On parasites, injuries, and viruses: staying healthy at SDCC

 15 JULY 2026

Just in time for our favorite week of the year, a disgusting new parasite is invading America's small intestine - and potentially, convention center restrooms. Unless you're one of those people who never watch the news, you've probably heard of cyclosporiasis by now. That's the illness and the little bugger that causes it is called cyclospore cayetanensis. Currently there are over 2000 cases in the States and they are mostly thought to stem from contaminated fresh produce. 

Bad news for everyone sticking to salads to make sure they fit into their Starfire cosplay.

I'm not telling anyone what to eat - although I did painstakingly pick every single bean sprout off my pad thai tonight - but it is a good idea to learn the basics of our new intestinal friends and form your own approach to protecting yourself. No one wants to confront a restroom line when diarrhea hits. And a lot of us will be dining out next week, with less control over our food prep than we'd normally have.

But parasites aren't even the big bad of SDCC. People get sick all the time at Comic-Con. It's just inevitable with thousands of people milling around up close and personal and touching books, escalator rails, elevator buttons, and other germ-friendly locations. But maybe Con Crud isn't the most common affliction either. Maybe that belongs to the mostly preventable overuse injury, which includes every throbbing knee, sore hip, stiff neck, and aching back, all boiling down to one reason: a lot of attendees walk and stand way, way, more than they're used to.

I know we're a week out but here are a few things you can do to protect yourself.

Rest up. 

Once, in my Comic-Con youth, I could carouse all night, hitting beach parties, Gaslamp bars, hotel room parties, and end it all by greeting the rising sun; now I absolutely need a decent amount of sleep. If that's you, rest up this coming weekend. If your hotel might be noisy, figure out a solution like soft earplugs or white noise. Once you're at the Con, try to set aside at least one night for a good sleep and don't be afraid to take naps.

Boost your immunity now.

Because I'm 60% hippie, I ingest quite a few supplements and swear by their powdery magic. Probably you have a different protocol - but whatever that is, zinc, echinacea, immunity boosters, a B-12 shot - start your regimen now. Not when you get there.

Protect your feet. 

So often people hear "bring comfortable shoes" and translate that to, "wear your old trainers you've had for years." But the shoes that feel comfortable on a lazy Sunday are not often the same shoes that will ferry you comfortably through days of 20,000+ steps and hours in line. 

If you haven't bought seriously supportive shoes yet, do that immediately and break them in each day so you're not in blister hell at SDCC. Or at least buy a nice pair of quality orthotics.

And if you are mostly sedentary, start walking every day. You actually can build up a moderate tolerance over the next week, if you walk and stretch every day. You'll be in much better shape come Preview Night.

On a nightlife note - you may be packing spike heels or dominatrix boots for nights on the town, but I would caution you to pack comfortable options too. Vanity is often the first casualty after Day 1 at Comic-Con. 

On that note, bring a collapsible stool, camping pad or some other support.

Even spry young things can suffer in a long line. It's truly horrible to work so hard to make it to SDCC and then miss a top panel because your bad back is screaming at you to go back to the hotel. There are some really convenient and portable options out there these days.

Eat well.

Maybe you love food trucks and Subway; maybe you already have a reservation at Nobu; maybe you have a taste for Exhibit Hall french fries. What matters is remembering that you can't always eat when you want to if you're going to be in long lines and panels, so account for that and don't skip too many meals or eat too much crap. Keeping your mood and blood sugar stable goes a long way at SDCC.

Bring a small pharmacy. 

Or order it when you get there - but do have the wonders of modern medicine on hand. Ibuprofen, eye drops, band-aids, sunscreen, back/knee/ankle braces, condoms, digestive cures, and other magic tricks can help you enjoy Comic-Con instead of suffering through a headache, constipation, or sunburn, or worse. 

  

Protect your mental health. 

If this is your first SDCC, you might be surprised at how emotional it can be. Not always in a positive sense - roommates fight, Holy Grail exclusives sell out, friends go to a party without you, the 24/7 bombast snaps your last nerve. It's a bit of a pressure cooker. Identify a retreat where you can have some quiet time. Maybe it's just a movie at the Marriott where you can sit in the dark for a while, or a local 12-step meeting, or a morning walk around the zoo. If you know you are highly sensitive, arrange in advance to have a friend on standby or a therapist or a telepsych appointment.

