How often are you sick?

[quickturtle]

Just wondering coz I've been quite ill 3 times already this year with just viruses. I do have a child. But I'm getting fed up of it and wondering if this is normal.

Last time I was sick was norovirus in 2021. It was the only thing that forced me to have time off work in a very long time (I'm self employed and can work alone). Prior to that, also in 2021, I had COVID which I was very poorly with, but I worked through. Then 2015, when I had to take time off work because my kneecap kept dislocating, but in terms of bugs, 2014 I had flu. I get the usual colds etc but very rarely am I actually poorly with it. Same for DS and DH.

As in, vomiting? Or generally ill?

Loads in the past 18 months. Flu (proper flu), covid, D&V, UTI...

I'm self employed and client facing, and really only take any time off if I feel extremely unwell.

In the last 18 months I've earned the least amount of money I've earned in about 8 years, I've had that much time off.

Covid a year ago.

Generally ill. I'm wondering if I have covid at the moment but the test is negative. 2 days I've been in bed aching and feverish

I'm sorry it sucks doesn't it. I had a flu jab last year in an effort to ward off flu the jab made me so ill though. I will schedule it for a Friday before a weekend off this year

When I’ve been like this, it’s been anaemia and vit d deficiency. I’d get a blood test

When I was teaching I was ill all the time particularly with laryngitis/chest and ear infections now I WFH and only tend to get ill if I have team meetings in London which is not unsurprisingly as my immune system must be pretty rubbish now.

Covid almost a year ago. First time ever. Have been in contact with dgks when they have had it..get the odd bought of diverticular problems. Sometimes I can go years between. Apart from that, genuine flu once, not a cough cold anything for over 15 years. I was nursing, never caught flu or norovirus from a patient.

About once per year (and I work with children and have three, though teens).

I work in a specialist setting with a lot of potential for "burn out"/ colleagues suffering from mental health issues related to the job, and our interdisciplinary teams are quite heavily healthcare and psychology/ psychiatry and allied professionals weighted.

Most colleagues agree that physical and mental health are very much interconnected and resilience in one area (and looking after your health in one area) ties to the other. A close colleague and I talk about it a lot as sickness absence is a big problem with a knock on effect, and she had mental health issues related to the job in the past. It's anecdotal I know but since she's been able to improve her mental health she's seen her physical health improve vastly at the same time - when she is off with a virus she bounces back so much faster than she used to, and it happens less often.

Of course viruses and bacteria are viruses and bacteria, but your mental health and your immune system are definitely linked IMO.

If you've got young kids you will pick up all sorts, and then not be ill for years. My DD's are early 20's and I haven't been ill much at all for 15 odd years. Nothing. No tummy bugs, no flu. COVID only once and DH brought that back from London, two days and done. Haven't been to the doctors for any kind of bug or virus.

I have a 6 year old and a toddler and am genuinely hardly ever ill despite going to softplays and other germ filled places regularly. I have a cold once or twice a year but as for sickness or whatever I can go for years with nothing.

I look after myself and eat healthily and also believe in exposure to bugs to build immunity. I find that people who have immaculate homes with everything bleached and dettoled are more prone to getting ill. I mean don't get me wrong I am houseproud and my house is clean and tidy but not OTT.

Unfortunately my house is not bleached or dettoled. Maybe thats the issue.

Once or twice a year, normally in winter or early spring.

This year:

COVID - quite unwell for a few days, took 2 off work
Norovirus - worst birthday ever
Nasty cold - miserable for a few days but WFH

It definitely isn't that my house is too clean

Thanks will do

Very very rarely.
I'm 58 so am expecting that to change in a few years but I hope not too soon!

I can’t even think when I was last unwell. Maybe a minor cold last autumn. I don’t use any chemicals for cleaning my home. I am careful about hand washing, and I make an effort to eat foods that are good for gut health. I avoid antibiotics unless absolutely essential, no idea when I last had any. I’d focus on your gut health, get exercise outside, take Vitamin D supplements,

It’s definitely not, those chemicals will do far worse things for your health long term

In my last job, I had had 6 sick days in 11 years. Three of those was when I had shoulder surgery.
Current job, no sick days in a year.
So I guess I'm lucky with health.

The last time I was ill is over five years ago, had vertigo which lasted for several days and I felt horrendous.
I very rarely get colds, don’t think I’ve had covid.
Im 57

Ok gut health and vitamin d and a chat to the gp

Thanks all

Absolutely loads.

Young kids + one with a disability + that child having a lie immune system and picking up everything and passing it in + no time for self care + not sleeping anywhere near enough = far too many bugs.

Such is life.

Sick every 2-3 weeks with minor colds.. From ds.
He always has his hands in his mouth so constantly picking everything up from school, Dh works on wards and patient equipment so twice the bugs.
Virus or stomach bug that really knocks me out. About 2-4 times a year but half the time that falls over a weekend or I can just about manage to wfh with it.

Around once a year. I catch it from my kids.