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

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?

Yes, when I actually crash, I have to lie down or I would fall down - can't think or see very well, big trouble breathing, cold everywhere (run cold anyway), dizzy, eyes so blurry can't see, etc. My husband has to remind me to breath deeply. It's scary. Pre-cash symptoms are not as severe.

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 'crashes' follow more cognitive or physical exertion than I should be doing but I don't know it until the days after the exertion. My headache varies in intensity-at it's worst, light/sound/smells are intolerable. My arms and legs feel like painful, heavy cement blocks that that require Herculean effort to move. I am lightheaded, nauseated, lack appetite. The incapacitating profound exhaustion makes me a lifeless glob of flesh. I am unable to summon the energy to get out of bed or off the couch. I pray I can fall asleep so I can stop feeling the pain. I slept 26 of 36 hours the last episode. Lots of water helps even though it means getting up to fill a glass, forcing myself to drink and then getting up again for the bathroom. Electrolyte replacement, Gatorade/NUUN/salt, helps as well. Excedrin Migraine is moderately helpful.
I was a marathon running, weight lifting, ER nurse before COVID in November 2020; now I keep an hourly log of what I am doing, identify if my activity is cognitive (daily planning, appointments, finances, grocery list, highway driving, insurance forms, support group, reading the news) or physical (walking, PT exercises, yoga, errands, laundry, washing & drying my hair, picking up the house, cooking). I tally up how much time I have used. I am done for the day when I have used up the 2hr limit for each. Sometimes that is noon, sometimes 4:00. It took ~4months to really pay attention to this before zeroing in on what my time limits are; a lot of trial and error, usually feeling good & thinking I can do everything, crash, repeat. Read up on "Post Exertional Malaise"-it fits me exactly.

My 'crashes' follow more cognitive or physical exertion than I should be doing but I don't know it until the days after the exertion. My headache varies in intensity-at it's worst, light/sound/smells are intolerable. My arms and legs feel like painful, heavy cement blocks that that require Herculean effort to move. I am lightheaded, nauseated, lack appetite. The incapacitating profound exhaustion makes me a lifeless glob of flesh. I am unable to summon the energy to get out of bed or off the couch. I pray I can fall asleep so I can stop feeling the pain. I slept 26 of 36 hours the last episode. Lots of water helps even though it means getting up to fill a glass, forcing myself to drink and then getting up again for the bathroom. Electrolyte replacement, Gatorade/NUUN/salt, helps as well. Excedrin Migraine is moderately helpful.
I was a marathon running, weight lifting, ER nurse before COVID in November 2020; now I keep an hourly log of what I am doing, identify if my activity is cognitive (daily planning, appointments, finances, grocery list, highway driving, insurance forms, support group, reading the news) or physical (walking, PT exercises, yoga, errands, laundry, washing & drying my hair, picking up the house, cooking). I tally up how much time I have used. I am done for the day when I have used up the 2hr limit for each. Sometimes that is noon, sometimes 4:00. It took ~4months to really pay attention to this before zeroing in on what my time limits are; a lot of trial and error, usually feeling good & thinking I can do everything, crash, repeat. Read up on "Post Exertional Malaise"-it fits me exactly.

Thank you for the description of cognitive vs. physical exertion. I will definitely try to log this myself. It plays into the 'spoons theory' which is described on Google. I was thinking of this concept as I was definitely pushing my limits today - I had to get projects turned in before spring break. I was cooking dinner at the stove and all of a sudden had a near syncope experience and had to sit on the floor. Emotionally stressful events also take me out for 24 hours. I appreciate you posting as I was also a very active person before all of this happened. This is quite the humbling experience.