Ask CCI for help.

CCI offers rest areas, private areas for nursing mothers, a first aid team, wheelchairs, ASL interpreters, special seating, mobility and disability assistance. This is all there for you, the attendee, so go ahead and ask for it.

No one wants to be sick or injured - or a host to a parasite - at Comic-Con. It happens easily, but it can be avoided easily for the most part too.

1 week!

Staying healthy before - and at - Comic-Conn

 18 JULY 2022

The Angel of Plague

It's so easy to get sick at Comic-Con. "Con Crud" is not an urban legend but something that plenty of people fall prey to, returning from the Con with a cough and general malaise. We are, after all, constantly touching things at SDCC: graphic novels, plushies, cosplayers' shoulders, escalator handrails, restroom doors, each other. Comic-Con was a superspreader event when COVID was just a twinkle in a plague god's eye.

But it's not just flu-type illnesses you need to watch out for. If you're not used to walking, you can easily strain or sprain something or aggravate your plantar fascia. A slowly deflating air mattress leaves you with a stiff back, four hours in the Next Day Line sunburns your scalp. Crowds and general Con frustration can exacerbate any mental challenges you're struggling with. If your fitness level deteriorated during lockdown, you might tire a lot faster than you did at your last SDCC.

And - let's just be honest here - instead of leaving SDCC with an illness this year, many of us will arrive with it. I appreciate CCI doing what they can with requiring a vaccination card or negative COVID test result, but I think it would be far safer if we all had to provide a negative test result there on the spot. Untenable, I know. But many vaccinated people are getting sick with BA.5 right now. I was in a mini-superspreader event last week involving people from the Bay Area and New York and a lot of alcohol and what do you know, people are waking up with sore throats and testing positive. Many of them are triple vaxxed.

I'm fully expecting this week to infect many people. How much control we each individually wield over that is debatable, but we're all making the choice to be in a space with thousands of people in it in a part of the country experiencing high infection rates. If I lose my COVID virginity to SDCC, I won't like it but I won't be angry. It's a choice I made. That said, there are some things we can do to protect our general health like...

Boost your immunity.

There are all kinds of immunity boost magic pills and shots out there. Even if you think they're snake oil, it doesn't hurt to bump up on some echinacea and vitamins. Get adequate sleep too and drink lots of water. 

Wear masks, obviously.

I'm sure plenty of you out there think masks don't work. Experience has taught me they help, even cloth masks when filters are added. Even if you normally don't mask at home, you might want to consider masking full-time in San Diego - not just inside the convention center but everywhere else. I doubt many people will, though.

Bring chairs, drugs, supports.  

Sunscreen to protect you in line, moleskin and bandages for blisters, ibuprofen when panels are a little loud for your delicate skull, muscle ointment - if you don't bring it with you, at least learn where the Gaslamp CVS is. And don't be ashamed to bring a portable chair with you if your feet/back just aren't built for long lines.

Don't overindulge.

I realize indulgence is the entire point of SDCC for many of you. Just remember that you can get hammered back home and that people who are too high to remember the name of their hotel are a burden on their friends. Also consider eating wisely. If you live off fried bar food and a box of donuts in your room, your energy levels will hit rock bottom. Stay hydrated and follow the classic hiking rule: "If you're halfway through your water, you're halfway through your hike."

Take advantage of SDCC resources.

CCI offers a lot of on-site support, including medical professionals, free first aid, private areas for nursing mothers, ADA resources, wheelchairs, ASL interpreters, rest areas, and assistance for the disabled. All of this is there for attendees to use, so don't stoically ignore your pain. I've taken people to first aid - they're happy to help.

Arrange preemptive help for behavioral needs. 

Plenty of nerds have mental health needs that can get exacerbated by SDCC crowds, noise, and disappointments. Telepsych visits can help; so can asking a close friend to be there for a video chat; if you're in recovery, find out where the meetings are and line up some sober activities. 

Finally, take breaks when you need to. Comic-Con is a lot. I think this year is going to be incredible and rewarding in many ways after 3 years of SDCClessness, but it's also going to be risky. Let's look after ourselves and each other.

