#sick tips

I AM NOT A DOCTOR, THESE ARE THINGS THAT HAVE /HELPED/ ME- NOT CURED ME.

**CHECK FOR POTENTIAL REACTIONS WITH WHATEVER YOU’RE TAKING TOGETHER OR WITH WHATEVER PRESCRIPTION YOU’RE ALREADY TAKING.

• stay hydrated, if you can’t tolerate water make it 100% juice or tea! Dye, refined sugar and corn syrup can make the sickness feel worse so avoid Gatorade, Powerade, Snapple, ect.

• Keep a medicine log: what you took & when. Mucus busters, decongestants, painkillers ect all have a certain amount of time in between each dose when you can take them, it says it on the bottle. Check to make sure you can take the two or more over the counter medications at the same time, also check for reactions with prescription meds online!!**

• Start taking multi vitamins, they’re good for you and support your natural immune defense. Vitamin c & d, zinc, echinacea and many more are super helpful right now**

• Netti Pots!! Tips: NO plastic ones, lead free and food safe glaze!! Hand wash them with HOT water and boil them for extra disinfecting. Make sure the water you are using for the flush has cooled to warm, not hot or cold! Bend over at a 90 degree angle, turn your head as far to the right as you comfortably can (emphasis on comfortable, don’t strain yourself) and put the Netti Pot in your RIGHT nostril so the water starts pouring out of your left nostril. Open your mouth and breathe, you’re not drowning. Adjust the posture of your head or the angle, again, you’re not drowning. Use about half of the water on the right, take the Netti Pot OFF and switch to the left side, repeating the steps but for the left. Blow your nose in between switching sides and use the rest of the water.

• Get anti snoring nose strips, they help a lot to help you fucking breathe when you’re congested as FUCK or your sinuses are irritated and inflamed.

• Keep a garbage bag by your bed so any trash can be thrown out or if you’re throwing up, welp, there you go!

• If you have a SEVERELY sore throat or strep: Numbing cough drops and throat spray will make it so you can at least get something down and have a little relief. Obviously, in this case if you can’t even breathe without it hurting go to the doctor or urgent care.

• Get a nebulizer/steam inhaler/vicks steamer or humidifier to keep things moist in your sinuses and even help break it up. There are cooling misters and warming misters, they also have options to put essential oils as well. Look at your options and see what YOU want.

• Cooling gel spa masks?? Singular circle ones, under eye, a full mask that goes over your eyes or has eye holes?? They’re SO good for irritated and painful sinuses, holy shit. Warm compresses are good for loosening up the gunk but sometimes your sinuses are so inflamed, you need the OPPOSITE.

• If you’re really bed ridden, don’t do this, but if you can, keep your meds in a nearby room or across your room so you get up and circulate blood flow and open up your sinuses. It sucks, but it is much better to stand for those 5-10 minutes while taking your meds and let shit drain and flow properly again.

• Yoga can actually be beneficial. There are plenty of “yoga when sick” tutorials and videos online that will help you relieve pressure, drain shit and just generally stretch you out after sitting Orr laying down for so long. Some yoga you can do entirely laying down.

• Get fresh air, ask for help getting bundled up or open a window and suck in that fresh air. It feels so much better and getting some sun and going outside will help, trust me.

• Change your bedding, wash it, clean it, get the funk off once you’re not sick. Trust me there is drool, snot, sweat.. maybe puke?? Just wash it.

• Use paper plates, plastic utensils, disposable shit if you’re alone. Washing dishes can be hard as fuck when you’re sick, there is also germs on the things you used so just toss it out. I wouldn’t say “make a specific spot in the sink” or “Fill the dishwasher” Because what if you forgot and now you’re sick? Or you couldn’t cause your sick?

• Take a shower about 2-3 days in, you’ll feel a little more refreshed, again, drainage!! And then again when you feel like you’re over the brunt of it and you’re on the up!

• Fruit and veggies really are going to give you more energy and be extremely helpful here. I am not saying avoid every other food, but a fresh fruit or veggie platter of your choice?? It’s hydrating, it tastes good (especially with dip) and it has a ton of great nutrients!! :-)

• Try to avoid any medicine with dye, corn syrup and refined sugar… please. I have tried both on SEVERAL occasions and I got sick a LOT as a child, the basically candy with some Tylenol in it will make you feel worse, make you flemmy, hurt your throat, give you a sugar high that does not pair well with fevers- just don’t do it.

