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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:
Tamarindtree · 19/01/2023 11:48

I’m never unwell but I do have a sleep in with the dogs sometimes and I enjoy peel off face masks and crochet which is easily picked up and down.

ApolloandDaphne · 19/01/2023 11:49

Those of you who say they would never stay in bed all day or get those DHs to put on their socks on have obviously never had labrynthitis! I couldn't even get to the loo on my own when I had it. I lay very still in my bed and watched trash rom coms on my iPad. I couldn't even lift my head to eat or drink. It was horrific.

SirSidneyRuffDiamond · 19/01/2023 11:51

I'm recovering from a weird virus that put me in bed for 3 days. The first day I just laid there with everything hurting and burning a fever of nearly 40 degrees. I did nothing at all but try to sleep through it. The next two days were not as appalling so I had Poirot episodes playing on my phone. I didn't really watch, but listened and dozed. Today I am up - a bit dizzy and weak as a kitten, but up. So I am sitting on the sofa and watching... Poirot episodes. Clearly they are my go to for comforting sick room "entertainment.

FWIW I have had covid twice in the last year and didn't need to take to my bed. I reckon the number of times I've felt this ill can be counted on the fingers of one hand in my lifetime (and I am middle 50s). No idea what I've had, but it was truly horrific.

Escapefromcolditz · 19/01/2023 11:56

If I’m ill enough to be bed bound then I’m ill enough that i can’t read or watch anything (had this with covid). When I am that I’ll, i put on radio 4 at just above a murmur and then sleep and occasionally listen, and then sleep more, while the radio plays on without me.

crochetmonkey74 · 19/01/2023 11:57

When I had Covid, I was lucky in that my temperature and breathing were all good- I just had absolutely no sense of taste and smell, and I was like a wet rag I was so exhausted. I spent the time watching terrible afternoon films (10 day isolation) and lots of series that I binge watched.
I slept a lot. I was dreading it ever happening as i live alone but it seems crass to say now, I look back on it a bit fondly. It was absolutely imposed rest

Season0fTheWitch · 19/01/2023 12:00

When ill i wear one of DHs big t shirts and a hoodie and fluffy socks, nothing else and certainly not a bra or makeup.
Plenty of sweets as they're easy to eat even with no appetite. Full fat coke, lucozade and orange squash. Pack of rich teas next to the bed. I usually watch gilmore girls or another series I've watched a million times. Tiktok and pinterest on my phone and always some online shopping to look forward to post!

SirSidneyRuffDiamond · 19/01/2023 12:01

And to the poster who mentioned making coffee and sitting on the sofa... I could just about sip water. The thought of hot drinks made me so nauseas. I did try to walk downstairs but once at the bottom I had no energy left and just sat on the bottom step until I recovered enough to crawl back into bed. High fevers can make it almost impossible to function. The only times before when I felt like this were twice when I had flu (swabbed and diagnosed) and once with a virulent D&V (each came with a v high temp).

Greatly · 19/01/2023 12:04

SirSidneyRuffDiamond · 19/01/2023 12:01

And to the poster who mentioned making coffee and sitting on the sofa... I could just about sip water. The thought of hot drinks made me so nauseas. I did try to walk downstairs but once at the bottom I had no energy left and just sat on the bottom step until I recovered enough to crawl back into bed. High fevers can make it almost impossible to function. The only times before when I felt like this were twice when I had flu (swabbed and diagnosed) and once with a virulent D&V (each came with a v high temp).

Yes think I've been very lucky - I'm 56 and cannot remember a time when I couldn't get up apart from a few days after I broke my leg

GonnaGetGoingReturns · 19/01/2023 12:07

I don’t have kids but have had covid and the nasty virus before it (wfh and 2 days off work). I’m sure covid was worse.

When I was really sick/recovering from covid I longed for junk food, eg whole tubs of Pringles, Crunchie rocks etc so as I don’t have anyone bar odd family and friends to get it if I didn’t have it in I used Sainsburys Chop Chop which was a lifesaver.

I binge watched what I could on TV/iPad (basically anything I hadn’t caught up
on) and tried to read too. And stay off phone…

I did try to sleep or rest a lot (sure I worked some of it as I had to as didn’t get paid!). The cat helped by sleeping on sofa/bed with me when she wasn’t out but sadly couldn’t bring me Lemsip (a columnist in Grazia years ago wrote “only the cat is here to bring me Lemsip” when she was in bed with flu! Grin

GonnaGetGoingReturns · 19/01/2023 12:08

Season0fTheWitch · 19/01/2023 12:00

When ill i wear one of DHs big t shirts and a hoodie and fluffy socks, nothing else and certainly not a bra or makeup.
Plenty of sweets as they're easy to eat even with no appetite. Full fat coke, lucozade and orange squash. Pack of rich teas next to the bed. I usually watch gilmore girls or another series I've watched a million times. Tiktok and pinterest on my phone and always some online shopping to look forward to post!

