I've just come back from a long weekend. Pubs were mobbed and no social distancing

[perfectasalways]

I was fine the first day I came back and then came down with a sickness bug. Do you think that as the rules are relaxed we are going to start catching all the coughs, colds and bugs that we haven't had for at least 18 months? Just a thought as I haven't had a sickness bug for years. Definitely not food poisoning as DH had same as me or we tried each other's meals.

Yep.

First weekend out without a mask and I went down with a big too- mask is back on!

Yup - so many people we know are coming down with colds.

You may get covid too . My kids brought it home from the school . There’s a massive surge in cases if you look at yougov dashboard in the counties hugging the a5 My little rural town rate is over 1k per 100. It’s all being passed to the parents now . Double jabbed feel like poo but slowly recovering . Kids were more or less right as rain day 2 .

I’ve been out without my mask and been fine; life has to go on

@MrsPelligrinoPetrichor

First weekend out without a mask and I went down with a big too- mask is back on!

Will you keep it on forever now? Because sooner or later you will be exposed to one virus or another.. is putting it off going to help or hinder your immune system? Like when children start nursery or school and come down with everything going as they adjust.

I had the first illness I had in a while when I went to London the other month, am I bothered by it, not really, am I still wearing a mask, no.

I'm not bothered, over the moon that the vaccines are working.

I've recently had an awful cold (not Covid), I'd forgotten just how miserable they are.

The thing is that little bugs and colds are miserable but for healthy people they're probably good for the immune system - avoiding them may not be a good thing. This is probably particularly true for children - there are credible theories linking an underutilized immune system to allergies, autoimmune diseases and even childhood leukemia - but for a healthy adult avoiding all disease might also do more harm than good.

Out of interest, where did you go Op?

I’ve been to some places where it feels very restricted still and then some that feel like pre covid times.

It's fairly expected that our immune systems need a bit of a reboot. I noticed it last year that whenever I had extended (permitted) contact, I'd come away feeling a bit rough. And I always got "conference flu" from running big events that got hundreds of people together from different places. Contrary to the belief of some, fresher's flu is in part due to people from lots of different places coming together, not just hangovers.

But I don't want my immune system to be a prima donna, so I know I need to just keep on being exposed.

User17273637373 went to Stirling. We still have to wear masks in shops and if going to a bar to order but not to sit down. The pubs and restaurants were rammed and you can happily sit and eat and drink all night without your mask. I think it would be best to give the masks a rest now. They could end up doing more harm than good. I'm absolutely fine now but don't want to feel like that again.

Currently on week 2 of a cold (negative covid tests) and yes it's crap but i have to remind myself i haven't had one since Feb20 and if catching the odd cold is what it means to be free again i'll take it. I've been having a great few weeks seeing friends, taking my daughter to birthday parties and clubs etc.
My immune system could do with doing some work after being in lockdowns

Rugsofhonour I wouldn't normally pick up a sickness bug though. I just think we have almost been too clean over the past 18 months and our immune symptoms have been supressed somewhat. Just hope I don't get the flu - will get the injection as soon as offered. The last time I had that was horrendous.

I think possibly the reason there are more sickness bugs around right now too is because people are relying on hand sanitizer (does not kill norovirus - main cause of sickness bugs in adults) and touching their faces and mouths more faffing around with masks.

I’m keeping my hands clean with soap and water and have pretty much ditched the mask now, unless I’m in a very crowded place. I don’t think we can do much else!

How lovely for you OP, a bit of normality after 18 months of weirdness.

Yeah I was saying to DH the other day, one thing I did not miss from lockdown was the horrible cycle of rank colds and sniffles.

Yup I've got a cold. My teen has had a cold now for 2-3 weeks. I've finally caught it from him. I heard that the cold is the same as every year but that as we've been 'isolating' on and off our bodies aren't fighting the colds as well

Hot toddy and bed for me. First cold since autumn 2019!

@Hardbackwriter

The thing is that little bugs and colds are miserable but for healthy people they're probably good for the immune system - avoiding them may not be a good thing. This is probably particularly true for children - there are credible theories linking an underutilized immune system to allergies, autoimmune diseases and even childhood leukemia - but for a healthy adult avoiding all disease might also do more harm than good.

i thought leukaemia had a greater/more significant link to childhood infection with the Epstein-Barr virus?