I don’t think you can gift a library card though. I mean I guess you can to cities that you don’t live in since you have to pay for those anyway, but your local library access is free and I believe you have to sign up for that yourself
I was actually thinking about including a library card, but couldn't figure out how best to explain it. I didn't think about the audiobook angle. That is actually a great idea. Depending on your public library system, you can check out lots more than books.
Glad to hear that. They’re not so much gifts, as I bought all these for myself, but thought I’d share. I have bought so many things thinking they would help and these actually have. ☺️
You’re so right about the fancy pajama thing, and I had no idea until I saw you write it how right you are.
If I’m wearing yoga pants and a sweatshirt I’m more likely to go outside than if I’m wearing pajamas, so I do try to get dressed even if it’s just in a different sweatshirt and yoga pants so I can feel like I got dressed.
May I suggest a pill cutter that also doubles as a pill crusher? I know you can easily crush tablets between two spoons, but it’s nice to not have to be careful with the crushing. I don’t have a specific link but if you happen to be in the Pharmacy area the one I purchased is a little blue cylinder. It was five dollars when I bought it but I’m sure it’s more like $10 now.
I didn’t realize until 2024 that cordless heating pads were a thing, and now I own two or three of them so I always have one fully charged. I’ve suffered from endometriosis for like 35 years now, it’s wonderful to be able to have heat and not be tattered to an outlet.
Yep, ditto on the pajamas. I have stay in bed ones and my “comfy clothes” that feel a little less frumpy for when I’m up and about around the house. It definitely helps me mentally, especially if I don’t have the energy to shower.
5. Library cards for our home town and for Los Angeles library to check out audiobooks via Hoopla or Libby. Having 2 cards at 2 locations allows for more books per month as each library has a limit. Los Angeles allows 8 audiobooks per month.
I recommend the Visible app and armband! It has been really helpful for me, as I think I was underestimating my condition (and I’m probably considered a mild case). I’m a bit of a data geek and appreciate being able to see the trends over the months. This is a nice list, it reflects your experience and I appreciate it. I’d be happy to receive most of these things, and may even treat myself to one or two. I can afford Birks even though I’m a long hauler ;)
What a fantastic list! Practical, fun, necessary & useful - maybe not every single thing for every single one of us but plenty on it for me & i believe many. I’m blessed with a birthday in march (& my 5 year covid anniversary) so my friends & family weary of trying to creatively buy presents that can help make my life easier & more endurable. Very much appreciate this, Dr. Zeest
This is kinda insensitive. I don’t know a single long hauler who would enthusiastically unwrap something like a pill box, nor do I know a long hauler who can afford $170 slippers.
I hear your struggle, and I really empathize. You’re misdirecting your anger at me, but I can understand why. Hope things get easier for you and I hope some of the rest of my content is more helpful to you than this post. 🤞
You do know not everything you read voluntarily on the internet has to resonate with you, right? Just keep scrolling. Or suggest some alternative items, which you can do with a little bit of kindness while you’re at it.
Can I afford $170 shoes after five years of long COVID and two and a half years without a job? No. Do I begrudge the person who can? Also no.
I’ve been severely disabled since the very start of the pandemic. Immediately lost my ability to work. I was denied disability twice even though I was mostly paralyzed. My wife had to try to cover all household costs and couldn’t work for almost two years because I required 24/4 hour care. Friends did a GoFundMe and raised a considerable sum but we still had to go to court for eviction proceedings. Things are better now, we got help from a long term care plan, my wife is back at work and I finally won my disability case helping us come to an agreement with our landlords and saving us from being homeless.
I am not upset by anything in this gift list. Being angry at someone else because they can afford things you cannot is misplaced. Many of us on here have stories of struggle, but that doesn’t mean we get angry at others for not being “as bad off” as we are. I hope things get better for you.
Counterpoint: Just because a list of items doesn’t vibe with you doesn’t mean the list itself is insensitive. I use that pill box and those shoes (what you refer to dismissively as slippers) every day. Every day. They’ve both been useful to me, they were accessible to me, and I decided to share. Would love to hear what you’d add to a list like this. Happy Wednesday!
$170 so they don’t take my car away because I had to quit my massage career because ppl come to their appointments sick, giving me even worse long covid. Merry Christmas.
Please don't attack Dr Zeest Khan. He just wanted to be nice and share useful things. He shared a lot of useful articles during these months and he did activism for us, instead of hiding his symptoms like many do. If you are in need of economic help we can organize a gofundme, let us know.
Please apply for disability, the longer you wait from your date of last employment the less your monthly income will be. And if you wait too long and lose work credits and get stuck on SSI you will end up with the disability where you can’t have a savings account or a spouse
My brother wasn’t a long hauler, he died before Covid came around, but he was disabled and I can tell you he was super delighted to receive a pill cutter/crusher from me.
Maybe a library card that gives Access to audiobooks for free?
I don’t think you can gift a library card though. I mean I guess you can to cities that you don’t live in since you have to pay for those anyway, but your local library access is free and I believe you have to sign up for that yourself
I was actually thinking about including a library card, but couldn't figure out how best to explain it. I didn't think about the audiobook angle. That is actually a great idea. Depending on your public library system, you can check out lots more than books.
I know there’s the Libby App, and Overdrive for devices that don’t have Libby in the App store.
all of these gifts would be great for anyone with chronic illness-- i found some good things for myself in here!
Glad to hear that. They’re not so much gifts, as I bought all these for myself, but thought I’d share. I have bought so many things thinking they would help and these actually have. ☺️
You’re so right about the fancy pajama thing, and I had no idea until I saw you write it how right you are.
