I've had 9 separate respiratory viruses since early September.

[Invasionofthegutsnatchers]

I'm a teacher in year R so getting colds is par for the course, with snotty children in close proximity but this is something else. When I've had covid symptoms I've isolated and had a PCR test but on other occasions I've been in work with banging headache, sore throat, earache, sinusitis, bronchitis, tonsillitis. There's no let up with the age group I teach and with Ofsted calling plus the pressure to catch children up, parental expectations etc the workload has been intense. Evenings (when work is done) and weekends have been written off just trying to sleep it off. I exercise regularly, eat well, take vitamins but the amount of bugs in school is just awful.

Latest cough started this evening so I've booked a PCR test and am isolating again. Plans with DD ruined again. Another weekend written off. Hacked off to be honest.

Oh and a child in my daughter's school ended up in hospital with a chest infection yesterday.

@GiveMeNovocain

The whole of society avoided social interaction. Those kids missed critical time developing immunity. Wtf did you think would happen?

It was widely known that this would happen, it doesn’t make it less annoying you seem to have misunderstood OP’s post in your haste to be the cleverest person in the world.

I think your repeated infections indicate that, despite having windows and doors open ventilation is sub optimal. It might be interesting to check the CO2 levels, and consider asking the school to invest in industrial strength HEPA filters.

Or just stay home when you have a "banging headache, sore throat, earache, sinusitis, bronchitis, tonsillitis." and wait until you are fully recovered before returning. You will seriously regret it if you end up developing an auto-immune condition because of the stress to your system, and the school will not care.

Absolutely I knew this would happen. Hence exercising more over the summer to get fit, taking vitamins, eating well etc.

It's still shite.

Yes it’s a horrible side of the job. Plus you are the worst in the world if you take time off sick from work.

The guilt is something else!

I wfh (and have done since before the pandemic) and still have had non stop illness since August.

I blame the kids even though they have been super healthy and haven't had anything other than one short sick bug, which I didn't catch.

There is more mixing now so more things going round, I don't think it is particularly teacher specific. My MIL and FIL are teachers and never seem to catch anything.

If youve genuinly had tonsillitis, bronchitis, sinusitis and an ear infection all in the soace of 3 months you need to make an appiontment wth your GP. Thats not repeatedly catching a cold from children, thats a worryingly poor immune system.

9 respiratory viruses is basically one a week. How would you even know your previous virus was better? Theres no time for the previous symptoms to subside. Honestly Id be worried there was something underlying going on, or perhaps allergies/asthma or something like thar

Oh I'm sure it's not teacher specific.

I do long for a quiet home office sometimes... just briefly though as I have so much fun in my job!

My 2yo has had something constantly since beg of august and between him , myself, dh and dc1 we've not had a clear break. Both dc caught Covid recently too and 2yo is now on to his next bug

It's not a miracle cure but I highly recommend sambucol immune forte for 3yo+. There is a different version for 1yo+. My mistake was we switched to the gummy version and it's not nearly as effective and it's taken me till beg of October to realise.

For adults this stuff is really good

www.dulwichhealth.co.uk/product-category/allitech/

I take the 450mg tablets as the liquid is too strong for me but it's the highest strength if you can stomach it!

11 weeks since we went back to school. A couple of colds lasted 3 days ish. Other illnesses have lasted longer. So I've had a week here and there of feeling better only to be hit by another virus

Too much information but bright yellow and green snot usually means an infection rather than allergies doesn't it?

Same here OP! At least 5 different colds / viruses. And 3 tummy bug episodes since September.
I work with children in the community and have 3 kids in various settings.
It’s crap! I’m on a bloody formal sickness management thing if I’m off ill again. And we still don’t seem to have had covid.
I have recently found out I’m anaemic, which can impact immunity. Maybe it’s worth looking into for you?

Interestingly I still haven't had covid (waiting for PCR result but so far, all negative) so maybe all the bugs have given me anti covid superpowers??

@Trainblanket sorry you're suffering too. I do take iron daily but maybe not enough. Good point. Get well soon

Here we are science focus

I’ve been pondering this one too. I wonder if it’s because we’ve been splashing anti this and anti that everywhere killing off the “good bugs” that help to strengthen our immunity? Hope you feel better soon.

Op - I feel your pain. My daughter and I have both been I’ll constantly since august. I had sinusitis and ended up on antibiotics, my daughter then got tonsillitis that was really mild to begin with but got really nasty over half term so she needed antibiotics and basically meant her half term was a write off and then we’ve both just had covid! Luckily mildly but still quite rubbish. Anyway, here’s to feeling healthier!

It's bloody rotten. We are very rarely ill. Well, were very rarely ill. In the last 8-10 weeks or so it's just been one cold after another. Sometimes I can't work out whether it's a new one or just the old one getting a new wind. DD is only in nursery two days a week and she only gets very mild versions but DH and I have been knocked for six the last couple of months. She's come home with a sniffle again so I suspect here we bloody go again. DH is still deaf in one ear from the last one!

Since August my dds have had covid, two vomiting sicknesses, plus multiple colds and ear infections.

Absolutely get where you are coming from op

@CarrotSticks19

If youve genuinly had tonsillitis, bronchitis, sinusitis and an ear infection all in the soace of 3 months you need to make an appiontment wth your GP. Thats not repeatedly catching a cold from children, thats a worryingly poor immune system.

9 respiratory viruses is basically one a week. How would you even know your previous virus was better? Theres no time for the previous symptoms to subside. Honestly Id be worried there was something underlying going on, or perhaps allergies/asthma or something like thar

I spent 8 years going back and forward with infection after infection, 75 plus courses of antibiotics, everything fine apparently 8 years later, about 50 blood tests and a fantastic locum GP finally got me a diagnosis It's not always simple even if you are constantly ill

Are you taking vitamin D? There is evidence that it helps hold off respiratory viruses

For some reason I haven't had any respiratory illnesses since March 2020 (when I came down with something really nasty which conceivably might have been COVID). I've got two primary aged kids, and they got a few sniffles from school, so you'd think I'd get my share (I used too), but nothing!

I reckon it's thanks to work from home: no commute => better rested => better immune response.
That doesn't help your situation, obviously, except if you could find another way to reduce your overall level of tiredness (unlikely, I know!)

I usually get one or 2 moderate to bad colds each winter. So far this year I'm on my 4th in 6 weeks. The current one and the first have been particularly horrid. I'm really fed up with it. You have my sympathy.

I wonder if covid has done something to our immune systems even those people who had such a mild case they might not know they have had it.