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Original poster

Anyone else absolutely SICK of this winter already

99 replies

Edizzler25 · 07/12/2024 16:40

The germs… oh the germs!!

my household has had hand foot and mouth, flu (which is led to a chest infection and double ear infection which im struggling to shift) and the baby has bronchiolitis twice, including once where he was hospitalised. and it’s only early December.

how does everyone else survive the winter months especially with an older child bringing bugs home from nursery and making the baby poorly? We’re so careful with hygiene to reduce spread but it sometimes isn’t enough. And I’ve tried to focus on eating plenty of veg and protein which hasn’t been easy when I’ve felt so unwell myself with kids to look after who’ve also been poorly!

appreciate there’s 1000s households in the same boat right now.

feeling especially pants post partum with weight gain, and it’s so hard to exercise at the moment with one illness after another.

sorry just having a pity party here… sick of feeling sick!!

OP posts:
LBFseBrom · 08/12/2024 03:21

Thanks, Edizzler. I've never come across it before. I feel sorry for your baby, poor little chsp. I hope it clears up soon.

Walkden · 08/12/2024 03:17

"This is the first winter when I've got really unwell, I cope with colds usually but this one lasted weeks which turned into a nasty chest infection, I'm still really tired and get headaches a lot."

That's unusual for the old fashioned cold, but pretty common with the "new" type!

Original poster
Edizzler25 · 08/12/2024 03:17

LBFseBrom · 08/12/2024 03:13

We are barely a week into winter, November was the end of autumn. The weather iis bad right now but it won't last.

You're not unreasonable, you're up to your eyes in illness and it must be awful. Vent away to your heart's content, it helps to get it out.

I don't wish to sound ignorant but ....what is hard foot and mouth? I haven't heard of that before. I thought 'foot and mouth' was something cattle caught.

It’s a viral illness which causes a rash mostly targeting the hands, mouth and feet but can be anywhere on the body. It’s no more dangerous than any other bog standard viral infection it just sounds odd because of the association with cattle like you say!

when my baby had it he developed sores in his mouth which meant he really struggled to feed, gp couldn’t prescribe anything due to age so needed a hospital trip just for mouth numbing spray.

OP posts:
Original poster
Edizzler25 · 08/12/2024 03:14

Healingsfall · 07/12/2024 22:59

I wonder what it is that makes some kids more prone to others?

I’m don’t think my baby (second DS) is “more prone”, he’s just had more indirect exposure to illnesses via my 3 year old than my eldest had. Eldest seems to be somewhat of a carrier.

OP posts:
LBFseBrom · 08/12/2024 03:13

We are barely a week into winter, November was the end of autumn. The weather iis bad right now but it won't last.

You're not unreasonable, you're up to your eyes in illness and it must be awful. Vent away to your heart's content, it helps to get it out.

I don't wish to sound ignorant but ....what is hard foot and mouth? I haven't heard of that before. I thought 'foot and mouth' was something cattle caught.

Original poster
Edizzler25 · 08/12/2024 03:10

Ilovemyshed · 07/12/2024 19:54

I think maybe that's part of the problem. You need to relax a bit about germs.

When I was growing up, we had much less in the way of anti-bac cleaners, and more basic soap and water. My grandparents didn't have a bath or shower in the house for years - just public baths and strip washes.

I grubbed around the fields and garden and was exposed to many more germs than kids are today.

Personally I think it builds a natural immunity.

I have not had a bad cold or flu for about 30 years, never got covid, and shake off day to day bigs pretty fast.

I think kids these days are too wrapped up in cotton wool and germophobic parents. 🤷🏽‍♀️

Sorry I disagree… it’s well known that the best way to reduce spread of viruses is to wash your hands and surfaces regularly. It’s cheap, quick and effective. The NHS have tried in vain to promote this but still people such as yourselves don’t listen and that is why everyone else gets sick.

if you go back generations their life expectancy was lower, infant mortality higher, and that was linked to worse hygiene standards than now.

rolling around in fields can be in no way linked to you not catching covid, a virus which only existed in the last few years. Perhaps you’ve been lucky not catch it.

OP posts:
Original poster
Edizzler25 · 08/12/2024 03:07

Healingsfall · 07/12/2024 22:40

Surely this isn't the norm? Apart from the odd cold/sore throat etc and chicken pox my kids have never been ill above this.

I find this comment pretty ignorant. Context is important here.

my eldest never got anything at all til he was 6 months old and then caught covid from a weekend away. He picked up a few things when he first started nursery but not excessively so.

my second child (only 3 months old and born at the start of autumn which hasn’t helped) has really suffered because we’ve unfortunately had my 3yo bring things home from nursery this time around. which is why I’m finding winter so much harder this year. Where my 3yo might have a cough which doesn’t bother him that much it’s ended up hospitalising the baby. He had HFM from 2 single spots and we didn’t even know til the baby came out in a huge rash at 4 weeks old.

