How do people cope while unwell?

bobwilson

comeandgo wrote: »

Grow a set, you sound a wimp. A cold is no reason to visit the doctor. Single mums or people with no near help just have to manage, there is no other option. I remember my father, literally dieing on his feet but the animals need food and have to be fed.
Self employed should have insurance in place for illness and not working. If things were really bad for someone then a charity may step in and help with care or if they have money, they may have to pay for someone to assist them for a week or two.

Charming. I didn't say 'a cold is a reason to visit a doctor', I was talking about employers requiring a doctor's 'sick note', but I'm sure you already knew that. That's what people love about you- your attention to detail. :rotfl:

With regards to the rest of your comments about self employed having insurance & charity, congrats on your open minded view of peoples' personal situations.

bobwilson

MovingForwards wrote: »

People just get on with it as there is no-one to fall back on.

Thanks for the relevant replies to MovingForwards & everyone else.

This is what I hear a lot of people saying, 'just get on with it', my question was.. what if it's a cold but you're too ill to just get on with it, no matter how hard you try? Blocked ears, nose, congested nasal cavity & pathways, dizzy, feverish, fatigue, lack of energy, depression. It's possible to have all of these symptoms and it be caused by a bad cold as opposed to flu (which usually comes with muscle aches).

When some people say fatigue, they talk about being a bit tired. Others only use the word to describe debilitating fatigue- e.g. couldn't find the energy to move even if danger was looming in. Likewise, to some 'blocked ears' may sound mild, but can you imagine trying to make a phone call or talk to anyone when you can't hear anything? What if the cold is so bad that you can't walk for more than 2 metres without falling over (dizziness)? How do you get anything done? 'Just get on with it' doesn't work.

I've also noticed that people in good life situations (with more endorphins) feel less pain & able to 'just get on with it' more easily than those in bad life situations.

MovingForwards

But if you can't get on with it then you need to phone someone, friend / family and ask them to help you.

I am disabled, I've had a period of several years shuffling along at a snails pace on a walking stick, being envious of very old people on Zimmer frames walking quicker than me, and still getting into work to do my job, whilst in agony, on maximum dose prescription painkillers, barely any sleep due to the pain. Next meds the Dr was going to prescribe was morphine based and I wouldn't have been able to work then.

I've had the flu, been unable to get up and don't even remember calling work to say I wouldn't be in.

So yes, we do just get on with it. What's the alternative?

I guess you could batch cook some soups and microwave them if ever you are that bad again and have a few bottles of water in the fridge. You won't starve not eating for a few days while you are ill.

theoretica

bobwilson wrote: »

Thanks for the relevant replies to MovingForwards & everyone else.

This is what I hear a lot of people saying, 'just get on with it', my question was.. what if it's a cold but you're too ill to just get on with it, no matter how hard you try? Blocked ears, nose, congested nasal cavity & pathways, dizzy, feverish, fatigue, lack of energy, depression. It's possible to have all of these symptoms and it be caused by a bad cold as opposed to flu (which usually comes with muscle aches).

When some people say fatigue, they talk about being a bit tired. Others only use the word to describe debilitating fatigue- e.g. couldn't find the energy to move even if danger was looming in. Likewise, to some 'blocked ears' may sound mild, but can you imagine trying to make a phone call or talk to anyone when you can't hear anything? What if the cold is so bad that you can't walk for more than 2 metres without falling over (dizziness)? How do you get anything done? 'Just get on with it' doesn't work.

I've also noticed that people in good life situations (with more endorphins) feel less pain & able to 'just get on with it' more easily than those in bad life situations.

I sometimes get ridiculously wiped out by a cold when I am otherwise low on reserves. [Worth consulting your doctor if they can find a reason you should be hit so hard.] Many things just don't get done - ruthlessly prioritising is the way forward along with spending money on things you wouldn't normally like takeaways or taxis and asking for help.

rach_k

If it really is just a cold, paracetamol and ibuprofen according to the packet instructions, decongestant (or get one with the paracetamol), a hot water bottle, lots of water and some tins of soup. Meals from the freezer.
One of those cold things you stick on your head or a damp cloth if you're too hot. Allow more time to get places so you can stop if needed. Straight to bed when work and the essentials are done, maybe after a bath. Watch a crappy film if you can't sleep.

Apart from that, mind over matter. I get horrible colds sometimes and if I'm on my own I'll stay in bed shivering and whimpering but if my child needs me in the night, I'm up and well enough to deal with it. Same with tummy bugs or ear infections - when I'm on my own I can't do much but the sound of a retching child and I'm up like a shot! Attitude is key, for me.

suejb2

Get yourself some big boy pants.

