EP21: Three Tips For Managing Being Sick At Home

<p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Three Tips For Managing Being Sick At Home</span></em></p> <p><strong><em>“You need a system for documenting what medication you're taking and when you're taking it.”</em></strong><strong>— Melissa Batchelor, PhD, RN, FNP, FAAN (00:36-00:42)</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Are you feeling under the weather lately? No matter how busy life gets, it's crucial to know what steps you need to take good care of yourself.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In this week's episode, you'll learn about: </span></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Three tips to manage your illness at home, whether it's COVID-19 or not.</span></li> </ul> <p><strong>Part One of ‘Three Tips For Managing Being Sick At Home’</strong></p> <p><strong>Tip #1: Write Things Down </strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The first tip is that you need to have some system for documenting what medication you're taking and when you're taking it. If you're taking multiple medications, you need to keep track of the date and time you have a bowel movement  (particularly if you're on pain medication, because that can make you constipated). </span></p> <p><strong><em>“Have a plan BEFORE you get sick.” — Melissa Batchelor, PhD, RN, FNP, FAAN (05:01-05:03)</em></strong></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If you're an older adult (or maybe even not so old), remember that having bowel movements is pretty essential for your brain and your ability to think. But usually, when you're sick, you don't remember what you did, and you tend to forget the last time you took pain medication. If you haven't had a bowel movement in three days, you need to let your healthcare provider know about it. </span></p> <p><strong>Part Two of ‘Three Tips For Managing Being Sick At Home’</strong></p> <p><strong>Tip #2: Things to know about taking your temperature</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The second thing I want to talk to you about is taking your t