There are some items that everyone is guaranteed to have at home. For instance, I’m sure that you have extra rolls of toilet paper in the linen closet. A pair of scissors in the kitchen drawer. A box of things you’ve been meaning to take to Goodwill for the last three months in the backseat of your car (no? Just me?).
Those of us with chronic illness sometimes have a whole different list of items we keep in the house at all times. Here are some of my favorites:
#1: Pill organizer
Pills are not that difficult to keep up with when you just have to take them once a day. The first medicine I regularly had to take was my anxiety medicine, and I just left it by my toothbrush so that I remembered to take it every night before bed.
Add in pills you have to take both morning and night and, well, that gets a bit more complicated. During the week it wasn’t so bad because, again, I just left them by my toothbrush and took them when I got ready in the morning and then when I got ready for bed at night. But on the weekends, I had to constantly think - did I take my pills when I first woke up or when I actually got up for the day (which are two different things that are sometimes hours apart on a Saturday morning).
What really stumped me was the pills I had to take three times a day. Those afternoon doses were nearly impossible to keep track of because I ate lunch at a slightly different time every day.
The pill organizer was my hero without a cape. Every Sunday night, I sit down and dispense my pills for the week by day, then by morning, afternoon, and night. I can easily slide a day’s worth of pills into my purse, and I never have to worry about accidentally skipping my meds or double-dosing because, well, if they’re still in their container, I haven’t taken them yet.
#2: Acupressure mat
Even on a good, low-symptom day, I’m stiff when I wake up. While my acupressure mat is not a sure-fire cure, it certainly does help. An acupressure mat is a soft pad, a bit shorter than a yoga mat, that is covered in small, plastic spikes. They press into the skin without puncturing it. This mat is intended to boost circulation, ease muscle tension, and stimulate endorphins to help relieve pain.
I was interested in trying this mat because my doctor has prescribed acupuncture before in an effort to decrease my pain. But there are two problems with regular acupuncture: first, it’s expensive, and not all insurance companies cover the cost. Second, my intrusive thoughts are not my friend while getting acupuncture. Even though there is no legitimate reason I would throw myself onto the ground while all those tiny needles were sticking out of me, impaling myself even deeper, for some reason, I couldn’t get that intrusive thought out of my head. The acupressure mat, on the other hand, is free to use after the initial purchase and intrusive thought-free (I can simply roll off whenever I want).
Please make sure to talk with your doctor or a medical professional before trying an acupressure mat yourself, as no condition responds to treatment the same way. What works for me might not work for you, but you know what works for all of us? A good disclaimer! So enjoy some light reading at the bottom of this blog post to keep the good times rolling.
#3: Massage gun
Similar to the acupressure mat, my massage gun doesn’t cure my pain, but it does help. If I’m having muscular pain, I can’t just rub it away myself because, let’s be honest, I’m a weak girl. Transferring a gallon of milk from the fridge to my shopping cart at the grocery store is a workout for me. There’s no way I could apply the pressure needed to alleviate my muscular pain, let alone maintain that pressure for long enough to help.
With the massage gun, I don’t have to! The device has different speeds and attachments depending on the level of pressure I want and where I’m applying that pressure. It’s small enough to travel with (unlike the acupressure mat, which would take up a good chunk of a suitcase). And it’s easy to use by yourself!
#4: Weighted heating pad
I’ve been great friends with the heating pad ever since I first got my period. I carried this same heating pad with me for years. Eventually, it became old and oddly shaped after folding it every which way to fit into drawers, cabinets, and closets. This became a problem after a while. I would try to use the heating pad on my achy shoulder, and it would just kind of curl on top of my shoulder instead of draping over it. I couldn’t feel the heat very well, so it didn’t actually help me anymore.
But the weighted heating pad… Well, my friends, that’s another hero without a cape. First of all, the one I purchased was much longer, so it covered more ground. Second, it’s not “weighted” very much, but it is weighted just enough that I don’t have to press down on it myself in order to feel the heat. In fact, as I write this article, it is draped around my neck, and I don’t have to touch it at all in order to feel its effects.
You can purchase one for yourself here.
#5: Emotional support water bottle
Not to brag, but I started carrying around a water bottle that’s twice the size of my head before it was cool.
Before I was diagnosed with chronic illness, I definitely did not drink enough water. When I think back to high school, I really wonder how I made it through. I would wake up in the morning and drink a glass of cranberry juice (urinary health, am I right??) then make it all the way to lunch before drinking anything again, and even then, it wasn’t always water. After that I wouldn’t drink anything again until after-school cheer practice, and if it was a day where I didn’t have practice, well, then, forget it.
When I was diagnosed with chronic illness in 2020, the doctor told me I needed to significantly increase my water intake. So, I purchased a giant water bottle to carry with me at all times. It is now a part of my personality. I don’t go anywhere without it. It has also become a landing place for stickers from my favorite podcasts and tv shows, which are great conversation starters when I’m out in public.
I highly recommend having an emotional support water bottle to carry around, so that maybe you’ll stay more hydrated too!
These are some of my personal favorite chronic-illness-friendly household items. Maybe none of them will provide you with any benefit whatsoever, but this is what’s so great about our People Hope family. This community allows us to share with one another the good, the bad, and the ugly of our chronic illness and maybe, just maybe, find something that makes our lives a bit easier and more enjoyable. So, here’s my challenge for you: hop on over to our Focus Fix Fam Facebook page and tell me what are some of YOUR favorite chronic illness household items.
You can join the Fam here!
Disclaimer: Every body is different and requires a unique approach, treatment, and set of supportive tools in order to thrive. Please note that any recommended products here are personal opinions by the author, a non-medical professional, and should not be misconstrued as counsel or medical advice. Always consult with your doctor prior to beginning any new treatment or adding any supplementary items into your care routine.
None of the items shared are sponsored, and neither People Hope nor this author benefits or receives anything in exchange for this blog post or the purchase of these items. …phew!
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Written by: Bailey Humphrey, EdD
If you love "The Bachelorette," a good podcast, artisan grilled cheese sandwiches, or are just a human being in general, it's time to "accept this rose" and become BFFs with Bailey. A High School English teacher and cheerleading coach by day, Bailey's off-hours are often spent in her living room curled up with a book, a Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso in hand, and her German Shepherd/Border Collie mix, Willie, at her feet. We have nothin' but good things to say about this fabulous member of our volunteer Writing Team!