People who don't get sick all the time... what's your secret?

[blackcoffeenosleep]

Long story short since the end of September me and my family (DH and 3 kids) have had the following between us: Novovirus, normal cold, ear infection, bronchiolitis and now 3 of us have hand foot and mouth.

Once we are past this how can I build up our immune systems? We already practice handwashing before /after the loo, beforw eating, after changing nappies/blowing noses and when we come home and just generally throughout the day. Hand sanitiser used reguarly by the kids at school and in shops etc. We're in scotland so still wearing masks in most places. We all take vitamin supplements and eat a healthy varied diet.

Are we just unlucky? Today is halloween and my middle child has woke up covered in HFM spots after being up all night with a cough and temp. Im just getting over it and his baby sister had it last week. My oldest son has had a cough too so think its going his way now too... DH seems to be immune to these things (except Novovirus.. that one got him bad 😩) no trick or treating for us tonight. Luckily we have pumpkins to carve and halloween crafts to do to keep us entertained.

Really this is just a moan but any other advice is welcomed! (I will add we all tested for covid at first sign of cough/temp and all neg) we all do regular lft as well.

luck
honestly, I know people who do everything 'right' and are sickly and people with less than ideal lifestyle and diet who seem very robust.

We're pretty robust here. Dd has only ever had one day off school when the whole school came down with a vomiting bug and had to close. I can count on one hand how many times she's thrown up (inc milk stage)
It may just be luck but we're a family who just cracks on with life. I find it tends to be a certain sort of parent who are a little precious and fuss unnecessarily over their little darlings who constantly get ear infections etc etc. Of course I may be wrong

Honestly, probably being dirtier than other people. Our bathrooms don't get cleaned weekly, bedding can be on the beds for weeks, pots left on the kitchen side for ages, floors only hoovered when we're sticking to them, same school uniform worn for the entire week unless it's visibly dirty, I'll wear my jeans for at least two weeks at a time etc.

Nobody in our house is ever sick. The odd cold from school as expected, but as for actually being sick sick, I can't remember the last time. Perhaps 15 years ago for me.

Think it's just being unlucky. I'm never ill, neither is Dh, nor ds's, who only had about 2 days off in the whole of their schooling. I think I've had 4 days in the last 15 years.

My closest friend and her daughter are exactly the same and neither have had a day off work or school in the last 10 years. Everyone else I know is ill all the time. So we are clearly very unusual.

I think it's ultimately probably luck. But having said that, years ago when I was really stressed and suffering from depression, I got physically sick regularly. Every cold, every flu, every stomach bug, I caught it.

Now my life is much better and my health is much better too. It might be a coincidence but it doesn't feel like a coincidence.

I used to get sick all the time. Several times every winter, often in bed for days. This will sound like an advert but ever since I discovered First Defense I've never felt ill for more than a day. The minute you feel the slightest hint of a cold: a tiny sniffle or cough, mild sore throat, slight clamminess or ache or shiver, take it. If you ever travel on public transport use it before and after each journey. Same if you attend a concert, theatre or any other public gathering.

It is a miracle cure. There are loads of similar products now but I was told this is the most effective years ago and it has always worked, so I've never bothered trying anything else.

Yeah it’s all about exposing yourself to more dirt & less hygiene. Your body gets used to muck & germs & grime, and tolerates them so you never get sick. People who are fastidious about cleaning and using anti-bacterial products all the time in their home & on hands are asking for trouble because they’re actually killing bacteria that you need to build up a healthy immune system.

We evolved to tolerate mud, & grime, & a certain level of domestic uncleanliness. All these harsh chemicals & cleaning products don’t do our bodies any good

@Itsnotgreatlike. Pretty sure that’s not a coincidence. I believe there is scientific evidence of the effects of stress on the immune system. When I suffered a double bereavement, I visited my GP frequently over the next two years. Part of that was health anxiety, but a large part of it was that I kept getting strange symptoms. Lots of things just weren’t quite right. My digestive system and sinuses in particular were badly affected. Looking back, I’m certain that my state of mind at the time was the biggest factor.

I am very rarely ill. Last cold I had was at the end of 2019 and usually got one a year. I'm a GP and think I must just have immunity with all the coughs and colds I see. I'm seeing loads of patients (yes face to face really!!!) now and glad I have a mask to avoid getting all the colds and COVID that is around.

What are your stress levels like? Do you get proper downtime each day/evening to relax and unwind?

I got a lot of colds when I was at my school in my late teens, a combination of stress studying trying to get a college place and mixing with large groups. Again after finishing college, I felt stressed with various jobs and was always getting sick.

I have always eaten healthily, multivitamin in winter etc. I find that when I jog or walk each day, it reduces stress and my system is more robust.

I always worked fulltime, but I got one cold after another when dcs were young. It was a combination of them bringing hone germs, and me having no time to relax or unwind.

I would suggest, keep everything fairly clean but don't use antibac. Exercise for all in the fresh air each day or at least a long walk on sat and sun. Multivitamin esp D spray for all and B vits for you. Proper downtime for you each eve. Use meditation apps if worried about work and can't switch off.

