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Deep Breathing to Stop a COVID Crash

Post-COVID Recovery & COVID-19 | Last Active: Feb 3, 2022 | Replies (25)

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@adelem

Thanks for sharing. This sounds incredibly hard! I’m really sorry this is happening to you. I am an ICU nurse recovering from infection in Oct 2021. I can identify with your term “crashes” and some (but not all) of the symptoms you describe particularly that “leaden” feeling (for me it is mostly my legs), the short windows for activity (mine also are about 2hrs/day) and the “boom-bust” cycles from testing my limits. I have found an activity diary quite helpful with this, and am currently trying to break my activities in shorter periods with more frequent rests to see if that helps. I truly sympathize with your difficulty adjusting to the impact on your life - it totally sucks!! I also struggle with this (and I think am still somewhat in denial). Try to be gentle with yourself and take one day at a time. And keep reaching out - hopefully we can learn from each other, because as my doctor said today, they are learning from us!

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Replies to "Thanks for sharing. This sounds incredibly hard! I’m really sorry this is happening to you. I..."

@rinadbq @adelem and all of you having post-Covid "crashes" - here is a past discussion about how some people with chronic illnesses have learned to organize their days and weeks: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/how-do-you-plan-your-day-and-conserve-energy-are-you-a-spoonie/

Have you heard of it before? It can be very helpful, and by rationing, can help prevent sudden "crashes". Best of all, it can be adjusted day-by-day and even hour-by-hour as needed.

Sue

Thanks for responding! I am looking to start a thread with nurses who became ill while working with covid patients. One of the moderators is helping me. I think either here or elsewhere would be great for us to talk to each other. I have been part of a couple of post-covid support groups, but haven't connected with other nurses.
I was just sent info on "the spoon theory" in which a woman tries to explain to a friend what is like to have a very limited amount of energy to parcel out through the day. It is a great description.
Are you interested in keeping in touch?
Rina S.