To think my immune system is f*****

[Pollyputthepeleton]

Over the last couple of years I’ve been ill with colds, coughs, bronchitis, flu, sinusitis, viruses and more pretty much every 5-6 weeks. I’ve now lost my voice for the second time since Christmas, coughing, sinuses blocked etc. What’s going on? I eat healthily (pescatarian) exercise regularly (ran a marathon in December) try to look after myself but seem to get every cold the kids bring home but end up bedridden while they and my husband have a mild bout.
WIBU to try and get some tests (no idea what sort) to see why my immunity is so fucked and why I am literally constantly ill? I’m so fucking tired of being sick, feel guilty and have understandably lost all sympathy from family and friends .

I had long covid and was constantly sick until this winter. The differences: I got a flu shot for the first time in Sept, I wash my hands as soon as I walk through the door (home and work), and I started taking dental probiotics.

I was skeptical about the probiotics but a lot of reviews mentioned less sickness, so I'm guessing the additional good bacteria stops incoming germs. My gums have stopped bleeding and my teeth are naturally whiter, so the sickness prevention is a bonus!

I use NoriZite oral and nasal spray but twice a day. It's got some gel apparently that makes it stick better to catch the bugs. I take Vit D too but told to avoid Vit C as can damage kidneys. When I feel I'm coming down with something I take ECGC from green tea and Modified Citrus Pectin. These are supposed to stop bugs from multiplying in the body. I also use a CPC mouthwash like Colgate 3 X per day for a few weeks after feeling buggy.

So far nothing for nearly 12 months

I completely agree with this, covid-induced immune system damage. COVID can affect every organ in the body. Link here has links to various journals for further information. Just scroll down the page to get to the article titles.
https://www.panaccindex.info/p/what-sars-cov-2-does-to-the-body-548?utm_medium=email&r=1xhrp3

Do you think you could be coeliac? I am and have none of the digestive issues at all. When I have gluten my immune system dies and I’m exhausted. I developed it randomly in my 30s. Just a thought.

Where can you get these tests done please, NHS or private? I did a private cortisol one, I had to post it off to the USA & lymphocytes via GP. Cortisol was low, lymphocytes ok. Thank you

Do you have allergies? I used to get the most terrible sinusitis when my husband would just get a mild cold. My doctor said it was because my sinuses were constantly clogged from allergies and it made a perfect breeding ground for bacteria and viruses. I would lose my sense of smell for weeks, be in bed for a week etc. Since I figured out what was causing my allergy (many many tests) and treated it properly, I’ve hardly been sick since. Worth looking into if you can get testing done. In the end mine was a food additive allergy but it could really be anything (pollen, mould, dust mite etc).

Unfortunately, training for and running marathons will compromise your immune system- you’re particularly susceptible just after the marathon. I will only do halfs and I will only do them in autumn so I can train in the summer when there’s less bugs about! And I have more energy.

I run at the moment but I stick to shorter distances and cross training and take more rest days in winter.

Vitamin D and zinc are the only vitamins/minerals with any actual science behind them. I take lots of supplements but I may just be wasting my money! Probiotics are good and eating a wide variety of fruits and vegetables.

Resting is far more important than we think - rather than pushing through illness, if possible just rest the minute you feel anything coming on.

Oh and the First Defence stuff is good.

Do you take vitamin d? I've found I don't get anywhere near as many bugs since I've been taking it regularly.

If Covid harmed the immune system, surely we wouldn't be so complacent about spreading it?

Oh wow, please go and read up on this. It's exactly what the govt is doing. They didn't want to spend any more money on it so told us it's over and don't mention Long Covid. The WHO have clarified that we are still in a pandemic and study after study confirm it causes lasting damage in even mild cases. If you're not on twitter you probably won't even see this as most media aren't interested that much either. I know this sounds like a conspiracy theorist but the evidence is there for everyone to see. People just don't talk about it because they don't want to know. It's a bit like climate change. Global denial of a scientific concensus.

https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/covid-19-study-suggests-long-term-damage-immune-system
One of the many studies confirming Covid does long term damage to the immune system.

Yes, this is me and lots of parents (mums usually) of small children. I now get ill more frequently than my DC though. Have started taking probiotics and high strength vitamin D3 with vitamin K2 which helps absorption. I realised I was hardly getting any sunlight and if I was I was wearing factor 50 so probably had a very bad deficiency. Starting to feel much better, with more energy. Hoping it helps my dry flaky scalp next!! Good luck OP, I can sympathise

The UK government has successfully convinced the general public to bury their heads in the sand re: COVID. But ask yourself: do you trust anything the Tories say about literally anything else? If not, you can't trust the party line that "COVID is over."

They really have done that. My colleagues and bosses are so blasé with their “ it’s just a cold!” line but I’m not convinced. Don’t believe a word from that government.

I am getting my flu jab in sept this year and not leaving it so late

why can’t we have covid jabs any more? Is it cost? Can’t we pay for them like flu jabs if we need to?

That's interesting my adult DC is constantly getting infections, one after another. Group A too.

Covid jabs?!

I had whatever was going round in December 2019, took about 3 months to feel well again, needed antibiotics and the cough I had was so bad I needed a Tena pad. My lungs were just wrecked.

I've had 2 vaccines both Astra Zeneca, no boosters and not had Covid. My teens did test positive for it twice and were quite ill but I didn't get it despite me looking after them.

I had this last year - I do work in a hospital though so I do expect to pick things up from time to time but my sickness last year was terribly high, had multiple chest and sinus infections that floored me for several weeks each time and took a very long time to clear up.

I was going through an awful lot of stress at the time too, which basically dampens down your immunity and makes it harder to fight things off. I felt constantly ill in some way, it was dreadful. I don't think I've quite been the same since having COVID in 2020, either.

When DS was little I had virus after virus. One winter I think I had about 20 colds. This was years before covid. Now after having covid two years ago I’ve been ill about three times in two years. So it is entirely possible that it is due to having small children. Sleep deprivation was the number one factor for me when DS was little. I also take much more vitamin d and c now though

No, SARS-COV-2.

There is covid around. There are various viruses, probably more than usual because of the lingering effects of the pandemic on immunity, which was a. By product of locking down. Vaccines have helped, not hindered, health.

Lo and behold after my tonsillitis 2 weeks ago I’ve woken to swollen tonsils again. I really am fucked

How many years are you going to blame lockdowns for? 5? 10? 50? ONS figures show clearly that age and health adjusted vaccines have saved many, many lives. Anti-vaxxers can take their own chances but my family will use science.