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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To ask how you keep well and prevent sickness?

74 replies

Nerdynerdynerd · 08/12/2024 21:52

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!!

OP posts:

Evaka · 08/12/2024 22:56

Vicks First Defense. It's a magic potion if you use it diligently per the instructions.

OnlyinBlackandWhite · 08/12/2024 22:56

@Sebsaloysius the spray that is mentioned on here, First Defence, acts on the same principle, it kills the germs while they are thinking about starting up a cold. There's a throat spray one as well which is very good (not First Defence, ColdZyme or something like that).

Not amazing, in that I get say one cold or flu a winter, but before that and hand-washing and gloves (leather winter gloves on public transport), I used to have back to back illnesses, now it's what I would say is a proportionate amount and I don't get so sick when I do get them.

Flopsy145 · 08/12/2024 23:09

Daily immune shots I find help, I still get mostly some version of whatever the kids have but touch wood haven't been taken down for a while 🤞🏻
I try daily to have elderberry juice (biona 100%), mixed with a ginger shot (Lidl do a good version with a high concentration of ginger), add in some turmeric, black pepper, honey if you want it, echinacea if you can. It's pretty gross but I just shot it and drink something straight after and it's fine. Take multivitamins as well, this time of year try avoid coffee shops and soft play, do outdoor activities with kids if you can and meet friends for a walking coffee rather than sit down coffee.
I heard something that in the cold weather there are some fibres in your throat that "close up," they usually are there to prevent the bugs getting in your system but when they're closed up due to cold weather they can't prevent. This is why people think you get sick from being cold. So keep your throat warm maybe, roll necks and scarves 🤷🏻‍♀️
I also read about activated charcoal tablets helping with sick bugs and even preventing them, might need to look into that though!

DazedAndConfused321 · 08/12/2024 23:20

Vitamin C and D every day, especially important in the winter. You need both as they help each other work. I gargle diluted TCP at the first sign of a sore throat/feeling ill to ward off sore throat.

If you're tired all the time, increase protein intake (Eggs for breakfast, more chicken at teatime etc) I have a big spoonful of peanut butter and a banana before bed to help me sleep. If you need a hit of energy but have no time, a spoonful of peanut butter will do more than a biscuit. Try to get a decent quality one, but a cheap and cheerful will do the trick too.

Forkful of sauerkraut every day- great for the stomach and pretty cheap.

You absolutely need to eat better than just one good home cooked meal a day. Even if it's just picky bits! Even chicken nuggets are better than a biscuit.

Egg on toast, ham sandwich, pesto and cheese wrap, beans on toast. All better, quick as anything to make (or make in advance). You need to eat better.

What do you do every day? We can help advise how to make this work for your routine too.

Jumpingthruhoops · 08/12/2024 23:21

Sebsaloysius · 08/12/2024 22:24

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).

I follow those four steps, too - particularly not touching my face when out and about - and touch wood am never ill.
Love the idea of the antibac in the nostril thing. Might give that a whirl.
My late father - if anyone ever coughed in his direction when out and about - would purposefully breathe out at that moment, the theory being that it helped repel any germs that might be coming his way. He swore by it and never picked up bugs. So I always do that too.

Meadowfinch · 08/12/2024 23:25

run twice a week, and an hour's martial arts class.

Cook from scratch and eat 30+ different fruit & veg a week, which sounds a lot but actually isn't difficult at all when I put some thought into it.

And take a vitamin pill daily during the winter.

That seems to fend off most things.

WipedTFOut · 08/12/2024 23:29

I wish I knew. I'm sick of being sick. Currently in mexico and had to get a pharmacy to deliver steroids to help me breathe. Had amoxicillin and doxycycline for other infections in the 2 weeks prior so assuming what I have is viral. The day we flew, I started rattling and coughing up brown phlegm. Holiday ruined and after the year I have had, and considering it is going to be a few years till my next holiday, I really needed this break 😢

For once, I'm counting down till I get home. Last thing I want is to need hospital treatment here.

I carry hand sanitizer, always washing my hands, take multivitamins and have protein bars, exercise when my health allows and already need to have b12 injections every 12 weeks anyway so I know I'm not low on those. Recently lost 3st, so would have expected my health to improve!

It's utterly draining...

vdbfamily · 08/12/2024 23:54

If you are feeling brave, try having a cold shower in the morning. I have done this for a couple of years now and have not had one big. I was my hands after using loo but not much other than that and hasn't ever use hand sanitiser. My house is cleaned when I feel like it but less than weekly. I have been in current job for 8 years and had one day off sick. I agree with exposure and let body build immunity. Do not over sanitise. But try a cold shower. Great way to start the day and no need for caffeine either.

Idrinklotsofcoffee · 09/12/2024 10:54

I'm a huge advocate of tongue-scraping. I also take all the vitamins and probiotics listed above. I rarely get ill, and I take public transport daily where my head sits in the great unwashed armpits.

