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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To wonder if I'm going to feel like sh*t for the rest of my life

19 replies

Mishy1234 · 01/03/2012 09:12

I know there have been threads about this before, but I'm ALWAYS sick. It's really getting me down. I get one thing after the other and now it's a cold again with temps knocking 40. I feel like crap all the time.

DS1 is 4 and DS2 is nearly 2 and lurch from one horrible illness to the other. It's bloody relentless and I've got to the point where I don't think I can take much more (obviously I will because I have to, but I'm just in tears as I feel so awful right now).

MIL is taking them today (I know, I'm extremely lucky), but as soon as I recover from one thing it's something else. Is it ever going to stop? Am I ever going to feel well again?

DH doesn't get everything btw, so is there something wrong with me? I take vitamins, eat healthily, don't smoke, drink very moderately etc.

Tips on survival please before I lose my mind! Also, HUGE sympathy for those with no help when they are sick. I truly don't know how your survive.

OP posts:

TubbyDuffs · 01/03/2012 09:15

Its horrible when we're ill isn't it, we aren't supposed to get ill!

I am (touching wood as I say this) quite lucky in that I tend to escape the germs the little horrors bring home each week. I don't know what I do different from you, although maybe drink more!

Make the most of your MIL having them, and sleep it off.

LilacWaltz · 01/03/2012 09:19

I am never ever ill and with 5 dc in 5 different schools bringing home alsorts, I often wonder why!!!

My theory is ... The flu jab. Had it years ago and I dint know what it did, but colds hover for a few hours or so, and they are gone! So maybe get a vacc?

Also heating. I rarely have the heating on for long. House is always cool. My dc are rarely ill so I wonder if not 'incubating' bugs is key

Either way, it sounds horrible for you all.

dandycandyjellybean · 01/03/2012 09:20

I have had longs bouts like this for the last few winters. I like you have a very healthy lifestyle and have decided that it is because we cannot take sufficient time off when we are first really ill in order to allow our bodies to properly recover. I am a carer for my disabled dh as well as mum to ds, and almost never get to 'be ill properly' iykwim (whatever I have is always trumped by dh's needs - can be seriously frustrating!!!). Because you don't get to recover, your body is constantly in sort of low level illness mode, and also is too weak to fight off all and sundry that is going around.

It gets very frustrating doesn't it? People seem to lose sympathy after the 3rd or 4th really bad cold, chest infection, lost voice etc, as if I'm not trying hard enough to be well!!!

Don't have any survival tips as I haven't worked out how to solve this myself! But didn't want you to go unanswered, and wanted to let you know that you're not alone.

ENormaSnob · 01/03/2012 09:21

Have you seen your gp?

Sounds like you need to tbh.

EauDeLaPoisson · 01/03/2012 09:22

Sounds obvious but have you been to the docs? It can be something easily correctable such as a deficiency in certain vitamins/minerals/iron to something more complex like thyroid problems. Either way your doc may be able to advise you.

dandycandyjellybean · 01/03/2012 09:23

Lilacwaltz, I am seriously considering the flu jab, as I am offered one every year as a 'carer', guess they don't want me to be so ill i can't look after dh! Think I will bite the bullet and give it a go this year.

Maybe you should try it too, OP?

RightTitNoMore · 01/03/2012 09:32

Thread hijack alert. Apologies to OP.

LilacWaltz , your theory intrigues me! I admittedly don't lead the healthiest of lifestyles (smoker) and most years I lurch from one horrible cold to another - year round. In early October 2011 I had my first ever flu jab. In November I was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a mastectomy. I began my course of chemotherapy in January so have since spent at least of my time being fairly seriously immunocomprimised. Yet, for the first time in at least 30 years, I have not had even a hint of a sniffle since I had the flu jab. This includes the week DH was off work with a seriously bad cold (definitely NOT manflu). I've sat in GP / hospital waiting rooms full of sneezing / sniffling people and come away uninfected.

The ONLY thing (well other than the breast cancer obviously) that has changed is that flu jab in October. I keep telling myself that a targeted immunisation couldn't possibly have this wider ranging effect, but now your post makes me wonder.

