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.

@Invasionofthegutsnatchers

Well I was mixing with up to 25 unvaccinated people in a small room daily throughout last winter *@GiveMeNovocain* so I hardly avoided interactions.

But they weren’t mixing as much, especially over the winter period last year.

I’ve never been so ill so much!

@NotMyCat what was your diagnosis?

@Kummerspeck yes I take high strength vitamin D daily but thanks anyway

@Kummerspeck

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

My vitamin D spray arrived yesterday 😅

I’m not sure I follow the logic on this, I’ve heard people say similar before though. What, there’s a backlog of viruses that were due to infect us last year but didn’t get a chance to, so now they’re doubling up with this years allocation and we’re getting twice the infections? Does that really make sense?

Not quite as you've put it.

But for things like RSV in primary age children and 'freshers flu' in university joiners, there may well be more cases this year, because the reduction in interactions mean the people who would have got it last year by and large didn't, and so there are twice as many vulnerable people in the places where those spread, meaning it could be be a bumper year. But the case numbers will be high because of the opportunities for spread, not because of anything to do with the functioning of the immune system.

Repeated infections which are hard to shift can be a symptom of diseases of the immune system, so if that is you and if you have other symptoms (even if non-specific, such as tiredness/fatigue, aching joints, bone pain, night sweats, unusual bleeding (eg gums, bruising)) then see your GP.

My ds has literally had non stop colds since going back to preschool in September. In for 2 mornings, spends the next 3 off feeling crap, longer if he gets a cough. Goes back for a couple of days, catches something else. Added to the 2 weeks he had off when his older siblings caught covid, and the couple of weeks he will be having off when he catches his sisters chickenpox, he might as well have not gone back.

I empathise 100% OP!

Surrounded by germs, and keep picking up a new virus after one day’s respite from sickness.

I’ve had children sneezing and coughing in my face ( my eyes not being covered by the mask being the entry point. I had a child lick my hair yesterday (no SN, just very friendly!).

Antibac/Anti Virus is killing the helpful bacteria letting the resistant germs spread. I think we should dump them!

I feel so poorly because it is relentless. No Covid so far thankfully!

[quote Invasionofthegutsnatchers]@NotMyCat what was your diagnosis?[/quote]
It's v v v rare so unlikely but I have a condition where I kill off my neutrophils (it's more common in children, I'm the only adult my consultant sees with it!)