I'm not sure whether I'm just run down or whether there is some underlying problem - warning very dull whinge

[bran]

If I'm just run down could I have some handy hints to build myself back up please.

I was healthy all winter until around the time of the snowfall (early Feb?) when I had mild hayfever from trees fooled into early polination by the warm weather. The hayfever gave me itchy ears which led to an ear infection, the antibiotics from that gave my first ever bout of thrush. Not long after that I caught a cold with a temperature thing from ds' nursery and haven't been well since. The cold thing lasted about a week and I've had a barking cough since then. I've had an on/off sore throat, sometimes too sore to eat solids. The hayfever is back, but Piriton isn't easing the symptoms as much as it usually does and I have mild conjunctivitus in my right eye from rubbing it because it was itchy and I think the beginning of another ear infection in my right ear. The lymph nodes behind my right ear and under my right armpit are swollen and sore. And just to top it all off I think I'm getting another bout of thrush.

Recommendations please - I've started to take echinacea, do you think I would also benefit from anything else (like vit C perhaps). I'm going to try and cut all sugar out of my diet to see if that helps with the thrush, although my sugar intake is pretty low atm anyway. I eat plenty of fruit and veg and generally nutritious stuff so I don't think I'm lacking in any particular vitamins/minerals, but I'm considering taking a general multi-vitamin supplement just in case.

careful you dont end up taking too many supplements as they can cause you more problems. You might end up taking too much. Everyone is ill at the mo. Loads of things going round, ive had loads of throat infections etc. Try to catch up on some sleep cos that will strengthen your immune system, not sure if this is possible for everyone. Ive been going to bed bout 9pm when both my sons are asleep.

yes, not too many supplements, I agree

Get lots of fresh garlic down you. It really is wonderfully cleansing and restorative stuff. Lots of chopped garlic and olive oil on your veg, make some hoummous too. And start taking a handful of frozen blueberries with your chosen breakfast grain combination.

God, it's easy to preach, if only I could practise it

personally, I don't think echinacea does anything - in fact, it made me feel a bit weird.

If you want to take a supplement, I'd recommend something like Floradix or Floravital - both are very gentle and not overloaded with vitamins.

I can recognise the whole hayfever merging into infections scenario because that happens a lot with me - it starts off as an itch and if you don't manage to get it under control very quickly, it can turn into something else. You may want to consider something like Flixonase or Beconase (once you're better) to ward off the hayfever symptoms before they hit you.

I agree with lots of rest - I would also go back to the doctor if those nodes under your arm don't go down.

Sleep, sleep, sleep (that elusive state when you are a mother). Along with diet I think that it is one of the most important factors to getting over these things, but life is so busy it is easy to deprive yourself. For a few days try to get an early night (with a cup of Echinacea tea?) and take a proper nap during the day if you get a chance. You sound really run down and need to find a way for your body to recuperate.

I'd go to the doctor and mention the two bouts of thrush tbh; recurring thrush can be a sympton of something or other

Good point Capp - see a gp if it keeps recurring (although thrush can be brought on by antibiotics so don't panic, bran).

I forgot about blueberries SW, I eat them by the handful when they're in season but I haven't had any berries at all for ages. I'll try and increase my garlic consumption, although I don't metabolise it very well so I end up smelling garlicky for days afterwards.

I don't think I can be overdoing it with supplements as I only started taking echinacea yesterday and I haven't taken anything else for months.

I forgot to mention among my symptoms that I've had mild diarrhea on and off for the past few weeks as well.

I was wondering whether some of the symptoms might be connected to dental work that I've had done recently. I had to have a root canal filling and a crown fitted. When the dentist opened up the root canal it was quite infected and under pressure and so sprayed infected blood into my mouth (the taste was indescribably awful). This was about a fortnight ago, so after the cold and cough had started but before the lymph node/thrush/diarrhea problems.

I will definitely try to get more sleep, but I'm usually short of sleep at the best of times so I'm not sure I'll be able to.