10 Gifts for Chronically Ill People!
A quick gift guide
Do you have someone in your life who is chronically ill, and you want to get them something they can actually use? Well, as a chronically ill person myself, I have created this guide to help you out!
Before we get started, I just want to say I don’t get anything from promoting these products; they are just things I recommend and think could be useful.
Heat pads and hot water bottles that can attach to your waist
My heat pad is my best friend. I have an electric one that even switches itself off when it gets too hot, perfect for me when I get brain fog and forget to turn it off or when I fall asleep on top of it! Something I don’t have but think is so cute are hot water bottles that have velcro to attach around your waist! They even have cute designs like koalas to bring even more comfort, which have been in my wishlist forever because they are so adorable.
The microwave teddies (Warmies)
Not only do they keep you warm, but they are also soft, cuddly, and absolutely adorable. I have a little hand warmer raccoon myself, but I definitely want to invest in a bigger, fluffier one! They are a huge source of comfort, both emotionally and physically. They can be a safe way to stay warm and apply heat to pain points while smelling amazing and helping you unwind.
Compression socks and gloves
Compression socks and gloves are a great help with pain, and I practically live in my socks. Any form of compression socks as a gift is a huge help to the chronically ill people in your life, but the cuter the better, as they sometimes tend to skip out on the cuteness. Not your grandmas is my favourite brand, they are comfy, cute and make the pain so much more bearable.
Fluffy blankets
Fluffy blankets are a huge form of comfort for me; bonus if they’re weighted! They can help when you’re feeling cold and bring you comfort during flare-ups.
Pyjamas
We spend most of our lives in pyjamas, which also means we go through them quickly. They get holes and are overworn, so comfy pyjamas are always welcomed.
Tens machine
I use my tens machine mostly for back and neck pain; it doesn’t work miracles for me like other people have said it does for them, but it definitely takes the edge off!
CBD oil or gummies
CBD gummies can be super expensive, but I find that they work incredibly well for me. They always, at the very least, take the edge off, if not numbing the pain for a while.
Electric can and jar openers
I struggle massively with opening cans and jars; my wrists ache and my fingers cramp around the openers, and then I hurt too much to cook. I’m lucky I have a boyfriend to run to that I can put to work, but not everyone has someone to help them, and these tools would take a huge strain off the cooking process.
Something from a small chronic illness business
There are many small businesses on Etsy that sell so many cute and comforting products for chronic illnesses. There are stickers, mugs, cards, and more! I adore seeing the creations people come up with, and I always love a gift from a small business.
Quality time
It sounds soppy and cliche, but it’s true! Making plans and going places are hard for us; we can feel lonely and isolated because of our illness, and we miss out on important moments with family and friends, so we appreciate when the effort is put in to see us.
Conclusion
Managing chronic illness is hard, but having support from loved ones makes it a bit easier. You don’t have to prove your support with expensive gifts; these are just nice things if you’re looking for gifts for us. The most important thing you can do is keep showing up for us, come and see us when we can’t leave the house, and research our condition to try and understand what we go through!
Also if you fancy it, you can buy them my poetry book! Or gift them a subscription to my substack.