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Original poster

Things you absolutely have to do when ill in bed

115 replies

ElsaMars · 19/01/2023 11:08

Yesterday I felt too ill to eat, sleep or watch anything and DH had to help me put my socks on as well as do pretty much everything else with the kids. I tossed and turned in bed all night and finally dozed off about 5.00am.
Today I'm still feeling terrible and in bed BUT I can just about focus on watching something, so I've put on the latest series of the Batchelor for the perfect trashy, I don't have to think about it viewing.
I'm also eating grapes and I managed a cup of tea.
What I also think is when you feel this bad, you still have Mum guilt but I know 100% I couldn't parent today, so I try to let that go - and having a good DH helps (absolute shout out to all the single parents)
What are your 'I'm too ill to get out of bed' essentials?

OP posts:
Suprima · 19/01/2023 11:09

Lucozade and I always watch the Brad Pitt and Eric bana film ‘Troy’

Original poster
ElsaMars · 19/01/2023 11:13

Very specific @Suprima 😁I'd forgotten Lucozade, my mum used to always give it to me.

OP posts:
Tricyrtis2022 · 19/01/2023 11:18

A selection of short stories. Something like Saki is good for light reading.

tietheknot · 19/01/2023 11:20

Listen to ASMR on Youtube

FetchezLaVache · 19/01/2023 11:21

When ill, I always read Between Friends by Kathleen Rowntree - easy peasy Aga saga type thing. And watch the BBC Pride & Prejudice.

smooththecat · 19/01/2023 11:22

Watch Labyrinth

JustAWeirdoWithNoName · 19/01/2023 11:24

This is embarrassing but I often watch the shows that I watched when poorly as a child (eg Camberwick Green, The Hoobs, Sooty & Sweep)

Lordofthebutterfloofs · 19/01/2023 11:24

If I'm too sick to get out of bed, I'm not doing anything. It's rare I am that ill I can't get up.

Millenials1980 · 19/01/2023 11:25

At 38, I have never been ill enough to have to lie in bed all day. Maybe get up a little later but never all day.
Is that weird?!

elizabethdraper · 19/01/2023 11:26

i read Harry Potter

Grabbing2023ByTheBalls · 19/01/2023 11:27

@Millenials1980 that is weird! You have my permission to pull a sickie tomorrow and spend all day in bed Grin

I need to wear a big snuggly hoodie or a dressing gown, and watch something funny (The Big Bang Theory, The Royale Family.)

And I need some nice chocolate.

MeOldBamboo · 19/01/2023 11:28

Rick Stein food/travel programmes seem to be my thing. Escapism I suppose.

BitOutOfPractice · 19/01/2023 11:29

Watch the Deterctorists. Gentle, warm, funny TV. Perfect for poorly people.

Hope you feel better soon OP Flowers

Lordofthebutterfloofs · 19/01/2023 11:31

Millenials1980 · 19/01/2023 11:25

At 38, I have never been ill enough to have to lie in bed all day. Maybe get up a little later but never all day.
Is that weird?!

No it's not weird. I don't either. I would have to be really sick for that to happen.

Some of the descriptions here of husbands having to change them or put their socks on make me cringe.

TugboatAnnie · 19/01/2023 11:32

Anything I know well and don't have to concentrate on eg Marple, Poirot, Columbo or boxsets like Father Ted, Gavin and Stacey, Desperate Housewives.
Hope you feel better soon!

StollenAway · 19/01/2023 11:33

Listen to audiobooks... if I'm so ill that I can't get up then I also feel too ill to watch or read anything.

80sMum · 19/01/2023 11:34

I'm one of the lucky few, I think!

I've managed to reach the age of 65 and can only remember a couple of occasions when I've felt too unwell to get out of bed. I had flu in 1995 and spent a day in bed (and a further 3 days off work) and I had what I think was norovirus in 2015 and felt too ill to get out of bed on the first day (apart from crawling to the loo!).

Both times, I was a bit out of it so I don't think I really did anything other than sleep.

JoyDivisionOvenGlovesx · 19/01/2023 11:35

JustAWeirdoWithNoName · 19/01/2023 11:24

This is embarrassing but I often watch the shows that I watched when poorly as a child (eg Camberwick Green, The Hoobs, Sooty & Sweep)

Blimey, I’d completely forgotten about The Hoobs - but now have a wave of nostalgia washing over me!

BestIsWest · 19/01/2023 11:36

I watch Singing In The Rain, Grey’s Anatomy and I always, always read Bill Bryson’s Down Under. I have to have a kettle for tea, coffee and lemsip.

AbreathofFrenchair · 19/01/2023 11:36

Lordofthebutterfloofs · 19/01/2023 11:31

No it's not weird. I don't either. I would have to be really sick for that to happen.

Some of the descriptions here of husbands having to change them or put their socks on make me cringe.

Show quote history

Theres always one.....

Lovemydoggiesomuch · 19/01/2023 11:40

I had covid two years ago and used it as an excuse to hide quietly upstairs
Having said that ,I can quite happily waste a whole morning in bed and faffing on iPad .
Hope you feel better soon OP 💐

LaFemmeDamnee · 19/01/2023 11:41

Millenials1980 · 19/01/2023 11:25

At 38, I have never been ill enough to have to lie in bed all day. Maybe get up a little later but never all day.
Is that weird?!

Not weird but fortunate, I would say.

Lindy2 · 19/01/2023 11:42

I've been poorly where I've just stayed in my dressing gown (of doom) and lay on the sofa watching TV for a lot of the day. I've still had to look after my children though.

The only time I've been too ill to do anything was when I had Covid before the vaccination roll out had taken place. I basically just lay still doing nothing. That's all I could do.

DH was ill at the same time. We ordered a big pizza delivery which kept our kids fed for a few days. They helped themselves to it when they were hungry. That was literally all we were able to do to look after them. Horrendous times.

Greatly · 19/01/2023 11:42

If I was too ill to get out of bed I think dh would call an ambulance.

If I couldn't make myself a coffee and sit on the sofa I'd be letting people know where my will was.

AbreathofFrenchair · 19/01/2023 11:45

ElsaMars · 19/01/2023 11:08

Yesterday I felt too ill to eat, sleep or watch anything and DH had to help me put my socks on as well as do pretty much everything else with the kids. I tossed and turned in bed all night and finally dozed off about 5.00am.
Today I'm still feeling terrible and in bed BUT I can just about focus on watching something, so I've put on the latest series of the Batchelor for the perfect trashy, I don't have to think about it viewing.
I'm also eating grapes and I managed a cup of tea.
What I also think is when you feel this bad, you still have Mum guilt but I know 100% I couldn't parent today, so I try to let that go - and having a good DH helps (absolute shout out to all the single parents)
What are your 'I'm too ill to get out of bed' essentials?

Hot water bottle, vicks and my kindle!