I have literally told them things I would be happy with... I've been very specific about some things too. For example, I tend to be hard on jeans so anytime gift giving comes up I will tell people that I will be happy with new jeans and specify my size.
I know I tend towards nonmaterialistic and people seem to hate buying practical gifts but that's honestly what I would prefer. I have also said on multiple occasions that if they really can't find anything, I will be extremely happy with a simple bottle of vodka or anything penguin related... Yet somehow I never get useless penguin trinkets.
Once had the flu with a fever of 106-107(almost 42c)...I was taken to the hospital and the doctor literally threw me into an ice bath... I was crying and he said "I'm sorry but you will be dead soon unless we drop that fever"
I had to continue taking ice baths at home because the fever kept creeping back up to that range. They're not fun...