This could be the most important post Iāve ever shared. Please Share it with anyone who is or might be going through this terrible disease.
https://twitter.com/ItsMa____/status/1345432772538724355?s=19
My mom has fairly severe respiratory issues and is recovering from joint replacement; her PT told her the same info about sleeping/sitting positions and how they impact the lungs. Fascinating.
Can confirm that many of these helped me get through my fight with COVID, along with the help of my amazing spouse. We didnāt have anything prescribed to us, so all our home treatment came from the local pharmacy and the grocery store.
Here are some additional tips from my own experience:
-If you donāt have a recliner and tend to slouch on the sofa or are too tired or dizzy to sit up, stack up pillows next to you and lean on them. You can also sleep in this position for short intervals if you need to.
-If you canāt sleep on your stomach, sleep on your side with your head and chest slightly elevated and switch sides every few hours. Set an alarm if you need to. I definitely agree DO NOT sleep on your back, I made that mistake one night and it hurt.
-Move around or walk as much as you can to keep your heart and lungs strong, and to prevent blood clots, muscle atrophy, and peripheral neuropathy (numbness in the hands and feet). If you can only do small arm or leg exercises while seated thatās fine too. Check out Darebee for suggestions on sofa-based exercises.
-If you develop nausea and vomiting, products like Emetrol (dextrose / levulose / phosphoric acid liquid medicine that relaxes the muscles around your stomach to prevent heaving) or Nauzene (sodium citrate dihydrate chewables that calm your stomach in 3-4min to quell nausea) can be very helpful. Pedialyte and apple juice is a lifesaver, as are buttery crackers (Ritz, Town House, etc) or PBJ Uncrustables when eaten slowly. Applesauce also helps, as itās easy to digest and doesnāt require a lot of effort. Try to avoid laying flat if you develop nausea to prevent reflux. And whatever you do, STAY HYDRATED.
-If you develop a sticky phlegmy feeling in your chest or you feel bubbling when you breathe, there are breathing exercises you can do to help strengthen your lungs, cough up the phlegm, and drain the fluid. Check out this article for suggestions, it really helped me.
-COVID cough can be wracking and expels a lot of air, which can leave you feeling lightheaded and lead to hyperventilation or fainting if youāre not careful. (Happened to me. Wasnāt fun.) Keep your throat moist, spit out any phlegm you bring up (into a tissue or a trash bin), and run a humidifier to keep dry air from setting off coughing fits. If you develop a blue tinge in your lips, feel like you canāt breathe, or start feeling like you need to gasp for air, seek medical attention immediately. (Also, if you have a rescue inhaler, keep it close at hand. I donāt regularly use one, but my husband does, and I had to borrow it a few times.)
-If you canāt find Mucinex, you can pick up Robitussin Severe Cough & Flu + Sore Throat or Delsym Cough + Sore Throat. Both are acetaminophen and dextromethorphan. I paired this with a generic CVS chest congestion / expectorant / nasal decongestant which was guaifenesin and phenylephrine. This covers the active ingredients in Mucinex and then some.
-Be careful not to take Tylenol at the same time as a cough medicine containing acetaminophen. It can damage your liver and upset your stomach something fierce. (And speaking of which, never take acetaminophen on an empty stomach.)
-You can alternate doses of Tylenol (acetaminophen) and Advil (ibuprofen) every 2-4 hours if you need to. Ibuprofen is an anti-inflammatory NSAID pain reliever and fever reducer that may be a little easier on your stomach. Just be careful not to exceed the daily dosage instructions printed on the bottle.
-If you can stock up on medicine at the beginning of your illness, DO IT. And order extras ahead of time. During my illness, we went through fiveā¦yes, FIVEā¦bottles of cough medicine and two of anti-emetic over the course of two weeks. (Granted, my case was pretty severe. Hopefully your mileage will vary.) And donāt be afraid to call on friends, family, or neighbors to fetch groceries and supplies if you canāt afford or donāt have a local delivery service.
-If you donāt already have them, get a thermometer and a fingertip pulse oximeter. You can find both on Amazon for less than $20 apiece. Check your temperature, pulse rate, and O2 levels several times a day, especially whenever you begin to feel poorly. Symptoms can come on in waves, and itās important to monitor your vitals. If you develop a fever over 104F that does not respond to medication (Tylenol Rapid-Release works well) or your O2 levels drop below 90, seek medical attention.
-I definitely agree with the supplements advice. If you can get your hands on Vitamin C and Vitamin D3 supplements, try to take them daily. Vitamin C helps boost your immune response when youāre sick, and Vitamin D3 supports your immune system and lung health. (There have been some studies tentatively linking Vitamin D deficiency to difficulty combating and recovering from COVID, but these have not been conclusive. Still, every little bit helps.)
Iām not any kind of medical professional, but all of these things aided in my recovery. I hope they can help somebody else out there. Itās a hard fight if you get sick, but you can do it.
Stay well, everyone, and good luck!
