Why do I keep getting serious infections??

[armquestion]

I am usually on antibiotics 6-10x per year. I get a lot of minor infections but I also get a lot of complications - recently a virus was going around and I got a secondary infection and was then hospitalised for sepsis.

I also got sepsis after a wisdom tooth removal despite being told it wasn't possible to have complications that fast or that severe - the dentist said he had never seen an infection so severe. Was in hospital for a week.

I have had unexplained cervicitis three times that has led to PID and hospital stays with IV antibiotics. Negative STI screen, no known cause.

This time last year I had a combined chest and kidney infection. I have also had kidney infections multiple other times.

Blood panels are all normal, no known issues. AIBU to think it isn't normal and there must be a reason?

Thank you this is really helpful

Amazing thank you

Thanks, I'll look into this

No, neither

Is it possible you're getting UTIs after sex? They can go undetected and travel to the kidneys, which then becomes more serious. Bit of an awkward one, I know, but it might be worth speaking to your doctor about. If you've got PID as well, there might be something a gynecologist could look into. It's great that you're STI-free, but there could be something else going on - even something as simple as your flora being out of balance - which is creating a chain reaction.

Okay, well obviously nobody on here can say for certain that this is causing your immune issues, but it's an obvious place to start and should at least help with the digestive issues anyway.

I've tried a lot of cheaper probiotics and none did anything, but these 5 year fermented ones worked. https://ohhira.co.uk/product/drohhira-probiotics-5-years-30-capsules/
After one month they had made a big difference. I then decided to do a second month to finish it off, and it did. I had lots of digestive issues following a course of strong antibiotics, and these completely sorted everything out and it's been fine in the years since. But, as you say happened to you, they did make me worse before I got better - I think this is normal. Try a month and see if you've got past the bad stage and are starting to improve?

So yesterday I collapsed at home, shaking uncontrollably, fingers went blue, ambulance came and bp was 99/59 heart rate 150bpm. No explanation. Went home, still feel really shaky

White blood cell count.

Have you made an appointment with your gp? Just because ED couldn’t find a reason doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be investigated.

i hope you get some answers. It could be anaemia, dehydration, POTs, low blood volume.. an infection. Your gp should take it seriously.

Yes ED wrote to my GP and said they may or may not want to investigate. But I will make an appt

That sounds scary! Hope you feel better soon and that the GP takes it seriously.

I’m sorry you’re going through such a rough time with it all, OP. Unfortunately, some infections like sepsis, covid, and others can cause immune system dysregulation for a while afterward. This can make you more vulnerable to catching other infections, and it is easy to end up in a vicious cycle. You catch an infection, your immune system is weakened, you catch another infection before it has time to recover, and the cycle continues.
Your immune system needs a chance to recover between infections, but that can be very difficult. Public health in this country is really not great, and air quality and ventilation in buildings are usually poor. We generally have high community spread of all sorts of infections, particularly since covid was added to the mix. Some people are also more prone to infections because of their genetics or other factors, which adds to the problem. As others have said, if you've had lots of broad spectrum antibiotics recently that will likely have caused you to be more prone to infections as well.
Definitely make sure you've been checked for all medical issues that might cause a weakened immune system as well. I don't know enough about probiotics to have an informed opinion really but I know some people swear by them.

@Marian12 thank you ❤

Thank you ❤
I remember the paramedics saying to each other there was 'some hypertrophy' on the ECG...they didn't mention it to me but I have looked it up and it says heart enlargement that can lead to heart failure...now I'm even more freaked out. I have no risk factors or anything

Have you had a blood test to check your Mannose Binding Lecting levels or any other immune deficiencies?