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!

Sorry to hear you have had such a rough time OP. They probably wouldn't give it to you while you're ill. They always ask if you are fit and well today. Flu jab can give you mild symptoms so I think that's why they ask. If you're 100% better in next few weeks defo go and get it. I have it every year and rarely been ill with it. Hope you feel better soon.

So sorry to all of you who have been so poorly, so many people I know have been rough recently, currently caring for brother with D&V, so hoping I escape but not very hopeful!!🤣

Just to say yes they are still recommending the Flu vaccine if you haven’t had it this year due to high numbers of flu.
I didn’t know they’d reclassified eligibility for flu jab, that seems rather short sighted & have to wonder if it hasn’t contributed to the high numbers.

Hope you all start to feel better soon.

Get some probiotics for sure... Our gut health is so closely related to our immune system.

Its an bad year already for illness Im the same got an abcess under my arm i had to have drained then that awful flu virus and now iv got an gum infection really fed up of it.

All I can suggest is to take Vitamin D and C to help support your immune system. I take them religiously (as well as wash hands etc after touching stuff in public) and stay relatively free of these viruses doing the rounds. Good luck.

Get yourself some good probiotics.

I agree with this. I contracted a virus in October. I have had three lots of antibiotics for secondary bacterial infection and I am still coughing up kack day and night.

Normally I can shrug off bugs but I feel so weak and ill after that lot.

Bless you,you have been through the mill. Not sure if you are in the UK you talk about contacting OOO. Vit D,high strength, not expensive,all the supermarkets have them. Flu vaccine is not live,it cannot give you flu! I had mine with the COVID Vax,felt rough a couple of days. I used to pay for it. I had the pneumo Vax,boy a reaction to that, I don't know if you would be able to get that with your medical history. You can't just rock up and get vit b12 injections,most people find them very painful. I don't eat meat, I've never actually eaten a slab of steak, bloods have always been well in range. Don't waste good money on vitamins, unless you have a deficiency. A live yoghurt a day will help the gut flora after the abx.

The antibiotics have probably caused the UTI.

Do seek proper advice before taking any over the counter supplements as they can be contraindicated to some prescribed medication.

In you position I would be tempted to get a second opinion at the GP surgery regarding the flu vaccine as you do sound as though you fall into the vulnerable patient category.

I’m so sorry @ImWorkingLateCosImASingerrrr - that is terrible terrible bad luck. There is so much around and I have a lot of friends with chest infections/ colds/ flu.
Hope you get better soon. My only advice in addition to what you’re already doing would be try and get calories into you; good probiotic and prebiotic, lots of rest - enjoy the rest as soon you will be up and busy again. Drink lots get some nice squashes if you much water getting you down. Don’t push yourself. It will pass and you will be better soon xx

I have had several days of vomiting and diarrhoea after several courses of antibiotics and the doctor said they were to blame. You have probably been on some pretty strong ones if you had pneumonia. I would take some probiotics - yakult or something but maybe ask at the pharmacy whether you can buy something to rebalance the gut bacteria.

Just to add a homeopathic friend suggested green clay powder (you can buy it from Amazon) - you drink the liquid. It is a bit like charcoal in that it settles the gut after illness. I tried it in desperation and it helped a lot.

It’s a pity you didn’t get the vaccine op, but definitely wait until you’re a lot better- last year they hmmed and hawed about me getting it as I was sick and I was absolutely floored with it. Gp said afterwards I should have waited, fine to have if mild symptoms but if you’re immunity is way down they advise to wait

Yes I agree the surgery probably shouldn't have happened. It was a private surgery for gynae. I called them 2 days before, the day prior and even on the day to triple check. Had the anaesthetist do an exam and he said 'if not on chest, go ahead. If coughing up green, you won't be seen.' 😳

I unfortunately have to graze really. Due to my bowel and intestine malrotation, I cannot digest big amounts of food. So for instance:

Breakfast - kefir drink with chia seeds and some walnuts
11 - an apple
Just now - smoked salmon with whole grain pasta, spinach and some toms but the pasta is about 3 tablespoons
3ish - I'll have a Yakult and some fruit or crackers
5ish - normally have some cream cheese on water biscuits with more seeds of some sort
7ish - dinner. But my 'meals' so lunch and dinner are the size of a saucer they're tiny.

So I have to graze to keep weight on as if I don't I lose too much weight as 3 big meals a day will make a reappearance as I cannot digest them.

Perhaps this is not doing me any favours, but it's the only way I can really get all my cals in unfortunately :( I'm also on a lot of medication which I take x4 daily which has to be taken with or after food.

