Keep getting ill

[GrapefruitZest]

As the title says, I keep getting ill. I never used to be like this, but since returning to work after having my DC (just over a year ago) I pick up every bug. I can work through most of them, but this year I’ve had bacterial tonsillitis, a really nasty case of recurring D&V, Covid, and I currently have a secondary bacterial chest infection following a cold a few weeks ago. I do try to look after myself, I take vitamins, probiotics, my DC finally sleeps at night which means I now also sleep at last, I have a varied diet, spend lots of time moving around outside, but I keep getting ill! I’ve had my bloods taken and everything came back normal - the doctor suggested my immune system is fine, I’m just run down.
Does anyone have any advice? I’m so fortunate to have an understanding employer but this can’t go on. I’ve had more time off work than I’d like, and when I am working I’m struggling with illness a lot of the time. I’ve never experienced this before and have always had a great reputation everywhere I’ve worked. I want to feel like I’m adding value again, and obviously want to feel healthy again! Any help is really appreciated.

Me too! Add in herbs, homeopathy and vitamins and lots of yoga...just got antibiotics for chest and head thing. The last few years have been awful with things dragging on and on and trying everything to avoid antibiotics which worked in the past but took ages. I am at a loss....but keen to hear your replies!

Same here 🙁 before I had children, I was a support worker working in hospitals, lots of patient contact, I never picked up any bugs, I didn't have a sick day in 5 years! Now post kids, I seem to pick up every bug they get, every couple of weeks it's something.
I started a new job a few months ago and the amount of times I've had to wfh due to my own sickness!
The only thing I can put it down to is our bodies not getting that full chance to unwise and reest and recover 😔

It’s awful isn’t it! I think you’re right, it’s not getting the chance to fully recover. I did recently have a stretch of about 6 weeks where I wasn’t ill so I thought I had worked through it all, but I’ve spent the majority of this last month ill. Hopefully once I’m better this time, I can keep on top of it

Since posting this thread, I’ve found a few other mumsnet threads on the same topic. I guess it’s quite common if you have young children, especially the first year or so in nursery.
The constant illness is relentless, I hope it doesn’t last too much longer.

I don't have kids but have kids in the family and the office is full of people with nursery and school aged children.

People are just poorly all the time. It's insane

You have small children, unfortunately they are little germ magnets.

Nothing wrong with you or your immune system, it just goes with the territory.

There are some depressing charts about how many days a year you can expect to be ill depending on how many children you have at what age - but basically, it's a lot.

Hi OP. I made one of those posts a few years ago. Here's what I changed:

My vitamin D level was 'normal'. At just over the tolerance level. So I added high strength vit D. 4000ug

Ditto B12 and zinc. Don't bother with Holland And barrett. Go to amazon for proper stuff.

Added magnesium glycinate at bedtime. Much better quality sleep. I buy 'new leaf' from amazon. Again Holland and Barrett is useless.

Ferritin levels hadnt been over 30 since having children. Took ferrous sulphate every 48hrs, two hrs before food or drink. Levels now at very good level.

Added yoga to my HIIT. And then dropped the HIIT.

I went from three chest infections plus a virus one winter, to just a handful of colds each year. I work in a secondary school and right on cue, my first cold of the year arrived today.

But I am MUCH better than I was.

Thank you! I’m taking high strength vitamin D, zinc and B12. I needed ferrous sulphate while pregnant, not sure if I do now but I can look into it. I’d also heard magnesium is great for sleep but I didn’t know where to begin when I googled it! I’ll have another look.

Omg this is me.

It does get A LOT better after about 1 year at nursery but then you get hit again at primary school

Just get the boots stuff. 2 tablets a day

Me too I'm so fed up with being ill all the time, although don't have small children. I've just had 12 vials of blood taken to check my immune system and see how the immune cells interact with each other. Whatever I'm deficient in I hope they can replace.

I buy 'new leaf' mag glycinate from amazon. Take two at bedtime.

What was your ferritin level on your blood test?

Ah I was the same. I worked out I had 10% of my work time off on in the first year back and went to A&E once with daughter (temp 40 wouldn’t go down) and walk in centre once myself (couldn’t breathe, oxygen 95%). I’ve never felt so ill. Last year had a few days off (hand foot and mouth … twice ). This year so far, so good ..but realise chicken pox and probably at least a couple more d&v to go. I think it’s the lack of immune system, sleep deprivation and kids passing stuff on at nursery. Don’t worry. You’ll be fighting fit again soon xx

I did start taking well woman vitamins (on offer) and I don’t know if it helped but it made me feel better

It's not from having kids, it never used to be this way.
Immune damage from covid infections leaves us more susceptible to other things, as well as unmitigated spread of covid leading to us having one of the highest waves of the whole pandemic just now.

Try taking a spoonful of manuka honey everyday, a good multi vit and make sure you get the flu jab. I rarely get ill since I started doing this a few years ago after constantly having chest infections, bugs etc

That's funny, I wondered if my current cold was covid due to the sheer amount of sneezing that came with it.