Apologies again, OP.

BerryMojito · 01/03/2012 09:42

I have a flu jab every year and am currently fighting a bad chest infection/borderline pneumonia - exception that proves the rule perhaps?

Original poster

Mishy1234 · 01/03/2012 09:46

Thanks for the replies, I'm sorry I sound like such a moaning git. I know other people have much more on their plates and just get on with it.

I have been to the GP recently for another issue and all my bloods came back fine (including thyroid).

I will definitely think of getting the flu jab next round though. I'm not in a risk group, but can you get it by paying for it?

OP posts:

LilacWaltz · 01/03/2012 09:46

righttitnomore what a name!! This flu jab thingy I had was 20 years ago!!! And seriously, I get nothing. Ever! How odd that you have had that experience with your cancer. Hope your health continues to improve!

Earthymama · 01/03/2012 09:46

I work with small children and spend all of the winter months in a fog of feeling dreadful too.
I have had a virus for 5 weeks and I felt like ending it all the other day so you have my sympathy.
I have chronic sinusitis and psioritic arthritis, I just think my body has no immunity to anything.
Please someone come up with a cure or a way of dealing with this

Earthymama · 01/03/2012 09:47

I will definately try the flu jab, can I have it today?

LilacWaltz · 01/03/2012 09:49

My other theory is that I'm a lone parent to 5, so it's in the rules, I'm not allowed to get sick. Leave your husbands everyone!

GeorgiaMay · 01/03/2012 09:55

OP that winter when my eldest 2 dcs were the ages yours are now was the worst ever for getting one bug after another. We had just moved overseas and I think they just picked up everything then passed it all onto me. I felt like we would never be healthy again. Everything improved the next summer and now we are rarely ill - I guess their immume systems get stronger as they get older and as a result of catching everything when they are younger. I hope this will be the case for you too!

QuickLookBusy · 01/03/2012 09:59

I had the flu jab 5 years running and I still get every cold going so it won't solve everything, but it will stop you getting the flu.

Yes you can pay for it Mishy. You can go to boots/superdrug and have it done.

I think lots of people go through phases like this. Just hang in there Mishy, I'm sure there will be less germs around now spring is coming.

RightTitNoMore · 01/03/2012 10:04

Mishy , you are NOT a moaning git! There is nothing worse than constantly feeling like crap. I got my flu jab at Sainsburys pharmacy and it cost £8 (usually £10 I think but they were doing a promotion!).

Earthymama , I'm not sure if the jabs are still available this year as it's reaching the end of the flu season. Ring your GP and ask.

LilacWaltz , yes, I've found it most odd. NOT that I'm complaining! Thanks for you good wishes. As to the NN, it just seemed to sum up the situation rather aptly.

CrunchyFrog · 01/03/2012 10:04

I have found that since losing weight I haven't been properly ill once. One slight cold.

I eat pretty well, but I smoke and drink a fair bit.

I don't know if there's any rhyme or reason to it - the kids have been ill the normal amount (colds, 'flu, pneumonia, vomiting bug) and I just haven't had any of them! In previous years I have had to beg family to come and take the kids as I haven't been able to move. Very strange.

Original poster

Mishy1234 · 01/03/2012 10:16

OK, I think the flu jab would be money well spent if it works! I'm going to look into it today.

CrunchyFrog - that's interesting about the weight thing. I DO need to lose some weight (prob about 2-2.5 st), so that could be contributing.

I'm also still bf DS2 and tbh it does sometimes feel as if he's sucking my life force out! If he's ill then I'm likely to be as well soon after and when he's not up to scratch he's a frequent nurser. Not what you want if you're feeling grotty.

Anyway, thanks so much everyone for your sympathy. It really has made me feel a lot brighter about things and now the boys have gone off with their Grandparents I'm off to bed for a bit.

OP posts:

BsshBossh · 01/03/2012 10:24

Since my DD started pre-school she's brought home every cold and tummy bug going then passed it onto me. Prior to this I never got ill and was very smug about my strong constitution. More fool me. Colleagues at work who have children say to expect this for another year or two until DD builds up immunity. Ho hum!

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