Being ill on your own is rubbish

Posting on the blog has been a bit patchy over the last couple of weeks as I've had a cold. The kind that makes your throat sore and scratchy, your nose both run and block up, and your voice swoop between a squeak and a croak. And it's reminded me how hard it is being ill on your own.

Winter can be hard for people who are widowed. It's dark and cold, and it’s the time when we are most likely to get colds and flu. Getting ill also reminds us that we are alone – there's no-one to bring that cup of tea, check in on us, get us something to eat or pass us some paracetamol. There are a few things we can do, though, to make things not seem so bad.

• Stock up on:
  • Nice tissues that are kind to your nose
  • Cold and flu medications and painkillers
    • Be aware that many cold and flu preparations like Lemsip contain paracetamol, so watch out that you're not going above the recommended dose if you take an extra painkiller (for example Anadin) that also contains paracetamol
  • Inhalant oils or rubs like Vicks or Olbas Oil
  • Lozenges or honey for a sore throat
  • A hot water bottle
  • Tins of soup (including chicken soup), ready meals and crackers for when you can't face cooking
  • Covid-19 lateral flow tests 
• Create a 'I'm not well' pamper pack that you can use if you get ill
  • Herbal tea, cosy socks, a favourite book, something lovely for the bath, some nice snacks
• Think about taking vitamin D – it may help you fight off infection. The NHS recommends that people in the UK should consider taking a daily supplement during the autumn and winter
• Get your Covid-19 booster and your flu jab