5 Helpful Items for Chronic Illness Patients

Living with a chronic condition comes with a unique set of challenges. We often have to deal with uncomfortable symptoms while carrying on with daily tasks. Whether that be at work or at home, we are constantly managing symptoms as they arise. Here is a list of items to help keep you feeling supported as you go about your life with chronic illness. Having these items on hand can help you feel prepared to balance your condition while going about your day and feeling your best while doing so.

1. Large Insulated Water Bottle: Staying hydrated is so important for overall wellness. Hydration is key for regulating body temperature, keeping joints lubricated, preventing infections, delivering nutrients to cells, and keeping organs functioning properly. Being well-hydrated also improves sleep quality, cognition, and mood. This water bottle is great because it is large, requiring less trips to the kitchen or sink to refill. It is also insulated so if you prefer cold water it will stay cool. alternatively if you don’t tolerate cold liquids well, it can keep water warm. Another helpful feature is the straw top, allowing you to sip while reclined without spilling!

2. Heating Pad & Ice Pack: For when the aches and pains hit. It is helpful to have both options on hand, depending on the type of pain you are having. Heat provides comfort, eases stiffness and boosts the flow of blood to the area, while cold packs numb the sore area and reduce inflammation and swelling. Applying heat and or ice can bring you quick relief, making it easier to get things done. This heating pad has a soft plush feel for added comfort and is large enough to cover your back or midsection. The icepack is made with flexible gel to comfortably lay on joints.

3. Pill Organizer: A pill organizer is a simple way to help you avoid medication mix-ups and missed doses. Always have your medications and supplements ready to go with this pill organizer, which has compartments for both AM and PM pills and also allows you to remove just one days worth of your medicine with you at a time, rather than carrying around a weeks worth of medication at once.

4. Lap Desk: This lap desk is great to have on hand for those days when you can’t manage sitting totally upright, but still need to use your devices. Whether you are working from home, scheduling appointments or simply watching your favorite comfort TV show. This lap desk allows you to use your computer from bed, the couch or wherever you are most comfortable.

5. Symptom Tracker: Tracking symptoms is a great way to spot trends in your disease activity, identify potential triggers for certain symptoms or simply understand your illness better. Being aware of your symptoms and their patterns can also help you feel empowered as a patient! Symptom tracking is also helpful for more effective doctor-patient interactions. It allows you to present information to your health care provider, which can help them give you the care you need. The Chronius app provides symptom tracking and insights! You can sign up for our platform here.

The Chronius team understands how overwhelming life with chronic conditions can be. We hope that you find these items useful for easing the burden of your symptoms and making your days a bit easier! Do you have items that help you feel supported not mentioned above? Share them with us by tweeting @chroniushealth or send us a direct message on our Instagram page!