Recurring colds?

[equinox]

Is anybody struggling with recurring colds this winter? I have had FOUR colds now and although they don't last more than 2-3 days since I take Echinacea, it does seem rather ridiculous.

As I say I take Vogel's Echinacea daily and have also started taking 1g vit c with zinc supplement also. I always take multivits too and also take one or two Floradix tablets daily so I don't get weak/lacking in iron since I rarely eat meat.

I would be interested if anybody else has had this same experience and what would they suggest. I take my homoeopathic ABC remedy too when I get them, as I say it doesn't last long just seems weird to get four colds in less than 3 months!!

Thanks for anybody who can share this/shed any light.

I should perhaps add my son is only 5 and started school in September is it because of this?

Also I started juicing the other week would that bring a cold on? I only juice alternate days, I make up the migraine miracle drink recommended by Jason Vale which actually seems to prevent migraines so far!

I am unfortunately having the same experience as you.

Since September I have had 2 bad colds, numerous sore throats and that "fending off a cold" feeling, as well as a bout of flu ( not to mention cystitis, mastitis and conjunctivitis as well!). I am wondering whether in my case it could be due to lack of sleep, since I never have more than 2 hrs at a time (14 month old still waking all hours for a feed ).

Like you, I have a child in infant school and one in pre-school, so they bring home everything that's going. Do you feel that your supplements are having an effect?

Yes me! I have had about 3 colds in the last 6 months and it's getting me down now as even if i'm not ill I feel like I might be ill soon. I don't think it helps that my DS is 18 months and at nursery and he picks up something all the time, he also sleeps in our bed and disturbs me all night so I don't feel i've had a good nights sleep in ages.

I haven't started taking any suppliments yet but think i'll go and get some multivitamins and give those a go. I think I eat ok, i'm currently on a diet so i'm conscious of what I eat and try not to eat anything bad.

This has been my worst year in ages in terms of either having colds, or having that fighting off a cold/bit of a sore throat feeling. I was in a right state a couple of weeks ago - felt terrible.

And my DCs are older - I'm not even being exposed to a whole new load of bugs.

I stopped getting colds when I read that we usually catch them by the virus entering our tear ducts. So... someone leaves traces on a dooer handle or towel, you get it on your and and rub your eyes - hey presto you catch the cold.

Never rub your eyes with your fingers - use the back of your hand.

The other thing you can do is breathe through your mouth for a few seconds if someone coughs or sneezes near you.

Having said this... I now have a really awful sore throat, but it's unusual for me to get one cold a year

After I returned to work after 13months maternity leave (this was August 07) I had either a cold or sinusitis consistently for 6 months. It was the most miserable time I'd had at work - my sympathies to all of you. I took echinaecea and vit c supplements regularly, but nothing seemed to help.

oops...
thant'll be door handle and you get it on your hand

Same here too, I have a ds in Infant school, but he's been ok, and not got them.

I think it has a lot to do with the weather outside being so cold, but indoors being warm, whether it be home or shops. Keep going in and out of hot- cold seems to make my cold symptoms flare up.

I remember vaguely years ago some doc on tv saying that it's all to do with going in and out of different temperatures and the ?cells? in your nose constricting- these normally stop you getting so many viruses/colds.

Not sure how true it is though.

Had a stinker in the autumn - first one in a year. Then got another even worse one over Xmas which I'm still feeling the effects of. So much so that I went to the doc's to see if there was anything else underlying coz I felt so run down and knackered. My blood tests were normal so she put it down to post-viral fatigue and said just about everyone was struggling to shake off colds. Also, if you've had a real bad one, your immune system is low and struggles to fight off other infections. Roll on spring!

'Tis normal.

No amount of supplements will prevent the occasional bad winter for anyone.

Hand washing is most important preventative measure. And yes, young children should come with public health warning; they are virus traps/spreaders .

BTW, for a child of Primary School age up to 8-10 colds per winter can be normal.

That's funny you say that about going in and out of different temperatures moonmother, my office is baking to the extent at work I am wearing one layer/summer shirts etc and still being baking and keeping the window open, and then going outside in the cold and being freezing - and I have a constantly itchy nose when i'm at work. I KNEW working was bad for my health!

Mmm not alone then!

I get way more colds than my four year old!

However I won't rub my eyes any longer think you may have something there fortyplus.

Thanks for all the comments.

I am sure the echinacea reduces the length of the colds and the first cold of the season was an extra bad one so yes guess the sytem gets weak.

I will just have to battle on with it then alongside sensible precautions!

Are you positive it is a cold, could be rhinitis? Very similar symtoms and you can suddly feel awful, hot, blocked up.

I suffer from a stupid condition called Non-allergic rhinitis (vasomotor) my nose tissues swell up, I sound as though I have a cold, get misable and now with nasal sprays and water sprays I have managed to control it.

I used to say the same thing - Cold after cold but really I am very heathy.

Isnt there evidence that echinacea has no effect at all??? Ive stopped believing in any of this alternative stuff.

It's such a relief when you come across so many others suffering in the same way! (Sorry!) but due to the amount of colds/ ear infections/ sore throats I've also been enduring since Christmas, I actually went to see my GP as I'd reached a point where I was seriously thinking I'd some major underlying illness!..I have a 3 year old and yes, she rarely exhibits the symptoms. It always seems to be me. GP reassured me that this is all pretty normal, blames the weather this year & any pre-schooler! I'm boosting my system with Echinachea, Vit C, Zinc, Vit B's and lots of honey & lemon, but still finding it a struggle to fight it all off....