It happened: you finally got Covid. Everyone has their own advice for how they ‘got through it’, whether it’s a particular gargle for a sore throat or a mindless TV show that you can watch through sneezes and fever.

The key advice? Rest, then rest some more. Refuse to play into the hustle culture of ‘pushing through’ and working. Reject capitalism!

Except when it comes to these very helpful products, as recommended by those who’ve been there, done that...

Otrivin Nasal Drops, $7.50

Recommended by Zoe Walker Ahwa, Ensemble co-founder, Stuff style editor

I caught Omicron at a PR/work event on a Tuesday, and on Thursday afternoon felt the tell-tale tickle in the back of my throat and bolted from the office to do a test at home. I didn’t actually test positive with a nose swap RAT until about day four, but a throat swab confirmed what I knew was happening (I know experts don’t recommend this!).

My symptoms came on like clockwork, with my husband teasing me - from the other room, he didn’t catch it - that my type-A, to-do list loving tendencies even extended to Covid. Sore throat: tick. Fatigue: tick. Fever: tick. Sneezes: tick. Blocked and runny nose: tick!

I could cope with the rest of it but the blocked nose was the biggest nightmare - so the little bottle of Otrivin that I had purchased weeks earlier, in a fit of panic buying, was a stroke of genius. Again, it’s probably really bad for you and I know that experts recommend not using it too much, but I will be forever grateful to whoever invented this - and for my earlier panic buying decision making. (I had the nasal drops but would probably get the spray for the future)

Harkers Herbal Deep Lung Support, $36

Recommended by Rebecca Wadey, Ensemble co-founder

I knew I had Covid two days before I tested positive (I was already isolating with my family) after a sore throat became a horrible frog in my chest that expanded by the hour.

While my kids easily bounced back, and my husband’s illness became a congested nose and inability to breathe, mine became the worst cough I’ve ever had. It ruined my ability to eat, talk, or (most importantly) order people around.

A friend recommended this to me and it felt incredibly soothing on my chest. At a time when not much comforted me this (and Love is Blind) really hit the spot. 

Countdown Essentials Table Salt, 1kg $1.20

Recommended by Tyson Beckett, style reporter

I'm a big salt gargle person, put it on my gravestone. My dad has waxed lyrical about his belief that most ailments can be lessened, if not totally cured, by strictly adhering to a regimen of frequent salt gargles for as long as I can remember. It took me a long time to admit it, but anecdotally there seems to be some truth behind his fanaticism.

My raw throat and tonsils thanked me after every swill... Just mix about half a teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water and gargle for your life. I usually follow it with a generous slosh of whiskey mixed together with the juice of a whole lemon, a teaspoon of Mānuka honey and a drop of hot water. It might not have cured me, but it at least sent me to sleep almost as soon as my head hit the pillow. 

‘Super juice’

Recommended by Shandelle Battersby, senior journalist, NZ House & Garden

Four days of tickly throat and 20 minutes of body aches led to the inevitable dreaded double line on the RAT - simultaneously a relief and a drag. It took 10 days after that to get a negative result, and a further two weeks after that to lose the gravelly tones of one of Marge Simpson's sisters. Throughout my Covid roller coaster, the worst it got was day eight fatigue; other than that there was no cough, no sore throat and definitely no rivers of snot.

Whenever I feel even slightly rundown or crook, my first port-of-call is to a fresh juice establishment for a "super juice" concoction of beetroot, carrot, apple, orange and as much ginger as they're willing to hiff into the mix.

During my 10-plus days of Covid symptoms I was lucky enough to have a friend fetch me a couple of these power punches of goodness; once I was testing negative again I drank as many as I could until I felt back to good health.