Does anyone here get a lot of tummy bugs? Anyone know how to improve your stomach health?..

[foxinsocks]

I am so fed up of having a dodgy stomach

if I am even within sight of a stomach bug I seem to pick it up grrr

I have tried probiotics but all they seem to do is give me the runs

have recently come back from travelling again (work) and I always get ill and am so fed up of it . If the kids have a tummy bug, I will get it within 24 hours. Dh never gets these things.

Is there anything else I can do to improve my stomach health? I would do ANYTHING to improve it, it's so so annoying grrr.

I am hardly ever ill and sometimes I wonder if it is because I am a bit obsessional with hand washing, antibac wipes etc
Recently everyone in our house has had a been ill and I have avoided it somehow.

Also avoid take aways as they can sometimes upset your stomach.

This time of year doesn't help either I don't think as more people are coughing and sneezing and spreading germs and not getting out in the fresh air so much.

I'm not sure about being ill from travelling as I don't tend to travel very often, maybe you could carry one of those little bottles of hand gel with you?

Hope you get better soon.

thanks lovemygirls

it's a very good point actually because I recently started getting into work and then immediately going to wash my hands before I made my first cup of tea in the kitchen (as I travel on very crowded public transport on the way to work) and I only had one cold the whole of last year and I'm sure that's why.

but I also wonder if it's down to having a weakness - I always think most people have a susceptibility? Do you know what I mean? so dh tends to get chesty things, dd gets ear things....

I had a cast iron stomach till I picked up bacterial dyssentry and I've never been the same since. Have seen a gastro specialist who said I have no major stomach illnesses but just get inflamed there very quickly for some reason.

It's just tedious I guess and I hate stomach bugs grrr.

I would suggest washing your hands at every opportunity and using hand gels too.
I work with children and there is always something going around. I am obsessed with having clean hands.

Keep some antibac wipes in your bag and use them on stuff at work, like phones, keyboards etc. Anything else that other people touch.
Do you chew your pen? Avoid putting anything in your mouth, including your fingers.

I wonder what kind of probiotics you've tried? If they're lactose based, then you might be better with a dairy free alternative. On the other hand, they do take a few days to settle down - balance out. Did you stop taking them as soon as you felt they caused an upset tummy?

This company are fantastic www.biocare.co.uk/shop.aspx

I've just spotted their 7 day course, which is new since I left the country. But their baby stuff, and normal adult bugs are great. I also took their travel probiotics on a trek in the desert (don't need refridgeration (sp)) and was one of a few who didn't come down with something horrible. Might help on your trips?

Just seen they're out of stock, they're always running out they're so popular.

HTH

dh is similar post dysentry (and that was in his gap year so ages ago) - he is usually fine but certain odd things upset him, esp live yoghurt or probiotics, and he has to balance fibre vs clogging-up things like eggs very carefully on a day-to-day level

agree dairy-free probiotic migth be worth a stab

thanks everyone, I've not tried dairy free probiotics so will look out for those. I would quite honestly try anything!

That's interesting about your dh MrsB. Maybe the dyssentery has just left my stomach weaker (by some means). I certainly cannot handle rich or very spicy food (despite loving spicy food!) any more and also have to balance out the fibre/egg scenario.

It's just so tedious - I also take ages to recover from any bug I get but I think that's down to the fact that the inflammation takes a long time to clear grr.

Right, you have inspired me to make a proper effort at probiotics and a friendly stomach diet (that the doctor gave me at some stage - i.e. no interesting food or drinks!), so I will give it a go for a proper amount of time and see if it works!