A Doctor-Patient-Approved Long COVID Gift Guide

What I Use as a Physician Living with Long COVID

Photo by Rachel Kelli on Unsplash

Happy Holidays. I recently joined my friend Katherine Marie on her podcast “Long COVID Real Talk” to discuss ways to survive the holiday season. As I shared with her, we celebrate Christmas-lite in our household of four. Gifts tend to be fun trinkets that our kids have come to expect: a holiday-themed Pez dispenser, a pair of socks, a calendar, and a book. More than a little candy. Every year I buy a new pair of pajamas for everyone and open a puzzle that remains unfinished well after the kids return to school.

I don’t buy many other presents, but since 2020 I have certainly had to buy myself items to help accommodate my Long COVID symptoms. Here I’m sharing some of my “favorite things,” items that have gotten lots of use and have held up well. I am not affiliated with any of these companies, nor will I receive anything if you use these links.

Medication Management

Equadose Pill Cutter $18 Amazon

Costs more than the average pill cutter because it has a double blade. Slices a pill from the top and bottom simultaneously, so no more crumbled pill-dust. I have used it to cut even small pills into quarters. Being able to cut pills is helpful for people with Long COVID who are often sensitive to commonly-prescribed doses of medications, and who often taper drug dosages.

Pill Organizers

Amazon Basic Care (7-Day) AM/PM Pill Organizer $4 Amazon

Monthly Pill Organizer 2 Times a Day, with Weekly Pill Bag $18 Amazon

Weekly and monthly organizers allow patients and their caregivers to ensure medications we planned to take are taken safely. I use a weekly organizer like this one from Amazon Basics. A friend who recently received a kidney transplant relies on a monthly version. Her caregiver organizes her medications into portable daily containers that fit into her purse. They are good options to consider if you, like me, have trouble remembering if you took that medication.

Consumer Lab Subscription $65 for 1 year

Consumer Lab is a private company that tests supplements and food items for efficacy and contamination beyond what is required by current government regulations. This can be helpful when deciding on which supplements to purchase, as supplements do not undergo testing or standardization as rigorous as prescription medications. Some supplements are known to have contaminants, like arsenic. I recently started using Consumer Lab to guide my purchases.

Health Tracker for Long COVID

Visible Biometric Pacing App with Polar Strap $15/month

Gift yourself or a loved one more predictable energy and fewer crashes with a membership to Visible, the only biometric device specifically designed for people with Long COVID and ME/CFS. Unlike activity trackers that encourage you to exert yourself more and more, Visible’s Polar sensor learns your body’s cues of both wellbeing and not-so-wellbeing. The app transforms that information into easy-to-read data that helps you function within your evolving energy envelope. It even reminds you to slow down when your biometrics indicate you are pushing too hard, which seems to be a key to making meaningful recovery.

Clothing

Birkenstock Boston Genuine Shearling Lined Clog $170

I bought a pair in November 2021 and they’re still my go-to. At the time, I had difficulty bending over to tie my shoes, due to POTS and fatigue. By the time I got dressed for one of my many doctor’s appointments I was already wiped out, and the simple act of putting shoes on often felt like an insurmountable task. These shearling-lined slip-ons were the answer, and seeing as they’ve held up, were a worthy investment.

Vuori $100

While I think of myself as a put-together professional, I’ve never been one to wear fancy pajamas. My daytime aesthetic goals may be Nancy Meyers, but my night-time vibe is very Adam Sandler. So when I developed Long COVID and found myself in bed all day, I not only felt unwell in my body, I felt bad in my spirit and frumpy in my worn-out PJs. Purchasing “nice” clothes that fit my new lifestyle not only boosted my confidence, but it was also a moment of acceptance. My fatigue was not a one-off, it was a new season (at least) and it required appropriate supplies. For me, those supplies included comfortable, loose-fitting, coordinating clothes that I could grab quickly and suited my needs, whether I was staying home or leaving the house.

Vuori has fit the bill for me. My uniform is the performance joggers and matching performance hoodie with a solid cotton tee shirt. I have tried the Costco dupes. They are just are comfortable and have a lower price tag. On the flip side, they have limited color options and in my experience they do not hold up as well after multiple washings.

Assist Devices

Weighted Eye Mask $8

Like a weighted blanket for your eyes

Migraine Relief Cap, Cooling and Heated $20

Looks weird, feels great. Can be frozen and microwaved.

Bamboo Shower Chair $60-100

Does the same job as a plastic chair, but it’s cuter.

Fun

Things that have kept me occupied in bed or at home

Dream Journal $15

Many people with Long COVID report vivid dreams, which may be due to stress, brain inflammation, and/or medication. Sometimes these dreams are disruptive or emotional. Reflecting on our dreams can help us make sense of the emotions or ideas we’re struggling with. Alternatively, it can simply be fun to record for posterity. I like this dream diary because of its helpful prompts, including a spot to draw a picture of a scene in your dream.

Tarot Cards $15

Tarot is a fortune-telling tradition that uses beautifully decorated cards to relay messages from the universe. Some people take it very seriously. I do not, but it has been fun to learn about Tarot and give readings. At gatherings, I find discussing a hobby like Tarot is a more entertaining alternative to making small talk about my chronic abdominal pain. Don’t be surprised if it sparks deep conversations, since we all, regardless of health status, experience ego, fear, courage and whimsy, themes that run throughout the Tarot card deck.

Find a deck with artwork that resonates most with you or the person you are gifting, whether that’s astrology, woodland creatures, or The Simpsons. To learn the basics, I listened to a Tarot podcast, but there are plenty of books and YouTube videos, too.

Knitting and Crochet Supplies

I have tried both, because I was told it’s a meditative way to keep my hands busy, and that it’s a good way to learn a new skill without over-exerting myself. I found these to be true, and it’s a particularly special activity I’ve been able to share with both my mother and daughter.

These arts are not for me, however. I get close to enraged when my projects are uneven, and I never buy the right amount of yarn for a given project.

I’m glad I tried it, though, and I thank my mother and YouTube creators for showing me how.

Services

One of the best gifts for a loved one with Long COVID is an act of service. Make it as specific as possible, and take on the leg work to make it happen.

Ideas include:

• Make and deliver a meal, or have a meal made and delivered. Clarify specific dietary needs and schedule.

• Transportation to and from an appointment

• Offer to clean a room

• Read through and explain paperwork: a medical note, a disability application, an email

• Keep in touch. Set a reminder in your own calendar to call or send a text to a loved one with Long COVID. A simple lighthearted meme is enough. Or even a news headline “I read this and thought of you.”

People with chronic illness feel and literally become isolated, and that itself impacts our health. It can feel awkward to reach out to someone in a time of strife, but it doesn’t take much to make someone feel cared for.

What did I miss? What’s been a worthwhile purchase you’ve made, and how are you celebrating the holidays, if at all, this year?