Needs must.

onwards&upwards

Sounds more like flu, do you get a flu jab every year?

Single parents/people cope when they’re ill because they are well used to managing pretty much everything alone so know how to and have the skills/resilience developed already.

coffeehound

bobwilson wrote: »

Thanks for the relevant replies to MovingForwards & everyone else.

This is what I hear a lot of people saying, 'just get on with it', my question was.. what if it's a cold but you're too ill to just get on with it, no matter how hard you try? Blocked ears, nose, congested nasal cavity & pathways, dizzy, feverish, fatigue, lack of energy, depression. It's possible to have all of these symptoms and it be caused by a bad cold as opposed to flu (which usually comes with muscle aches).

When some people say fatigue, they talk about being a bit tired. Others only use the word to describe debilitating fatigue- e.g. couldn't find the energy to move even if danger was looming in. Likewise, to some 'blocked ears' may sound mild, but can you imagine trying to make a phone call or talk to anyone when you can't hear anything? What if the cold is so bad that you can't walk for more than 2 metres without falling over (dizziness)? How do you get anything done? 'Just get on with it' doesn't work.

If you are getting all these secondary infections to lungs and ears then it does sound like your general health is quite poor which a previous poster covered. I wonder if you’d qualify for some social care in that case.

I get where you are coming from, though. I’ve been stranded at home a few times with illnesses. Think i had a mild heart attack two months ago but was too busy to get to see the GP. Been working full time since and still getting chest pains. Will try to get an appointment next week but it will have to be an urgent one as i don’t want to wait another month for a routine one.

onwards&upwards

coffeehound wrote: »

I get where you are coming from, though. I’ve been stranded at home a few times with illnesses. Think i had a mild heart attack two months ago but was too busy to get to see the GP. Been working full time since and still getting chest pains. Will try to get an appointment next week but it will have to be an urgent one as i don’t want to wait another month for a routine one.

That’s insane, and it’s actually quite arrogant. If you had a big heart attack tomorrow and died because you’d ignored warning signs, do you really think any of the stuff tha5 was keeping you so busy would remotely matter? Would anybody die or anything truly crucial not get done?

Go to a doctor immediately, a walk in centre can often do an ECG.

Fire_Fox

bobwilson wrote: »

Thanks for the relevant replies to MovingForwards & everyone else.

This is what I hear a lot of people saying, 'just get on with it', my question was.. what if it's a cold but you're too ill to just get on with it, no matter how hard you try? Blocked ears, nose, congested nasal cavity & pathways, dizzy, feverish, fatigue, lack of energy, depression. It's possible to have all of these symptoms and it be caused by a bad cold as opposed to flu (which usually comes with muscle aches). .

You are doggedly sticking to a scenario that Joe Public is failing to identify or empathise with. You are expecting them to alter their experience and their understanding of a 'severe head cold' to fit with your (questionable) self-diagnosis.

If symptoms are as diverse and severe as you describe, Joe Public will either self-diagnose a different or secondary respiratory tract infection (influenza/ chest infection/ sinus infection), or seek medical attention and be diagnosed with a different or a secondary respiratory tract infection.

Your method of distinguishing between the common cold and influenza does not fit with National Health Service advice.

"Symptoms of Colds and Flu

Cold and flu symptoms are similar but flu tends to be more severe. Colds cause more nasal problems than flu. Fever, fatigue and muscle aches are more likely and more severe with flu.

Symptoms of colds and flu can include ... muscle aches and pains ...

A cold develops gradually over one or two days and you're most contagious during the early stages when you have a runny nose and sore throat. You should begin to feel better after a few days but some colds can last up to two weeks.

Flu usually comes on much more quickly than a cold, and symptoms appear one to three days after infection. You should begin to feel better within a week or so, but you may feel tired for much longer."

Congestion associated with the common cold is not difficult to treat. Nasal sprays (esp. oxymetazoline, xylometazoline) and/ or oral decongestant (weaker promethazine; stronger pseudoephedrine). If even pseudoephedrine is ineffective then a pharmacist or NHS Direct would advise the patient to seek medical attention.

If your partner is - as you imply in your first post - enabling you to get through recurrent debilitating bouts of illness without ever seeking medical attention, they may not be doing you any favours.

Employers generally expect employees to manage chronic relapsing health conditions such that they minimise absences. This includes seeking medical attention, taking prescribed medication, actively taking steps to reduce or avoid known trigger or risks. They can refer the employee for an Occupational Health assessment.

HTH.