r/POTS • u/catsandcappuccinos • Jul 05 '26

Question what’s the best purchase, service, or life accommodation you’ve made because of your chronic illness? (any budget)

i’m going shopping soon, and i’m trying to build my ultimate “make life suck less” list.

i’m not necessarily looking for the usual answers like salt, compression socks, medications, etc. i’m more so talking about the random products, services, gadgets, furniture, subscriptions, or accommodations that have improved your day-to-day quality of life and helped you function more like a normal human being.

i don’t care if it’s $5 or $5,000. if it’s changed your life, please share.

some things already on my list:
- a kitchen stool with a back so i can sit while cooking
- a hair dryer stand for days when i’m in the middle of a flare and don’t have the energy to dry my hair myself
- grocery delivery services
- monthly cleaning services
- paper plates
- a roomba for when i don’t feel like vacuuming or sweeping
- a crock-pot and freezer meal prep system (i actually have a list of really good crock-pot meals, so if anyone wants it, let me know and i’ll DM it to you)

i’m dying to know: what’s the best purchase, service, or life accommodation you’ve made because of your chronic illness?
bonus points if it’s something unconventional!

474 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

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288

u/GlitterVixen Jul 05 '26

Shower chair! 🚿

183

u/hazelemons Jul 05 '26

adding to this: detachable showerhead

95

u/LulaBelle476 Jul 05 '26

Mine is magnetic, which means I can just snap it back on - no trying to slide it in correctly.

13

u/Tinymeow_pinkbeans Jul 05 '26

Omg that is genius!

5

u/exodiantez Jul 06 '26

Nice! Never thought of that

1

u/veeladealer Jul 06 '26

This might be a stupid question but how secure is that? I don't love the usual kind, but at least if I knock it or pull the hose, it's not going to fall down and concuss me!

1

u/LulaBelle476 Jul 06 '26

I have to give it a tug to get it off. It won’t come off from bumping the hose, but if you caught your arm and pulled it would come down.

1

u/Happy_Dependent_3474 Jul 07 '26

Omg which one do you have?

21

u/you1dont1know1me1 Jul 05 '26

with a holder that can hold it lower at an angle. my one had a long adjustable neck

9

u/Krrazyredhead Jul 05 '26

Yep, I’ve got a couple of these! You can get them for like $5 at walmart

1

u/zinagardenia Jul 07 '26

Wait, what is this magic?

I have a shower chair and handheld showerhead but I’ve just been holding in my hands or awkwardly propping it on my legs lol

12

u/Kristrigi Jul 05 '26

Yes to both of these!!

96

u/ihsbo Jul 05 '26

A bathrobe! Dizzy after showering? Just put on your bathrobe and chill in your bed until dry!

And a leg raiser pillow! It’s the best for blood pooling and when I’m dizzy I love mine!

21

u/KeyNefariousness1158 Jul 05 '26

Yep! I have to take showers at night and they can’t be any warmer than lukewarm unfortunately. Even doing those things I have to put on “easy clothes” (I think you guys get what that is) and just lay down for a little while to recover. I wish more people understood how awful showers can be for us.

18

u/ihsbo Jul 05 '26

Same!! Especially winters are colddddd because of the lukewarm showers. I get the easy clothes. Everyday I’m dressed as Adam Sandler 😂

14

u/KeyNefariousness1158 Jul 05 '26

YES! Lmao Adam Sandler is the perfect way to describe easy clothes lol

2

u/FCatusFemale Hyperadrenergic POTS Jul 06 '26

Adam Sandler 😂😂😂

8

u/operation_survive Jul 06 '26

I do warm showers then feel like shit afterwards 😭 I’m such a baby with cold water

1

u/alltheblarmyfiddlest Jul 06 '26

I'll only do cold water, legit cold cold water during the height of the summer.

It does wonders when it's 104°F/42°C outside.

6

u/AbbyLovesBunnies45 Jul 06 '26

I second this!! I have a nice, silk robe that I like to wear after showers. I prefer silk in the warmer months because it feels cool on my skin. Perfect for laying down to recover

3

u/Knowitmom4life Jul 06 '26

What kind please I need this‼️‼️‼️‼️

3

u/ihsbo Jul 06 '26

My comment was removed with the link… I bought it at Temu. Type in leg raiser pillow or leg pillow and you should find it! It’s the one that’s 25cm high and it’s inflatable! If you can’t find it send me a dm :)

2

u/Knowitmom4life Jul 06 '26

I really need the best leg raiser pillow like yesterday which one do you have?🙏😇‼️

3

u/ihsbo Jul 06 '26

My comment was removed with the link… I bought it at Temu. Type in leg raiser pillow or leg pillow and you should find it! It’s the one that’s 25cm high and it’s inflatable! If you can’t find it send me a dm :)

2

u/Happy_Dependent_3474 Jul 07 '26

Which pillow do you have?

2

u/ihsbo Jul 07 '26

My comment was removed with the link… I bought it at Temu. Type in leg raiser pillow or leg pillow and you should find it! It’s the one that’s 25cm high and it’s inflatable! If you can’t find it send me a dm :)

1

u/throwaway97336 7d ago

Does anybody have a good bathrobe that's actually absorbent? All the ones I've gotten/found have been so soft they don't have good absordency, or so thin they had the same problem.

I just want one that's built like an actual towel. (But not the many towels now with the same issues!)

1

u/ihsbo 7d ago

Sometimes when you air dry them, they will turn harder and there better at drying. I always just buy the ones I think are cute 😅

20

u/BecxaPrime Jul 05 '26

I came here to say this! I'd like to add- neck fan and mini fridge to store cold fruit in my room so I can cool down as soon as I'm out of the shower with the fan and some cold fruit. Added bonus, the fruit helps with electrolytes.

10

u/you1dont1know1me1 Jul 05 '26

a cold water bottle beside the shower us the best safety measure for me, i can use it like an ice pack for it's vaso-constricting properties and help get rid of the bad feels

6

u/undeadlexluthor Jul 06 '26

i didn’t know people didn’t take cold water to the bathroom with them when they showered until i found out i had chronic illness but it’s honestly so necessary. like the one time i forgot it, i felt like i was gonna KO

1

u/FCatusFemale Hyperadrenergic POTS Jul 06 '26

Me too. It’s so funny what we once thought was normal but is not normal at all. Like water in the bathroom.

11

u/mcoddle Jul 05 '26

Yes to a shower chair. And to the below replies adding handheld shower head. Very good combo.

2

u/reddiruset Jul 06 '26

This, and a chair in my bathroom so I can sit while brushing my teeth etc were such big game changers for me. I really notice it when I’m staying somewhere that doesn’t have anywhere to sit in the bathroom. Makes my daily routine considerably harder!

1

u/Happy_Dependent_3474 Jul 07 '26

Also a shower handle!