anyone else very rundown?

[PleaseLetsGoToSleep]

Bit of a lurker on here, I became a single mum to 12 month old ds at the end of August. Since he was born we've both had loads of colds, I think the no of them this year alone is in double figures. But since split with exdp it's cranked up a gear and we both have almost constant colds. It's pretty miserable and ex is full of helpful suggestions about what I'm doing wrong.
I've been inclined to think this is probably fairly normal; small children get I'll often right? And I'm so run down from lack of sleep and stress that it's not surprising I'm always ill. Ex insisting I take ds to the gp tomorrow, but what can they do, it's a cold.

Is being run down and ill more frequently part of being a lone parent?should I go to the gp?
Any advice great ly received.

yes, you both need to get checked out and get some multivitamins in you at least

actually kids tend to get more ill when they start nursery/school, but not if they are mainly home.
I'd say you being run down is not surprising (though you need a boost!), but him being ill most of the time is not normal, colds don't last for a year!

I have a ds and a dd. Dd hardly ever gets a cold, ds gets heaps of them and always has. I was always a "snotty" kid too but get about two a year now.

Can I just ask, (without looking like a complete arse or meaning to be one), is there anything in your home that could be causing cold like symptoms? Any damp for instance? Damp can make you feel very ill, mould spores etc. As can dust mites, not saying your home is dusty but some people are very sensitive to certain things. I have so many crappy allergies it doesn't take much to set me off at all, and I had no idea of them. I was diagnosed with eczema at 16, I also suffer with hayfever, and hayfever can hit at any time of the year not just spring.

My son had asthma when he was much younger and a common cold would often put him in hospital. Apparently Asthma, Eczema and Hayfever or any combination are related. Does your family have any history of the above?

I always give my 7 year old boy Echinacea morning and evening and I take half a squeezed lemon in warm water first thing every day.

I think it helps.

Oh and he has started taking multivitamins with calcium and iron in even though he makes a fuss lol.

if you're not getting enough sleep that can make you very run down and it's all too easy as a single parent! Don't feel bad about going to bed at the same time as your LO for a while if you need to. I went through phases where I did this twice a week!

It might be worth getting checked out, it can't be nice to be constantly ill.

They do, they do - get colds and everything else and they have to to build up immunity. I have an 18month old and a couple of bits of advice helped me. Cut down on dairy as this increases mucus, I give him soya yogs or fruitpots instead of ordinary and when he's over his cold, I increase the dairy again because of his age. Get out and about and in the fresh air if it's just a cold, don't feel you have to keep them in as it drives you both round the bend and fresh air does you both good. I also make my own juices - they are so easy and surprisingly he loves them and so do I , even with vegetables in and they are great at boosting immunity. If i can keep myself well, then i think that reduces the chance of us passing things back. Jason Vale's juices are lovely and so nutritious but any good juice book includes juices specifically to ward off colds. I also take a very good multi vit - solgar are good, from any decent health food shop. I know it's so hard when you're a single parent but try and get a break somehow and do something nice for yourself.

yes, stress and lack of sleep wreck your immune system. Also, most people in the UK are lacking Vit D as we just don't get enough son. I saw a nutritionist for my son and she put us both on massive doses of Vit D. It's been brilliant for us. keep the faith, it gets better, honest.

Hi, you are not on your own. I feel run down most of the time and don't sleep well as a real worrier....currently off work as feel so low and getting grief from boss which just adds to the worry...vicious circle I need to get out of! I am also a single parent and although stressful wouldn't change it for the world......hope you feel better soon xxxx

No, you're not alone! I have a massive cold sore and ulcers, eczema flare up and have lost half a stone in the past 2 weeks since exOH left. I do take probiotics each day and am going to have to get some multi vits into me sharpish to get through this winter I think.

It wouldn't hurt to see your GP and get checked for anaemia etc. Good luck!

I don't sleep well either and yes I do feel run down and haggered but still better than when I was with ex. Take care of yourself.

Thanks for all your replies, glad to know I'm not alone, although sorry that others have to feel shit as well. I'm following the good advice and went and got loads of vitamins and fruit for smoothies. Sure this will help. One more cold and I'm off to the gp.
Kinda seems like the early days post break up are the worst for getting ill. Makes sense really. Totally agree though, being ill better than being in a rubbish relationship. I'm counting my blessings.
Hope u all feel better soon.

yes. I take a lot of vitamins, some diazepam from the GP to help me relax at night when things are really bad and I try and get to the gym and get out for runs as much as I can.

I must start the vitamins, my face is resembling a spot on top of a spot on top of a spot, I have diazepam also, usually gone by 4pm.....also have sleeping pills, guaranteed to knock me out for 6 hours.

My Dsil is a classroom assistant. She insists on washing her hands all the time and particularly before eating (or using one of those antiseptic hand wash liquids) and her cold levels have dropped considerably.

I'm an obsessed handwasher too. Kids are bellowed at to wash their hands too as soon as we walk in the house after school / nursery.

Relief to know I'm not the only one on meds aswell, thank God for Prozac.

yes I am run down too. My son goes to nursery though so I expect he picks up viruses and brings them home to me!

Constantly knackered though. It'll pass when they get older :)