 

 

 

Getting and staying healthy for Comic-Con

23 JUNE 2019

It's a Sunday afternoon in June. Maybe you're sprawled on the sofa watching horror movies or at the lake getting sunburned, or maybe you're hosting some massive barbecue or sleeping off a hangover. There are a variety of ways to spend your summer weekends. But there's a thread that connects many of us: overdoing it. Whether you're partying too much or traveling or you have a lineup of weddings to attend, it's really easy to burn yourself out in summer.

If you're a first-timer, you probably don't realize how tiring Comic-Con is. It's not just the long lines (which people usually do expect.) It's the staying out till 3 a.m. and then getting in line at 4 a.m., or walking to the wrong hotel for the fulfillment room and then walking all the way to the right one. It's eating too much bar food and not drinking enough water, and sleeping on a slowly deflating air mattress on a hotel room floor.

We're weeks away from SDCC still, but many people will be partying over the four-day 4th of July weekend and then there's only one weekend left before SDCC - so keep your health and general peppiness in mind. A few ideas:


Boost your immunity.
Some people always get sick at Comic-Con. I never have but if you're the type who catches every virus going around, indulge in all your faux-medical voodoo like echinacea, bee pollen, Emergen-C, a B-12 shot, etc. Get adequate sleep, massages, eat properly, take vitamins, etc. If you've been ill or overworked recently, really try to take it easy or you might become one of the SDCC fallen. Also remember that SDCC is all about surfaces, with potentially filthy people touching books and action figures and escalator railings moments before you touch them, so wash your hands before eating and follow other precautions.


Bring drugs.

SDCC is a lot. There are the booming video displays of the Exhibit Hall, the hot sun on your neck as you wait for a restaurant hostess to call your name, the cosplayer drink specials. Bring some ibuprofen, muscle ointment, moleskin, arnica oil or even hardcore painkillers, especially if you're prone to stiff necks, headaches, sensitive stomach, etc. Also bring a portable chair/support if you're going to be in line for the long haul.

Eat sensibly.

I know, how boring. But I've seen people live off soda, bar snacks and a box of donuts at SDCC and then they wonder why their energy levels are wonky. Try to eat decent meals and bring snacks into the convention center so your blood sugar levels don't crash. If you have a very ambitious programming agenda, you may have to choose between holding your spot for a panel or eating with your friends.


Ask for help if you need it.
I am more familiar than I ever wanted to be with SDCC's first aid offerings, thanks to my ex who had some kind of issue almost every summer. I think a lot of attendees aren't aware of the extent of on-site support resources, including medical professionals, private areas for nursing mothers, ADA resources, wheelchairs, ASL interpreters, rest areas, etc. If you need help - from getting your wheelchair on a shuttle to treating an asthma attack - just ask for it.


Stay hydrated.
Obviously. But buying bottled water on site adds up fast so invest in a good water bottle to get you through your camp-outs and Exhibit Hall prowls. I follow the "If you're halfway through your water, you're halfway through your hike" rule for SDCC.



Think about any behavioral meds, AA meetings, therapy visits or other emotional resources.

Plenty of nerds have behavioral health needs that can get exacerbated by SDCC: the crowds, the noise, the disappointments, fights with roommates, feeling socially isolated. If you think any of that could be an issue, see if you can do a virtual visit with your therapist or ask your bestie at home to be there for you; bring any meds you need and find sober activities you can do if you're in recovery and the rest of your friends are going to hit it hard.

Take breaks.
For introverts, SDCC is a lot of humanity. (Maybe even extroverts.) I know I often hit a point where Comic-Con stops being fun. I always get my bounce back by removing myself from the chaos for a while. Luckily that's really easy to do. You can go to the beach, the zoo or one of the anime / IFF / movie festivals or playbacks and isolate in a dark room.


24 days!

Staying healthy at Comic-Con

13 JULY 2018




It's the last weekend before Comic-Con. And for many of us, it's our last chance to rest up before the madness starts. Come Wednesday, we'll be staying out very late, getting up very early or not going to bed at all. We'll eat too much bar food, drink not enough water, sit for hours in uncomfortable chairs and stand for hours in tedious lines.  We'll sleep on hotel room floors and slowly leaking air mattresses. And sticking to us at every opportunity will be the germs of thousands of strangers.

Which means you want to stay healthy, right? Or at least keep your engine running long enough to get through Sunday. So here are a few ways you can preserve yourself. First-timers, this is no joke.

#1. Relax this weekend. 

