Flu Game

I'm currently sick in bed with what is almost certainly the flu — as is the rest of NYC, I'm told, so I don't really feel all that left out.

Because I'm fairly low in energy and the only things on my mind at the moment are "when will this get better before it gets worse?" and "how much Frasier is too much Frasier," I figured I would share how I, someone who gets sick quite often, manage sickness — from a minor cold to COVID and everything in between. I've found some pretty amazing remedies over the years and figured that sharing them here might do some good, assuming those reading this are also bracing for sickness in a major city somewhere.

Pain Relievers

I find Advil doesn't do much at all for me. The same goes with other over-the-counter pain medications. I forgo them entirely unless I have a high fever, which I'm convinced is more placebo effect and less science. (I'm almost certainly wrong here, factually speaking.) I have an incredible tolerance for pain, so I often wait out aches and the like.

Zicam

I discovered this in 2021 after it was recommended by someone who worked with me. I had the flu at the time and felt like death. Yet six hours after taking it, I found myself bouncing around my house and listening to ABBA. I know it's zinc and a few other fun things, but the Zicam sublingual is truly a lifesave and has shortened some instances of flu and cold for me.

Nasal Rinse

I use a NeilMed squeeze bottle to alleviate pressure, force out drainage, and reduce whatever congestion I may have. I was spooked a long time ago not to use this often, but I do this probably once every other week anyway — and 1-2 times a day when I'm sick.

Fluticasone

I have a whole bunch of sinus stuff, so I always keep Flonase on my person. It relieves a lot of the pressure from sinus related illnesses and makes it easier to breathe. I make sure to use it after using a nasal rinse because I believe the nasal rinse more or less negates it.

I Was spooked a long time ago to not do it often but I do this probably once or twice a week a month anyway And once a day when sick like I am now It's

Chicken Soup

I normally keep a vegan diet. The extreme exception to this is the chicken soup (sans gluten) I get delivered from Mechy's whenever I have a fever. Another probable placebo, but it's a source of comfort at a time of illness. (I went through two quarts in the last 24 hours.)

Liquid IV

This stuff is pretty damn good, and it's insanely cheap at Costco compared to anywhere else. It does what people think Gatorade might do during an illness, and beats the hell out of Emergen-C.

Sleep

I rarely sleep well as is, but tend to sleep around six or so hours when I'm sick. Sure, rest is good, but with congestion, aches and the like, this is what I average and I tend to do fine.

Sitcoms

I usually find a sitcom to watch at least a couple seasons of when I'm sick. Right now my wife and I are stuck in the latter seasons of Frasier while I'm trying to get through season eight of Cheers. I'll eventually get to The Middle.

Reading

I get some of my best "page-turner" reading done when I'm sick. My retention is ever-so-slightly worse than when I'm not sick, but fluff like Benjamin Markovits' The Rest of Our Lives is the perfect thing for me to read right now.

Music

Anything by Max Richter to get through the day.

Scenery

My house has four bedrooms and a lot of windows. When I'm sick, I like to sit by ones that are generally more private. Right now, I've parked myself in the rear bedroom on the second floor (called "Stacy's Room," as it's the one my sister-in-law takes when she's here, seen sort-of at the top of this post) and spent a lot of the day watching the snow fall. I did that for several hours today, devoid of any other stimuli, and it was a beautiful distraction from otherwise feeling awful.

I'm in the "first act" of my illness, as it hasn't gotten as bad as past ones. Yet thanks to Zicam, I was present enough to record the voice memo that eventually became this note. With the day off tomorrow (and one probable sick day in my immediate future), I'm going to go back to my window, watching the last flurries make their way into my backyard.

-Scott

A Small Update

Our cat, Stella, was admitted to the vet ICU this week, received a lifesaving blood transfusion and other treatments — all of which carried their own uncertain outcomes — and survived, finding her way back home yesterday afternoon. We don't know how much longer we have with her, but her sitting next to me by the radiator is not something that was wholly expected even a few days ago.