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!!

PROBIOTICS
PROBIOTICS
PROBIOTICS

A few months ago we purchased HEPA filters for the house. We give the dc vitamins and probiotics and elderberry syrup with manuka honey. We wash their uniforms daily with dettol laundry liquid and we make sure they get enough fresh air and sleep . We gave up after school activities as they kept getting ill so much and we have been threatened with fines and court for attendance so we’ve had to do all this or we are going to end up in so much trouble

@Photodilemmas

WHICH ONES?
WHICH ONES?
WHICH ONES?

haha thank you :)

These! For babies (colourless and flavourless) for kids and for adults. You need to get the whole family on them and take them every day without fail. It works! We've (touch wood) never had a sick bug in the house and my kids are 3 and 8.

It may sound ridiculous, but when out and about, I am irrationally anal about four things:

Hand sanitiser - and not just my hands...
Holding my breath!!
Not touching my face
Avoiding large crowds wherever possible

I apply hand sanitiser at frequent intervals and if I'm amongst a crowd of people, before going out, I dab a drop of sanitiser just inside each nostril. I appreciate this may be nonsensical madness, but I work on theory that it may destroy any virus particles that encounter my nose! If anyone coughs or sneezes anywhere near me I hold my breath until I'm a big distance away from them, and I absolutely do NOT touch my face until I'm home and hands are washed thoroughly. I really do try and avoid crowded places, not always possible but if I can, I will.

I have done this since before Covid, and touch wood I have kept relatively healthy, despite having an autoimmune disease which means my immune system is really rubbish. Ironically, in the last 2 years, the only thing I have had is Covid twice (and Shingles).

Photos attached here:

I work in a school and have an immune system of steel.
Very rarely get ill. At one point 12 people in my class had covid but I didn't catch it.

I think exposure is the key, sorry.

The ingredients in the Aldi one are almost identical as (I think) are the Lidl ones. Some of the other dupes have much lower doses of vitamins though.

Rarely get coughs, colds or other passing germs - I can go a couple of years without one. I don’t take any vitamins but I do have a satsuma/easy peeler every day (two if there’s stuff going around the office) and homemade apple compote with my breakfast all through late Autumn and Winter. An apple a day keeps the doctor away 😭. I also up the orange vegetables I eat - more carrots, pumpkin and squash.

My OH is more likely to pick up bugs he swears by the First Defence spray.

Unpopular opinion on MN but definitely sort your diet - it will help you even if it doesn’t get rid of the problem.

Vicks First Defence. I work in a school but my system is crap. Had 10 days off last year due to bad colds/ covid etc. Really not OK. Discovered VFD and haven't been off ill since.

Boots Cold Defence works on similar principles but is milder and can be used by kids aged 1+ and pregnant women.

@Photodilemmas thank you!

The 360 ones are pricey! I'm on Holland and Barret website and they're £44.95. Worth it if it helps though.

Thinking about it - at the start of the year I got a really bad infection and was hospitalised on IV antibiotics. My organs started to fail but the IV drip helped really quickly so I was in hospital for less than a week.

I've heard that antibiotics really mess up the balance in your stomach. It could possibly be this and probiotics could help!

High dose vitamin D. Studies have shown that it boosts the immune system. Obviously getting some sunshine is even better. Washing hands frequently.

Boots ones are excellent- you're looking for probiotics to have at least 10 million within. The powder I've sent you is perfect for babies - we stir it into yogurt or porridge etc, or in spaghetti bol etc. Once the baby is 3+ they can go on the boots kids tablets which are cheaper I guess overall.

Agree with this too - we take lots of supplements in our house (magnesium and collagen too!) And we take extra vit D in winter on top of our usual multi vits each day. We also wash hands (first thing we all do when we get home) and sanitise when we're out. Seems to work!

Collagen drinks (marine) have made a huge difference to me

Vitamins and humidifier but also commenting for the tips as I have a one year old who will be going to nursery soon!

Weird one but I swear washing my eyes with optase tea tree gel wash at night time has reduced the number of viral illnesses I pick up - started doing it after a period of eye infections whilst immune suppressed for a long period and noticed it impacted more than just my eyes. Maybe the eyes gather germs more than we realise? Mad but worth a try!

🤣 that's hardcore Russian approach!

If you keep picking up viruses, it's likely your immune system is a bit low. Try taking a good multivitamin or a tonic like Metatone or Sambucol. You can also add some probiotics to your diet with yoghurt or kefir. Getting enough sleep and fresh air will help too (not easy when you've got little ones!)

I've just accidentally reported your post because I read it as 'washing your eyes with tea tree oil' and assumed you must be a mad troll. Apologies if it gets deleted!!

hahahahaha imagine if I'd misread that post too and tried washing my eyes with tea tree oil!

@Wednesdaysotherchild I am a serial eye rubber. I remember noticing during covid how many times I touched my eyes and face. I wear contacts so not sure if I can wash my eyes, will look into it!

@Hyperquiet I have a humidifier but stopped using it as I was thinking about legionaires and how it might be making the air all damp and bacteria-y which has absolutely no logic or evidence behind it besides my crazy thinking.

How do humidifiers help?

I think exposure is indeed the key as new viruses constantly rotate around, so there may be very little you can do. I was very rarely ill when I got public transport regularly. Otherwise try to eat a good diet, take multivitamins and probiotics and hope and pray!