Hey hey hey, guess who's not feeling the best right now? If you guessed me, you win! But yeah, I'm not feeling that hot, just got a basic head-cold and it's annoying, so I figured I might as well still be productive and help out some fellow writers on what you all can do (At least, according to me) that might help you get writing work done while you're sick.

Stay Home. I'm serious on this one, you don't wanna get other people sick and going out will probably only make you feel worse. Take a day or two off, your health matters.

Food/Drink: Drink tea, it helps a ton when you're feeling any kind of sick. Heck, just stay hydrated in general! Also, maybe if you're up for it, eat something a little spicy! It can help clear up your sinuses and that's a big relief. (I like indian cuisine to help with that)

Get Comfy: Find a nice spot on a sofa, your bed, cozy chair, and just get settled in. Maybe take a little nap or two! Your body does need rest, you know.

Relax: Now is the perfect time to flip through some good prompts, watch that one movie is totally valid BTW.

Headaches

🤕Have your little relaxed and not focused on anything, like homework

🤕If they hit their head and show any signs of a concussion, don’t let them sleep and take them to a doctor ASAP

🤕Have them take pain killers

🤕Make sure it’s not from dehydration or hunger

🤕Laying in a cool, dark room with a damp towel on their head can help

🤕If they’re nauseous, don’t force feed them.

🤕If the headache is caused by dehydration, have then sip water and Gatorade slowly. If the headache is caused by hunger, have them eat slowly so their tummy won’t hurt.

Respiratory Illnesses

💊Make sure they can breathe properly at all times

💊Monitor symptoms daily, so if you go to the doctor, it’ll help with treatment and diagnosis

💊If they use an inhaler, have them take it more than normal (if needed)

💊Use Vick’s Vapor Rub and drink SleepyTime Sinus Relief tea

💊 Go to your doctor or the hospital if you can’t breathe, or if you have a fever accompanied with trouble breathing, excessive coughing, etc.

💊Sitting up helps with coughing fits

💊 Warm drinks help with a sore chest

💊Keep in mind that coughing from sinus drainage is a thing common with colds, so it may very well go away on its own.

Flu

😷Be aware of the symptoms common with the most popular strain, because different strains cause different symptoms.

😷This is obvious, but get your flu shot.

😷Wash your hands during the flu season...and every season, really

😷STAY HOME if you’re diagnosed with it

😷Keep yourself hydrated and well-fed if you can eat

😷Follow your doctor’s instructions

😷Follow the tips for headaches (above)

😷If you vomit often, sit up while you sleep!!

😷DayQuil and NyQuil are saviors

Colds

🤧Buy lollipop cold drops! Much better than icky cherry regular drops.

🤧Again, NyQuil and DayQuil are your saviors

🤧Drinking warm liquids help soothe a sore throat too

🤧Rest as much as you can!

🤧Monitor your cold to make sure it doesn’t turn into anything serious, like bronchitis or mono

🤧Nasal sprays and Nettipots are great for stuffy noses!

Fever

🤒Monitor your temperature regularly, and if it won’t lower go to your doctor

🤒Monitor symptoms that go along with your fever

🤒 Keep a cool towel on your forehead (cute Disney ones are also available at the store!)

🤒 Wear a lightweight outfit but keep blankets near you to deal with temperature changes

🤒Take ibuprofen or Tylenol to lower your fever (if you’re under 18 DO NOT TAKE ASPIRIN)

🤒99-101° F is considered low grade, 102°F and higher is considered high grade. If you have a high grade fever that increases or doesn’t go away for 3 days, get medical help

🤒Keep hydrated!!

Things Caregivers need to know:

🦄If the above illnesses are more common for your little to have. For example, my daddy knows I have asthma and is aware I get sick easily and more often than most people.

🦄In littlespace, your little may not know how to communicate they don’t feel well. For this reason, be alert if they seem to be fussy more, not eating, drinking, or going to the bathroom normally, etc.

🦄Encourage your little to take their medicines and go to the doctor if it’s needed. This is important to their health!

🦄Be ready for more tantrums, cuddles, and whining

🦄Be lienient with rules and punishments since we’re sick, please.

🦄Make your little nap if they’re at all sleepy, since sick littles need more sleep

🦄Encourage them to rest and not play

🦄Clean sheets and replace toothbrushes after they’re healthy again to ensure no one else re catches it

🦄When in doubt, cuddle!!!

