HIPPIE SHIT #26: Hot Tips During & After Covid
Hi friends!
As your resident DEFINITELY NOT A DOCTOR, I received a request for what to do when you have Covid or are feeling crappy after having Covid. I did a deep dive on this recently— I was sick a few weeks ago, and I never tested positive but my symptoms lined up and I had lingering upper respiratory stuff that got me curious.
Covid has been ripping through the population for the zillionth time, so first- don’t beat yourself up if you’re sick. It happens! Be gentle with yourself, isolate, and tell your peeps that you might haven given it to them.
If you’re over 65 or otherwise at risk of serious illness, test positive and ask your Dr for Paxlovid! Also, as a general rule it’s good to see your doctor, especially if you have a high fever or feel very bad.
Now, if you just feel kinda sorta shitty for a while, here are a few ways to alleviate symptoms.
Covid causes inflammation. You want to reduce this as much as possible— eat healthy food, don’t drink alcohol (sorry), anti-inflammatories like turmeric can’t hurt
Anti-histamines are known to help
Vitamin D: there are studies linking Covid-severity to Vitamin D deficiency. Studies show that a mega dose during Covid can help Covid— some suggest 40,000 IUs daily.
Obviously sleep a lot and rest and don’t work! If you need a good healing meditation I love this one.
Stay hydrated, I like the electrolyte brand Ultima but drink whatever works for you.
Probiotics: they are supposed to reduce symptoms and help with long Covid.
If you have a sore throat, I love Manuka honey drops, Beekeeper’s Naturals propolis throat spray, and/or Mycoshield Defense spray.
I am particularly interested in how symptoms linger. Two weeks after I got sick I would still get out of breath walking upstairs or walking briskly. I took NAC and Reserveratol. (I’ve linked to the ones I take, but follow your dreams).
Anecdotally, these helped me pretty quickly. If you’re going to pick one I’d take NAC because it’s cheaper and feels more directly linked. It seems to be sold out on Amazon— I didn’t invent that it helps with Covid!
NAC: this is a powerful antioxidant that helps produce glutathione - from what I’ve read as your resident definitely not a doctor, glutathione is a detoxifier that helps your immune system, and if you’re out of breath it can help break down the micro blood clots in your lungs. Important!
Reserveratol: super anti-inflammatory and antioxidant-rich, this is the ingredient in red wine that everyone uses as an excuse to drink more. This article explains why doctors give it to patients with long-haul Covid and brain fog and how it helps. Quercetin is also recommended, which is why I take this Reserveratol that has both. In a separate argument in favor of reserveratol, Whitney Cummings says she takes it for anti-aging and it’s made people think she had a face lift???
As a general rule, if you’re feeling symptoms after the fact you still need to reduce inflammation! Ideally don’t drink alcohol until you feel better and focus on eating nutrient-rich foods. A few other things that can help with inflammation are:
Omega 3’s/ fish oil
gentle exercise
acupuncture
saunas
cold showers
If you’re currently sick and feel too crummy to look at screens, may I humbly suggest audiobooks? I had never gotten into them before, but they were a lifesaver when I was sick. You can borrow audiobooks for free using the Libby app (connected to your local library) and I’ve found the wait times shorter than for e-books. I’ve been listening to Leigh Burdogo’s “Ninth House” which is a fantasy novel with ghosts set at Yale. Yep. I’ve also heard good things about Minnie Driver’s new book “Managing Expectations.”
Ok, stay safe, stay healthy, don’t watch The Kardashians on Hulu because it will rot your brain!
xo, Alex