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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to want my immune system to shape the fuck up?

23 replies

JontyDoggle37 · 26/06/2018 21:34

Every single cold i get results in antibiotics. Sinus infection, strep throat, double chest infection, you name it, my body is capable of it. I have mild asthma, which has got slightly worse in the last couple of years, but I have inhalers which I use whenever I need them. I eat a healthy diet, exercise, get fresh air. Marginally too stressed, and not quite enough sleep, but for gods sake, just one bloody cold that behaves like a cold and fucks off before it becomes a major infection!!! Anyway, I don’t really feel I’m being unreasonable, this is more to ask if anyone has good ideas for immune system boosting. Final thought - crap immune systems run in the family, my mum has Lupus. I have never been tested for it but don’t display any Lupus symptoms other than getting every infection known to man.
Second final thought: this is DH’s fault, he brought it back from his lads trip and gave it to me (I know, at least it’s only a cold there could have been far worse things he brought back, like souvenir country stereotype dolls or the clap). Argh cold hysteria setting in, i’ll Shut up now...

OP posts:
pilesup · 26/06/2018 21:37

You better shape up, cos I need a break....

I had a spell OP where I caught everything and it all went wrong. You have my sympathy. It is ducking depressing to not feel like you can catch a break with your health. How is your diet?

Cocolepew · 26/06/2018 21:37

Get tested for Lupus.
I had all those symptons for years before the 'proper' lupus symptons appeared.

halfwitpicker · 26/06/2018 21:38

Do you have kids?

I've been the same since DD started daycare.. Relentless illness.

mineofuselessinformation · 26/06/2018 21:43

Try taking a b vitamin supplement. I'm exposed to lots of bugs but rarely catch them.

TheVanguardSix · 26/06/2018 21:44

I have Lupus, as did my dad. Though mine is incomplete Lupus, so milder than dad’s.
You have all of my sympathy, OP. My immune system sucks. This month, I’ve had Norovirus, followed by flu, followed by bronchitis with good ol’ hay fever keeping them company the entire way. The carnival is non-stop. Send in the clowns.
I really get sick of people telling me I look wrecked... all year long. Sad

JustVent · 26/06/2018 21:49

How long has this been going on for?

My son has part of his immune system that doesn’t work, and regularly coughs and colds always result in infection for him too.

BagelGoesWalking · 26/06/2018 23:00

I have eczema/mild asthma, allergies, all that crap. Added on to that a sun allergy in the last couple of years so have to cover up in the sun as well now. Any kind of continuous health issue, whether one or a series of different ones, is just bloody depressing and kind of makes you give up a bit, as you feel nothing will end up helping.

I've been pondering one of two routes: Chuckling Goat kefir or Golden Paste. On the Turmeric User Group on FB, there are glowing reports about how much it helps with a myriad of health issues. I reckon that, even if they don't turn out to be the wonder cure (and it probably won't), they certainly can't hurt to try and can only improve one's health.

RightYesButNo · 27/06/2018 02:27

I would agree with @cocolepew who said to get tested (your GP might be able to order ANA and ELISA testing and then simply refer you to a rheumatologist if it’s positive, versus referring to a rheumatologist first and forcing you to wait). As @TheVanguardSix mentioned, she or he has an incomplete form of lupus. We now believe that lupus may be more like a spectrum, with some people who have “full-blown” systemic lupus, and some who have an “incomplete” form of the disease.

It is completely possible that @halfwitpicker is correct and it’s just every schoolyard illness invading your house and then you getting the worst of it due to piss poor luck, but after feeling so shit for so long and it sounds like you may meet risk factors for lupus (they are: having a family member who has it, being female, being between 15 and 45, and belonging to certain ethnic groups), it might be a good idea to test.

Also, @BagelGoesWalking, have you been tested for autoimmune diseases along with your allergies? Having all those together first of all sounds very hard to deal with, so I’m sorry! And also sounds like a possible malfunctioning immune system attacking the wrong things (just for example, lupus can cause photosensitivity and photosensitive rash which, without testing, could be viewed as a type of sun allergy, I’d think?). Apologies if you’ve already been tested!