Sleep, lay around, be lazy, get a good massage. If you're already burned out or overworked or you're recovering from a recent surgery or illness, you really need to rest up or SDCC will hit you like a truck.

#2. Bring drugs.

Aspirin, ibuprofen and other painkillers can save your life at SDCC. If you're prone to headaches, the Exhibit Hall volume can bring them flaring to life. Your plantar fasciitis can come back or your hotel pillow can bother your neck. A slipped disc or bad knee can get irritated. If traveling and restaurant meals typically upset your digestion, bring something for that too. And if you plan on partying hard, you really need to bring a cure. You won't be able to hide away somewhere and turn off humanity like you can at home when you're hungover.


#3. Bring physical supports.

If you've had any kind of recent trouble like a sprained ankle, pulled muscle or an injured shoulder, I would recommend bringing any wraps, braces and muscle ointment you can. Sitting or standing in line for long periods can be difficult. Lots of people bring small fold-up stools or even air hammocks to make their line waits more comfortable.


#4. Get assistance if you need it.

CCI provides a wealth of resources to help out attendees who need it. This includes rest areas, private areas for nursing mothers, a first aid team, wheelchairs, ASL interpreters and special seating for large events. If you have mobility issues or any other circumstance that could benefit from a helping hand, go ahead and ask for it.


#5. Boost your immunity.

If you pick up colds and viruses easily, practice whatever faux-medical juju you normally do, like echinacea, bee pollen, Emergen-C, a B-12 shot, etc. I've never gotten sick from the Con but other people swear that Con Flu is real. And you will be touching escalator railings, book covers, photo op props and other surfaces recently contaminated by dozens or hundreds of others. I'm sorry to keep harping on that but I feel like people are so dazzled by the Con that they forget what an infection factory it can be.

#6. Eat well.

Some people like to eat lightly at SDCC; others feel powered by eating luxurious monster meals. Try to eat healthy and don't skip a lot of meals. Don't live off a box of donuts in your room or the stale snacks served up in hospitality rooms. SDCC can be physically tiring and emotionally frustrating, so set yourself up to be energized and in a good mood. I eat a lavish breakfast every morning and carry apples everywhere because you never know when you might have to skip lunch to hold your spot in line, or your friends delay dinner because they are still in Hall H.


#7. Stay hydrated.

Con-going is thirsty work. And buying bottled water on site adds up fast. Bring enough water to get you through the lines and the exertion. As a hiker I follow the "If you're halfway through your water, you're halfway through your hike" rule and the same holds for SDCC. Keep yourself hydrated, especially if you plan on standing in any lines at all, or you could run into trouble.


#8. Don't overdo the hedonism.

I mean, if you're there solely to obliterate yourself, go ahead. But if you're going to SDCC to actually do the panels and hunt exclusives and back issues and take in the offsites, I'd practice moderation. Even if you can pull off all-nighters at home without feeling much pain, SDCC is a much more demanding experience. You'll be irritable and wind up wasting your day in a nap. And you don't want to be a burden on your friends; I've talked before about the year a friend was so hungover we missed all of Sunday, and another time a friend's friend got so high that he wound up lost and we were looking for him until 3 a.m. No one wants to babysit you at Comic-Con.


#9. Prepare mental and emotional resources.

Maybe you're sensitive to crowds and noise. Maybe your roommate's every word is irritating you. Or maybe the Con isn't at all what you expected and you're on the verge of tears for whatever reason. If you're prone to these kind of reactions, make sure you have someone back home you can call and unload on. If you're in therapeutic care and you think the Con might push your buttons, see ahead of time if you can call your therapist. Bring any meds you need. Look up nearby meetings if you're in recovery. I know this all sounds very dramatic but I've seen attendees burst into tears or get into vicious fights with close friends where they had to change hotel rooms. Get help if you need it.

#10. Take breaks.

If you start feeling exhausted or it's just stopped being fun, cut yourself off from the chaos for a bit. Go hang out in a dark room watching anime for a few hours or go swimming. Ask everyone to let you have the hotel room to yourself for a bit. Sometimes it's just too much humanity for too many days in a row.


#11. Get your sleep.
If you're prone to insomnia, do whatever you can (white noise, sleep masks, lavender oil, melatonin, whatever works) to make sure you sleep through the night. Maybe you're one of those people that doesn't need much sleep; but most of us will feel any severe sleep deprivation hit hard at SDCC after a day. At least take a disco nap before you go out.


