Long COVID clinic Seoul: post-viral fatigue care

What a long COVID clinic in Seoul looks at

Long COVID, also called post-COVID condition, describes symptoms that continue or appear at least three months after a COVID-19 infection and cannot be explained by another diagnosis. Similar post-viral fatigue can follow influenza, Epstein-Barr virus (glandular fever) and other infections. Common complaints include exhaustion, brain fog, breathlessness, a racing heart on standing, poor sleep, headaches and changes in smell or taste.

At our long COVID clinic in Seoul, Dr. HyunSung Park starts by mapping your timeline: when you were infected, how severe it was, what has improved and what has not. Because there is no single test for long COVID, the diagnosis rests on careful history and on excluding other conditions that can look the same.

The post-viral fatigue workup

Tests are chosen to match your symptoms. A typical starting point may include:

Not every test is needed for every person. If your main problem is brain fog, the focus may be on sleep, mood, medication review and blood tests; if it is breathlessness, heart and lung checks come first. Keeping a simple symptom and activity diary for a week or two before your visit makes the consultation far more productive.

• Complete blood count and ferritin to look for anemia or iron deficiency
• Thyroid function, since viral illness can trigger thyroid inflammation
• Blood sugar, HbA1c, liver and kidney function
• Inflammation markers such as CRP
• Vitamin B12 and vitamin D levels
• Heart rate and blood pressure lying and standing, to screen for orthostatic intolerance or POTS
• Referral for ECG, chest imaging, heart or lung function tests if breathlessness or chest symptoms are present

Pacing: the most important tool

Many people with post-viral fatigue notice a pattern called post-exertional malaise: a good day, too much activity, then a crash that starts hours or a day later and lasts days. Pushing through tends to make things worse. For this reason, current guidance has moved away from rigid graded exercise programs for people who experience these crashes.

Pacing means planning activity within your current energy limits, splitting tasks into smaller pieces, scheduling rest before you are exhausted, and increasing activity only slowly when you are stable. We help you set a realistic baseline and track symptoms so that you and the doctor can see what helps. Sleep routines, regular meals, fluids and, for some people, extra salt intake for dizziness on standing (when safe for your blood pressure) are part of the conversation.

What the evidence does and does not support

Research into long COVID is active, but there is still no proven cure. Treatment focuses on managing individual symptoms: sleep problems, headaches, reflux, heart rate symptoms and mood. Medications are considered case by case.

You may read about supplements, IV vitamin drips, NAD+ infusions or other therapies promoted for long COVID. The evidence for these is limited or early. If you want to try an IV as a supportive extra, we will discuss the realistic expectations and any risks openly, and we will not present it as a treatment for the condition itself. Correcting a proven deficiency is different, and we treat those directly.

Practical support also matters. Many people need a phased return to work, flexible hours or a temporary reduction in duties. If appropriate, we can provide medical documentation describing your condition and recommended adjustments.

Who this suits, and red flags that need an ER

This service suits adults with fatigue, brain fog or reduced stamina after a viral illness who want a structured medical review in English. It is not suitable for acute illness with high fever or for anyone who is rapidly getting worse.

Call 119 or go to an emergency room if you have chest pain or pressure, severe or sudden shortness of breath, fainting, one-sided weakness, slurred speech, confusion, coughing up blood, or a painful swollen leg. These can signal heart problems, blood clots or stroke, which have been reported after COVID-19 and need urgent hospital care.