This was exactly me with covid! I just had to abandon the diet and salads!

Ohdofuckofdear · 19/01/2023 12:09

That's me at the moment but unfortunately I've been like it for nearly a week now(before any horrible comments I am seriously, chronically ill and disabled)so far I've managed to have the TV on in the background and read a bit on here.

I've not really eaten or drunk properly for the past week so I'm going to try and do better with that today.

I get the mum guilt to and wife guilt,sister guilt,niece and friend guilt which my lovely DH and DC tell me off for but it is hard to not feel bad when your really ill and can do sod all.

Hope you feel better soon OP💐

RuthW · 19/01/2023 12:09

Hope you feel better soon. Luckily I've never been too ill to get out of bed.

hairymuffet · 19/01/2023 12:12

At 55, I have never spent a whole day in bed either. Even after major surgery.

bloodywhitecat · 19/01/2023 12:13

I am single and I live in fear of being so ill I can't get out of bed, I have a two and a half year old who is totally dependant on an adult for every aspect of their life, they cannot even turn in bed without me doing it.

ifonly4 · 19/01/2023 12:14

I'm the sort of person who will get up even when really ill (pneumonia, two weeks gastroenteritis, covid, flu). No one else to look after me in the day, so need to get up for drinks, medication, snacks - I will admit to DH having to get me into bath and dry me on day 4 of pneumonia last time - I needed to see GP and hadn't washed or showered for that length of time. I tend to watch tv, catch up with phone messages if I can focus, just sit there or dose.

Lordofthebutterfloofs · 19/01/2023 12:17

AbreathofFrenchair · 19/01/2023 11:36

Theres always one.....

Show quote history

Always one what?

It is odd when grown adults can't seem to care for themselves and crack on with life when they have a minor virus.

I accept those with individual complex issues may struggle more. But your average healthy adult? C'mon now 😂

LizzoBorden · 19/01/2023 12:18

I watch disaster films. Preferably old ones like The Poseidon Adventure or The Towering Inferno. The Day After Tomorrow is also a solid choice.

Refrosty · 19/01/2023 12:20

You have to have 'This Morning' on in the background. Makes me feel triumphant about it anyway, since that's the soundtrack to days spent home from school 🤣

howaboutchocolate · 19/01/2023 12:22

Some people get hit harder by viruses than others. It's not hard to comprehend. There's also no medal for getting on with things when you're ill, if you rest you recover more quickly.

I've never had to spend all day in bed with a virus, even when I had covid quite badly I managed to cook Christmas dinner. I did go to bed for a few hours though. But it's really not hard to imagine that other people might need to lie down more.
Pregnancy sickness hits me really hard and I spent a week in bed unable to do anything more than get up to go to the toilet. Some women have mild sickness and can crack on with things. That doesn't mean mine wasn't debilitating!

SirSidneyRuffDiamond · 19/01/2023 12:22

@Lordofthebutterfloofs
Yes you'd just crack on with life whilst running a 39.9 degree temperature. You are so much stronger minded than us fucking weaklings. Bah 'tis nothing but a flesh wound... 👍🏻🤣

Mrsjayy · 19/01/2023 12:26

When I'm ill it's lucozade by the bed and drama channel on the TV during they have reruns of father brown or call.the midwife etc just something gentle to look at! .

Mrsjayy · 19/01/2023 12:28

Lordofthebutterfloofs · 19/01/2023 12:17

Always one what?

It is odd when grown adults can't seem to care for themselves and crack on with life when they have a minor virus.

I accept those with individual complex issues may struggle more. But your average healthy adult? C'mon now 😂

Show quote history

The op sounds properly ill is she failing at being a healthy adultis she not allowed to recover or is that just for the weak?

Greatly · 19/01/2023 12:30

There's also no medal for getting on with things when you're ill, if you rest you recover more quickly well yes maybe if you are really ill, i mean seriously

But actually moving about is very good for you if you can manage it, even a tiny bit

Laying prone for any length of time is not good for you at all, if there is anyway you can get up even for a few minutes and potter about then you should

MintJulia · 19/01/2023 12:34

School run. I have to be at death's door to not manage school run.

I'm a single parent, ds is 14 and in 10 years of school runs, I've missed on 3 occasions, once when I had proper flu and had to ask a neighbour for help, and two doses of chemo, when I wasn't safe to be behind the wheel and dsis took over.

GotAnyGrapez · 19/01/2023 12:34

I'm in bed a lot, a cold can floor me for weeks yay faulty immune system! Blush

My essentials are lucozade, my kindle And my cats to keep me company.