Enjoy your weekend. Make it a leisurely one.

12 ways to stay healthy at SDCC

13 JULY 2017

Next week is going to be grueling - early mornings, late nights, long lines, and nefarious human germs lingering on every elevator button and exhibitor booth. (Sorry, but it's true.) Obviously you want to keep yourself in prime physical condition, but Comic-Con is full of attendees who end up missing out on some of the Con because they're ill - or they come home in horrible shape. So here's my usual advice on protecting yourself, mentally and physically.

#1. Rest up now.  

Do everything you can this weekend to relax and catch up on your sleep. I've been working 70-80 hour weeks for a while now and I look and feel like a zombie. If you've been in demand or under the weather, try to get some rest now or SDCC will hit you like a truck.

#2. Bring drugs.

Aspirin, ibuprofen and other painkillers can save your life at SDCC. If you're prone to headaches, the Exhibit Hall volume can do a number on your skull. Your plantar fasciitis can flare up or your hotel pillow can bother your neck. A slipped disc or bad knee can flare into a major issue. And just traveling and heavy restaurant meals can upset your digestion, so bring something for that too.

#3. Bring physical supports.

If you've had any kind of recent trouble like a sprained ankle, pulled muscle or an injured shoulder, I would recommend bringing any wraps, braces and muscle ointment you can. Even if you feel okay now, sitting or standing in line for long periods can be difficult. Lots of people bring small fold-up stools or even air hammocks to make their line waits more comfortable. And if you can, bring your own pillows so the terrible hotel ones don't give you a stiff neck.
 
#4. Get assistance if you need it.

CCI provides a wealth of resources to help out attendees who need it. This includes rest areas, private areas for nursing mothers, a first aid team, wheelchairs, ASL interpreters and special seating for large events. If you have mobility issues or any other circumstance that could benefit from a helping hand, go ahead and ask for it.

#5. Boost your immunity. 

If you pick up colds and viruses easily, practice whatever faux-medical juju you normally do through echinacea, bee pollen, Emergen-C, a B-12 shot, etc. I've never gotten sick from the Con but other people swear that Con Crud is real. And you will be touching escalator railings, book covers, photo op props and other surfaces recently contaminated by dozens or hundreds of others.

 

#6. Eat well.

Some people like to eat lightly at SDCC; others feel powered by eating luxurious monster meals. In general, try to eat well. Don't skip a lot of meals. Don't live off a box of donuts in your room. You're going to undergo a physically draining and sometimes emotionally frustrating experience, so set yourself up to be energized and in a good mood. I eat a lavish breakfast every morning and carry apples with me because I never know when I'm going to get trapped (or invited somewhere) and need to skip my next meal.

#7. Stay hydrated.
 

Con-going is thirsty work. And buying bottled water on site adds up fast. Bring enough water to get you through the lines and the exertion. As a hiker I follow the "If you're halfway through your water, you're halfway through your hike" rule; consider the same for SDCC and monitor how fast your water goes your first day. You'll understand how much more you need the next day.

#8. Don't overdo the hedonism.

Obviously people like to party at SDCC. They like big ticketed parties, private hotel room parties, underground events and bar crawls between friends. But if you're serious about getting in a full Con, I'd caution against overindulging. Even if you can pull off all-nighters at home without feeling much pain, SDCC is a much more demanding experience. You'll be irritable and tired and wind up needing a nap. I've talked before about the year a friend was so hungover we missed all of Sunday, and another time a friend's friend got so high that he got lost and we were looking for him until 3 a.m. It's just not worth it. Save your chemical excesses for home so you can enjoy the Con to the fullest.

#9. Prepare mental and emotional resources.

Maybe you're sensitive to crowds and noise. Maybe you're traveling with someone whose every word is irritating you. Or maybe the Con isn't at all what you expected and you're on the verge of tears for whatever reason. Make sure you have someone back home you can call and unload on. If you're in therapeutic care and you think the Con might push your buttons, see ahead of time if you can call your therapist. Bring any meds you need. Look up nearby meetings if you're in recovery. I'm sure this all sounds very dramatic but it's really not that uncommon for someone to have a panic attack or feel emotionally isolated. Get help if you need it.

#10. Take breaks.

