To think it’s not normal to be this unwell?

[Infectiouss]

I had a really rough 2025 with infections.

Started in January where I got appendicitis. Ended up having it out but was so unwell beforehand.

March I got a kidney infection ended up in hospital again. Antibiotics given.

April - UTI. Antibiotics given.

August got a UTI. Antibiotics given.

October got tonsillitis. Antibiotics given.

November got a middle ear infection. antibiotics given.

December. Started with tonsillitis again - antibiotics given. Chest infection within 2 weeks of this. Hospitalised with this. Antibiotics given again. And another uti. More antibiotics given.

I’ve been sick so much more last year. I’m also worried about the antibiotics and how many I’ve had. I’m never had so much sickness and I am at my wits end trying to get well. I don’t dwell when I’m sick, worked through UTIs listed above but the other infections knocked me out.

aibu to think that this isn’t a normal level of infections for one year?

What does your gp say? Maybe see a nutritionist

Have you been under a lot of stress?

It’s a lot yes

You must have had bloods done? Has anyone reviews you that has looked at the pattern/frequency of infections?

Not necessarily.

How is your health normally? Are you fit and well? Are you overweight, do you have other health conditions? Which bug have the UTIs been?

Many different factors at play that only you know the answers to. But ensure you're as healthy as you can be with exercise and good diet. Then see your GP and see if they might consider further tests based on XYZ. But you need to help yourself too.

X

It sounds like you definitely need to drink much more water and maybe try multi vitamins and foods to boost immunity. You need to build yourself up after such an awful year: focus on a good diet, good sleep, fresh air and exercise but be gentle with yourself.
Can I ask your age?

Have you spoken to the GP? I’m surprised they even gave antibiotics for the tonsillitis and ear infection, mine won’t. Are you taking care of your gut health after all the antibiotics?

I assume they've checked you aren't anaemic or have anything autoimmune making you so susceptible? Were you advised to wipe from to back, drink plenty of fluids, urinate after intercourse etc?

My first thought is your immune system run down by stress?

Hi OP. I had a year like yours. I asked for a vitamin D test. GP said normal at 52. I started taking 4000iu of vitamin D/K2 everyday and this academic year I haven't been ill once.

So my point is that I am now a massive advocate for daily and high strength vitamin D!

Good luck I hope you feel better soon.

i’m 28. BMI is 20.1. Active lifestyle - hyrox and running. Good diet, plant based. Non smoker or drinker.

tonsilitis was unbearable, tried to tough it out but couldn’t in the end. Bacterial swabs both times for strep. Again middle ear infection tried to get on with it, discharge coming from ear for a week and couldn’t stand up without vomiting. I didn’t go lightly to the doctors for this

Oh the other thing - HIIT which I suppose applies to hyrox, is detrimental to health in some ways. It can drain you. Have a Google.

Antibiotics, whilst great at clearing an existing infection, are absolutely dreadful for your immune system and will leave you open to other illnesses. One of my children had a lot of antibiotics as a baby and it took forever to get his system healthy again. Lots of pre and probiotics helped build his good gut bacteria back up and he still takes a multivitamin each day.

Yes you need to take probiotics etc to undo the damage of all the antibiotics you have taken.

Its going to take time for your body to get where it needs to be.

If you’re plant based you might have low ferritin. I get illnesses like this, and found out I had very low ferritin which I am now taking iron for.

Absolutely does not sound normal for someone without an underlying health condition. Even if you ate quite poorly and were a bit fat etc it would be extremely bad luck to need that many antibiotics in a year. I am less healthy (and older) than you and the last time I needed antibiotics was like 3 years ago (once that year?) and I have never been hospitalised overnight as an adult.

I think a blood test to check levels of vitamins/iron etc would be a good idea.
If your docs won't do it you could pay for your own from medichecks.

Your 2025 sounds like my 2022. I got Covid in July 2021 (at an extremely stressful time personally) and then carried on as normal for a few months (long distance runner/ultra training etc.). 2022 was almost constant infections, I barely had any time without antibiotics. Did you have Covid/another virus in 2024 that’s potentially triggered your body’s immune system?

I’d really advise you to slow down and actively rest more as it’s very hard work for the body to have lots of infections. I didn’t rest and kept going downhill and am permanently disabled now and unable to run/work anymore.

As others have said, think about your gut health. After all the infections/antibiotics I became intolerant to milk and eggs and cutting them out has helped (I did a private York test to check).

I’d ask your GP for a full blood count, including inflammatory markers, antinuclear antibodies and maybe a coeliac screen?

Are you resting and allowing for recovery?
Did you research how getting your appendix removed alter your gut microbes and as a previous poster suggested you need to build up good gut bacteria and nourish your body.

Has the.GP done a blood test?
I had something like this once, infections after infections for months. I also had an intolerance to medication which was really odd.

I was severely deficient in iron, so anemic. Bizarrely, I didn't have any of the other common symptoms like tiredness (beyond what's expected when sick with infections) so it wasn't picked up immediately.
No idea where it came from, l had no change in diet or anything before or since, but it took a few months of strong iron supplements to fix it, and it never happened again.

Similar. I actually hadmassive deficiency so had prescription strenght.
Not even covid got me. Couple of colds over the years since.
Before I got every bug going for 2 years. And often twice

If all your tests are clear, it sounds like you are probably doing far too much. Are you overdoing things? Stressed?
consodee asking your GP to do your morning cortisol if you are.

Mine was through the roof. Nurse called me and I was monitored for a while.

if youre plant based are you taking iron and b12?

my 13yo is anaemic. And has been the only one to be ill with flu this winter.
she also had low wbc.

however im sure i read that appendix is involved in immune system so…?

It’s not ‘normal’ but it’s understandable that a period of ill health will really do a number on your immune system. I think the UTIs we’re likely one infection that just couldn’t be knocked on the head, exacerbated by the kidney infection.

Appendicitis is absolutely awful, plus recovery from surgery – this was likely the trigger for it all. And an ear infection after tonsillitis isn’t unusual.

I once had a horrendous 6 months with UTIs, strep and hand, foot and mouth. I had a few blood tests and they put it down to immunity being slaughtered by one infection too many.

I'd say gut health. Once you've had a course of strong antibiotics and killed off your good bacteria, you need to put in the work to build it back up. Sounds like unfortunately you've not had chance and the infections have kept coming. You can get tested to find out what specific microbiomes you need. Ie buying live yoghurt wont cut it

Have you had bloods done? My daughter is similar age and had similar issues with infections everywhere since she came back from a European trip one summer. She had an allergic reaction to mosquito bites and had to come home for treatment.

Bloods show she has had glandular fever at some point and and ebv.

She takes a stack of supplements, rests when she starts feeling ill or overtired, has cut her hours to part time. Since starting all this she's starting to improve and not be so susceptible to illnesses and infections.

Make an appointment with a GP and ask for a review of the past 12 months and request bloods.