If I’m wearing yoga pants and a sweatshirt I’m more likely to go outside than if I’m wearing pajamas, so I do try to get dressed even if it’s just in a different sweatshirt and yoga pants so I can feel like I got dressed.
May I suggest a pill cutter that also doubles as a pill crusher? I know you can easily crush tablets between two spoons, but it’s nice to not have to be careful with the crushing. I don’t have a specific link but if you happen to be in the Pharmacy area the one I purchased is a little blue cylinder. It was five dollars when I bought it but I’m sure it’s more like $10 now.
Wow, I didn't know there was such a thing.
I didn’t realize until 2024 that cordless heating pads were a thing, and now I own two or three of them so I always have one fully charged. I’ve suffered from endometriosis for like 35 years now, it’s wonderful to be able to have heat and not be tattered to an outlet.
Yep, ditto on the pajamas. I have stay in bed ones and my “comfy clothes” that feel a little less frumpy for when I’m up and about around the house. It definitely helps me mentally, especially if I don’t have the energy to shower.
I love this list. Thoughtful, practical, creative. I’m sooo buying the migraine cap, too. Thanks doc! Happy holidays.
I'm like you with tarot cards - could you say which podcast(s) you found helpful for familiarization learning?
My list of chronic illness necessities. :) https://amzn.to/404QmBi
What a fantastic idea!
A gift guide for those in Long Covid.
Or anyone else with chronic fatigue syndrome, among other symptoms.
Must be a frustrating experience for a physician. The good news is that 2024 seems to have brought some people back to their senses where COVID is concerned. Our latest article unpacks the big inflection points from the year, including the shift with respect to our perception of the COVID response. https://open.substack.com/pub/thewholetruthpublications/p/2024-year-of-the-inflection-point?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Thanks for this great list of Long COVID gifts.
My family member with Long COVID, ME/CFS-type has found these helpful as well:
1. Tablet Floor stand
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08L4TKQ57/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
2. Blackout shades or curtains
3. Noise cancelling headphones
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09XF2PJRL/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
4. Heated blanket
5. Library cards for our home town and for Los Angeles library to check out audiobooks via Hoopla or Libby. Having 2 cards at 2 locations allows for more books per month as each library has a limit. Los Angeles allows 8 audiobooks per month.
I recommend the Visible app and armband! It has been really helpful for me, as I think I was underestimating my condition (and I’m probably considered a mild case). I’m a bit of a data geek and appreciate being able to see the trends over the months. This is a nice list, it reflects your experience and I appreciate it. I’d be happy to receive most of these things, and may even treat myself to one or two. I can afford Birks even though I’m a long hauler ;)
Thanks for writing this list.
What a fantastic list! Practical, fun, necessary & useful - maybe not every single thing for every single one of us but plenty on it for me & i believe many. I’m blessed with a birthday in march (& my 5 year covid anniversary) so my friends & family weary of trying to creatively buy presents that can help make my life easier & more endurable. Very much appreciate this, Dr. Zeest
Absolutely a pill crusher for making LDN solution: https://a.co/d/4y5wJb8. And to mix it: https://a.co/d/8xPCZT6. Medicine bottle: https://a.co/d/63cXsjd
Care to help me fill my survey?.
https://federicosotodelalba.substack.com/p/medical-overdiagnosis?r=4up0lp
This is kinda insensitive. I don’t know a single long hauler who would enthusiastically unwrap something like a pill box, nor do I know a long hauler who can afford $170 slippers.
I hear your struggle, and I really empathize. You’re misdirecting your anger at me, but I can understand why. Hope things get easier for you and I hope some of the rest of my content is more helpful to you than this post. 🤞
Consider your audience; most ppl are struggling. Think of me and my car when you wear your cozy Uggs. Peace out.
You do know not everything you read voluntarily on the internet has to resonate with you, right? Just keep scrolling. Or suggest some alternative items, which you can do with a little bit of kindness while you’re at it.
Can I afford $170 shoes after five years of long COVID and two and a half years without a job? No. Do I begrudge the person who can? Also no.
I’ve been severely disabled since the very start of the pandemic. Immediately lost my ability to work. I was denied disability twice even though I was mostly paralyzed. My wife had to try to cover all household costs and couldn’t work for almost two years because I required 24/4 hour care. Friends did a GoFundMe and raised a considerable sum but we still had to go to court for eviction proceedings. Things are better now, we got help from a long term care plan, my wife is back at work and I finally won my disability case helping us come to an agreement with our landlords and saving us from being homeless.
I am not upset by anything in this gift list. Being angry at someone else because they can afford things you cannot is misplaced. Many of us on here have stories of struggle, but that doesn’t mean we get angry at others for not being “as bad off” as we are. I hope things get better for you.
Sis knock offs exist and caregivers read this newsletter as well, not just sick people.
Counterpoint: Just because a list of items doesn’t vibe with you doesn’t mean the list itself is insensitive. I use that pill box and those shoes (what you refer to dismissively as slippers) every day. Every day. They’ve both been useful to me, they were accessible to me, and I decided to share. Would love to hear what you’d add to a list like this. Happy Wednesday!
$170 so they don’t take my car away because I had to quit my massage career because ppl come to their appointments sick, giving me even worse long covid. Merry Christmas.
Please don't attack Dr Zeest Khan. He just wanted to be nice and share useful things. He shared a lot of useful articles during these months and he did activism for us, instead of hiding his symptoms like many do. If you are in need of economic help we can organize a gofundme, let us know.
Please apply for disability, the longer you wait from your date of last employment the less your monthly income will be. And if you wait too long and lose work credits and get stuck on SSI you will end up with the disability where you can’t have a savings account or a spouse
My brother wasn’t a long hauler, he died before Covid came around, but he was disabled and I can tell you he was super delighted to receive a pill cutter/crusher from me.