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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think illnesses have been utterly awful this year

97 replies

lipikar · 05/04/2023 13:07

We've been ill most fortnights since the beginning of November.

What the fuck is going on? I'm so fed up.

Is it the 5 year old starting school? Or something else. He's actually been the least ill of us 4.

I'm drained.

OP posts:
C1239 · 08/04/2023 17:34

@Inkanta what symptoms do you find you keep getting?

Inkanta · 08/04/2023 17:45

In November (a year after having Covid) I had a chest infection that couldnt shake off for a month. Since that I got bad sinusitis a couple of times which never had before and also two infected teeth. Needed antibiotics several times. Energy comes and goes. I can suddenly feel energetic and not tired at all but I will suddenly crash exhausted. Never been like this before. Okay at the moment - pacing myself.

Yorkshirelass123 · 08/04/2023 17:47

UnmentionedElephantDildo · 05/04/2023 14:51

'What the fuck is going on' is covid.

Many viruses can dampen the immune system for a while after the acute illness. Covid is remarkably good at this, with dysregulation lasting up to 8 months (still uncertain, as more time passes, the period it is demonstrated to last gets longer)

So with covid in free circulation, with 3-5 peaks a year (and still pretty high background levels between peaks) there are going to be a lot of people getting it twice a year or more. Which means the immune system might not fully restore, thus leading to catching more illnesses and each illness being that bit worse.

Best thing to do is to step off the cycle of repeated covid infections (in addition, who wants to keep putting themselves at risk of long covid). So press for better ventilation (open windows, air filtration) and wear a mask when in crowded indoors spaces.

Everyone is in denial. I don’t know how sick they and their families have to be before they realise this is not normal, the immune system is not a muscle, that it’s COVID damaging their immune system. Demand HEPA filtration and better ventilation.

C1239 · 08/04/2023 17:49

How are we meant to strengthen our immune system again after possible damage from covid?

Inkanta · 08/04/2023 17:50

Two eye infections as well. Weird.

Blessedbea · 08/04/2023 17:51

How’s your diet do you take a lot of vits? I disagree about sickness, I haven’t been sick in months.

Yorkshirelass123 · 08/04/2023 17:54

Hopefully it will recover with time (they don’t know). Avoid repeat COVID infections and infections from other virus to give your body the best chance. Mask, ventilate and install HEPA filtration to prevent airborne viruses.

RenegadeMrs · 08/04/2023 17:55

Yes, similar here. We alll had a sickness bug at the end of Oct, and then have had two more bugs since, a period of severe asthma in my 5 y.o. that took over 6 weeks to get under control and several never ending colds. It really felt relentless from Nov- Feb and both my kids are lighter at the end of winter as their appetites have been affected. Didn't help that March was still pretty wintery too.

RafaistheKingofClay · 08/04/2023 17:55

Yorkshirelass123 · 08/04/2023 17:47

Everyone is in denial. I don’t know how sick they and their families have to be before they realise this is not normal, the immune system is not a muscle, that it’s COVID damaging their immune system. Demand HEPA filtration and better ventilation.

Show quote history

Nobody’s going to demand HEPA filtration while the government are lying about covid being over. Even when they see other countries doing the same.

blitzen · 08/04/2023 17:56

I'm with you, OP. It has just been a hamster wheel of illnesses and misery for me since December. I'm also pregnant so maybe I'm a bit more vulnerable than usual but even just a cold takes me out for a fortnight or more at the mo. I had covid a year ago and was not as ill as I feel now, almost three weeks of this not-covid cough and cold. Had the flu jab and 4th covid jab in November. Just need a break to be honest!

Inkanta · 08/04/2023 17:57

Yes I definitely think vitamins iron and probiotics are a good idea right now.

SparkyBlue · 08/04/2023 20:35

lipikar · 05/04/2023 14:11

The baby is missing more nursery than not. I may as well take 500 pounds out of the bank each month and set fire to it with a lighter.

I went through that phase OP it was soul destroying. I managed well with the newborn stage and luckily never had pnd or anything like that but my god the first winter after I went back to work really messed with my head. I remember bawling one morning driving to work as I had an inkling something was brewing with DD yet again. And we were lucky DH was able to get away from work for emergency childcare but it was a horrible stressful time.
Also yes this winter has also been horrific. DC3 currently cannot shake an absolutely awful cough right now. It's been never ending illness since Christmas. I had a bout of flu myself recently that absolutely wiped me out.

stargirl1701 · 08/04/2023 20:46

Yes. Absence through illness is higher this year than most previous years at my school. My DC have been poorly every single week since Oct. DH and I have been consistently ill but not quite as much as DC.

blue12345 · 08/04/2023 21:12

My completely anecdotal opinion is that it has to be lockdown, masks and/or vaccine related. Our family mixed with other family members as much as we could throughout lockdowns, ensured kids still went into shops and were exposed to germs. None of us were vaccinated. Every other family around us has been sick all winter. Many families like the OP, with back-to-back illnesses. Lots of people telling me about their 3rd/4th/5th terrible Covid infection, lasting weeks/months. We have escaped everything. No flu/vomiting bugs/antibiotics. Only realised we had Covid after testing in 2021. No one was remotely sick when we had Covid either. Also, our kids are vaccinated for everything else, we're not 'anti-vax' , just decided not to get the Covid vaccines.

Londongal123 · 08/04/2023 21:16

Must be the odd one out - We haven't any sickness in our house this year but we don't have young children either. Just teenagers and nobody has been sick for 2 years.

