Is this a COVID crash? Any suggestions on how to stop a crash?

Good question @liz58. I augmented the title of your discussion to include your question to bring others into the discussion. @baker00l posted that her COVID crashes are the " kind that make you breathless and dizzy and unable to do much of anything." She describes it more in this related discussion and the tips she got about deep breathing:
- Deep Breathing to Stop a COVID Crash https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/deep-breathing-to-stop-a-covid-crash/

@welchllb @rinadbq @adelem @kellylee @nataliem @kssunflower @mindig @ldropps @saraguev @jwatzig @antonsc @lweed1956 @kcartier and @lauriekh have you experienced the COVID Crash? What does it look like for you? What helps?

When I crash it's hard to even get out of bed. Prior to attending the Post Covid classes I thought if I just pushed hard enough I'd make progress and get better. I'd end up doing a lot one day and spending the next two in bed. Spreading things out has helped tremendously. I rarely crash now.

As far as headaches, I've had chronic migraines for years and getting Covid didn't change them. I totally understand about the migraine medication not working completely. Getting extra sleep may help. I know that goes against what they talked about in class, but if I have a bad migraine I take Benadryl along with my migraine meds and just sleep it off. Of course you'll want to talk to your doctors first.

Exactly thanks, I didn't have headaches prior to covid that a couple tylenol wouldn't take care of it . But I had been pacing myself I did more than normal this week.

I'd ask about taking ibuprofen or naproxen with your migraine meds. Also, if you have a menstrual cycle it might be worth noting where you are. My migraines are more severe when I'm ovulating and menstruating.

No cycle any more about 12 years, I got this headache app, and the barometric pressure in my area is high

I have had almost daily headaches since becoming ill, but that is not a crash. A crash is when my whole face turns bright red, and it feels like my head is on fire. I have to pace myself every day and be sure to nap. If I don’t nap, I will crash about 7:00 or 8:00. I have to immediately lay down, because I can’t hold my eyes open or function at all. Stress (even minor) can also bring on a crash. If I do too much, I’ll go down for two or three days. The only thing that helps is sleeping. Not fun - no cure.

Does anyone experience symptoms before a "crash"? E.G., my friend's finger and feet get cold before experiencing other (more severe) symptoms like headache, tiredness chest pressure. So at the sign of the cold feet, etc. he takes Ibuprofen. Thankfully He is now seeing a long covid specialist...

My pre-crash symptoms include shortness of breath, dizziness, unsteadiness, mild headache, etc. Also, as I already posted, I've learned that I can mitigate the crash by lying down and performing deep breathing. Also, I try very hard to limit what I do in a day.

Thank you. When you say "pre-crash", are you saying that other different symptoms follow them? That is what are the symptoms that represent the "crash" like?

So with the headaches… I completely understand. The single most effective way to treat the migraines is sleep. Do not eat or drink 4 hours before going to sleep why… because is you body is digesting during your sleep the body can not focus on using the glial cells to clean out the cobwebs. Magnesium is also great for sleep. Work on your sleep hygiene first. There isn’t a magic pill. Exercise as in walk daily. Routines will set you up for success. Pace yourself. Look up Dr Grundy and Will Cole. Post Covid is an inflammatory spectrum. You have to decrease choices that increase your chance to have what I call a flare. You have to work on your micro biome. Do things you live and try to relax. I’ve been struggling since November 2020. I take emgality and ubrelvy. Find a good neurologist. I also put ice on my head and a heating pack on my neck during migraines. I hope any of this helps.