Does anyone else feel they are catching one lurgy after another?

[Cloud44]

Or is it just me?! Feeling fed up of the germs, seem to get over one cold or virus then another one shortly comes along. I try to look after myself, take vitamins etc, don’t know what else I can do!

Has anyone been to the doctors? Did they have any advice?!

I haven't had a single cold / bug so far this winter (will probably be struck down with something awful now!!) I have two children, work in a office, go to events with lots of people etc so I will have been exposed in the same way as anyone else.

Having good gut health helps your immunity, so if anyone has taken antibiotics recently, that will impact your gut health as it wipes out all your good bacteria as well as the bad and can leave you open to catching more bugs. I would have to VERY unwell to take anti-biotics these days. I think people are too quick to take anti-biotics and doctors can be too quick to prescribe them and people don't realise the harm they can do to your overall long term gut health.

I eat a diet high in fibre and plants, with lots of good fat. I do have treats and drink wine so I'm not militant about my diet, but most of what I eat is nutritious. My husband swears by fermented food and makes his own kafir which he has daily but I don't like yogurt so kafir is definitively not my thing - it stinks! I also take a pro-biotic capsule daily.

I also do a lot of exercise with 3-4 strength / weight training sessions a week. Sometimes less if I don't have time.

I think these things help me with a robust constitution and prevent me from getting as ill as others. If I feel like I might be about to come down with something, I usually seem to be able to shake it off after a day or two. I may just be lucky but think the above must help.

Hope everyone's illnesses bugger off and everyone is feeling better as we enter into the spring.

Ventilation is the main key, in offices especially.
The doctors waiting room is probably bug central even in summer the window is never open it's disgusting esp after I was told to sit a child in there with suspected whopping cough

Thank you @jellyandgelato , any tips on how to improve gut health? What sort of foods do you include in your diet?

I agree. I know more people who’ve died in the last couple of months from pneumonia caused by chest infections than during the pandemic. That’s 2 neighbours, my mil and a client, none of whom was ill beforehand, all were healthy and living normal lives up to November. The NHS was warning of a bad period as far back as October but no one took any notice and people didn’t start taking precautions. Fair enough mil was 80 but neighbours and client were only in their 60s! Very worrying that public health messaging was poor and people didn’t seem to take any precautions.

I eat porridge for breakfast made with organic jumbo oats as jumbo ones are higher in fibre and take longer to digest. I chuck loads of different seeds in like pumpkin, sunflower, chia and milled flax seed. Also raisins, and make it with soya milk (as I don't like cow's milk).

I eat sourdough toast with pure peanut butter most days too for my lunch, usually with fruit and then later have a handful of nuts. I snack on fruit too.

Dinner is usually salad with tofu or eggs. When I make a salad I put as wide a variety of things in as poss so beetroot, avocado, celery etc as well as obvious thing like spinach, cucumber and tomatoes. Or dinner would be lentil bolognaise, bean chilli, veggie curry made with chickpeas and sweet potato etc, with brown rice.

Being veggie means I tend towards high fibre whole foods anyway, but I just try and chuck extra seeds / nuts into what I'm having.

I've been the same. Constant colds, Norovirus, chest infections x3 in six months. I have a toddler who's just starting nursery so don't think that helps. On first of Jan I thought this is it I need to sort out my immune system. I now take, vitamin C, omega 3, multivitamin, a probiotic, and then also wash it down with a rheal green juice mixed with orange juice and water. I've been trying to improve my gut micro biome, so eating more kefir, sourdough, kimchi etc. seems to be working! I'm scared to stop any of this stuff now - haven't been sick since o started this

Good ventilation - always open windows
Have a little Aranet air monitor and keep the CO2 number low
Portable HEPA air filter for your table/desk
Wear a decent FFP2/3 mask in shared indoor spaces
Avoid people who have the lurgy
Vaccinate
Support people who are unwell to stay home

Fundraise or request nursery/school/workplace health and safety measures such as HEPA air filtration etc

Thank you for everyone’s responses, it’s starting to get me down so appreciate you all taking the time to reply. Are there any certain probiotics or multivitamins people would recommend? Are certain nuts better than others?! I est cashew nuts couple times a week, avocado, spinach, tomatoes, cucumber, satsumas, red peppers, lettuce, bananas. Take Sambucol, Manuka honey, vitamin d3. I have kids and work in quite a big office. Try and do 8-10k steps a day. Maybe a couple of small tweaks will help but I don’t know where to start!

Also I take Sambucol which has vitamin c in but do you think I should also take a seperate vitamin c?

Is there is any other advice I’m open to all suggestions!

Just try and keep hydrated. Lots of water throughout the day. Try and flush out those germs from your body.

Keep moving and don't just fall into the trap of sitting around all day feeling ill. Movement will get the body going, increase blood flow, etc and improve general body well being.

@taxguru it’s hard to get the balance between moving around and resting to try and get better?!

I agree I don’t know weather to try and exercise or not. I haven’t done any for 3 weeks now.
I am currently signed off work until this Friday.

I went out for the first time yesterday in 2.5 weeks briefly but feel awful again today. Mine comes and goes in waves. Do you drink much usually? I think alcohol has weakened my immune system / made me sleep deprived over the past few months and want to cut it out all together unless a special occasion.
I went to the GP last year when this happened and and they told me balanced diet and managing stress is the best and not to bother with any multi vits etc.they said each time you have an infection it damages the immune system baseline more so it’s like an uphill battle each time.

@quarterofanonion wow what's a portable hepa filter, do you think it makes an impact?

We use the Smart air QT3 for taking to places. They fit for instance in a backpack and lightweight. You can charge them anywhere on USB. They don't last all day unless you plug into a battery pack.
At home we have others that you can also move around so they are technically portable but more cumbersome.
We also have an Air Fanta 3Pro in our house as well. That's very powerful but not something you would take round with you.