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AIBU?

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Original poster

Re. Sickness bugs, hygiene etc.

30 replies

Rosesandstars · 07/11/2023 23:07

I have diagnosed OCD and wash my hands lots of times a day. The last time I had a sickness bug was in 2006. Some blood types are immune to certain viruses such as Norovirus (e.g. people with type B blood lack H1-antigen and are resistant to most stomach bugs!) but I have type O blood, which makes me very prone to bugs and used to catch sickness bugs a lot in childhood until my OCD took hold.

I have a theory that people who are naturally not prone to sickness bugs, notice that they rarely get sick so wash their hands less often and then think that the exposure to germs is helping their immune systems in some way and wonder whether this makes any sense?

So just wondering- how often do you wash your hands each day? How often do you get sickness bugs?

OP posts:
Coolhwip · 07/11/2023 23:12

I wash my hands with soap after going to the loo, before cooking, as soon as I get home from work/shops, and before lunch/dinner.

I get a cold every other winter but no stomach/vomiting bugs. I’ve had Covid at least twice.

Blood type A+

Ratfinkstinkypink · 07/11/2023 23:13

I wash my hands as and when I need to, blood group O, have worked all my life in paediatric health care or education and have had two stomach bugs in 40 years.

TheGreenGreenGrassOfHome · 07/11/2023 23:15

I haven’t been ill since before Covid, but it has sent my ocd into overdrive so I’m a hand washer/sanitiser. AB+

DM is ill all the time. I’ve seen her put stuff in the bin, touching the lid, wipe the kitchen cloth over the wooden chopping board and then make a sandwich -all without washing her hands. I think my way is best!

Bakedbeansandtoast · 07/11/2023 23:16

AB-. No stomach bugs since 2008. Absolutely OCD about washing hands.

APurpleSquirrel · 07/11/2023 23:16

I rarely get vomiting bugs, am type O. Normal levels of hygiene.
In the summer both DC got a noro-type bug that was doing the rounds at school, on consecutive weeks; but despite DH & I cleaning & caring for both equally neither of us came down with it.
Usually DH will catch them & he's type A.

mynameiscalypso · 07/11/2023 23:16

Interesting theory! I'm immunocompromised (CEV in Covid language) but I don't really wash my hands other than when I've been to the loo or when I'm cooking. I caught noro after my DS completely covered me in vomit one night but that's the only stomach bug I've had in 30 years.

Aphroditee · 07/11/2023 23:18

I have no idea what blood type I am. Should I?😂

I am really prone to bugs. I have had covid 4 times, get loads of coughs and colds. Had gastric flu as a child, and only just recovered recently from gastritis (which can be brought on by viruses).

I wash my hands frequently when cooking. After the toilet. After brushing my teeth (usually toothpaste gets everywhere with my electric toothbrush). Use hand sanitizer a lot during the day as I work in an office and touch a lot of stuff that other people touch.

secondfavouritesocks · 07/11/2023 23:20

There is no correlation between blood group and immunity

Bronzenettle · 07/11/2023 23:21

I’m type O. Fairly released about handwashing but have become more vigilant since covid. I used to catch a stomach bug every couple of years but touch wood have had a good run of about 10 years without one.

divinededacende · 07/11/2023 23:21

I rarely get sickness bugs but I hadn't given it much thought until I read your post. It doesn't impact my choices on hand-washing. I wash my hands after the bathroom or before applying skincare and anything else is as needed. I don't do it regularly without specific reason.

I wouldn't say the average person is coming down with sickness bugs enough to be particularly mindful of it and that general, personal hygiene standards are what dictates had washing. Either through habit or learned behaviour.

I tend to be more aware of things like colds/flus etc but mostly in the context of being around other people whonare visibly ill and making mw wonder whether ill catch it.

Octavia64 · 07/11/2023 23:22

Type B

I wash my hands after going to the loo and before starting cooking.

I have at least two auto immune diseases and catch a lot of bugs. I get regular colds which turn into chest infections and need antibiotics, and regular stomach bugs.

Sparrow7 · 07/11/2023 23:24

Type A. Pretty slack at washing my hands tbh. Haven't ever had a sickness bug as far as I can remember. My kids got norovirus when they were babies but I didn't catch it from them. I am also diagnosed OCD but not about germs.

LightSpeeds · 07/11/2023 23:25

I've had at least 3 sickness bugs, Covid twice and generally seem to feel ill any time I've mixed with people 😂

Blood type B.

I'm pretty good with washing my hands.

Whatintheworldgirl · 07/11/2023 23:26

Rosesandstars · 07/11/2023 23:07

I have diagnosed OCD and wash my hands lots of times a day. The last time I had a sickness bug was in 2006. Some blood types are immune to certain viruses such as Norovirus (e.g. people with type B blood lack H1-antigen and are resistant to most stomach bugs!) but I have type O blood, which makes me very prone to bugs and used to catch sickness bugs a lot in childhood until my OCD took hold.

I have a theory that people who are naturally not prone to sickness bugs, notice that they rarely get sick so wash their hands less often and then think that the exposure to germs is helping their immune systems in some way and wonder whether this makes any sense?

