To think this is just shit luck? Or is there something else going on?

[ImWorkingLateCosImASingerrrr]

I'm having a bit of a rant and a moan. Feeling a bit sorry for myself.

I know most of the country is ill with some sort of illness so I'm probably being unreasonable and just need to get on with it.

I have been ill since 7th December. On 7th December I came down with a usual winter cold / cough. On 12th December I was scheduled for gynae surgery. The anaesthetist did a full exam and was happy to proceed as I did not have a temp and it didn't go to my chest. Perhaps this was my demise. Surgery recovery was fine apart from infection. I was put on a course of antibiotics for 7 days. During this time I developed an infection in one of my surgery entrances. 2nd set of antibiotics. But the cold then developed into my chest. I couldn't shake it and eventually after feeling awful on 27th December went to OOO who said I had pneumonia. Another set of antibiotics prescribed. All finished. The chest infection has cleared, but I am still very bunged up and have a dry, hacking cough. Not out the woods yet and very tired still. Monday evening I was struck down with what I think is norovirus. 3 full days of complete V&D and not being able to keep fluids down or food. Today is the first day I haven't been sick. But it was horrendous and knocked me for six. Still feel like I could easily be sick now.
This morning I have woken up with a horrible UTI. I'm guessing it's from the Diarrhoea or dehydration. I surely cannot be out back on a 4th set of antibiotics in a month!? The UTI isn't great. I have a small amount of blood when I wipe. A red tinge more than blood.

What sort of fuckery is this? Is anyone else just getting infections back to back?

My immune system is shite. I had a long and gruelling cancer battle a with multiple surgeries, but that all finished 5 years ago. I have 2 heart conditions (prolonged QT and SVT) which was brought on from my chemo. Managed with meds. I was a 26 weeker and twin so I guess my immune system has never been fabulous.

But I am STILL not entitled to the flu and pneumonia jab! I have been to my GP 3 times. I have been to OOO once. What else can I do at this stage? I do get ill every winter without fail and hold on to illnesses but this takes the fucking pish!

Any ideas on who I can see, or what I can do? AIBU to think the GP should be helping me more or do I just need to suck it up? I eat a low UPF diet, plenty of fresh fruit and veg. But I've had zero appetite since 7th December and lost over a stone. I was only 9 stone to start with.

Rant over. Sorry for the long whiney post. I know there's people out there much worse than me. I am just so fed up. Trying to work and be a mum to DD and uggghhhh. Pulling my barnet out! Just desperately in need of some advice on what I can do to improve all of this!

Ooo I love opposite a Waitrose, I'll send DH over today!

I don't think a dietitian at the moment is needed. You've had a lot of big bugs and a big surgery, you need to just rest up. I don't think two months is needed but get yourself signed off sick for two weeks, stay warm, hydrated and eat well.

Were I you I would wait to get the flu jab. I have it annually and it makes me feel awful for three days afterwards-and I'm not sure you need that just now.
You have had a rotten time of it, and combine that with all the viruses that are currently about it's added up to a real horror show for you and I do sympathise. I had a year like that a few years ago when I just could not get well-more serious things at times and in between colds and noro and whatever else. It's bloody depressing, but I think all you can do is rest up, eat well, take whatever medicine is prescribed for you. And I do mean really rest up. This is the thing people say they will do but don't, anywhere near enough, and that's often the issue.

Are you in touch with IBD nurses at all? It might be worth asking if you can be added to their list so you can speak to them for advice on managing your bowel condition alongside everything else.

Thank you. I'm probably sounding a bit of a wuss now with all these suggestions. I'm just so fed up of feeling shite.

I'll take the next week off and go from there. Thanks everyone.

Hey OP, loads of good advice about loading up on vitamins and supplements. I would suggest going heavy on vitamin C - which helped me recover from post viral fatigue some time ago.

Also I know you are limiting red meat but try eating more steak - your body is crying out for sustenance and protein by the sounds of it. Trying having two a week for a bit?

Sorry things are so hard. No medical advice. But it sounds like you have been unlucky and as you pointed out your immune system is struggling to cope. Hope you get well soon.

