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?

You’ve certainly been through it op, that’s a lot for your body to go through in just a year.

I’m no expert, but I wonder how much training you are doing? Hyrox is quite intense, especially if you’re run down. Are you getting enough recovery alongside everything else (work stress etc)? I know I’m the worst at taking time to step back and allow myself to recover properly. I’ll run myself into the ground before I take the hint and rest.

My DD takes 1000 iu vitamin d daily. She's 14 and has her bloods checked every year by her NHS dietician as part of monitoring her Coeliac disease. She is very healthy and well but her bloods always show lowered vit D (sometimes they are closer to OK if taken mid-late summer). The dietician says most people in the UK would have lowered vit D if this was routinely tested and she expects official advice to change soon to suggest everyone supplements.

Having read what you have put about your stressful job amd the guilt ypu feel being off (totally get that) I suspect that you haven't allowed yourself to properly recover each time.

Same as trying to tough out a serious ear infection and tonsillitis it will all have given your body, your immune system and your gut a battering.

Add on top of that a stressful job and the pressures of life.

The nhs definition of rest is literally doing nothing no tv, no reading literally nothing. I suspect you haven't done much of this and you need to let yourself properly recover.

I would knock the HIIT on the head for now it will be stressing your system more. Go for a more gentle exercise and focus on recovery.

Don't feel guilty about your employer they would replace you in a heartbeat

Far better to try and build yourself up by a better diet than by bottles of synthetic vitamins. A plant based diet is obviously not doing you any favours. You at least should have proper protein. Eggs, milk, cheese.

Urea test showed protein not an issue. Plant based diets can be a lot healthier than normal diets if done correctly. I have copious amounts of fruit and veg, lentils, tofu, tempeh, chickpeas, needs, seeds etc. I track this all on myfitnesspal

I do (did) hyrox twice a week. But I’ve read about HIIT now and I’ll stop this for a while. I do try and look after myself with meditation and therapy. Maybe I need to do more for stress though.

ive spoken to DP and he has suggested I try and cut down to part time hours. He has said he will ask to go full time at work to see if some time off can help me.

While I'm sure your advice is well intentioned, it is also misplaced. A well planned plant based diet is significantly healthier than a diet full of animal fats. There's no such thing as "proper protein" - eggs, milk and cheese are not healthier for you than plant based sources like legumes, tofu, etc.

Will be interesting to see what your ferritin comes back as.
do you feel anxious or depressed etc?
my kid's was 5 even with a omnivore diet.

Yes, loads of vit D, C with zinc also

Overtrsining can definitely affect your recovery and immune system, especially if through stress/overwork and lack of good sleep through worry, you haven't had quite as good a plant based diet as you have previously. It only takes a slightly lower than needed intake over time to become deficiencies that affect rest, repair and your defence against infection.

You've had more antibiotics in 1 year than I've had in almost 40 years so it definitely sounds like a lot. You should make a routine appointment with the GP to discuss, when you go for emergency appointments with infections they're usually shorter slots and they are just focusing on the presenting issue rather than considering anything underlying.

My 2023/2024 was like this- constant UTIs, chest infection, dental infection etc. I really think it was due to stress, some of which is out of our control sometimes. As others have said I really think proper rest is non-negotiable!

I also am a massive advocate for vitamins, and iron supplements if needed. Get a full work up done if you haven’t already and hope you feel better soon.

Are you asthmatic as you mentioned being hospitalised with a chest infection?

In your situation I would strongly consider taking another week off before going back to work.

You may find that as the days get longer you feel better but I'd really think of this as getting more rest at the moment.

Don't underestimate the impact that stress and worry can have on your immune system as well.

I’ve had a year like this.

no utis for two decades and two this year.
plus an ear infection and a nasty chest infection.

loads of antibiotics this year and it’s been several years since I last had them so not sure what hit me.

i seem to be over it now but I’m taking D mannose in the hope of preventing any further UTI s because I’m bloody fed up with them.

I also had appendicitis and appendectomy this year Op!

Plus an eye infection x 2, infected nail, a cough/flu that lasted 6 weeks, salmonella poisoning, colitis and a parasite 😂 It’s just been a year of sickness.

Poor DH has it worse though.. he got an infection that’s lead to 6 months of vertigo and vestibular migrianes 😔 It’s having a horrible effect on his life.

Dietitian :) Nutritionist isn’t a protected title and they could have 0 qualifications and call themselves a nutritionist.

Dietitians are the medical practitioners who focus on diet.

This changed already… PHE recommends white people take 10UG daily Oct-March and everyone else year round.

Sounds like your immune system has been compromised: that is a lot of infections, not to mention a lot of antibiotics.
In terms of diet, when you say plant based, do you mean one high in fruit and vegetables? Or one with meat substitutes etc? I ask because the latter can contain lots of additives. Whatever it is, you should probably add a probiotic too.

I think it is. In comparison I had none of those (ever in life let alone 2025). I mean I’ve probably had an ear infection when a child but not recently. However I don’t have underlying conditions and I’m in my 20s. So to me, it would be unusual to be hit back to back with illnesses and infections like that, it might be different depending on your own health needs.

I’d also like to add, that when I did suffer from back to back health issues (all a lot more minor than his), it could all be traced to work stress and weight gain. When I lost the weight, a lot of my random/sudden health issues reduced and then completely went when I got a new job. I had loads of random symptoms like breast pain, body acne, sensitive facial skin/eczema, low blood pressure, high heart rate, change in sleep/appetite, bowel changes, just basically a lot at once which was all suddenly onset & attributed to the horrendous job I had.

Hmm, it sounds like your body is finding it hard to clear the infection altogether. Possibly antibiotic resistant bacteria. Sorry to hear you're having a hard time. Build yourself up as much as you can, keep your blood sugar levels up, get good night's sleep, keep hydrated etc. I would talk through your concerns with the GP and if you get unwell again, there's no harm going to another GP for a second opinion

Are you eating enough protein?

Plant based diet, so you are taking the relevant supplements?

I would also echo a pp that it might be worth exploring celiac disease? There’s a level of gluten you have to eat for the test to be valid though. Some people don’t have obvious symptoms but it is affecting them nonetheless.

I started noticing how gluten made me feel unwell, and had a test. I wasn’t eating enough by that point though, and my test was negative.

I do believe I probably have celiac though - when I gave up gluten loads of things changed - no more terrible mouth ulcers, nausea, headaches…
and my immune system also got LOADS better (and my thyroid came up too from being borderline low. I also use a spray vit D though.

I had been very ill so often (though nothing like yours!) that my GP sent me for a lot of tests - I think you are being very reasonable in investigating and maybe even worth switching GPs if they aren’t supportive.

if it’s helpful - they tested for some other things I wouldn’t have thought of including diabetes, and other illnesses that attack your immune system.

It sounds like you are doing all you can - hope you find some answers!

I asked to see another GP this morning on the phone. Saw her just then - she’s concerned and sent me for immunity bloods and referred to respiratory so I can have another chest X-ray to confirm infection has gone completely. She said she wouldn’t expect this level of sickness in a healthy 28yo

Thank goodness! I'm so glad you've found a doctor to take this seriously now. Its outrageous that the previous one thought a year of infections were 'unconnected'. Hope everything gets sorted out for you now.