How to boost my immune system? Has apparently been entirely broken by pregnancy.

[CBear6]

About three weeks ago I got an awful sore throat, all dry and scratchy with a croaky voice, and had a throaty/tickley cough to go with it. It cleared up after a few days of feeling sorry for myself, then came back for a few days, then went away again. It came back again last weekend and then went away again by around Tuesday. Yesterday it came back again, the exact same symptoms and I got a bit teary about it because I'm so fed up. DH has offered to seal me in a bubble but that's not especially practical.

I saw my GP today who confirmed my throat is red and inflamed but that my chest is clear (so the cough is from my throat) and my glands aren't swollen. She has three theories:

1. Because pregnancy lowers your immune system I'm having trouble completely shaking off the original bug which is why it goes away and then resurfaces again a few days to a week later

1. For the same immune system based reason as above, I'm fighting off the bug and getting better but then I'm re-catching it from all and sundry because my immune defences are weak

1. It's hayfever related.

She's reluctant to try antibiotics unless it carries on for another three weeks, in which case she wants to see me again so she can try some penicillin. In the meantime I'm miserable with a sore throat and my pelvic floor going into a mini-panic everytime I cough.

I'm stocked up on Halls Soothers, honey, and paracetamol and I'm trying to not let my throat dry out (the soreness and the cough is so much worse when it dries out) and I'm sure I'll cheer up soon enough. In the meantime does anyone know any ways to boost my immune system so that I can fight this thing off and avoid catching it again? Having worries that I'll be in the delivery room in 16 weeks coughing my guts up :(

Iron - I was ill at around 36 weeks, turned out had very low iron levels which should have been picked up at 28 weeks. The midwife didn't think iron tablets were the best option because I was already being so sick - she recommended Flurodix (sp?) It tastes exactly what its made of (nettles, spinach etc ) but there is no doubt my health started to improve, quite quickly as well.

Many sympathies on the coughing and pelvic floor, mine went into a full blown melt down every time I was sick!!!! Dd3 is now 14 weeks old and worth every illness, mind you she is wild cute Good luck, hope you feel better.

This time of the year is perfect for immune boosters! And there in your back garden!! If you can get your hands on the new spring nettle leaves they are amazingly good for you and is full of nutrients and chlorophyll! There are sooooo many things you can do with them too, soup, tea, even putting them into a hotpot! But wear gloves to pick them. You can just roll them in your hand into a ball to stop them from stinging and eat one straight off the plant!
Also shitaki mushrooms soups with onions and carrots, garlic etc! Will try and find the recipe for you, is also a very good immune system booster! I think the recipe is actually called immune system booster soup!
I also don't think your aloud to take the sore throat sweets like soothers etc, there not advised in pregnacy, I tried to do so and got a telling off for it! I'll
Xx

I didn't think I could take Soothers but the doctor said it was fine and there was no warning on the packet.

That soup sounds amazing! I'm craving garlic too so that ties in nicely :)

Woke up this morning and it's not too sore but I have no voice whatsoever. DH is glad of the peace but DS keeps saying "hi" to me and then looking puzzled when I don't answer. I didn't cough too badly during the night either.

Thanks for the tips - I'm going to beat this bug yet!