If you start feeling exhausted or it's just stopped being fun, cut yourself off from the chaos for a bit. Go hang out in the dark Playback Room or film festival and isolate for an hour or two. Go swimming. Ask everyone to let you have the hotel room to yourself for a bit. If you've got some cash to burn, schedule a massage for your stiff Comic-Con muscles.

#11. Take care of your feet.

Because you'll be walking a lot, you'll want to wear supportive footwear and have moleskin or band-aids just in case. If your cosplay involves uncomfortable footwear, make sure you give yourself some downtime. And remember that shuttles can cut down on your walking distances quite a bit.

#12. Get your sleep.

When I first started going to the Con, Younger Me would have various escapades all night, return home around 4 a.m., sleep for 3 hours and bounce out of bed ready for the day. And even then, it caught up with me by dinner. Now I try to be in bed no later than 1 a.m. If I'm going to be out super late, I nap first. Obviously this depends on why you're at the Con - if you're there to carouse all night, have at it. But if you're there to actually do panels and compete in gaming tournaments and explore the activities, you'll want to be fairly peppy.


And that's my wellness advice. I'm sure it all sounds highly exaggerated to first-timers. But the more you fortify yourself, the better a Con you'll have.

10 tips for staying healthy at Comic-Con

13 JULY 2016

Next week is going to be grueling - early mornings, late nights, long lines, and nefarious human germs lingering on every elevator button and exhibitor booth. (Sorry to be gross but it's true.) Obviously you want to keep yourself in prime physical condition, so I'm posting my usual advice on protecting yourself, mentally and physically.

#1. Take care of your feet.

You'll be walking a lot, which means you'll want to wear supportive footwear, bring moleskin and bandaids, and try not to do a lot of unnecessary walking. I wear high heels everywhere, but I still break out dorky supportive shoes for SDCC. It's so worth it. If your cosplay involves uncomfortable footwear, make sure you give yourself some downtime.

#2. Bring drugs.

Aspirin, ibuprofen and other painkillers can save your life at SDCC. If you're prone to headaches, the Exhibit Hall volume can do a number on your skull. Your plantar fasciitis can flare up or your hotel pillow can bother your neck. A slipped disc or bad knee can flare into a major issue at Comic-Con. And even if you aren't normally prone to such trouble, sitting or standing in line for long periods can be difficult. Lots of people are bringing small fold-up stools or even pillows to make their line waits more comfortable.

#3. Get assistance if you need it.

Don't make things harder on yourself than they have to be. CCI provides a wealth of resources to help out attendees who need it. This includes rest areas, private areas for nursing mothers, a first aid team, wheelchairs, ASL interpreters and special seating for large events. If you have mobility issues or any other circumstance that could benefit from a helping hand, go ahead and ask for it.

#4. Boost your immunity. 

If you're the first to catch colds and viruses, practice whatever faux-medical juju you normally do through echinacea, bee pollen, Emergen-C, a B-12 shot, etc. I've never gotten sick from the Con but other people swear that Con Crud is real. And you will be touching escalator railings, book covers, photo op props and other surfaces recently contaminated by dozens or hundreds of others.

 

#5. Eat well.

Some people like to eat lightly at SDCC; others feel powered by eating luxurious monster meals. In general, try to eat well. Don't skip a lot of meals. Don't live off a box of pop-tarts in your room. You're going to undergo a physically draining and sometimes emotionally frustrating experience, so set yourself up to be energized and in a good mood. I eat a lavish breakfast every morning, carry apples with me into the Con, and make time for a good meal at night, no matter what. But everyone has their tricks.

#6. Stay hydrated.
 

Con-going is thirsty work. And buying bottled water on site adds up fast. Bring enough water to get you through the lines and the exertion. As a hiker I follow the "If you're halfway through your water, you're halfway through your hike" rule; consider the same for SDCC and monitor how fast your water goes your first day. You'll understand how much more you need the next day.

#7. Be moderate in your debauchery.

Obviously people like to party at SDCC. For every "official" party you see listed, there are hundreds of private hotel room parties, unadvertised shows and underground events and bar crawls between friends. But if you're serious about getting in a full Con, I'd caution against overindulging. Even if you can pull off all-nighters at home without feeling much pain, SDCC is a much more demanding experience. You'll be irritable and tired and probably wind up collapsing at some point. I've talked before about the year a friend was so hungover we missed all of Sunday, and another time a friend's friend got so high that he got lost and we were looking for him until 3 a.m. It's just not worth it. Save your chemical excesses for home so you can enjoy the Con to the fullest.

