Vagus Nerve Stimulation to the Ear to Improve Symptoms in Post-COVID-19 and ME/CFS

This study is testing whether a gentle electrical stimulation of a nerve in the ear, called the vagus nerve, can help reduce fatigue and improve symptoms in people with Post-COVID Syndrome or Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS). The treatment, known as transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS), is non-invasive and can be done at home using a small device. Participants will try two different types of stimulation, called Intervention A and Intervention B, to see which may be more effective. Each intervention lasts 4 weeks and will be separated by a break of at least 4 weeks. Participants will use the device at home twice a day for 30 minutes. Fatigue, quality of life, sleep, and daily activity will be tracked through surveys and wearable devices. All parts of the study-including check-ins and data collection-will be done remotely. The goal is to learn whether this type of at-home nerve stimulation can safely improve symptoms in people with Post-COVID Syndrome or ME/CFS.