Always ill. What am I missing? What supplements do I need? What other action can I take?

[Dogsgottabone]

I am on my fifth illness since September.

A very heavy cold which took a month to go.

A very short cold which looking back was lots of high sneezing and could have been covid (again, Third time)

Three heavy peri periods in 6 weeks in the autumn which has necessitated the iron and HRT detailed below.

A virus in December that was a bit like flu but wasn't and had me in bed for 4 days and I lost lbs.

A cough and cold that started just before Xmas, lasted for five weeks and has me wracked with coughs and which did nothing for keeping my prolapse safe. It was dry and tickly until the last few weeks where it cracked.

Now another horrendous cold, sinuses are throbbing, I haven't slept properly since Friday, my cough is raw and burning and my head is banging once the paracetemol wear off.

None of these coughs are easy to shake as I'm also asthmatic.

Its a bit woe is me really.

Things I already do:

Exercise daily, either hiit, yoga, swimming and then at least 10k steps

Eat 30 types of plant a week.

Take iron every 48 hrs for ferritin depletion, take bit v with it for absorption, take magnesium and iron on the days I'm not taking the iron.

Use HRT for peri.

Live in the countryside, no fumes or smoke.

What else can I do to stop this never ending feeling of being ill? What am I missing?

*should say vitamin C for absorption

*magnesium and vitamin D on the days I'm not taking the iron.

I should really proof read my posts...

The 10,000 steps a day - given how the weather has been, are you going out is rain and cold. If so, could you try being kinder to yourself?

Stress wrecks the immune system. Are you stressed at work or home? When was the last time you had a holiday? Slept for as long as you wanted?

Do you still exercise daily when you have been ill? Maybe you need more rest.

@MintJulia

Quite stressed starting HRT, the lack of iron and feeling faint at work, started a new job full time in September 35hrs a week (had been part time before), one DC is on autistic spectrum (high func) so needs more input.

I never sleep in, I can think of a handful of occasions since I had children when I slept more than 7 hrs usually only jetlag.

So you think it's stress then?

I am sleeping a bit better since I started HRT but I'm usually up in the night at least once.

Yes I go out in the rain, I wear a coat though!

Oh I have just started doing more yoga and less weights which I thought might help, but I can't at the moment as it makes my sinuses throb 😭

I would say 10k steps & hiit & lack of sleep won't be good if you're ill.

Not really helpful to you, but there's been a lot in the news about increased used of wood burners in rural areas due to high fuel prices leading to poor rural air quality over the last winter

www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/feb/06/rise-in-wood-burners-in-uk-likely-creating-new-pollution-hotspots-in-affluent-areas

airqualitynews.com/2022/12/08/sir-chris-witty-releases-new-report-on-uk-air-pollution/

If you're unusually bad this year and you have asthma anyway, that may well be the root cause. Unfortunately, if so, you can't really supplement your way out of it. An air purifier and staying inside more might be a better bet.

Otherwise, do you know where you're getting the infections from? If you have small children, there's not really much to be done, but otherwise there might be a way to reduce exposure?

I almost always exercise. I feel sluggish without it. My bowels don't work as well and my head isn't as clear.

Also it's the only time I have for me. So I guard it.

Gosh you sound like you have a lot going on, I would give yourself a rest & try & prioritise sleep.

@Dogsgottabone I don't think it's great to do it when ill though as it likely causes more stress. Could you use some of that time for other me stuff eg mediation, bath, reading, sleeping?

@MorganSeventh we have a wood burner though it hasn't been on since the cold snap in December, I get too hot so always have to leave the room!

I have never found it affects my asthma though, although I have seen that research. We live in such a tiny hamlet, the air is pretty clear.

I work in a secondary school (and have done for 6 yrs) so could get the colds from work although my colleagues seem fine and my own DC are at different secondary.

It's just the DC come home with a sniffle that they throw off in a couple of days and I feel absolutely floored by it.

@puppacup i do have a nap at lunchtime when I can or sometimes early evening before I get the DC from the school bus, I just can't stay in bed in the morning. I lie there churning over what needs doing or having imaginary arguments with my husband in my head where he always wins! I feel like I'm wasting the day and all the jobs that need doing won't do themselves.

Maybe I need to add meditation into the mix then. (and take some exercise out)

Would you say that yoga counts as meditation and exercise?

@MintJulia we went away last summer for 5 nights but I don't sleep in on holiday either, I'm programmed to wake up early.

I usually left everyone asleep and went for a walk.

Although I do go to bed really early. Usually asleep by 9.30 even at the weekends.

I sometimes have a glass of wine at the weekend but never in the week.

What dose of vit d are you taking?

I was thinking exactly the same thing as you a few weeks ago, and I think I was just burning my candle at both ends and my body was protesting.

It does sound like you are putting a lot of pressure on yourself. You shouldn't be exercising so much when you're ill. You wont give your body time to recover.

And things like eating 30 plants for week for example - how much effort / thinking time does this take you? If this is a goal you've set yourself and you're stressing yourself out trying to reach it, spending hours planning meals / shopping that's not good for you.

99% of people don't eat 30 plants per week and are perfectly healthy!

I think meditation will help you slow down, yoga / stretching is good too if you find your mind won't rest just sitting still.

@Rowthe bottle says 10ug - 200% NRV

Multi vitamin, oil capsule, 200 calories with about 50 g protein and you're set.

2000*

@redtshirt50 no it isn't a target, I do love fruit and veg and herbs etc so that doesn't make me stressed. A bowl of porridge with fruit makes me very happy!

BUT. DC ASD has to eat everything separately and then I cook for DH and DD who will eat the same things and I either graze on what I'm cooking them or eat something else. They like Carb heavy stuff. It's been like this for years though since before covid so again, not a new challenge.

I generally make lunch my big meal where I eat healthy foods, I'm too tired to be bothered about dinner.

Everyone is home at different times and so we eat as and when.

@C1N1C I definitely hit 2000 cals though I'm not overweight.

Do you recommend a multi vitamin?

Might be worth getting an indoor air quality monitor to check? PM2.5 and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are the key things to monitor, and the monitors don't have to be super expensive/ wifi enabled to work.

Sounds like you need a break from being exposed to illness constantly, which you will be working in a school and with children.

The best way to protect yourself is to wear a FFP2 mask at work, it will stop you catching airborne viruses (flu, COVID, colds, undefined coughs). Combine that with ventilation (at least two open windows) and a HEPA filter and your classroom will be less of an infection cesspool. Students will benefit too.

At home ventilate your rooms well and if you have a wood burner I'd seriously invest in a HEPA filter, you are filling your house with harmful PM2.5 particles and the HEPA will also catch viruses so reduce the overall risk from your children.

COVID harms your immune system and it will recover better if not constantly having to fight other illnesses.

Also take probiotics because COVID often lingers in your gut, get plenty of sleep and don't overdo the exercise.

I know there's a lot of hate for masks on Mumsnet but it's honestly one of the best ways you can protect yourself from getting ill if you wear a sufficiently high grade mask. I recommend the 3M Aura, can be reworn many times so you can have 2-3 on rotation.

Would you say that yoga counts as meditation and exercise?

I would count it as exercise but not meditation.

I lie there churning over what needs doing or having imaginary arguments with my husband in my head where he always wins! I feel like I'm wasting the day and all the jobs that need doing won't do themselves.

If you do this constantly I would say you were quite stressed. Do you get enough food fats?

So far my take home messages are do less and relax more.

If anyone else has faced this tsunami of illnesses and bounced back I'd appreciate knowing what worked for you!