#8. Prepare mental and emotional resources.

Maybe you're sensitive to crowds and noise. Maybe you're traveling in a group with someone whose every word is irritating you. Or maybe the Con isn't at all what you expected and you're on the verge of tears for multiple reasons. Make sure you have friends back home you can call and unload on. If you're in therapeutic care and you think the Con might push your buttons, see ahead of time if you can call your therapist. Bring any meds you need. Look up nearby meetings if you're in recovery. Comic-Con can be stressful for everyone and there is no shame in getting some help if you find yourself struggling.

#9. Take breaks.

Often you don't realize how tired or numbed out you are until it's too late. It's always a good idea to cut yourself off from the chaos for a bit. Go hang out in the dark Playback Room at and just isolate for an hour or two. Go swimming. Tell your friends you need some time alone and ask everyone to let you have the hotel room to yourself for a bit. And if you've got some cash to burn, schedule a massage - it'll be like the heavens opened up and poured relief down upon your stiff Comic-Con muscles.

#10. Get your rest.

When I first started going to SDCC, Younger Me would have various escapades all night, return home around 4, sleep for 3 hours and bounce out of bed ready for the day. And even then, it caught up with me. Now I make a point to be in bed no later than midnight or 1 a.m. If I'm going to be out super late, I nap first. Obviously this depends on why you're at the Con - if you're there to carouse all night, have at it. But if you're there to actually do panels and compete in gaming tournaments and explore the activities, you'll want to be fairly peppy.


And that's my wellness advice. If you've never been to San Diego Comic-Con before, you might think I'm exaggerating the demands it puts on you. But for those attendees who like to live the Con to the fullest, being in top shape isn't just important, it's required. I know you want to have a magical time next week. Take care of yourself and you probably will.

Staying healthy at Comic-Con

2 JULY 2015

It's time for me to sound like your mom and lecture you on taking care of yourself at Comic-Con. Let me say first that if you're going to SDCC, you're obviously a wily sort who was able to navigate the online sales and avoid certain pitfalls, so you probably can take care of yourself just fine. But there are a few considerations specific to SDCC that people don't always anticipate.

Take care of your feet. 

You'll be walking a lot, which means you'll want to wear supportive footwear, bring moleskin and bandaids, and generally be judicious about how much optional foot travel you do. If you're a first-timer who's a vain little kitten, you might think you can just soldier through in high heels. But as someone who also wears heels everywhere, I still break out dorky supportive shoes for SDCC. It's worth it. Save the heels for your nocturnal adventures (and even then you might choose comfort over vanity.)

Bring supplies to dull the pain. 

Aspirin, ibuprofen and other painkillers can save your life at SDCC. If you're prone to headaches, the Exhibit Hall volume can do a number on your skull. Your plantar fasciitis can flare up or your hotel pillow can bother your neck. Troubled knees, feet, backs and hips can be pushed to the limit at Comic-Con. Even just sitting or standing in line for long periods can be difficult for some people. Commenters Ferd and Gail brought small fold-up stools to make their line waits more comfortable, which is a great idea.

Get assistance if you need it.

SDCC is a demanding experience; don't make things harder on yourself than they have to be. CCI provides a wealth of resources to help out attendees who need it. This includes rest areas, private areas for nursing mothers, a first aid team, wheelchairs, ASL interpreters and special seating for large events. If you have mobility issues or any other circumstance that could benefit from a helping hand, go ahead and ask for it.

Boost your immunity. 

If you're the type to easily catch colds and viruses, practice whatever faux-medical juju you normally do through echinacea, bee pollen, Emergen-C, etc. I've never gotten sick from the Con but other people swear that Con Crud is real. And you will be touching escalator railings, book covers, photo ops, seats and other surfaces recently contaminated by dozens or hundreds of others.

Protect your skin. 

You might be outside more than you think. It's not just Hall H that lines up outside - other rooms do too and there are lines for picking up your badge or getting an autograph or exclusives ticket that can post you out by the waterfront. You might also walk to the Gaslamp for lunch or go to the library or Horton Theatre for a panel. Wear sunscreen.

