During this blog post, I’m going to share a few tips on:
- How to combat chills
- What to do when you have a fever as an adult
- What items you need to make yourself comfortable
A backstory: I vividly remember thinking how funny it is that as adults, we don’t get fevers anymore when we’re sick, but that’s the sure tell sign when your little one is brewing something new. Then comes covid – and it’s probably the first fever I had in 20+ years, maybe longer. By the way, I asked ChatGDP why that is, and they mentioned how our immune systems are more mature, so we may not need such a big immune response to fight infections. Yet, it can still be quite common for new infections that we haven’t faced.
I’ve started to experience chills after having my first son. Oddly, I still get random chills but not to the major extent of when I was (am) fighting covid. So, I have a few tips on how to stay comfortable and how you can prepare a few things to make your night wakings easier:
- All-season PJs
- Magic bag
- Thermal bag
- Hot thermos
- Regular water
- Socks
- Extra layers/thin, cool clothing to change into
- Tylenol and Advil
- Extra fleecy blanket that can lay more snug to the body to trap heat
- Face towel
- Fan
To be honest, I was surprised how cold my body could actually feel during an episode of the chills. Let me break down each item further:
Regulating PJs: Choose what helps regulate body heat to stay warm and cool – wool and cashmere are probably the best. But if you don’t have something like that, I recommend natural fibers. Also, I recommend wearing thin layers. This makes it easier to take things on and off as you go from chills, fever, and sweating.
Magic bag / Warm compress: We always had a Magic Bag in the house growing up. It was great for tummy aches, other sprains, and ouchies. The magic bag was helpful in keeping my body warm. You can lay it on your bed to keep it warm, put it by your feet, or wherever you need a little more help.
A thermal bag: Like one of those lunch bags, that might be a great place to put your magic bag when you’re not using it and you still want to keep it warm longer. Not all of us want to get out of bed and go to the microwave.
Two water bottles: You’ll need at least one insulated one like a thermos so that you can keep some warm/hot water by your bed. The warm water helps you feel warmer, and it also helps with the itchy throat that you might have from any post-nasal drip. The second bottle will be cooler/room temperature water. Great so that you can rehydrate or take your medication.
Socks: Not sure if this is an individual thing, but it doesn’t hurt to have a pair nearby before going to bed. I found that my feet were uncomfortably freezing. The socks helped, and for me – that’s where I placed my magic bag.
Change of clothes: Have some extra layers and thinner layers set side by side next to your bed. I found that I went from shivering myself to sleep to waking up sweating. It’s helpful to add on extra layers when your body still feels cold, yet to be able to start removing them as the chills break. Once you no longer have chills, you may find it more comfortable to change out of your current clothes completely as they might be damp and sweaty.
Tylenol & Advil: Hey, this works for babies and kids. From what I understand, it can help us adults too. But again, I’m not a doctor – so you can check with a healthcare professional to see what is right for you. For me, I kept both available on my nightstand. I started with one painkiller and left the other one available in case I needed both. This is one way I learned how to manage painkillers so that you don’t go over the recommended daily amount while staying comfortable. Basically what they told me to do postpartum.
Extra Fleecy Blanket: Something that will drape your body more tightly to remove “air gaps”. I found that even with a down duvet, I was freezing as if I was left out in the cold. Also, with the extra blanket, it’s easy to kick off when you’re hot, and you’ll have two blankets to choose from afterward!
Face Towel: You may find it more comfortable to use a face towel to wipe off the excess sweat before changing into lighter layers. You can use the water nearby to dampen it up and give yourself a wipe down. If you have energy, you can also jump into the shower. But when you’re fighting an illness, I think water from a bottle is easiest.
Fan: I purchased a cooling fan a while back when I was pregnant, and this thing is one of my best purchases. There are many on the market you can choose from. Depending on your needs and budget, there is something for everyone. Personally, we have the Dyson Cooling Tower, so I like that it helps purify the air and that I can control my fan remotely from my iPhone as well. When I’m breaking out in a sweat, I just increase the setting to help me cool down and get comfortable.
Well, those are my tips, and I promise you – this is very fresh in my mind as I’m spending some downtime while the kids are sleeping – while we actively fight covid for the 2nd time. Hope this helps, stay healthy.
Also, a final note, if something doesn’t feel right – don’t hesitate to go to the nearest emergency.
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