Lobstercrisps · 09/12/2024 11:03

Hi OP. I wrote an almost identical thread two years ago. (but I have teens and work in a different school so different germs)
I still get colds but haven't had a winter as bad since. I did the following:

Checked my ferritin. It was on the floor. Took iron tablet and vitamin C tablet every 48hrs until I'd used about 5 boxes and my ferritin went up by 100. (plus got a coil to stop the bleeding)

Got my D and B12 tested. Both borderline. Started taking VITAMIN D and zinc and B12.

Started taking magnesium glycinate at night.

Got HRT (possibly not relevant to you!)

I'm definitely less immune compromised I think!

WillowTit · 09/12/2024 11:04

wash your hands,
keep your hands away from your face.
dispose of used tissues.

i get up early and therefore am tired when i go to bed

Lobstercrisps · 09/12/2024 11:04

Oh and I forgot... I stopped doing so much HIIT. Started more yoga and swimming.

Real1378262 · 09/12/2024 11:07

The best thing I find of staying well is avoiding people! Not possible I know.

Like you I frequently wash my hands, take sanitiser everywhere. I also take a general multivitamin and Omega, not sure they are of benefit of not. Also we don't share towels in the house.

Yikesthathurt · 09/12/2024 15:12

Tel12 · 08/12/2024 22:36

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

I believe other studies have found it doesn’t.

Most vitamins appear pointless in isolation.

TrippTover · 09/12/2024 15:13

Not have babies at home. Honestly it’s so much better once they’re out of nursery.

First Defence at the first sign of a cold.

Hope!

TrippTover · 09/12/2024 15:13

Lobstercrisps · 09/12/2024 11:04

Oh and I forgot... I stopped doing so much HIIT. Started more yoga and swimming.

That’s actually really good advice. Keep the cortisol low.

MumonabikeE5 · 09/12/2024 15:15

I grate ginger, tumeric, garlic, lemon zest
into a jar, kept in fridge.
I have a big spoonful of this with honey and hot water 2 a day.
I swear it keeps me cold free, if I forget for a week I end up snotty

Inmydreams88 · 09/12/2024 15:18

If you don't already buy Zinc & Vitamin C and take it everyday.

Coffeecakelatte · 09/12/2024 15:21

Nerdynerdynerd · 08/12/2024 21:52

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.

It is so strange you say that, as I am currently laid up with one hell of a sore chest, dry cough, aching muscles. I have had a fever, it feels like the flu. I was just saying to dh that I haven't had a chesty thing like this for such a long time. I eat well, lots of nutrients, take an abundance of daily vitamins (infact I'll think I'll scream if one more person asks me this), and I'm fit and healthy, don't smoke etc.
I'm in my late 30s, and I just don't get it.Dh thinks I caught it off our youngest, but it has hit me harder. I have no idea, but don't understand why I'm so floored by it! Maybe stress?

midgetastic · 09/12/2024 15:25

Stress will make anything you catch more likely to hit you hard

And also once you have one thing ,many people don't take the time to fully recover ( the old concept of converlescence had gone out of the window) so you are vulnerable and o more and more things - the constant pressure and expectations to keep going , to be productive , those ads that say "take this and carry on your day" make me so cross

You must take some time out to fully recover , focus on food and exercise and stuff anything else

MrsBobtonTrent · 09/12/2024 15:42

I don't sanitise, but I do wash my hands when coming into the house and try not to touch my face when out and about.

I take a fizzy 1000 vit c and zinc at the first sign of a cold. This usually nips it in the bud.

I take the better you vitamin D spray all year round, but double the dose in the winter (UK is too northerly for sufficient sunshine all year round). I got ever so ill and run down when I first moved here.

greylemons · 09/12/2024 15:45

Sanitise your lips as well as your nose then no lip licking. When you think how many bugs must land on your lips and face. Wash hands and face when back home. And clean your mobile everyday. Makes you wonder if it's worth going out 🤣

BluebirdBoogie · 09/12/2024 16:06

Your gut microbiome has a lot to do with your immune system. Feeding your gut bacteria the right foods can make a big difference. Lots of variety of fruit and veg every day, plus nuts, seeds, herbs and spices. Aim to eat at least 30 different types of plant per week (includes all of the above).

SharpOpalNewt · 09/12/2024 16:12

It's really hard when kids are little. I used to pick up everything under the sun.

Now they are teenagers I don't - so some of it is just issues from having little kids.

But I would say the following helps, I've not had so much a cold since 2022 (when I had Covid half way through the year).

Good handwashing and hand sanitiser - I used to not do it when I came into the house automatically or when I got off the train and went into work. I always do it now.
Good sleep
Taking Floradix (iron and vitamins)
Good balanced diet
Regular exercise (using hand sanitiser in the gym which can be a germ fest)
Drinking plenty of fluids
Wrapping up warm when outside
Making and eating plenty of home made soups and stews at this time of year and a good balanced diet generally
Freshly squeezed orange juice

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