So just wondering- how often do you wash your hands each day? How often do you get sickness bugs?

I have emetophobia. So sickness bugs for me are genuinely worse then death (apologies if that offends anyone)
I myself can probably count on one hand how many times I've had the dreaded noro however I have contamination OCD and wash my hands anytime I touch anything that's been in public aswell as always before I eat or make a drink. I never eat with my hands either.

Your theory makes a lot of sense. My partner never ever gets ill and I have to continually remind him to wash his hands because he just isn't bothered. Even after touching raw chicken!

EmmaEmerald · 07/11/2023 23:27

I was always thorough about handwashing

After a truly awful bout of noro in 2010, even more so. I now ask people to wash their hands if they come into my flat after being on the Tube etc.

There was a period in Covid where people didn't think I was nuts, but now they are back to thinking I'm nuts.

noro lives on surfaces for days and days.

also emetophobic.

Totaly · 07/11/2023 23:29

It also depends on your work environment

Hospital and school staff - large places people are ill or arent ‘clean’ can build your immunity and bug resistance.

I smoke so wash hands more frequently than most people.

StarDolphins · 07/11/2023 23:31

I’m RH neg blood group. It’s been 30 years since I had a sickness bug (when I was a child).

I wash my hands before I eat anything, after going to the shop, after touching the outside bin & when I’ve been to the toilet!

ditalini · 07/11/2023 23:32

Type O, handwashing after loo and if sticky/dirty.

I almost never get gastric symptoms of anything, neither viral nor food. I'm plagued by my sinuses all winter and most of the spring instead.

Bigcat25 · 07/11/2023 23:39

A lot of illnesses ie, colds/covid are airborne. That's not to say illnesses can't be spread on surfaces too but hand washing doesn't prevent all exposure.

I was my hands very often, went almost two yrs without getting a bug before my son went to daycare and we stopped isolating. I then caught every cold, rsv, (COVID once) that he did. I noticed that after being out of daycare he would still get colds that he'd pick up at a class, however my husband and I have never got one since.

You must have a very good immune system. I noticed when I was working I'd pick up a cold that was going around work only if I was running very low on sleep. My co worker was also pretty gross with cold hygiene which didn't help.

Emma2803 · 07/11/2023 23:40

O+ hand wash after toilet and if touching raw meat when cooking. Definitely don't go overkill on the disinfection around the home.

We are rarely sick in this house, we've had 2 tummy bugs since my middle child went to pre-school 3 years ago (she is the sickliest one- prone to utis, croup and throat infections and she's the one who brought the tummy bug into the house) the other two might have only had one Abx each their whole lives (oldest had his first at 8, can't remember if the youngest had had one or not 🙈)
Colds are usually very mild. We've had Covid once each and the kids were asymptomatic.

gotomomo · 07/11/2023 23:44

I'm blood group a. I, to be completely honest, probably don't wash mine enough I admit. I very rarely am sick and can't remember my last stomach bug, definitely pre kids but even then I think it was food poisoning (on holiday). Not sure about natural immunity due to blood type but I know im pretty resilient

gotomomo · 07/11/2023 23:46

Should say my kids are adults so 25+ years ago

Original poster
Rosesandstars · 07/11/2023 23:47

Bigcat25 · 07/11/2023 23:39

A lot of illnesses ie, colds/covid are airborne. That's not to say illnesses can't be spread on surfaces too but hand washing doesn't prevent all exposure.

I was my hands very often, went almost two yrs without getting a bug before my son went to daycare and we stopped isolating. I then caught every cold, rsv, (COVID once) that he did. I noticed that after being out of daycare he would still get colds that he'd pick up at a class, however my husband and I have never got one since.

You must have a very good immune system. I noticed when I was working I'd pick up a cold that was going around work only if I was running very low on sleep. My co worker was also pretty gross with cold hygiene which didn't help.

Oh sorry, yes, this was just about sickness bugs (90% of which are caused by different strains of Norovirus), which are passed on hand-to-mouth and can be caught from surfaces. I know that fomite/surface transmission is less of a factor for some viruses! I do catch other viruses as I can't avoid people sneezing/coughing near me!

OP posts:
Cryingbutstilltrying · 07/11/2023 23:48

I’m O-
Handwashing after bathroom visits and handling raw meat, or if hands are dirty. Not very strict on it if I’m honest. I didn’t use hand sanitiser at all during the covid years as I hated the smell and feel of it on me. My kids hand hygiene is probably pretty poor tbh.

I’ve had noro once, in 2007. Never had covid. Rarely had a bad cold even, no flu, nothing exciting despite working in frontline healthcare. The kids haven’t ever had a stomach bug, covid, or antibiotics for anything. Now aged 11 and 14.
Guess we’re just filthy then.

LifeIsHardAlways · 08/11/2023 00:38

I imagine I would probably qualify for an OCD diagnosis. I’m obsessive about washing my hands and anyone else in the house has to follow my “rules” or I get very anxious.
I wash my hands dozens of times each day and if I’m out I use antibacterial and don’t touch my food. I don’t catch stomach bugs as a result.