I'm never ill. I've never been in hospital or anything like that. I used to get tonsillitis once a year for a few years and that was it. Never get colds or anything. No idea why.

I think it's seasonal. I dread autumn because of all the illnesses it brings. There's an element of luck and genetics to being well too. Hope you manage to shake it all off soon.

🍷

I'm another one who rarely catches things, and I too am fairly slovenly! It's probably a mixture of luck, genes and lifestyle - like everything else in life.
I suffer a lot with migraines, though. I think people tend to have a physical 'weakness' (like respiratory stuff, or abdominal issues etc) that can get compromised at times.

My lodger has a shocking diet....unless I cook for him...he eats mostly take away pizza and gallons of Fanta twist....he is never ill...I eat well andd exercise and take all the vits etc and do yoga every day but catch every cold or virus going....!!...He is Polish and they seem to have tough immune sytems !

We're rarely I'll. We eat healthy and don't go overboard with cleanliness. We wash our hands after the toilet, but I know the kids don't always before they eat. I don't use too many chemicals to clean with and the kids play outside a lot.

My little boy was born in March 2020 and with all the unknowns of covid back then plus worried new mum worries he basically lived in a sanitised bubble for 4-6 months and I swear it’s my biggest regret. He joined nursery at 12 months old and bam we’ve been hammered by so many viruses and illnesses. He’s breastfed, eats lots of healthy food, outside all the time, has vitamins etc., I truly think it’s lockdown that has done it and I partly blame myself for being so uptight but it was just an unknown time. I relaxed a lot after the 4 month mark (gave up and needed help with him) and I’m much more relaxed with muck/germs and all that now. I’m hoping this will help him but worry I’ve messed up long term.

Look up the hygiene hypothesis and the old friends theory, apparently the best thing for our immune system are animals.

@secretbookcase

I used to get sick all the time. Several times every winter, often in bed for days. This will sound like an advert but ever since I discovered First Defense I've never felt ill for more than a day. The minute you feel the slightest hint of a cold: a tiny sniffle or cough, mild sore throat, slight clamminess or ache or shiver, take it. If you ever travel on public transport use it before and after each journey. Same if you attend a concert, theatre or any other public gathering.

It is a miracle cure. There are loads of similar products now but I was told this is the most effective years ago and it has always worked, so I've never bothered trying anything else.

I had this but with coldzyme. Then it was like I got immune to it and after not catching anything for a good few years I got the worst cold I’d ever had and it hasn’t worked since

@user1471554720

What are your stress levels like? Do you get proper downtime each day/evening to relax and unwind?

I got a lot of colds when I was at my school in my late teens, a combination of stress studying trying to get a college place and mixing with large groups. Again after finishing college, I felt stressed with various jobs and was always getting sick.

I have always eaten healthily, multivitamin in winter etc. I find that when I jog or walk each day, it reduces stress and my system is more robust.

I always worked fulltime, but I got one cold after another when dcs were young. It was a combination of them bringing hone germs, and me having no time to relax or unwind.

I would suggest, keep everything fairly clean but don't use antibac. Exercise for all in the fresh air each day or at least a long walk on sat and sun. Multivitamin esp D spray for all and B vits for you. Proper downtime for you each eve. Use meditation apps if worried about work and can't switch off.

This is a really interesting thought as ive had a bit of a tough time lately and probably extra stressed.

I had honestly never thought that maybe I would keeping the house too clean. My eyes have been opened!

As pp's said, bit of muck does no harm. Our house isn't immaculate.

Good diet I. E. Homemade good, low sugar, lots of veg.

Sleep lots.
Lots of water.

Partly genetics- both from very non sickly families, but also exposure. Lots of rolling round in the dirt, no anti bac, lots of time outside. Nursery from young, public transport. Mine are hardly ever ill- the 8yo has had 1 vomiting bug and 1 ear infection and almost never gets a cold; youngest similar. I would also let them eat sweets off the floor. Our diet is quite good but not exemplary and we don't take any supplements. The only time I had off school as a child was when I broke my arm. I timed the chicken pox for the holidays.

I'm always amazed on here when people worry about having not having a car in case you have to take them to a&e in the middle of the night. We've never been to a&e.

Eat more cruciferous veg ( cabbage, broccoli, cauli).

Regarding probitics, eat those instead. Or plain natural yogurt.

As a family we're hardly ever ill and I think it's because we are probably a bit gross I've never pushed hand washing before eating and never bought hand sanitiser. My DCs make mud pies, put sticks in their mouths and are usually filthy by lunchtime. They do take a multivitamin every morning, but I think their good health is down to luck and being able to build their immune system. I have a friend who uses 3 bottles of bleach a week and cleans until the early hours of the morning. Her DCs are ill constantly.

Take vitamin D it saved my life.

Grew up on a farm, still have a horse, have a dog and cats, rarely use anti bac anything. I hoover/ wipe regularly and change cloths etc after use, so not smearing bugs about.
So I think fresh air, dirt, and a bit of luck here.