Keep getting colds/ bugs- HRT or post lockdown?

[LazyFox]

A month ago I started a new part time job in a large school.

Immediately before that I spent a few days in London and used public transport a lot.

In just over a calendar month I’ve had two colds that have made me feel really poorly. The second one meant I was laid up for four days at the start of the Easter holidays. Tested negative for Covid. Now I’m back to school and I’m on day three of a terrible nausea/ loss of appetite. So I’ve spent ten days out of 30 feeling very unwell with three different illnesses. (In between I’ve been busy and active and felt normal).

Thankfully I’ve not had to take any time off due to the timings but WTF is going on??

Has HRT weakened my immune system? (Been on it since January without issue)

Or is it because I’ve gone back to work after having nearly two terms off so am having a sort of post lockdown experience and am not used to coming across all these bugs (like a child starting nursery, lol?)

Or do I need to see the Dr about my immune response?

Any advice, please?

You’ve started working in an environment with kids and a lot of bugs you may not have been exposed to before meaning your immune system is working overtime to mop them all up and build a resistance to it - and, while that’s happening, it’s leaving you susceptible to other opportunistic viruses. Happens to a lot of people when they go to work in childcare (of all ages not just preschool) settings. Hopefully soon you’ll find you don’t pick up every snotty cold or stomach bug that get spread around in schools.

@Rememberallball I have worked in schools for donkeys years, though. Just had time off (8 months). Would that mean that I start all over again in terms of immune response, I wonder?

I’m in a similar position OP, it’s driving me completely insane. I think this is currently my sixth bad cold since September, and that’s not including covid twice in that time as well. My job can be very difficult to do when ill, I’ve taken so many days off ill that I’m starting to worry I’ll be disciplined for it. I suppose it could be post pandemic lack of immunity, or failing that has covid itself destroyed our immune systems?! Since I had it first in October I’ve had a new cold virus almost every month..

It's post-lockdown OP. I'm usually a very well person, but since December I've had two awful colds and Covid - all of which left me full of phlegm and feeling exhausted. I think two years of not catching anything and then suddenly being exposed to the full gamut of bugs again is clobbering a lot of us. The three things I've caught have all been from DS2, who's brought them home from school.

Gosh, it seems like I’m not alone. I scrolled through my What’s apps (as I moan to family when ill!) and I’ve also had four other colds since September!!

But three times in a month?? I’m actually a bit worried I might have an underlying illness:(

@cinnamonbiscuit the work situation is such a worry for you. I’m just glad that it’s ruining my bank holiday rather than having time off myself . Sympathies to you x

You could try taking a decent multi vitamin and mineral suppplement, make sure you up your non processed food intake with plenty of fresh fruit & veg.

@Rememberallball I have stocked up and am hoping for an improvement! Good advice. I’ve been quite sceptical about taking supplements but I’m going to be more open minded about it after this experience’