Am I normal?

[isitnormalorabnormal]

was talking to a friend and somehow ended up on this topic and she was horrified and said it wasn’t normal. Just thought I’d ask on her for perspective as if assumed it was!

I’ve had lots of infections recently. Since the start of 2021 I’ve had around 15-20 (maybe more, im too tired to count properly!) different antibiotic prescriptions. It’s for different things- tooth abscesses/infections, skin infections, ear infections, sinusitis, uti infections, BV. I’ve also had various fungal infections some of which required strong treatment with fungal tablets. I’m usually either coming down with an infection, actively infected with something or recovering from an infection. it’s very rare im totally fine tbh.

nobody has ever flagged the high amount of prescriptions but my friend was horrified and said it’s much more than she’s ever had in her lifetime. The GPS at my practice don’t hand out antibiotics like sweets either- they prefer to watch and wait where possible but each infection has become bad enough that it absolutely required antibiotics or fungal tablets.

is this normal or should I be slightly worried? My hygiene is good, I never rewear clothes or towels, im very fussy about my teeth and my dentist said he couldn’t understand how I ended up with infections as my teeth were completely fine hygiene wise. I’ve had multiple FBC and my immune system is normal , for some reason bugs just seem to love me🤢 Interestingly I rarely seem to come down with viral infections, I seem to be more prone to bacteria and fungal.

is this normal?! Also slightly concerned that the doctors will consider me a frequent flyer like my friend said they will!

Normal infections. But that is a massive number you have had. More than a couple a year isn't normal. Maybe you should look into your health to be better for you

I would flag this up with GP just in case. They are obviously aware but may not have joined up the dots that this has been a pattern for two years and is ongoing

As the PP said, more than about 2 lots of antibiotic courses (at most) a year is unusual.

Maybe look at your gut flora and eat a wider variety of probiotics? (Clutching at straws here)

I would ask to get your bloods done.

My GP did this due to constant infections.

3 months of antibiotics to clear all.

VitB12 injections ongoing and a big dose of vitD for 3 months.

My immune system had got low constantly trying to fight infections!

You're normal in my world (which could be a worry in itself!)

I haven’t had antibiotics for 20 years, so that’s my normal.

That's certainly where I'd want to be as well because antibiotics kill more than just the bad bugs. I've had two lots this year (pneumonia and a chest infection) and thought that was a lot.

I think some people will get more infections than others.

My normal, isn’t your normal. I am no expert, but I think the amount of infections you have seems to be high. You are constantly, in an infection cycle. I don’t think that’s common at all.

I think I have had anti biotics about 3 times in my 40 years.

That's one every, what, six to eight weeks?

I haven't had antibiotics for about five years, and I was in my twenties before I had my first course. I think I have had three or four lots in my fifty years.

I would be a bit concerned about that too.

I've had about 10 lots of antibiotics in my whole life, so it seems quite extreme to me. Most infections get better on their own, you might want to check with the GP about why yours don't.

I'm the same. Antibiotics every six weeks or so.

This 100% needs to be flagged, quite shocked nobody has spotted this when prescribing more to you. You need your blood work done. I've been suffering recurrent infections lately but have found out it's folate deficiency and have been prescribed folic acid as well as some diet advice (I eat well anyway)

Unless you have any health anxiety and/or ae prone to exaggeration to your GP I’d assume you’ve just been unlucky.

I haven’t had a course of antibiotics in over a decade. My sister has had 3 in the last year. Sometimes you just have a run of weird body shit! I mean, hopefully your GP wouldn’t prescribe this stuff if you didn’t need it. With that many prescriptions one would hope they’d be careful to only give you what is really necessary.

This is a really good point too though, didn’t occur to me when I posted. OP you should ask for what @lucea87 suggests here.

I haven’t had 15-20 infections in my life. I don’t think I have been on antibiotics more than twice, if that to be honest, I am just assuming I maybe had some in childhood that I don’t remember. I think this is an extraordinarily level of infections, I don’t want to say you should be worried though, I would say I think you should be at least curious enough to ask a doctor about it.

Not normal here either, had ABs about twice in 10 years for tonsillitis.
DH had a dose this year and before that at least pre Covid.
Can't remember the last time either of my children needed it either but again at least pre Covid.

I'm 55 and the last time I had antibiotics was when I left hospital with an infection 21 years ago after having DD. But a colleague I work with always seems to be on a course of antibiotics or at the doctors. Do you think you may be too quick to run to the doctors rather than let your body's defences do the work?

next time you are getting a prescription for antibiotics, then ask the doctor yourself what is causing so many infections.

Antibiotics once every 20 years or so in my life

Antibiotics should not even be an annual thing, on average

Blimey that sounds horrendous I really feel for you. I would be down the doctors demanding tests.
For reference I’ve never had antibiotics in my life and I’m in my 60’s.

Have you been tested for diabetes?
This number of infections is a red flag for it. I last had antibiotics 9 years ago BTW.

I've had antibiotics maybe 3 times in 36 years.

I would def ask GP.
The fungal infections in particular are unusual.

Have you had covid? That's had some strange after effects.

If also look at general lifestyle. Do you feel well between infections? What are your stress levels like? Diet? Exercise?

I went through similar as a young adult, around age 20 lasted a year or so but was mostly gynae things like repeated thrush, BV etc. Cleared up by itself in time.

And now at 33 I’m battered due to nursery bugs from DS 9 months, it is way worse this time CONSTANT viruses, bugs etc.

Awaiting a colonoscopy to check a few things but bloods normal range etc.

I will only have anti-biotics where absolutely necessary, so I’ve had 2 lots in a year. One for post c-section and one for Campylobacter

I use high dose Vit D and pro-biotics now regularly to try and help. Maybe this could help you a bit?

Its the pitts OP and I feel for you, agree with others though may be worth checking in with the GP to see what’s going on xx

Bloody hell OP, you must be permanently ill! How come you’ve never queried this? I’m shocked that your Dr hasn’t either. I have 2 procedures every year, I always get a UTI which I take antibiotics for. When I asked why the nurse said that my body just don’t like being messed with.

I recently saw a Dr with one thing & she picked up on something else. This led to me having bloods done, & now I’m on Folic Acid for 4 months. Must be a thing the see days.

What's your lifestyle like?

Bad diet, lack of exercise, smoking, drinking, stress, lack of sleep can all affect your immunity.

When I was an obese smoker I was always needing antibiotics, now I'm a lot healthier after totally changing my lifestyle I don't get poorly at all.

I get water infections, I would average about 8 a year. Gp put me on a low dose antibiotic to take. Yours is extremely high it's concerning gp hasn't flagged this. I would definitely go gp it could be the infection needs a stronger antibiotic to get rid.