I'm so fed up of being sick with minor ailments and minor conditions that keep reoccuring...how often are you ill and does anyone have any good pointers for good health?

[foxinsocks]

I am annoyed as I keep getting ill. Brief rundown...

1. Broke my nose severely in 95. Had an operation to correct in 96 but it wasn't fully successful as nose was so mangled so I get sinusitis, often. They can do the surgery again but have been warned there's only a 50/50 chance of making things better.

1. I have a mildly inflamed gastro system. So nothing major but I often have gastritis and nasty reflux. There's a possibility this is the start of Crohns but not fully diagnosed yet as my 'outbreaks' aren't regular or frequent enough to do more tests.

1. I am permanently anaemic. Not majorly so but always under the recommended level.

Now those things together are causing me major hassle. I'm at home from work today as I have a nasty sinus headache (which has spread to my ear) and have been vomiting. And I can barely think of a month in the last 6 months where I haven't had something like this grrr.

So how often do you get ill and what healthy living tips do you have?

i feel tired all the sodding time and have a couple of underlying medical conditions which don't help

i think if you can afford it, a holiday is great and good for the soul in many ways

multi vit may help

exercise

early nights?

i have to be in bed by 10 pm on a work night

yes I have to be in bed by 10pm too but often I'm not

the exercise is key but I've got into a cycle when I'm ill = not exercising = feeling worse iyswim

I hate health stuff, annoys me immensely
I am tired too grr

foxy - can't really help but sorry you are constantly under the weather.

Do you get enough 'me' time? anything in your life to give you confidence boosting moments, or goals that you have?

Good luck!

You need to eat right for both your two conditions - the gastro and the sinusitus.

So, I'd be limiting diary for both. Cut back on alcohol for both too (especially red wine). Boost your immune system (for the sinus) with lots of fresh fruit and veggies and if necessary, a supplement. Support your digestive system by eating regular small, low fat meals. Try a glass of hot water with a thick slice of lemon in it every morning - helps with the digestive system and also boosts your consumption of vitamin c.

Also check outside things. eg, a few years ago my ongoing sinus often turned into full blown infections - I tracked it and discovered it was happening around about my AF every month. So I spoke to my doctor who recommended changing my pill. And it has not been a problem with that regularity ever since. So keeping an eye on when it kicks off/after what you eat etc can be really helpful.

good luck!

Foxy - there you go, blings come up with something to help, I'm no good at health subjects but better at support of taking your mind off things

thanks

those are good points bling. Have been eating a lot of cheese lately so maybe that's been causing problems. And had a curry on Friday night which is never good for my tummy (with beer!).

Think half my problem is that I think I am still 19 and can carry on regardless and just get on with it and at my advanced age , I should be taking a lot more care!

lol zip, not it's fine. That's my general attitude to it too!

no it's fine. Can't type today

Honestly fox, if you don't have anything hugely wrong, relatively minor changes will help. Have curry - but avoid the creamy ones and stick to the tomatoey ones. And don't be like me and find yourself devouring a huge portion with all the extras!

I know it's tedious and painful, but it's worth it. I'm slowly but surely getting back on track after years. I've got my health issues sorted and am now trying to get the weight under control.

Oh and get your iron sorted...

Have just started recovering from anaemia and am starting to feel human for the first time since I don't know when.
All my 'mystery illnesses' have started to disappear as well!! Hurrah!!

Take Berocca!

thanks Bling. You're right it's exactly what I need to do. Think I've been childlishly ignoring stuff like this for too long. Also because I haven't had much time to think about it, if that makes sense.

I could do with a proper diet that suited them both.

I think I might try and make it a priority, even if I just do it for a certain number of months and see if it makes a difference. Is also hayfever season which always makes me feel shit because I have to take drugs to control it and I hate taking pills all the time!

anaemia appears hard to sort because it keeps coming back. The gastro thought it might be linked to the possibility of Crohns but they aren't sure yet and to be honest , I haven't booked an appointment to go back and see him again

I read this book once (I must read it again) - I think it was called The Lemon Diet or something. But the author took the approach that if you changed one small thing every week, you'd get there eventually. And it's true.

If nothing else, start with the hot water and lemon thing in the morning - it helps a lot. And I agree with Mitsubishi - the iron should be a priority too so perhaps commit to an iron supplement with your lemon water (You need vit c to absorb iron) or spinach twice a week...?

Then you can start doing more over time.

I'll try it. I have tea in the morning so substituting that for hot lemon won't be hard. Thanks. I really hope it makes a difference.

Good! [I have my lemon, then 20 minutes later my coffee!].

I might sound all military like but it's only through intense sympathy. I've battled for years and it's so hard to accept that it's partly because you're not eating right for your own body. I still get frustrated about it.

How much coffee/caffiene do you do drink? DH had bad reflux and cutting out caffeine helped that. (he still has some caffiene drinks now, but nowhere near as much). He only rarely has a reflux spell now, last time after a stag do!
I take eye drops/nasal spray for hayfever, which I prefer to pills.

I cut out caffeine. Only drink rooibos tea now. Yes, it does have a nasty effect on me caffeine.

Bling, yes I get frustrated about it too. Think what i need to do is

1. Cut out alcohol
2. Start with the lemon thing
3. Watch my dairy intake
4. Watch the fatty, spicy meals (am big on those, )
5. Try and look for triggers for the sinusitis (because that triggers the stomach issue to get worse)
6. Will look up a Crohns diet and see what they recommend in case it is that.

And grrrr.

Couple of things to try too:

If you love cheese, like me, try moving to non cow's milk cheeses - goats and sheeps. It seems to be better for the digestive system , not sure why.

Sinus triggers tend to be: diary products, red wine and (little known one) berries.

Spicey is not necessarily bad - in fact, for many gastro issues, a small amount of hot food is recommended as it activates the digestive system. But try to avoid the creamy versions where possible. Or make curries at home - they are inevitably less dodgy.

For reflux, also check on things like sugar - in tea, cakes, pastries etc. At my worst, i found those had a huge impact - a Kitkat could have be writhing on the ground for 20 minutes.

It's trial and error. and can take forever. But worth it. Even DH has noticed that I haven't had to have an emergency bathroom trip in at least a few months.

Lucky you like rooibos - I can't stand the stuff!

But other "teas" that can be delicious and have various potential positives - fresh mint, green tea and fresh mint, ginger and honey, ginger and lemon.

how interesting about the sugar. I can't have sweets any more because they trigger dreadful sinus migraines so maybe I need to look at cutting out as much sugar as possible too. I guess we don't need sugar really .

Sadly yes.

On plus side, I now have the perfect excuse to insist that DH only buys me Lindt Excellence chocolate in various flavours... less sugar and better for me!

ok will start this once current bout of vomiting over

am very impressed it has made such a difference to you Bling!

fox, re the sinus, i used to be like you, and laways have sinus headaches. i managed to get rid of about ninety five percent of them by doing two things. one, i starting excercising loads, not just things liek walking, but stuff where i would sweat buckets. and the second thing i did, was to wear a hat. if the front part of my forehead is covered when i aam out and about, winter and summer, i dont get the headaches.
i dont excerciese as much as i used to, but the hat is a fixture now, and when i dont wear it, is wheni am guarnteeed a sinus headache.

almonds are very good for boosting your immunity. nuts generally are excellent, but i think almonds are the best. try having a couple or five everyday.
hth

It's a combo of things. eventually had my gallbladder removed a while back and it seemed to help with the rest of my digestion problems - or at least, helped enough that I can manage with food. And it's definitely self fulfilling, the longer I go with being sensible, the less it matters if I occassionally have a blow out.