Sick and tired of being sick and tired - help!

[Atethehalloweenchocs]

Since September last year I have been catching just about every bug that comes along. I had what I thought was Covid- all the symptoms and felt shocking, but test was negative. Then got Covid in October, took 10 days to test clear again. Went on to several chest infections and then flu. I eventually was signed off work for two months and have been phasing back in for the last few months. Went back full time at the beginning of April, but only working from home. In the last two weeks I have had a stomach bug, and now have a bad cold, have lost my voice completely and have excruciating pains in my chest and back.

I dont feel very confident in my GPs and how they are approaching things. They have ordered several lots of blood tests, chest x ray and have now said I seem to be vulnerable to upper respiratory infections. I have a referral to respiratory but it is a 26 week wait and no appointments at all listed at the moment.

I would really like to understand why my immunity has become so bad so quickly. I have some stress, but no more than I have had before in life. I am also so disheartened that after basically rowing back on all my social activities since the beginning of the year, resting more than ever, taking supplements and eating well, getting enough sleep etc, I still seem to be so vulnerable to getting sick.

I am not the fittest, and have to lose about 4 stone, but I walk my dogs every day and have lost 2 stone.

I am worried that my immunity will never build back up and fed up with the damage this is doing to my life. My work are very kind, but sooner or later, keeping taking time off is going to cause problems.

What do I do next? Any tips?

How are you feeling now @Atethehalloweenchocs ? Your thread title caught my eye as I'd posted something similar. Sick of it and so worried by being so wiped out all the time.
I also do all the "right things" to no avail.

Same. I'm post-op for cardiac issues, and while not as well as I was before that all started I'm just about fine usually. But whenever I get even the tiniest crappy cold I'm absolutely screwed. Fatigued into being a sofa potato, even to going non verbal as if my brain has given up on speech. It's absolutely horrible. This winter has been a total arse for it, 70% of the time I've been below what I'd consider to be functional.
Blood tests are all clear, vitamin levels are all good just a vitD pill booster. I'm just hoping for some new stuff to come out of all the post-covid research into fatigue, really.

Thanks @Kazeragi and @HerNameIsIncontinentiaButtocks - I am so sorry this is happening to you too. I have had another weekend day when I have slept for at least half of it. I guess I will keep pushing on with the doctors - my step dad is encouraging me to go in an see GPs whenever I am ill to keep bringing it to their attention. I just feel that my life is in ruins.

I was just about to post the same question and saw this! I'm ill every two weeks or so. I take multivitamins, live yoghurts, eat a balanced diet, I'm not overweight, don't drink, smoke or do drugs, have had all my vaccinations. I'm going to go to the GP and ask for blood tests I think. But they always just say ' it's viral', 'it has been a bad winter', 'its normal etc'.

Yes @Vault4 it just doesnt seem to be taken very seriously does it? Meanwhile I have had to stop just about all social activity and have triggered the sickness absence disciplinary process _ although fortunately my boss is really nice and wont follow through on it.

@Vault4 I've had all these things said to me in the past few weeks, exasperating!

Have you had antibiotics as these can affect your gut microbiome and you need to try to restore all the good bugs again.

Try eating 30 + different plants per week, alongside fermented foods (yoghurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi, sourdough). This should help to get your good bacteria working again, which should help your immunity.

I've just been whinging to DP that I'm fed up of being perma-ill. I'm a teacher and up until this year my immune system has been amazing as it has so many years of coming into contact with bugs all the time. But I had a terrible cold/COVID in the Autumn that lasted 3 weeks and have caught every bloody thing going round school since. This week I have been coming home from work and going straight to bed; and have been in bed all weekend so far. Seriously annoyed as I want to get my fitness back up but every time I get in a routine I get another bug that wipes me out.

This is happening to me now. In bed with my 4th bug since just before Easter, a nice gastric one this time. Thinking for going for a full
Medical as I know this isn't normal and I keep thinking of my body can't fight off viruses, how would it fight off something worse?!

*IF my body can't fight off

@Pekkala do you have any tips for getting through the day? I'm signed off, but back soon, and worried about how to cope

Have you been tested for sleep apnea?