We’re not doctors by any means, but we hope this can help :)

What random stuff so y'all start doing when you're sick? Like things you otherwise wouldn't do?

Anything salty: you have to make sure you're drinking plenty of fluids with this one, but salt helps your body retain water, and replaces the electrolytes you loose with sweat and using the bathroom. So, saltines, ham, pretzels, (maybe avoid chips cause of the oil content) pea soup, you get it

Juice: easy energy, light, most juice boxes are decently small, so you won't be chugging anything and upsetting your stomach

Green tea: But not too much! Green tea is full of antioxidants, which are great for you when you're sick! But!!! ALL tea is dehydrating, so make sure you drink water too (actually, this applies to juice too)

Water. Fluids fluiDs FLUIDS!!!!

Small, light fruits that are easy to chew. Plums (or... any stone fruit really), berries, maybe grapes depending on how much muscle pain your in, super ripe pears, the like.

Dried fruits and nuts. High in energy for small amounts. Lotta calories, no upset stomach.

Soups and stews. Better homemade. Canned is fine cause they still have to use broth lol. But!!! Easy chicken soup for when you're sick: box of chicken bone broth, Box of chicken broth, package of boneless chicken, salt, herbs+spices you like/have lying around, and whatever else you wanna put in it. Point is, its 3 ingredients and salt, and it'll last you all week. Dont leave the house, but if you have a friend who can get them for you, youre good.

Vegetables. Nothing fancy, just pop something in a pot of boiling water with some salt and let it boil or steam. Personally, i like overlooking them, its easier on the mouth. Your body's gonna thank you.

Dairy free milks. High in calories, easy on the mouth and throat.

Honey. I could write an essay on the pros and cons of honey but tl;dr its gonna make your throat feel better and local honeys cause REASONS (pollen allergy reasons) might help you feel better

What to avoid

Things with a lot of sugar. Fruits and juices are fine, but things like sugarry chocolates, sugar preserved fruits, overly sugary ice creams, sweets. Ect. Its gonna upset your stomach. Ok?

Large amounts of carbs. That piece if bread or two with your soup isn't gonna hurt you, but a takeout sized thing of spaghetti IS.

Take out (generally). Chinese food, pizza, Italian, fried chicken, burger King, and anything thats not a salad or chicken nuggets from McD or Wendy's. Takeout is REALLY greasy and bad for your stomach on a good day. Don't test fate.

Anything greasy you make at home, too, with the exception of soups and stews. Just, avoid excess oil. (Yes there are some cultures that ENCOURAGE excess oil during illness and thats fine cause it works for them cause their bodies are already used to that kind of thing. Im not qualified to speak more on that, and a lot of tumblr is America and Europe so just... avoid lots oil)

Dairy free milks. High in calories, easy on the mouth and throat.

Milk. Most people are lactose intolerant to some degree and don't know it. Don't tempt fate.

Tips and Tricks

Hurts your throat to drink? Use a straw. Cardboard and metal work great for hot drinks (please don't put plastic in a hot drink. Paper isn't MUCH better but, still better), and the smaller amounts drank + the changed angle will help if its the upper part of your throat that hurts.

Juice boxes.

Eating lightly, but frequently.

Have someone who'll check in on you every couple of hours. Housemates in person, or a friend that'll call you. The last thing you want or need is to be running a 104 fever while no one knows and no way to get medical help.

If youre nit up for it, don't eat it. Wait a little longer, or find something else. Yiur body will tell you what it needs.

If you start craving something on the Dont Eat list, that's ok, youre body is craving something it knows it can get from that food. Eat a little, and see how you fair.

Staying under the blankets and staying warm is all fine and dandy, but if your fever starts spiking (you checked with a thermometer, your normal blanket isn't keeping you warm, you start getting violent chills) you need to cool down. It sucks. It sucks SO much cock. But too high of a temperatures is what kills (and breathing issues). Your body can't survive long at overly high temps, symptoms can gonna include chills, sweating while "freezing", inability to catch your breath, headache, extreme dizziness, and possibly hallucinations. Im not a doctor though, theseare all just things I experienced last time I had a 104⁰ fever.

- 1 deadline

- 2 exams

- Semi-invasive medical procedure

- My birthday

- Some socials/society things I said I’d help with/go to