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?

I was like this when my vitamin d levels were very low

That sounds a lot to me. I've never had antibiotics in my life and I'm in my 40s.

Sounds like you are run down and picking up anything going.

Your microbiome will be shot to shit with all of those antibiotics, and that’s responsible for a majority of your immune system. Maybe try some probiotics and gut healing?

I had something similar in 2023, I could not get out from under it. The doctor, when they signed me off, told me off about my idea of resting and insisted on an extended period of sick leave. Have been really working in nutrition and gut health ever since and seem to be doing much better.

Antibiotics are effective but wipe out good helpful bacteria too. That can leave you open to other infections. You sound quite run down.

I'd concentrate on building your immune system up - vitamin d spray ;much more efffectivd at boosting your immune system) with k2 , iron, b12 , magnesium, vitamin c.

Gentie walking every day in tte fresh air. Plenty of rest.

A good balanced diet with 3 meals a day. 8-10 hours sleep.

And ask your gp to do bloods to make sure you haven't got deficiencies.

This year will be better 😊

I’ve had blood tests in a&e when I was admitted with a chest infection in December and they showed my iron was okay.

I take high dose Vit D, B12 and spatone iron supplements. I will look into probiotics for sure.

I suppose I am a bit stressed. I’m in a stressful job and DP is only working part time so I need to pay for quite a bit. It’s rubbish because I’ve had so much time off work I worry that they think I’m being flakey and unreliable.

Ive asked GP for a review because I’ve had repeated infections but he said they’re all unrelated and he’s not concerned. He did eventually book me in for bloods but that’s not until the end of this month.

I’m meant to be back to work this week but the fatigue from the chest infection is horrendous. I’ve got antibiotics until Thursday but I just feel so guilty about being off.

That sounds like a rough ride. I'd echo the concerns about anaemia, and I'd ask what your ferritin level actually is as often the NHS says 'normal, no action' when actually that means 'just scraping along the bottom end of normal but we won't do anything till it drops further and you start fainting'.

Could you request an appointment with the practice nurse to talk through options to build your health back up? I've sometimes found them more helpful. Coincidentally they are usually women 😶

With work, could you explain the situation to HR and say you're committed to your job but might need some help while you get back to full fitness? Would it be possible for you to eg work one or two days at home? Also, can your partner up his hours? He must have seen that you're struggling.

Stress has a lot to answer for. Sounds like you have a lot of stress on you. Why does DP work part time, can they up their hours and take some of the load?

You cannot feel guilty about being unwell. You need to channel all your energy into getting better.

As others have asked why do you get recurring UTIs is this something you can help prevent?
Can you look at changing your diet? Bloods can look okay or be within normal range but still leave you needing something more.

Hi Op, it's probably nothing but something about your post sounded very similar to something I experienced 20 years ago. I was constantly run down with infections, incl tonsillitis, bronchitis, ear infection, thrush, UTI's and even had viral conjunctivitis!
It turned out it wasn't UTI's but I had a massive ovarian cyst pressing on my bladder. I had to have emergency surgery in the end as I had ovarian torsion.
Anyway following my surgery all my other illnesses seemed to stop. So I think my immune system was all over the place.
I don't want to worry you or anything, but it's worth mentioning as this often gets overlooked.
I hope you feel better soon.

As a PP mentioned, ask what your ferritin levels are after your next blood test. Sometimes they say it’s ok when it really isn’t high enough for good health. In that case, you’d need something stronger than Spatone, but it’s worth finding out about.

Everyone else, never do this. Increased vitamins if you have enough will never help, anything suggesting otherwise is pure random coincidence, and on top vitamin toxicity is bad and can be very dangerous.

Actually 52 isn't high enough for VitD but jist above the NHS marker. It needs to be about 80/90 min.

@Infectiouss 30ish years ago now and between the children, I had repeated bouts of sinusitis, tonsillitis, laryingitis, chest infection, etc. One thing after another. Apart feom.DS1's birth this was preceded by infective mastitis and a breast abscess. The Dr kept giving me low doses of amoxycillin.

When I was four months pg with dd and having had two courses of 250 amoxycillin for sinusitus and a chest infection, I developed pleurisy and soent four days in hospital, three of which were on a broad spectrum IV drip. After that everything cleared - no repetition. I am convinced there was an underlying infection somewhere that the amoxycillin hadn't wiped out.