Protect everything. 

People hook up at Comic-Con all the time. It happens. And often it happens late at night when your hotel gift shop is closed, you have no idea where the nearest pharmacy is, and you're too tired to go on a hunt. So if there's even the teeniest sub-atomic particle of a chance you'd be open to meeting someone, bring condoms. There are some souvenirs you don't want to bring home from SDCC.

Eat well. 

Some people like to eat lightly at SDCC; others feel powered by eating luxurious monster meals. In general, try to eat well. Don't skip a lot of meals. Don't live off a box of pop-tarts in your room. You're going to undergo a physically draining and sometimes emotionally frustrating experience, so set yourself up to be energized and in a good mood. 

Everyone has their tricks - some people grab a huge sub at the all-night Subway and keep it in their bag; others bring sandwiches and cookies into the Con with them. Winging it means you'll need to rely on the Exhibit Hall food court (not recommended) or venture out - which can mean losing hours as you cross the street, find a restaurant, put your name on a list and then wait to be seated. Personally I eat a lavish breakfast every morning, then carry apples and granola bars with me into the Con. That way I never have to choose between a panel line and my growling stomach a few hours later. And I always make time for a good meal at night, no matter what.

You can see a few suggestions in my eating well post last year. And of course keep in mind SDCC's Restaurant Guide.

Stay hydrated. 

I know, how obvious. But Con-going is thirsty work. Attendees may not realize dehydrating it is to be doing all that walking. And buying bottled water on site adds up fast. Bring enough water to get you through the lines and the exertion. As a hiker I follow the "If you're halfway through your water, you're halfway through your hike" rule; consider the same for SDCC and monitor how fast your water goes your first day. You'll understand how much more you need the next day.

Be moderate in your debauchery. 

Obviously the nightlife at SDCC is rich with potential. And for every "official" party you see listed, there are hundreds of private hotel room parties, unadvertised shows and underground events and bar crawls between friends. It seems like an invitation to go wild. But I'd caution against overindulging. Even if you can pull off all-nighters at home without feeling much pain, SDCC is a much more demanding experience. You'll be irritable and tired and probably wind up collapsing at some point and missing a lot of the Con. 

And it can impact your friends. I had a friend who was so viciously hungover one Sunday morning that she wound up in the convention center's first aid area, and we had to leave at 10:30. We missed the entire last day of the Con. Another year a friend's friend got so high that he got lost and we were looking for him on various deserted streets until 3 a.m. It's just not worth it. Save your chemical excesses for home so you can enjoy the Con to the fullest.

Prepare mental and emotional resources. 

Maybe you're sensitive to crowds and noise. Maybe you're traveling in a group with someone who's working your last nerve. Maybe the Con isn't at all what you expected and you're on the verge of tears for multiple reasons. Make sure you have friends back home you can call and unload on. If you're in therapeutic care and you think the Con might push your buttons, see ahead of time if you can call your therapist. Bring any meds you need. Look up nearby meetings if you're in recovery. Comic-Con can be stressful for everyone and there is no shame in getting some help if you find yourself struggling.

Take a break.

Often you don't realize how overwhelmed you are until it's too late. It's always a good idea to cut yourself off from the chaos for a bit. Go hang out in the dark Playback Room at the Omni and just isolate for an hour or two. Go swimming at your hotel. Go to the beach. Tell your friends you need some time alone and ask everyone to let you have the hotel room to yourself for a bit. And if you've got some cash to burn, schedule a massage - it'll be like the heavens opened up and poured relief down upon your stiff Comic-Con muscles.

Get your rest. 

When I first started going to SDCC, I would have various escapades all night, return home around 4, sleep for 3 hours and bounce out of bed ready for the day. It caught up with me quick. Now I make a point to be in bed no later than midnight or 1 a.m. If I'm going to be out super late, I nap first. Obviously your attitude on this depends on why you're at the Con - if you're there to carouse all night, have at it. But if you're there to actually do panels and compete in gaming tournaments and explore the activities, you'll want to be fairly peppy.


And that's my wellness advice. If you've never been to San Diego Comic-Con before, you might think I'm exaggerating the demands it puts on you. But for those attendees who like to live the Con to the fullest, being in top shape isn't just important, it's required. I know you want to have a magical time next week. Take care of yourself and you probably will.