Life Sicko
posted by October 18 at 10:18 AM
onAs I type this I’m on the couch at home, sick, undoubtedly dying—though my girlfriend says I’m just a whiner. Making matters worse, a Reese Witherspoon movie called Just Like Heaven is on and I can’t stop watching it. Things, obviously, are bleak.
My question for Slog readers, since I’m bored and Reese just made a miraculous recovery from her coma: What sort of remedies/comforting rituals do you reach to when you’re sick? I obviously need some guidance.
Comments
When I feel ill I treat myself to a nice hot bowl of Pho, the Vietnamese Noodle soup. MMMmmm the Jalapenos and Basil along with that delcious broth clear my sinuses and seem to push illness right out of my body.
You'll need a steady supply of BJs from your girlfriend if you're ever to get through this.
I put on my favorite raggedy old sweatshirt (the comforting effect of a security blanket, only with sleeves), dope myself with DayQuil (why suffer needlessly?), and watch movies in bed all day long. Also, invest in some Airborne, so next time when you start to feel sick you can head it off at the pass!
Miso soup is good, too, and easy to make at home.
Lots of herbal tea: Lemon Echinacea Throat Coat and Herbi-Tussin are two faves of mine. Or just boil some ginger in water for 15 minutes or so and serve with honey.
And, yes, lots of TV. Of course. Do you have any good DVDs lying around? I was sick last week and watched several Family Guys in a row. Good times.
If you get sick of TV, try re-watching one of your all-time favorite movies on DVD with the subtitles on in English. It's kinda like reading a book, but funner.
If you're feeling sporty, stick with cable and play "Count the Bryman ads."
Two words: BONG HIT
I was going to recommend the same thing as comment # 6.
Two full mugs of warm..not hot..Sake
accompanied by a rerun of this season's
Chicago Bears trouncing the Seattle
Seahawks.
You'll sleep quickly and well.
---Jensen
I ask my "sugarbitch" to go out and buy me something. Cough syrup and dvd's are nice, though I really hope she'll come through with something like glow-in-the-dark ceiling stars. While I'm lying in bed, I can look up her skirt as she maps out the Milky Way!
I'm a big proponent of Airborne, although it might be a bit late for that for you. I also love Tylenol PM for the sleepiness. I once took some Vicadin for a cold and that was nice, didn't remember a thing!
Kiss My Face, the provocatively-named brand of bath/shower gels, makes a Cold & Flu formula that rocks. I think I picked it up at Trader Joe's.
That stuff, a shot of whiskey in my TheraFlu ("a hot liquid like doctors recommend") and liberal doses of Game Show Network work for me.
Drugs and Butterscotch snak paks
BJs are not a medically proven remedy.
You can't beat the classics - warm blankie, hot soup, tea with honey and whiskey, and Young Frankenstein. But who the hell ever gets to do that anymore, with work assuming that since you're just sitting there at home, you'll be only too happy to deal with your emails and beeping you on your frigging Blackberry and wanting you to VPN in and deal with every little thing? Who actually gets to take a sick day and NOT WORK anymore?
Dayquil, Thai Tom Yum Noodle Soup, 2-3 stars dependong on your tolerance (the hot broth & spiciness do wonders), a hot drink (spiked or no), and a bunch of pillows so Reese can put you to sleep.
Classic video games.
drink hot lemonade made with honey, lemon, and boiling water. suck on throat lozenges. sleep lots.
i also like to reread "little women" but i realize this may not be the thing for everyone. i dislike tv and movies when i am sick.
garlic tea
2,4,6 (for medical use: moderation. for recreation: whatever it takes),17.
@13 - Doesn't hurt to try.
Gin.
I am not joking.
When you feel yourself getting sick, get drunk on your hard liquor of choice if you have the next day off. Drink two tall glasses of water before going to bed.
On weekdays, drink a swig of gin in the AM and again before bed.
The alcohol kills bacteria, which viruses use to reproduce.
Chineese food (especially BBQ pork with lots of hot mustard)...and a couple bong hits (use hot water with lemon).
Sweat it out! A hot bath with a couple of handfuls of Epsome salts (to suck the ick out), and a couple of handfuls of baking soda (to keep you from getting deydrated), stay in there at least half an hour, and drink waaaay too much water. Also, and this is probably just me, I like to watch the entire 'Anne of Green Gables' series... It's weird. It's like comfort food for my brain. But, seriously, the bath will totally help! Get well soon.
Hey, are you really SICK?!! You have the energy to Slog and watch movies. Perhaps you are faking it, dammit. Will someone from the office go over to Bradley's and make sure he really is sick; not fucking off and causing the rest of staff
to do his work for him. Thank you.
For any illness involving head stuffyiness, Than Brothers vegetarian pho is a must! Upset stomach comfort food is saltines and ginger ale.
When I'm sick, I like to reread my many years worth of old Love and Rockets comics. Sometimes I reread Agatha Christie or Dick Francis novels too, but I find comics are better suited to my hazy brain on those days.
Or maybe you deserve to be sick for making me think this post was going to be about Seattle's greatest band of all time.
Otherwise, hot soup and masturbation, both are good for encouraging sleep.
Step-by-step instructions:
1)OJ or Airborne for that Vitamin C boost.
2)One of everything in the medicine cabinet.
3)Bong Hit.
4)Bj, Sick sex (that means your partner does the work), or masturbation.
5)Soup and hot tea, (made by partner or take out).
6)Podcasts of This American Life.
7)Sleeping like a baby.
Repeat steps 4-6 as necessary.
There's nothing like a muscle relaxant and something warm in your tummy that aids rest. And it helps to listen to books on tape or This American Life, so you can close your eyes and enjoy.
Alisa's answer is the best: hot bath. Half an hour is sad, though; shoot for at least an hour, preferably two. Refill with more hot as needed.
And lots and lots and lots of fluids; water is boring, so drink 1/3 juice to 2/3 water: grape, cranberry, blueberry, pomegranate. If your tummy is upset add bubbles: Fresca is terrific mixed with a little grape juice. Or the classic remedy, ginger ale. If anyone asks if you're peeing in that hot bath, you don't have to tell them.
Try to avoid medicines besides aspirin unless you're desperate; they just postpone the inevitable. If your headache is out of control a little decongestant or antihistamine is good -- but just a little, half the dose on the package. If you're a big coffee drinker, you'll need Excedrin to avoid caffeine withdrawal; coffee itself is not a good idea.
For sleep, don't read comics; read something really difficult and boring. Keep the lights low, avoid noise, and cultivate the perfect pathetic whine to encourage sympathy from your partner. It's good to be fussed over, re-tucked in, daubed with a cool washcloth, etc.
Chicken soup is the best food. Soak bland bread or saltine crackers in it.
Dope yourself up on (pick one) DayQuil, NyQuil, mimosas, bong hits, and watch Miyazaki movies... I suggest 'Spirited Away' for the ultimate 'WTF?' moments. Do this all while wrapped in the comforter from your bed and crashed on the couch.
Also, garlic soup (like French Onion, but better) is my personal miracle cure.
Add fresh ginger and cayenne to OJ( they used to make that silver-bullet-of-a-cure the Green Cat) and watch The Empire Strikes Back. Works for me every time...
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