a personalised treatment plan and read Nature’s Way to Healing. A Long Covid Guide for a hands-on protocol to speed up recovery time.
Join support groups: Long Covid might make socialising tricky, but that doesn’t mean you have to be a hermit. Connect with others who are going through the same thing as you. Virtual support groups and online communities are a great way to combat the loneliness and isolation associated with long Covid.
Focus on sleep hygiene: Sleep disturbances can exacerbate the physical and psychological symptoms of long Covid. For example, poor sleep can increase your feelings of fatigue and reduce the body’s ability to fight infections, which can make it harder to recover. Prioritise quality sleep by establishing a consistent routine and creating a restful environment.
Stay hydrated: Ensure you are drinking enough liquids throughout the day to support your body’s healing processes. Maintaining proper hydration doesn’t just depend on beverages, but also on consuming water-rich foods like fruits and vegetables too.
Be kind to yourself: Practice self-compassion and remember that recovery is not linear. Celebrate small victories and be patient with your progress.

I understood I had to dig deep and not let this setback define me, so I thought, “If this is happening to me, it must be affecting many others around the world.”

With renewed purpose, and being a nutrition geek at heart, I dove into medical research, consulting with professors and scientists worldwide. I meticulously documented my journey and findings, exploring the intricate connections between long Covid and various bodily systems.

One of my key discoveries was the role of mast cells and histamine in perpetuating long Covid symptoms. This led me to adopt a low-histamine, anti-inflammatory diet as part of my healing protocol. It helped so much, reinforcing my belief in the power of nutrition to help manage chronic conditions.

But diet was just one piece of the puzzle. I also had to learn the critical importance of rest and pacing – a challenging concept for a “go-getter” like me. I had to embrace what I now call “extreme mental rest”, incorporating meditation and breathing exercises to regulate my nervous system.

As I navigated my recovery, I encountered the frustrating reality many long Covid sufferers face: a medical community still grappling to understand and treat the condition effectively. This experience fuelled my determination to share my knowledge and help others in similar situations.

Today, I’ve made significant strides in my recovery and have channelled my experience and research into a new book called Nature’s Way to Healing: A Long Covid Guide, which offers a comprehensive protocol for managing long Covid symptoms.

My journey underscores the complex nature of long Covid and the need for a multifaceted approach to healing. It also highlights the resilience of the human spirit and the power of turning personal struggles into a force for positive change.

This unexpected detour in my health journey has become a powerful testament to the body’s ability to heal and the mind’s capacity to overcome. Even in the face of a mysterious and debilitating condition, I’ve discovered there is a path forward not just for me but for everyone struggling with this complex issue.

As we continue to learn about and grapple with the long-term effects of Covid-19, I feel compelled to share my story. It’s crucial to shed light on the personal experiences behind the statistics and to pave the way for better understanding and treatment.

Long Covid has taught me that health is not a destination but a journey. It has reminded me of the importance of compassion – for others and for ourselves.

As I continue to heal and help others, I carry with me a deeper understanding of what it means to be truly healthy and the complex, often invisible battles many of us face.

My experience with long Covid has transformed me not just as a health practitioner, but as a person. It’s reinforced my commitment to holistic health and has given me a new perspective on the intricate connections between our bodies, minds, and the world around us.

Through this challenging journey, I’ve found a new purpose – to be a voice for those struggling with long Covid and to continue exploring innovative ways to support healing and wellness in all its forms – and it is something I am very grateful for.

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