To ask how you keep well and prevent sickness?

[Nerdynerdynerd]

Since having babies I'm constantly getting sick! It's not even when they bring sickness home. They might not even get sick and I do. Constant colds and flus or bugs.

Do you have any tips on what keeps you well? I currently have a chest infection, which is new, haven't had one of those in a while.

I already frequently wash my hands, get good sleep, my thyroid is normal and my bloods are all in a normal range. I don't drink alcohol but could probably (definitely) eat better, sometimes I don't get time to make anything for myself and don't fancy purees (for baby) or spag bol (for toddler) for the millionth time so end up grabbing toast or a biscuit. I always have at least one good home cooked meal a day. I work out minimum twice a week but am probably (definitely) 1 stone overweight.

Genuinely if you tell me that wearing garlic round your neck and chanting to ward off sickness works I'll give it a go, I'm desperate!!! Any tips or recommendations of supplements or concoctions are very gratefully received!!

Doesn't sound like you’re doing anything wrong, OP. Your immune system does seem down though. Maybe make a GP appointment

I sympathise! Tried many things over the years but the one that's kept me well the longest is daily vit D, zinc and a probiotic. X

@Mrsphilmiller thanks for replying!

I've already done that and they did the TATT (tired all the time) blood tests and everything is perfectly normal so I'm at a loss. My GP surgery are spectacularly rubbish, you have to be dying to get an appointment, but not dying too quickly or they'll tell you to go to AnE. It's a very fine balance of ill-health they're looking for, which is ridiculous. Getting the blood tests took persistence and I'm not sure they'd help in any other way.

Is there anything in particular you think I should get checked out? Maybe I could pay to go private.

I'm a primary school teacher and constantly bombarded with germs. I teach Nursery at the moment so handwashing doesn't do much, although I try. Two thirds of my class was off sick one day last week, poor little things. I very rarely catch anything other than bloody covid. I take Berocca every day and I do think that helps. Also take B12 and iron for energy, maybe they help a bit too?

@IHeartKingThistle Thank you! It's awful isn't it? I was one of those cocky "i never get sick" people before and now being at least a bit under the weather is practically part of my personality.

Please please tell me what probiotic you take?

@Flightsoffancy you're getting it from all angles! At least I only have two coughing in my face. Do you think the longer you've been teaching you've built up immunity? It would be a small positive if I'm becoming some sort of super human getting immunity from all this sickness.

Berocca turns my wee a funny colour but would be worth it if it helps!

Another thing is I've had both my flu vaccine and one for different types of pneumonia. Either they've done a fat lot of good or I'd be dead if I hadn't had them.

Berocca is your friend. I was ill constantly when my kids were little, I got everything. I very rarely get ill now but when I do, it hardly comes to anything.

Vitamin D. I use the Better You spray and take a double dose from October to around March.

@Lazyladydaisy do you think it has to be branded berocca or any fizzy vitamin type drink?

I definitely think you build it up, so don't lose hope! The bright yellow wee is just the B vits so nothing to worry about.

@WickedlyCharmed a spray sounds handy! Does it taste okay?

Also worth giving Echinacea a try as soon as you start feeling even slightly unwell... although I feel when I take it, that it vastly reduces severity/symptoms but makes whatever I've got last longer. So like rather than a 5 day heavy cold I'll have a quite mild cold but it'll last 10 days.

Vodka, nails all those bugs on the head. Then I sweat the vodka out in the sauna.😎

It's peppermint flavoured.

@Thegoatliesdownonbroadway haha funnily enough when I drank I rarely got sick (other than hangovers) - maybe you're onto something!

I have tried the aldi one, but it made me feel quite sick so I stick with actual berocca (I think that was more a me issue than the aldi alternative!)
Sorry - probably not a helpful answer!

I felt my best a few years ago when I was eating very healthily and reduced my carbs and upped my protein.

I have slipped over the last year and I am definitely feeling less "buoyant" than I was.

I take the live bacteria one from Holland and Barrett, it's sort of in the mid range, 3 million maybe?

It gets better as they get older. It's just because their immunity is slowly building so they catch everything and then come home and sneeze and cough all over you. I found the tummy bugs were worst when they were in nappies.

Wash hands
Colourful varied diet - lots of nuts and seeds.
Kefir shot
No UPF’s
Exercise

Pretty much a general recipe for a long life and health

Glad to see you don’t drink alcohol. Do you smoke or vape? Horrendously bad for you so cut them out if you do.

Drink plenty of water, take a good multivitamin plus extra vit C and D. Good diet. Plenty of quality sleep.

I think everyone goes through that. Firstly when they start nursery, again when they start school. I found that once you are through that tricky period, you rarely get ill again. At least I never did. It preps the immune system really well. I didn't do anything extra to help, was main carer for the kids when they caught everything, but I didn't, and I haven't had a tummy bug, or chest infection, or even COVID for 15 odd years. Perhaps I am just lucky!

Also use a weak bleach solution to wipe everything down like bathrooms, door handles and bedside tables etc when there are bugs in the house. If you have more than one bathroom then keep one as the sick room. Also open windows lots. Take vitamins. Get lots of sleep.

I should add I am a vegetarian and I do 1hr a day exercise.