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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

For you to tell me your secret for warding off colds/flu illnesses etc ??

78 replies

getmesomewater · 30/12/2022 22:47

For months I get one a cold or chest infecthon am well for a week then bam puck up something else ! I must have a awful immune system!! Apart from the norm diet, exercise & everyday hygiene... what do you do to ward off being ill? ?

OP posts:
DilemmaDelilah · 31/12/2022 08:48

Wear a mask. Wash your hands. I have had two 'catching ' illnesses since Covid. One was gastric flu caught from a boat trip where the washint facilities weren't great. Now laryngitis caught from my granchildren. No other coughs or colds etc. in 2 years.

Oblomov22 · 31/12/2022 09:13

I disagree with most of the below. I find people overzealous. I agree with BrassMarbles - think it's just luck.

I don't even wash my hands that often, and dislike this new covid 'thing' of constant handwashing. It feels ott. I don't de-sanitise either, don't even have a spray, don't spray home door handles. I didn't wipe my trolley much during covid either. I didn't detol my shopping deliveries. I tried not to use hand gel, only using it when the hospital / place I was going insisted. I only wore a mask when I had to.

I still have a 5 second rule if food falls on the floor, I'd pick up a roast potato or a bit of my sandwich and pop it back in my mouth.

No sniffles for possibly 6+ years.

At the first sign of a sore throat I might gargle with Salt water, if I remember. I don't do much more than that.

AutumnScream · 31/12/2022 09:29

Ginger and lemon tea every day. Swear by it and a multivitamin.

Moonlightsonatas · 31/12/2022 09:31

porpy · 30/12/2022 23:22

I think my issue is having young kids, they are the source of every cold/flu/covid in our household each time.

This, I get everything going now despite taking all of the vitamin supplements going. If I didn’t have toddlers I’m sure I wouldn’t be sick nearly as often.

Thisbastardcomputer · 31/12/2022 09:31

Joshitai · 30/12/2022 23:22

The #1 way to prevent catching or passing on cold/flu viruses is frequent hand-washing. Wash hands after the toilet, before and after preparing food, after touching a pet, before eating, and as soon as you get home from a public place. You must wash hands for twenty seconds using soap and running water.

I seriously agree with hand washing. I avoided hand washing due to eczema on my hands, I got cold and flu regularly. Started regularly hand washing and got eczema cream to apply, rarely get cold now.

AutumnScream · 31/12/2022 09:31

Avoiding people does not work. It prolongs exposure and actually makes you much sicker in the long run when you eventually do catch what should be a mild illness.

Squeezita · 31/12/2022 09:34

AutumnScream · 31/12/2022 09:29

Ginger and lemon tea every day. Swear by it and a multivitamin.

Do you mean when you have a cold? Or every day regardless? I love ginger

Wonderwoman333 · 31/12/2022 09:36

Another vote here for first defence spray, it is fab at stopping colds, I use it at the first hint of a cold/sore throat and so far they haven't developed into anything.

DinosApple · 31/12/2022 09:48

DH worked in a pretty open to the elements garage for 40 years and is hardly ever ill.
I work in a school so catch everything.
One DC seems to take after DH and is rarely ill, the other catches quite a bit.

Hadjab · 31/12/2022 09:56

I appear to have a relatively strong immune system. When the kids were little, I’d always be the last to get anything, if at all. I’ve managed to dodge covid, despite being in close quarters with my kids, mum, siblings and close friends when they all had it, definitely not asymptomatic, tested consistently with all of them (PCR tests). That said, I’ve had shingles and pleurisy twice.

hookiewookie29 · 31/12/2022 10:27

I've worked with children since I was 17,and I think my immune system is made of titanium!
I'm a childminder and have never caught anything off the children I care for. They've all had Covid, I haven't. They have permanent coughs and colds this time of year,I don't catch them, despite the littlies actuallycoughing and sneezing in my face. Sickness and diarrhoea......never had it.....same with conjunctivitis, impetigo, slapped cheek.....
My hubby has had a vile virus over Christmas, so has my daughter and her boyfriend. I haven't caught it.
In fact, I've been a childminder for 22 years and I've never had a day off sick.

blueflagflyhigh · 31/12/2022 10:40

Is it not just luck.

My diet is awful, I don't exercise but I only drink alcohol rarely. My whole family this year seemed to have missed all these awful illnesses and bugs going around.

