@blgilles I think one has to be careful in saying that all long-COVID patients are "like CFS/ME" - this is not the case for many of us. I don't have exertional malaise or blood vessel/heart/lung/gut issues, for example. My exhaustion is caused by electrical disturbance when trying to rest or sleep, which causes small muscle spasms, which in turn results in larger tendon and muscle issues. I am in the neuro cohort, in which most of our issues are caused by central nervous system overactivation/autonomic dysfunction. This group is characterized by electrical stimulation of the CNS, which leads to sensory issues, brain and muscle inflammation, buzzing and tingling sensations caused by neuropathy. It is likely exacerbated by inflammation, but I don't seem to have the vascular issues that would go along with what you're describing. I do think there are two overarching categories of long-COVID - CFS/ME type and neurological types, within which there is the POTS group and the CNS small-fiber neuropathy group.

Thank you for the detailed response though. I think it could help many find relief.