On the Path | Issue 8 | August, 2021
On the Path | Issue 8 | August, 2021
A newsletter, written with joy, for the curious, adventurous, and modern-day action-takers of the world.
No one wants to get sick... especially now with 'rona on the loose.
But IF YOU DO, best to be prepared.
That's the focus of this month's newsletter... it's a sort of 'being sick care package' with ideas for things that will make your time nursing yourself back to health easier, healthier, more tolerable, and maybe even slightly enjoyable.
And what makes me an expert in all of this? Well, up until 3 weeks ago, I wouldn't have considered myself one, because I rarely get sick.
But that all when five days after getting home from a family vacation, I started feeling a little tickle in the back of my throat.
In an abundance of caution, I got myself tested for COVID (which came out negative) and passed the tickle off as something that would quickly pass.
Two days (and another negative covid test) later it was clear… this was not going to just go away peacefully and quietly. With a fever, headache, sore throat (like razorblades), congestion, clogged sinuses, and a general feeling of yuckiness, I was fully engulfed in the flu.
While the worst of it only lasted 4 days, in all, being sick took me out for more than two weeks... which I found out is pretty normal for most viral infections.
Over these weeks, I learned quite a lot about being sick... things that helped me mitigate the sickness, prevent it (I think) from settling into my chest (something that has happened in the past), and helped me tolerate the apathy, tiredness, and general lack of energy better so that I could pass the time, stay as comfortable as possible, sleep, and ultimately recover.
I hope you DON’T ever find a use for these tools, but as probability would have it, there's a good chance you will. Additionally, doctors are expecting a worse than normal cold and flu season this year as we come out of such restricted isolation - this, since our immune systems are not as robust after spending much of the past 18 months with limited exposure to other people.
So do yourself a favor and make sure you BOOKMARK this email so that you can easily find it when you need it!
Hope you’re having (or had) a great month, and end of your summer!
Andy
PS - If you get something out of reading this newsletter, please consider forwarding it to someone you care about. They can subscribe here.
BINGE-WORTHY ENTERTAINMENT
Never get sick without a list of a few shows you’d like to binge on. While being sick in bed all day is miserable, it certainly does make it a little better with a binge-worthy show (or two) to keep you company and pass the time.
Here are a few shows that made the cut for me:
“Money Heist” is a Spanish show on Netflix (I was resistant to watching at first since I thought the subtitles would be a hassle, however, I hardly even noticed after one episode.) It’s a show about an unlikely group of criminals who come together to stage the greatest robbery of all time at the Royal Spanish Mint, lead by a man who’s never ever been a part of a robbery before, but who’s been planning this one for his entire life.
"Lupin" - a French show on Netflix (also subtitled) about a man trying to clear the name of his father who decades prior had been falsely accused of robbery, put in prison, and had committed suicide. He uses magical trickery, slight of hand, and misdirection to get done what seems to be impossible.
"Mr. Robot" - a show on Amazon Prime starring Rami Malek as a cybersecurity engineer and hacker whose life is turned upside down when Mr. Robot invites him to join a group of hacktivists on a mission to destroy the largest financial conglomerate in the world.
GET SEEN BY A DOCTOR WITHOUT LEAVING YOUR HOME
At the worst of my sickness, the last thing I wanted to do was get in my car and drive to the doctor. I was curious... could you have an appointment with a doctor via an online chat or video appointment?
Turns out, YES, you can!
The service I used is called Plush Care.
The process was incredibly simple. I created an account, signed up for a free 30-day trial, and scheduled an appointment with a doctor that I chose from a curated list (the cost was $119 for the visit).
90 minutes later I was on a video call with an internal medicine doctor. We discussed my symptoms, she gave me a boatload of advice, and she even looked at the back of my throat through the camera on my phone to make sure I didn’t have strep throat or something worse.
The cost for the service for the year is only $99, and I believe that doctor visits are only $59 (if you don’t go through insurance).
For someone like me who doesn’t like going to the doctor anyway, it was perfect!
Note about viral vs bacterial infections: One thing I learned during my appointment - many doctors will prescribe an antibiotic (like a z-pack) whether you have symptoms of a bacterial infection or not (my sickness was viral, and antibiotics are useless against them). They do this for two reasons: 1) Because they don't want to disappoint patients by having them think there is nothing they can do for them, and 2) Because it might have value as a placebo. The unfortunate reality is that for a virus (which are most colds and flu's), there is really nothing you can do but to let them run their course.
QUOTES I'M PONDERING
The Guest House
This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they are a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice.
meet them at the door laughing and invite them in.
Be grateful for whatever comes.
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.
~ Rumi
“How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you were?”
~ Satchel Page
(an American baseball player whose MLB career spanned 5 decades, and who played his last game in the MLB at age 59)
CLEARING YOUR CHEST & SINUSES
If the only thing you use is a box of tissues and a big blow to keep your sinuses clear, it’s time for a SERIOUS upgrade.
Two things are at the top of my essentials list.
1. Steam inhaler. Before this sickness, I didn’t even know what one was! Turns out this thing will create steam and deliver it right to your sinuses and chest and help you loosen things up in there so that your sickness doesn't settle up in your head or down in your chest.
I tested out a few different models to make sure I got the best one - the result being the Mabis Steam Inhaler. It’s less than $30, delivers an incredible amount of steam (way more than others), and also allows you to add essential oils.
This was the tool I used (and am still using) to ensure that my vocal cords and throat remained soft, pain-free (as much as possible), and functional, and that the phlegm in my chest and lungs remained loose and 'cough-up-able', keeping my flu from developing into something that might have lingered, or worsened.
2. NeilMed Sinus Rinse kit. This is for emptying out your sinuses by rinsing them through with saltwater. It’s soft, gentle, and incredibly effective. The NeilMed has been my go-to for years, and there are other options out there if you prefer something other than the squeeze bottle.
HERBS, TEAS, LOZENGES
The moment I get sick, I convert immediately from drinking coffee to hot tea.
Two that have helped me most through the past couple of weeks are made by Traditional Medicinals and called Gypsy Cold Care, and Throat Coat with Slippery Elm.
I made cup after cup of both of these… as tea became my beverage of choice for herbal nourishment, bringing heat and warmth to the inside of my body, and ensuring I stayed hydrated (of course I also had a large glass of water by my bed at all times).
I even relaxed my normal policy of no sweeteners for coffee or tea and added a teaspoon of honey to each cup of tea - which helped to coat my throat and just felt really good.
And by the way - simply lemon and honey in hot water is a great alternative tea of any kind to keep your body warm, throat moist, and cells hydrated.
For herbs, my go-to for years has been Wellness Formula. I prefer the liquid form to the tablets in spite of the way it tastes… actually, there is something about the (nasty) taste that helps me believe that it MUST be doing something really good for me!
And finally, lozenges… Ricola Cool Relief… I don't think I would have made it without a regular supply of these each day.
SLEEPING SOUNDLY THROUGH THE NIGHT
I stay away from over-the-counter medicine and prescription drugs as much as possible. But when it comes to helping me sleep and battling through a high fever, I’m all in.
For helping to induce sleep and helping with just about every condition I was experiencing, I used a CVS liquid product called Nighttime Cold & Flu Relief - Severe. It kept me breathing clearly, kept my cough to a minimum, ease the pain of my sore throat, and most importantly, helped me sleep all the way through the night every night (except one.)
*Note: During the day, I used generic ibuprofen for general achiness, lowering my fever, and reducing headache pain.