Vis a vis the uti's, I thought if there were two in quick succession a kidney scan was recommended? nevernotmaybe will probably know.

The last time a doctor gave me vitamin d results it was in ng/ml.

But regardless, high dosage shouldn't be taken unless extremely low without medical diagnosis. High dosage shouldn't be taken routinely without medically checked reason full stop. And there is near zero chance even if it was 52 nMol/L (which isnt medically extremely low) that this would cause any real issues itself or cause you to become magicly healthy taking more - only if you have seperate medical issues, again that should be checked by doctors not yourself.

It's almost like the person saying don't diagnose and self treat yourself with anything let alone what can be dangerous, would be talking some sense, and the one eembarrassingly trying to be flippant about that important message would be talking nonsense.

4000iu is not that high and for 4-6 weeks will get the vit D levels up, thereafter 2000iu in the winter, 1000iu in summer.

Stop being silly and accept you are wrong.

It doest take much reading for everyone to see the quote I responded to was " I am now a massive advocate for daily and high strength vitamin D". Along with allusions that more vitamins magically make you more healthy always.

Not for a temporary time. Not a "normal" amount. Not for medical reasons.

The vitamin industry, and taking them for the most people, is already nonsense a lot of the time. But that's not even what I was talking about. I responded to what they said.

And the advice is accurate. Do not do that.

OP I'm glad you've got bloods booked in. I hope its a full blood work. I'll preface this by saying I am not a doctor! But have been in a similar position. Make sure they test for immunoglobins. It sounds like your immunity is low and you otherwise have a very healthy lifestyle so best to check. I had reoccurring infections and have found out I have iga deficiency, which means my body doesn't fight off infections in (apols for this) mucousy parts of the body well. Sinus, ear, throat, chest and gut. It's very common, the most common immune complaint, but it puts you at higher risk for things like bronchitis or covid. Hope you get some answers soon

The majority of people are deficient in vitamin d
4000IU is the max daily dose. It’s not going to do any harm through winter as barely anyone has sufficient vitamin D. Everyone should be taking it

my level was 9. I took a high dose course and I’ve been taking 4000IU daily since then, which was 2020. My level is now 66. It takes a lot to increase your vitamin D

OP I wouldn’t worry too much about the antibiotics. I’ve had over 75 courses now due to an underlying health condition and still fine!

I'm not being silly and I'm not wrong. In relation to VitD I take the advice of my rheumatologist and endocrinologist. VitD Llevels of 52 are far from optimal. VitD should be 80/90 min. To increase from 52 to 90 with 1000iu will take until the summer, 4000iu will do it in 4-6 weeks and the top reading is 130 (ottomh).

Would you care to share your clinical quals?

Exactly
even the NHS website says you can take 400IU daily and they’re as cautious as anything, the average level in the U.K. is something like 37 so not good. Too many people don’t supplement
I was on about 50,000IU weekly when I did the high dose course

I think the level they started seeing toxicity was 30,000IU daily when I last read about it

Missing out the part where the recommended amount for most people is a tenth of that amount, and only for parts of the year. Not a huge dosage daily all year around that I was responding to.

Many people could have medical reasons they don't even know that would make much taken very dangerous.

Also missing the distinction that what you "should" be taking is also a seperate thing to getting it up. The point if you were to take supplements is to not need to then get them up, they are two distinct things with suffering considerations.

I’d really recommend Symprove probiotic drink. It was recommended to me by a gastroenterologist. Don’t pay full price though - they frequently have offers.

I'm the same but no reason found for it - bloods all normal. Just get a lot of infections - mainly UTI's but also pick up dental and chest infections and just get infections very easily. If there is an infection risk for something, even if rare, I will get one.

I take high strength probiotics to try and help. D Mannose is also an amazing supplement to prevent UTI's, either taken preventatively or at the very first sign of one.

recommended yes - it’s basically enough to stop you getting rickets, it’s not the optimum amount at all
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if you’re in the slightest bit deficient which is the majority of, it won’t do anything to increase your level

if you're concerned then you can get a blood test to check but on a general population level most people should be taking more than the bare minimum. How many people are actually giving under 5yo it year round? Not many I imagine and it’s an issue