JontyDoggle37 · 27/06/2018 05:59

@RightYesButNo I had no idea I met so many of the risk factors (Apart from being in the wrong ethnic group - my mum and I are both white British and it took a while forbthem to diagnose her because they assumed it couldn’t be because she was the ‘wrong’ ethnic group). Going to work from home again today and take my inhalers constantly as it feels like it’s heading for my chest. Think I will definitely see the doctors about a lupus test, thank you.

OP posts:
FinallyHere · 27/06/2018 06:37

It may not be easy, but if you could get more sleep and help to manage the stress, you would be helping to build your immune system. As it happens, I am a big fan of https://www.chucklinggoat.co.uk (as mentioned by PP) and find their story around how to build your body's defences very compelling.

It can read like another miracle cure but, indeed, the body's own immune system is amazing. When exposed to the cold virus, different people will exhibit different responses, all down to how powerful their immune system currently is. Hope you find what you need...

Stoveding · 27/06/2018 06:42

You say you get fresh air - do you do much walking out in the fresh air? Ie walks of around an hour’s length?
The rhythm of breathing gets gently stronger and this is fantastic for pumping everything around your body - lymph and blood, mucus from lungs etc.
Even when I have a cold I walk for an hour and by the end I’ve brought up the gunk and start to feel clearer.
Also, do you use public transport?

stopfuckingshoutingatme · 27/06/2018 06:45

I had a wierd month after antibiotics when I felt really low and ill

So yes get tested but consider the constant antibiotics and the toll they take ?
I didn’t realise but as they kill the bacteria they also kills your ability to fight things off
So it’s a vicious circle

I got a wierd yoghurt drink called kefir which they sell in polish stores and health food stores . Very strong pro biotic

In parallel worth researching anti biotucs and the tolll they take and some natural remedies ??

SureIusedtobetaller · 27/06/2018 06:47

Are you taking a steroid inhaler regularly? I had similar issues with chest/sinus after every cold. The asthma nurse said I needed a daily low dose and it really has helped. My colds are near normal now, without weeks of coughing up gunk and feeling crap.

CoteDAzur · 27/06/2018 07:22

"I didn’t realise but as they (antibiotics) kill the bacteria they also kills your ability to fight things off"

It's a good thing that you did not "realise" this because it's not true.

Schroedingerscatagain · 27/06/2018 08:25

I have the same problem as you, after decades of serious infections, M.E asthma etc they checked my immune system

It turned out I had a sub class deficiency which made me particularly vulnerable to certain types of infections and a couple of auto immune conditions too

It’s far more common than you think, with yoms condition you are highly likely to have a problem like this

Ask your gp for testing, I ended up having the hib vaccine for kids to raise my immunity and I’ve not had a chest infection since

mayhew · 27/06/2018 08:33

My immune system has been much better since I started on high dose vitamin D3. A deficiency impairs your ability to fight infection.

stopfuckingshoutingatme · 27/06/2018 17:08

Cote
Not according To MIT and Harvard
And other reputable sources

Who I pretty much trust !

SluttyButty · 27/06/2018 17:31

Definitely get a full bloods panel done including ANA (if that's positive then they'll do a DS anti DNA test), ANCA, IgA.

If your mum has lupus then you're predisposed to autoimmune diseases yourself. The ones I know of with sinus symptoms suspected by my rheumatologist are GPA and Vasculitis.

BagelGoesWalking · 27/06/2018 17:32

@RightYesButNo Thanks for that info. I've never been tested but have to go to the Dr's soon for my skin so will ask about it. Thank you.

specialsubject · 27/06/2018 17:43

see a doctor and demand some real tests. Dicking about with unprescribed supplements and scammy 'remedies' is a waste of time.

Plannergirl9 · 27/06/2018 18:06

My body and immune system is a bastard, I have lupus. I swear it's out to get me.

Best get tested for lupus as you may have it or one of the other associated conditions like it have.

PoppySeedRoll · 27/06/2018 18:07

I have been taking Immunace extra for several years after a long time of being sick very often. It’s helped me a lot.

JamPasty · 27/06/2018 18:17

When you say you take your inhalers, which ones and how often? When did you last have an asthma medication review?

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