There's a food diary no one asked for! Thank you everyone for all your advice. Lots to look into. I have spoken to my manager and I am off work now for the rest of this week and all of next. I live in a small town so will get DH down to Holland and barratt and Waitrose to get some vitamins and supplements. I am going to book a private blood test (no chance of having it done at the surgery) to test for any bits and bobs I might be low in or high even to make sure I get the correct supplements.

Will look into the flu jab next year as I don't think I'll get it this year.

Solidarity to you all going through all of this! I've had a long soak in the bath and it's eased the UTI symptoms a little thank goodness.

Thank you for all your help, I really appreciate it!

I feel like once you've had a couple rounds of ABs your immune system goes to shit, we have alot of bacteria in our bodies protecting us from the nasty ones. I had it last year, constant UTIs and chest infections..

You need the UTI treating ASAP, mine went to my kidney because I waited too long, not fun.

I don’t think you are being unreasonable or that it’s just bad luck, something else is going on, you need to get it looked into, I can’t remember the last time I was sick but then again I don’t tend to pick things up very easily so I suppose I’m lucky, female 49

I'm really sorry to read about how bad you're feeling, my neighbour & niece are in the same boat time wise. I don't know if the following may be helpful. I eat a pretty balanced diet, a lot of veg & fruit, no red meat but have chicken,fish & eggs. I take a multivitamin, cod liver oil, starflower & evening primrose oils, High dose vit C, B, D3 & k2. Magnesium glyconate, zinc with copper. Twice a year, a course of echinacea. A month on/off Ashwagandha. I'm on the thin side, walk a lot & lift weights. Not had a cold in 26yrs, never had flu nor covid, no vaccines since childhood. I'm 72. All good wishes for your future health. 💚

Try Floradix tablets, OP. I find them very good and do not have any digestive effects as some iron supplements can have. Also has all the B vitamins.

I have a very good diet but still struggle with iron levels if I don't take a supplement.

Pneumonia is brutal and recovery is SLOW. You must respect your body and take any fatigue seriously. I had it last year and it took a full four months before I began to feel relatively normal. I could do light exercise before then but had to be careful and make sure to rest if I was not feeling the best. Even now, the best part of a year later, I have to be watchful.

I am very surprised that you are not eligible for flu and pneumonia jabs given the cancer history. I think you should prod the GP harder about that. But otherwise, as others have said, you can certainly pay privately for the flu jab and probably pneumonia too. And covid, for that matter, if you are interested.

It might actually be worth you investigating the general state of your lungs once you are feeling better. A history of chest infections, plus pneumonia, could mean you have sustained some damage and maybe inhaled therapy would be appropriate.

I am not sure what age you are or if you have ever smoked. I have not smoked but am in my 50s and subjected to a lot of smoke and pollution as a child. I have asthma and COPD, hence why I went down so badly with the pneumonia (despite having had the jab!). My lung function is poor. But it took them a long time to pick up on the conditions because my symptoms were very mild and fleeting so I did not really notice them until my 40s. And not having a smoking history meant nobody thought about COPD.

I hope you feel better soon.

Sorry you've had it so tough this year. For what it's worth you're not alone. I know of quite a few people who've just caught virus after virus, and it's miserable. Talk to your GP if you're concerned of course, but there does seem to be A LOT of stuff around this year.

I actually think this winter is the first one where there's been no covid measures whatsoever. Even last winter some schools were closing when they illness outbreaks, events hadn't been reintroduced completely yet - but this year everything was right back to normal, people have relaxed, and we've suffered for it.

It was always going to happen. Isolating ourselves for so long was always going to damage our immunity to other things. But fingers crossed we've had the worst of it and will be back to normal soon!

You can pay for the pneumonia vaccine too. Its expensive and you might need to book further ahead so they have it in. My sibling who had pneumonia last year has paid for a vaccine this year as they really didn't fancy another dose!

I was just coming on to say this. I'm currently recovering from pneumonia (hospital admission and IV antibiotics - fun) and will be paying for the jab in future as I really don't want to go through this again, it's been hell.

You can get flu jab until end of March this year

Not RTFT only the OPs posts, just wanted to pop my head in to say its lovely to see a thread where it appears many PP have been supportive (of course OP could have just ignored any rude or unhelpful posts!) I really hope to see more of this on MN this year, a community that lifts posters up and supports them! Also to say to OP of course, that all you've been through health wise sounds rough and I hope you're feeling better soon

YES! B12 injections are incredible! I had them when I had shingles and I swear I could feel the difference the same day (probably psychosomatic but I'll take it!). I've been telling anyone who'll listen about the miracle of B12 (and specifically injecting it) since.

I eat healthily, exercise etc too, but I really needed that B12.