OP posts:
fivebyfivebuffy · 07/12/2024 23:24

@Lalalaking I thought it was flu as I had such a high temp and the sweat was running off me
After 6 days I caved and went to a&e as I felt horrible

Lalalaking · 07/12/2024 23:11

fivebyfivebuffy · 07/12/2024 22:56

I've had a crap year for illness and I don't even have DC!
Tonsillitis - was at work and started shivering, really high temp and then throat started
Campylobacter- never again, was horrendous
Torn my calf muscle
Ongoing endometriosis issues

Campylobacter is hideous..never felt so ill !

Lalalaking · 07/12/2024 23:09

Every season can be a problem. Your children are young and more susceptible to bugs .As they get older they will be more resilient,as their immune system improves !
It's science!

Bestwishes23 · 07/12/2024 23:04

I sympathise, OP. The nursery years are brutal. It's one illness after another. It's got better for us when the DC went to school. There's still the gross germs but less frequently. We've just about got over the flu, hadn't managed to get my flu jab yet as the appointments were all booked up until mid-Dec, so it's been a rough start to the month!

Healingsfall · 07/12/2024 22:59

I wonder what it is that makes some kids more prone to others?

fivebyfivebuffy · 07/12/2024 22:56

I've had a crap year for illness and I don't even have DC!
Tonsillitis - was at work and started shivering, really high temp and then throat started
Campylobacter- never again, was horrendous
Torn my calf muscle
Ongoing endometriosis issues

GrumpyWombat · 07/12/2024 22:51

Healingsfall · 07/12/2024 22:40

Surely this isn't the norm? Apart from the odd cold/sore throat etc and chicken pox my kids have never been ill above this.

Some kids are more prone to it all than others for some reason 🤷🏼‍♀️ my older two were rarely ill when they were little. My youngest got everything going, bronchiolitis several times when he was a baby, tonsillitis several times, every sick bug going. No idea why… touch wood he’s nearly 8 now and things seem to be calming down.

Healingsfall · 07/12/2024 22:40

Surely this isn't the norm? Apart from the odd cold/sore throat etc and chicken pox my kids have never been ill above this.

henlake7 · 07/12/2024 22:39

I don't often get sick so that doesn't bother me and I'm ok with the cold miserable weather.....up to a point!
Basically anything over 3 months of cold and I'm done.

Jabbabong · 07/12/2024 22:35

I hear you.

I really dislike the winter months and get a bit sad as soon as we hit the middle of August.

ThePoshUns · 07/12/2024 22:30

I'm sick of the weather, I think the mild, wet weather makes germs spread. A proper cold, dry snap is what is needed.

GrumpyWombat · 07/12/2024 22:29

It’s crap. I work in a nursery and people think nothing of sending kids in with temperatures etc. then they get mad when we send them home. I’ve been poorly all week, I feel dreadful 😭

Hope you are germ free soon

itsalwaysthesame · 07/12/2024 22:25

This is the first winter when I've got really unwell, I cope with colds usually but this one lasted weeks which turned into a nasty chest infection, I'm still really tired and get headaches a lot.

Op the doctor once told me you'll never visit the doctors as much as you do when you have children under 5, it's rand true with me. My kids are now 9 & 12 and only see the doctor occasionally now.

I usually like winter but this one feels bleak

mollyfolk · 07/12/2024 22:16

I grew up on a farm which is supposed to be amazing for your immune system. I don't remember even having a bad cold before I had kids. Those first few years it really hits you. I think the germs get you when you are tired.

Kandyfloss10 · 07/12/2024 22:11

Oh no I’m sorry to hear about all the illness. I absolutely hate it when little ones get bronchiolitis it’s so stressful and worrying.

Bugs aside though I love winter. We have a fire, lots of candles, Christmas decorations, cosy hot chocolate. You can go out for a nice fresh walk (when it’s not raining), and enjoy being cosy with a nice book when it is.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 07/12/2024 22:07

Would it shock you if I told you it’s not even technically Winter yet until 21st December.

Potentiallyplausible · 07/12/2024 22:05

Winter has only just started, though. And during most of winter the days actually get longer and lighter. It’s only December where it gets darker for the first three weeks.

Comedycook · 07/12/2024 21:39

itsnotmeitsu · 07/12/2024 20:45

I hate the cold, ice, wind, etc, but we are still in autumn. Winter hasn't even started yet.

This concept makes me feel hopeless.

Once 21st December is over and the days very slowly start getting lighter, I kid myself spring has started. The idea that we aren't even in winter yet is crushing.