When you're run down how do you improve yourself?

[BryceQuinlanTheFirst]

Over the past few years I've been plagued by minor-ish health issues.

I developed a chronic back condition with pregnancy and that has just sparked a series of ailments.

I've had bad shingles, constant migraines, tonsillitis, infected wisdom teeth, covid, flus, colds, mouth ulcers.

I feel like I'm constantly unwell. I eat very healthily, normal weight, drinks loads of water, get fresh air, go to bed early, do yoga and pilates.

We have private health cover from DH work, if I do a blood test will they give me anything? I'm clutching at straws but I'm so desperate to feel healthy I'm absolutely sick. Literally.

What can I do?

I know it's sounds a bit woo but acupuncture can help in this sort of situation.

Get some bloods done, if you're wildly anaemic it'll make you feel shit and it's (normally) an easy fix.

It's really hard to pull yourself out of being run down and you're already doing the basics. Start with the bloods and go from there.

Some probably quite obvious stuff, but do you clean your teeth with toothpaste which is free from sodium laurel sulphate? if not, start, as that is a major cause of mouth ulcers and is present in most commercial toothpastes. Bananas too are common causes of mouth ulcers, so cut them out.

Your body sounds like it is perpeturally in some form of inflammation and the underlying cause should be looked at. I'd definitely go for tests with the private health cover.

You say you eat very healthily but that means different things to different people. have you had allergy tests for the usual culprits like gluten and dairy? If you are veggie or vegan are you getting enough protein and all the complex nutrients that come from an omnivorous diet?

When I am run down and contantly feel inflamed I take a lot of tumeric. A heaped tablespoon, stirred into warm water in a short tumbler with sliced ginger and local honey. It is pretty disgusting, but knock it down and it does calm the body. Eating plenty of garlic and ginger helps too.

Try using First Defense whenever you go out in public on trains, buses or where there are crowds. It is brilliantly at catching and killing cold and flu bugs. Just use it every day when you get back from wherever the crowds were.

I felt constantly run down, achey and tired. Blood test discovered I was extremely deficient in folic acid. Doctor prescribed very high dose for 6 months.. felt like a different person! Had similar when I was anaemic. Def get your bloods done.

I would echo the above suggestions and have a chat with your gp and get bloods done. What I noticed from your post is that your life sounds busy. Do you have time just for you to switch off and do nothing? It may be that your body is stressed with constantly being on the go and doing things. If that makes sense.

I am full time carer for my son who has high needs autism so yes my life is stressful but not in a way I can change at the moment. I do meditations and mindfulness and have a long unwind bed routine with a bath and skincare etc.

I eat a lot of vegetables and salads a normal lunch would be aubergine, lentils, squash, tomatoes, feta, yoghurt and salmon for example. I don't think I have any allergies.

I think I'm just constantly run down and I can't get out of the cycle. I've been ill more in last couple years than my entire life total.

Does private cover do those big health MOTs think I need that. I've asked my GP loads and I get nothing back.

Thanks @goldfinchonthelawn
I'll check toothpaste, I rarely eat bananas. When I was a kid or young adult I always got ulcers when I had a big exam or deadline at work and I was run down.

How about vitamin D and probiotics (kefir, etc)? Maybe your gut bacteria need a boost?

@Frogium
Yes I buy keffir every couple days, I had some today actually as tonsillitis means I can't eat much.

I eat a lot of Greek yoghurt too.

Could be vit D but I get sun every day

Hopeful bump

I am full time carer for my son who has high needs autism so yes my life is stressful but not in a way I can change at the moment.

Chronic stress rapidly depletes the body of B vitamins. The things you've described as having can all be a result of that. Not saying there can't be anything else going on but a good vitamin B complex supplement would certainly be a good place to start.

I'll go to Holland and Barrett tomorrow. I'm so desperate to feel healthy again.

Definitely get bloods done. I’ve been feeling dreadful for a while, turns out I’m very anaemic. Started on iron supplements last week and I think I’m already feeling the benefit. I’ve had COVID three times over the last two years, plus heavy periods due to uterine polyps (now treated).

it’s funny how it creeps up on you, one thing after another - feeling tired and run down for so long, it feels normal. I was blaming myself for so long - for getting old, being lazy, losing interest in life. Turns out there were medical reasons for it all.