If you’re 4 stone overweight with respiratory issues it’s quite likely you are suffering with obstructive apnea.

This will make you feel very unwell and fatigued during the day and can be tested by using a CPAP machine from your doctor.

Lemsip first thing, copious coffee, painkillers and a bag of vitamins/supplements at lunch is what's getting me through. Although I'm feeling crap I'm using every second of break/lunch to do planning and assessment so I can go home and collapse.
I got my bloods done tonight and my B12 is low ....I am clutching straws that I will feel better once I up the levels.

Oh that's great re bloods...mine always come back "normal" which is good in one way, but frustrating in another! I think from what I've read you should feel much better if you can raise that level.

Yes I'm ill all the time. Healthy diet , exercise when not ill. Take vitamins. Been like this around ten years (except 2020)

Yup feel like this since having my second bout of covid last Sept. It's awful OP. My bloods came back all fine but I'm so tired of feeling tired! My fitness level is so poor, I get out of breath doing the easiest walks, and I get every cold going which always turns into a chest infection which takes months to shake off fully. I used to do hour long dog walks each day, plus gym or HIIT routine 3-4 times a week, plus 2-3 yoga sessions. Now I barely manage a few light weights twice a week and have to have a dog walker to do the big walks. As soon as I do shake a cold off, bam another cold. I've worked in schools all my life so built up good immunity over the years and got used to just living with the odd sniffle now and again, but since having Covid I just can't throw them off. I eat well, hardly any junk, low carb/Mediterranean diet, maintain a more or less healthy weight (I'm healthy BMI but before Covid was half a stone lighter - want to get back there but just can't get my fitness up.) I'm planning to take more vitamins than I already do, but apart from that no clue what to do. The GP isn't bothered and I've given up because it's so difficult trying to get an appointment and when I do they just say viral/long covid/give it time. I feel your frustration and wish I could say something helpful!

For the first time in years I have not had any illness this winter. The two things I’m doing differently are fermented foods. I eat/drink mostly homemade kombucha, sauerkraut, kimchi and kefir on a daily basis. As someone upthread said there is increased scientific evidence for the good gut microbes stimulating an immune response.

secondly I started intermittent fasting every day. studies indicate that when you are in a fasted state your body is better able to fight infection at a cellular level. https://www.newscientist.com/article/2385137-intermittent-fasting-could-boost-immunity-in-addition-to-weight-loss/

Is anyone still experiencing this? I’m at the end of my rope with it. Now on antibiotics but doing nothing. Brothers wedding in 2 weeks and I can’t even get out the house. Been to drs multiple times and everything is “normal”. Don’t know if I’m getting one virus after another or if it’s the same one rebounding.

Me! No viral symptoms at the moment, just can barely function. Am really really worried about what happens when I catch the next one😫

I had covid last week and woke up today severe nausea and d shivering and stomach cramps , I’ve had 6 infections this year!

Hope you are doing ok now OP.
For anyone who's interested, research has shown that covid infections damage your immune system and make you susceptible to other illnesses.
There is a pattern of people getting ill with lots of other viruses/bacteria particularly in the 6 months after covid. The best advice (apart from healthy living) is to avoid catching other bugs by masking, ventilation, keeping your distance from people and hand washing.

Hi @SavetheNHS - thanks for asking . I am much better overall, but still not 'right'. I have continued to catch things going round, and getting them worse than other people. Waiting for consultant meetings<but with waiting lists being as they are I am not holding my breath.

I went away for the weekend a few weeks ago and it was great to feel I was doing something normal. And I did not get ill after. Although a year ago it would have taken one good nights sleep to be back to usual energy levels and 2 weeks later I am still not quite there. And for the first week I was back I had lots of massive red painful spots - I have not had pimples for years!.

Taking some advice from here - I have been trying to drink kombucha, make sure I build in rest days more often, take micro breaks. I have found some vitamin patches for boosting defences, and use those. And I am more careful in public. There is a lot of covid where I live at the moment, so trying to be super careful. .