We do take a lot of vitamins, exercise, and eat healthy. Working from home helps but DCs are at school so not sure why they haven't been bringing anything home. I've been wondering actually - usually there's at least a cold or two per year. No stomach bugs in our home for 8 years. (knock on wood)

UnmentionedElephantDildo · 08/04/2023 21:18

C1239 · 08/04/2023 17:49

How are we meant to strengthen our immune system again after possible damage from covid?

You can't really.

Other than by stepping off the merry-go-round of repeat covid infections, and giving your body time

We do need to demand better air quality. And look at whether is is right to end the covid reports - because that's the sort of info that can make a huge difference to individual's choices (some will crack on regardless, others might decide to amend plans if they know cases are rising yet again). And hospitals need to be safe. What's the point in fretting about access to cancer care if the treatments cannot be delivered safely? I know some people hate them, but masks are needed in clinical settings.

It's not like a cold - it's killing about 100 people a week in Britain (more at the peak of waves). Excess deaths are up globally, as is long covid (and impact of sickness absence on the workforce and the economy) and also, as are other infectious diseases in a way that is consistent with covid's immune dysregulation impact.

LittleMG · 08/04/2023 21:19

me and DH are on our 3rd hospital stay in 6 months with our 2 kids. We are all ill so so often. My poor tiny DS is on his second night on the children’s ward on oxygen and big one is at home coughing terribly. YANNNNBU

blueshoes · 08/04/2023 21:23

blue12345 · 08/04/2023 21:12

My completely anecdotal opinion is that it has to be lockdown, masks and/or vaccine related. Our family mixed with other family members as much as we could throughout lockdowns, ensured kids still went into shops and were exposed to germs. None of us were vaccinated. Every other family around us has been sick all winter. Many families like the OP, with back-to-back illnesses. Lots of people telling me about their 3rd/4th/5th terrible Covid infection, lasting weeks/months. We have escaped everything. No flu/vomiting bugs/antibiotics. Only realised we had Covid after testing in 2021. No one was remotely sick when we had Covid either. Also, our kids are vaccinated for everything else, we're not 'anti-vax' , just decided not to get the Covid vaccines.

Good for you and your family. Completely anecdotal believable of course. Long may your family never ever fall ill, covid or not. Just amazing.

blue12345 · 08/04/2023 21:29

I'm not sure I follow? Are you saying that I'm lying about us not being ill?
I put anecdotal in my post for a reason. I'm simply relating what I've seen this winter. That everyone has been so ill. I've also never seen anything like the amount of people hospitalised with ordinary illnesses as this past 6 months. But in my world, there is a correlation between the people who were most cautious about Covid, and the ones who are now constantly ill.

blueshoes · 08/04/2023 21:58

blue12345 · 08/04/2023 21:29

I'm not sure I follow? Are you saying that I'm lying about us not being ill?
I put anecdotal in my post for a reason. I'm simply relating what I've seen this winter. That everyone has been so ill. I've also never seen anything like the amount of people hospitalised with ordinary illnesses as this past 6 months. But in my world, there is a correlation between the people who were most cautious about Covid, and the ones who are now constantly ill.

Hoookay, if you say so. I don't believe that your family has never been ill since 2020. No I don't. And to link it to the fact that you have all not been vaccinated Hmm. Only you know if you are telling the truth or shall I say your perception is skewed or the most generous I can be is your family live in a vaccuum.

My family has the usual amount of sickness before, during and after covid. And we are pretty strong immunologically whilst others around us fall like flies. Sure, it must be because we chose to be vaccinated.

JamSandle · 08/04/2023 21:59

lipikar · 05/04/2023 13:11

If mumsnet ran on unique thread subjects the whole place would have died out years ago.

Absolutely true!

NotHangingAround · 08/04/2023 22:10

OP, yes. I hadn't had so much as a cold for about three years. Even Covid was just a bit rough for a couple of days. And then this year I seem to have been ill non stop since November. Just casually chatting with DH I realised we'd missed one party because we were ill and then a week later had to come home early from somewhere else because we were ill and then felt too weak to do a planned hike a fortnight after that, and then ill again a week later. Having hayfever on top doesn't help either!

I haven't felt this run down since I had Post Viral fatigue after serious flu about 10 years ago. The viruses around this year are MEAN.

MajesticWhine · 08/04/2023 22:16

We've had a much worse year than normal for colds and flu. So yeah, YANBU.

blue12345 · 08/04/2023 22:25

blueshoes · 08/04/2023 21:58

Hoookay, if you say so. I don't believe that your family has never been ill since 2020. No I don't. And to link it to the fact that you have all not been vaccinated Hmm. Only you know if you are telling the truth or shall I say your perception is skewed or the most generous I can be is your family live in a vaccuum.

My family has the usual amount of sickness before, during and after covid. And we are pretty strong immunologically whilst others around us fall like flies. Sure, it must be because we chose to be vaccinated.

Show quote history

You obviously don't have to believe me.
We were told that it was incredibly dangerous not to get vaccinated. I do think it's helpful for people to see that we're still alive! Plus, still very healthy!

bitcharming · 08/04/2023 22:33

my DH never gets ill, he's been ill only twice since I've known him and one of those was food poisoning. He never, ever takes paracetamol, he prides himself on never getting ill. He's fit and healthy and eats well.
But this year. goodness, it's been really bad. The kids have been off ill, dh has been really poorly for weeks.
I've been fine (although I usually come down with whatever the kids bring back).
I'm certain dh had covid as he lost his sense of taste and smell and I've never known that before covid. but then I think maybe I'm more aware of illness after covid. I never gave it much thought before.