Girlfriend’s Guide for the Sick and Miserable
You guys.. I’ve been down for the count.
Last week was as busy as my days typically are, hustling and bustling amongst the chaos of life and work.. but I wasn’t feeling quite right. As the week went by, I thought I was coming down with one of my bi-annual sinus infections (gross). Swollen lymph nodes, runny nose, sore throat, aches .. the works. Friday I finally caved and saw the doc. Wow was I wrong, I had/have pneumonia, whoa!
Needless to say I haven’t posted in quite some time, my deepest apologies. So let’s talk sick strategies since cold & flu season is rapidly approaching. What are your comforts when you’re sick and how do you heal?
If any of you follow me on SnapChat, you’d know I wallow in food deliveries, a humidifier, loads of blankets, endless movies and my old baggie sweat pants. I also was put on massive amounts of steroids & antibiotics, which I’m blaming the (twice) delivery of cupcakes on (steroids TOTALLY make you snacky!) and my favorite snack is by far anything sweet and scrumptious. Steroids also put your hormones on a fun little roller coaster straight to crazy town, but we’ll leave that part out.
But my best advice for getting over flu’s/coughs/crud is as follows:
1) Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! Typically when you’re down for the count your body is pretty dehydrated, mostly due to a fever and/or sweating. Staying hydrated not only benefits every body system, it helps detoxify your body from all the bad juju hanging out in there (and help get all the gooby snot out). I like to drink water with lemon (really because it tastes a lot better) but the lemon is a natural detox cleanse for your body. I also drink coconut water (which is massively hydrating) and loaded with potassium. If you’re sick to your stomach in any way, shape, or form, you’re losing electrolytes rather quickly, including potassium. You can also blend gatorade with water, or pedialyte Ā + water to regain electrolytes and dilute some of the sugar. Hot tea (lemon zinger, chamomile, lavender) with a hint of honey also does wonders.
2) Chicken Noodle Soup or Chicken & Dumpling Soup: I completely believe this deliciousness gives you all the feels to get better. This recipe is super easy to make, and like christmas in your mouth. I use a rotisserie chicken to eliminate half of the work.Ā Chicken and Dumpling Soup
3) Rest: Your body is healing and therefore needs all the rest it can get. For the fellow girl geeks out there, I am known to turn on a) lord of the rings b) star wars/star trek c) harry potter d) the hobbit and cuddle up in my blankets for a nap or three. Rest and feel zero shame.
4) Vitamin C: I typically invest in Emergen-C every year to help give me an added immune boost when I’m feeling icky. You can also invest in Vitamin B 12 shots, but many people are quite afraid of needles. So for a needless/poke free option, you can get a free sample on their website if you’ve never tried it! Find it here:Ā Emergen C Free Sample
5) Flu Shots: guys.. there are a lot of opinions floating around out there about the flu shot. NO it’s not a live virus and therefore cannot give you the flu. YES your body can have a reaction to the vaccination, it is a foreign particle after all. Now, the nasal mist IS a live virus and has the potential to give you a mild form of the virus. There are several versions of the shot, typically tri-valent is available which means it covers three of the most predominant strains of the virus from the previous flu season. Sometimes you can luck out and find places that offer quadrivalent, which is what we actually give our transplant patients as it offers the most coverage possible. YES you can still get the flu even when you get the shot. Remember when I just said it covers 3-4 strains? There are a BAZILLION strains of the virus, because viruses are capable of mutating. BUT I will say with no pause, having the shot will make it less miserable than not having it at all. AND guys.. I have seen people die from the flu. Ā Not just the old, but the young as well. The virus went straight for their heart and ultimately killed them. Something I never wish on anyone or their family, especially when it’s entirely preventable. Now remember, I come from the world of healthcare and whole-heartedly believe in preventive medicine and all the perks entailed. There are people who feel differently when it comes to vaccines, we are all entitled to our opinions, but mine will never change.
6) Pampering: I don’t know about you but pampering (when I’m feeling a little better) helps me feel like a new person. I like to get a mani/pedi and sometimes a massage. The massage also helps loosen all the toxins in your body and flush out with proper hydration. The mani/pedi makes me feel like more of a lady and less like Slimer from Ghostbusters. Here in Dallas, I LOVE going to MiniLuxe. Have you been? Their sanitation/sterilization levels are seriously surgical grade.. no argument here. Check out their website:Ā MiniLuxe
7) Online Shopping: I’d be lying if I didn’t say I pull out my laptop and peruse my favorite online stores. It excites me to have some cute new outfits on the way by the time I’m feeling like myself again. OR I find things to put in my wish list and buy them when they go on sale!
I also owe you guys some outfit deets from last week:
I’m in love with this ONE by Family Affairs dress, the seersucker never goes wrong in the right weather, plus it’s pink.
Shoes: Christian Louboutin
Purse: Louis Vuitton
Dress: ONE by Family Affairs via ShopBopĀ Find it Here
Photos by Megan Weaver