I'm just waiting on the kids getting ill (3&5) but so far 🤞🏻 we've all been fine!

This time last year we all had a really bad cold for weeks (wasn't covid).

Rowthe · 31/12/2022 10:43

Sit in a room where multiple different people cough on you daily.

After a few years you'll have a super immune system which means it will ward off any viral illness.

Come jobs where you can do this- teacher, healthcare. Childminder

TooManyEggsInTheBasket · 31/12/2022 10:43

I also think it's about attitude. Don't give into the cold/ cough/ whatever. Carry on as normal as much as possible. We all have friends who get a cold and tell everyone, post on FB about how ill they are etc.

If you get on with life and ignore the cold, your body will adjust. Within reason of course.

I realise this is entirely unscientific!

catfunk · 31/12/2022 10:57

As well as the obvious hand hygiene I'd work on your gut microbiome. Increasing evidence linking that to immune system. Start by adding as much variety of veg and seeds into your diet and add probiotic foods.

AutumnScream · 31/12/2022 11:05

Squeezita · 31/12/2022 09:34

Do you mean when you have a cold? Or every day regardless? I love ginger

Show quote history

Every day to boost immune system

Quisquam · 31/12/2022 11:07

If you get on with life and ignore the cold, your body will adjust. Within reason of course.

You might be lucky with your genes! I’m not - there’s a genetic disease running in my family, and one of its effects is sinusitis. I have had a lifetime of tonsillitis, ear infections, sinus infections, chest infections, you name it, after colds! It’s extremely annoying for instance to go deaf in one ear, with excruciating pain, as the GP says it’s some kind of Eustachian tube disorder for 3 months; or to spend 6 weeks lying on the settee, because I can’t breathe with a chest infection. It’s a lifetime of feeling under the weather!

jimmyhill · 31/12/2022 11:13

LlynTegid · 31/12/2022 07:44

Never going outside even to the dustbins with wet hair.
Having a regular sauna, usually around once a week.

This thread is insane

Joshitai · 31/12/2022 11:21

catfunk · 31/12/2022 10:57

As well as the obvious hand hygiene I'd work on your gut microbiome. Increasing evidence linking that to immune system. Start by adding as much variety of veg and seeds into your diet and add probiotic foods.

This is a good point. Good hygiene and good diet/gut health go hand in hand.

Oldraver · 31/12/2022 11:29

Like others the usual stuff, Vit D sometimes C, Echinacea routinely but do a mega dose if I've been around sniffly people

Fit years I drank green tea, changed to red but haven't kept it up recently

Parky04 · 31/12/2022 11:31

I don't do anything out of the ordinary. I haven't been ill for over 10 years. Just 1 GP visit in 35 years. Just lucky I guess!

Lessstressedhemum · 31/12/2022 11:33

Good hand hygiene, plenty of fresh air, good sleep routine. Vit C, Vit D, Zinc. At first signs of a cold etc. echinacea, hot honey, lemon and ginger drink and soup made with loads of garlic and chilli.

ButterflyOil · 31/12/2022 11:40

Normally not a lot, but i’ve had quite a serious infection in the last month. Was just recovering from that and happened to see someone on Mumsnet recommended sambucol at the first sign of a cold and general immune system. I got some with the thought maybe that can help me with my recovery and a couple of days later noticed I was starting up with a cold. My son and boyfriend had both had it and were both actually quite unwell with it, boyfriend it went to his chest and he needed antibiotics.

Anyhow, dutifully started taking this Sambucol stuff and the cold only got to snotty nose and sneezing stage. After another day it was totally gone. So am now convinced that stuff is a magic potion 😉.

Seriously though, maybe it was the Sambucol - it’s elderberry and vitamin c with zinc which are all supposed to be good for warding off colds. Or maybe I just got a turn of luck. Don’t think it can hurt though to try!

HelenHywater · 31/12/2022 11:41

soberfabulous · 31/12/2022 08:14

Same here along with NAC, it's a wonder supplement. I am never ill.

I'm vegetarian, don't drink and exercise 4/5 times a week. Meditate and practice mindfulness. The mind body connection is so important. This all helps.

Show quote history

What's NAC @soberfabulous ?

silverclock222 · 31/12/2022 11:41

Gene pool and cleanliness. Sister and I autoimmune, never get colds/flu/covid (as yet). One hides away the other doesn't.