Yes I have a lovely nurse who I can contact via email. She is actually my cancer nurse but I'm still under the team as the cancer (mesothelioma) won't ever fully go away, and it was in my peritoneum / abdomen so I can go to her about gut related things I should imagine. I completely forgot about her, I'll definitely contact her for some advice.

I haven’t had anything like your complex health history but just wanted to say that intermittent fasting has improved my immune system radically. Perhaps don’t start until you are better though, and it doesn’t mean cutting down on calories for you either but just have a window for eating so that your gut biome can regenerate your immunity whilst you are not eating. I eat from approx 12-8 each day.

Thank you, willing to try anything at the moment! What's the most protein dense meat, a good bit of steak?

Steak or chicken are amazing for protein. Steak with lots of roasted leafy green veggies will be amazing for iron

I'll do that for tea tonight. Thank you!

Were I you I would wait to get the flu jab. I have it annually and it makes me feel awful for three days afterwards

Oh no!

I had the flu jab yesterday, and woke up this morning feeling exactly like I have flu. I was warned about "mild symptoms", but I wouldn't describe this as mild. I have every flu symptom apart from a temperature, and I feel like utter shit.

If this lasts 3 days, I'm never having a flu jab again.

I don’t know anyone that is well this winter op if that is any consolation.

@ImWorkingLateCosImASingerrrr Yes a good bit of steak with leafy green veg as Avidbee says! So fortifying. And do try the vitamin C - powdered vitamin c in a bit of water or orange juice. Tastes very bitter but can really help. Have much more than the RDD.

Since the start of January we've had a vomiting bug, scarlet fever, and are now on a separate vomiting bug. My son has had two 36 hour periods of no snot since mid September. It's been brutal.

No advice but wanted to send some sympathy. Sounds utterly miserable! Not surprised you're thoroughly fed up. I hope you recover soon.

That is also my experience @LakieLady. The flu jab as I understand it contains sort of active flu which your immune system is meant to respond to and strengthen itself.(in basic terms). It's updated with the most prevalent strain from the previous year every year I believe. So that's why lots of people feel ill after having it. It's never mild for me, I feel wiped out with it, but then I don't get flu for the rest of the flu season for that year which is necessary for me as I work with older people. For that reason I always have it on a Friday!

If you are prone to infection, and immunity can be very knocked post chemo you could ask for a prophylactic antibiotic like azithromicin. It’s low dose you take all winter and is much kinder to your gut than multiple courses of amox etc and should just help your system a bit. My son was prem and is immunocompromised post meningitis. Last winter he had 14 courses of amox. This winter he’s on the azith and only had 3 course so far

My mum had cancer few years ago, thankfully recovered. She can't have any jabs or flu vaccination. She had one shot of moderna during covid (as her doc suggested yhe risk from vaccination is lower than risk of dying from covid) and she ended in A&E on IV the next day.
And any minor virus knocks her off similar to what you describe.

I would wait to get the flu jab until you have rested and shaken the uti.
going forward - you can pay privately to get the flu jab and the pneumonia jab. The latter keeps you protected for a few years - and although expensive - it is worth it.
I paid for it in 2019 after getting a chest infection every winter - since then I’ve been much healthier and colds dont go to my chest as much .

hight strength vit C - lots of salmon for dinner too will help. And a vit D spray .

For cold sores I swear by lysine supplements. You can get them from Holland and Barret or similar. From my understanding it’s just an amino acid which can be found in your diet which suppresses the replication of the cold sore virus. Will clear it up in no time.

I've been getting my flu jab at Boots every year for probably 10 years now. It's about £15-£20. I'm not eligible under any health criteria, but I work with small kids in schools, who are just cesspits of plague, so it seems sensible to get it.

You'll probably struggle to get a flu jab for this season. My friend is a pharmacist at Boots and they stop doing them from about late December. They take up too much of the pharmacists time and are too expensive for chemists to offer year-round.

I tried to get the flu jab from boots who said they were out of it for this year. I'm in Belfast though so I don't know if that's UK wide. This was in December

I couldn't get a flu jab either (south west england) because they had run out. Very annoying.

I had flu and was terribly ill - now on steroid inhalers.

OP, I'm really sorry. I don't think anyone realised how bad this winter would be for bugs back in early December. And I think any chest/cold really plays havoc with all your pelvic muscles, so that's a double whammy for you. Hope things improve soon. XX