I'm after some advice - for myself!

I am feeling yucky. Again.

I seem to pick up every cough, cold, virus etc going. I've got a horrible scratchy throat and tickly cough, and my voice is really hoarse. I get this sort of thing all of the time   

I work at a nursery usually once a week, but this week I have been there three times. My uni tutor did warn me that at first you will pick up everything going until you build up a bit of immunity, but this constant illness has been going on for a while now.

I can't quite place it, but I never feel "well". I am always tired and everything feels like a huge effort. Quite often I'll fall asleep by 9ish if I'm on the sofa watching TV, and sometimes in the day. I hate getting up and never feel like I've had enough time to sleep.

I'm just baffled as to why I'm constantly feeling so rubbish. I eat pretty well - usually get my 5 a day - and get plenty of sleep and fresh air. I have a fairly active lifestyle and was never ill as a kid. The only thing that's not in my diet is Omega 3's which I know are important, but I can't stand ANY type of fish. I literally gag at the smell of it cooking.

I'm wondering if I need to take a multi-vitamin or the like, but the herbalist my sister sees for her skin condition has advised against this as she says multi-vitamins are all synthetic.

What do you guys think I should do? Any idea why I am constantly feeling ill? Anything I can do to strengthen my immune system?

People have it much, much worse than me and I am grateful to be "healthy", but constantly feeling lack luster and having every illness going can start to get you down after a while...

Echinacea. A lot of people swear by it, and Humum is certain it has helped me. You might not want to nom dried coneflower, but you can get it as a powder, liquid or tablet I think. Holland & Barrett are probably worth asking, they give some good advice on the natural remedy side but bear in mind they would also quite like you to buy something.

Humum takes a high omega-3 fish oil tablet once a day. They're in gelatin, which is not ideal, but you don't taste them at all and it would give you the fish-benefit without eating (or smelling) fish.

Humum also takes a multi-vitamin and a 1000mg slow-release vitamin C tablet. If there's no benefit to it (as some claim), there's almost certainly no harm either   

Is it worth getting some blood tests done? Ask about anaemia, I am not sure what all the symptoms are but tiredness and a general feeling of being unwell certainly fall in there.

If you have a good diet there is no point in taking multi vits. You can get omega 3 from flax seeds (I just sprinkle them on salads).

I really think you ought to see a Dr if you haven't already.


ETA: I was taking cod liver oil capsules for a while and I dono if normal fish oil is the same but I got one stuck in my throat once (not choking, just not going down) and when I coughed it burst into my mouth BBLLLLEEEEEEEUUUURRRRRRRRRGH (and I am a fish lover!).

^ My boss swears by echinacea!

From what I understand, taking vitamins can do you no harm. Your body will just evict what it doesn't want via your pee!!

I'm quite badly anaemic at the mo, being really lethargic and no sleep ever being enough are indeed symptoms. I'm going to explain this really badly but sometimes I can just be standing talking to someone (or whatever!) and it's like I'm all of a sudden zapped of energy and I could just let my legs go from under me, and I get a strange feeling in the pit of my stomach. I don't know if any of that rings true with you but I'd certainly ask your doctor to test your iron levels.

I hope you get some easy to rectify answers soon

Vitamins in excess amounts can do you harm over a long period of time. I would go and see the Dr. Get some blood tests and check for anaemia and if you are feeling coldy for a long time also consider glandular fever.

You have been very busy lately from what Ive seen. Maybe you need to take a bit of time off, have a break and just chill out? Its horrible feeling poopy all the time, I think its worse when you just dont feel "well" as theres nothing to really put your finger on. Have you thought about just going to see your GP and explaining how you feel? I hope you feel better soon. xxxxxxxxx

Thanks for all of the help and ideas

I will definitely look into Echinacea and might pop into Holland & Barrett when I'm in town for uni at some point this week

As for the multi-vitamins, it seems a mixed bag. I've heard that they can and can't be harmful if you don't need them, so I'm not sure   

I think I will see how I go with this bout of illness, and if I'm not feeling much better soon or get something else soon afterwards I'll get myself to the doctors for a blood test. I'm a total needle phobic so will avoid this at all costs!

I'm going to go and do some reading on Anemia as what you suffer with sounds very similar to me, Thumper2001.

Sophia - I'm sure you can appreciate how stressful it is to be so busy! What with work, uni (and all of the work that goes with it!) and then general life I really don't have a chance for a break - or to be ill! I am lucky in that I have the weekends to chill, though.

Oh sweetie, I know what it is like to feel unwell all the time and I hope you get well soon and feel much better.

Hugs

JO xx

It's also worth getting your vitamin d tested at the docs... That can make a real difference to you if you don't have enough - but it's important to get your levels checked before you take it .

Agree with everyone else about getting your iron and Vit D levels tested, also it could be worth getting thyroid (thyroxine) levels tested. Another natural immune booster is Sambucol - a bit pricey but worth it, and they do a sugar free version   

I'm sorry to hear you are not so well   

I lack a lot of vitamins in my body I always have but I can't take them as they make me violently sick don't know why but they do I'm like that with a lot of tablets as well that's why I don't take anything at all to be on the safe side, but I do look like death warmed up, I'm very pale and I can lack energy I just try to eat energy foods to get something back. I go out very seldom and when I do I guarantee I will come back with a cold and a cold with me last's ages and leads to bronchitis nothing is ever simple with me   
I think I am going to try that Echinacea and see how I go as I have heard so many good things about it.

Not really helpful am I   
Hope you get sorted and start feeling better xxxxx   

I know exactly how you feel hun , trust me, I am the same and have been since college, even at school I got ill a lot, had blood tests and all sorts yet always ill with something or other and never get a break. I am constantly tired too and not anaemic or anything, I am convinced there is something too but doctors are bloody useless and all they do is pee and blood tests and the same ones too. I know it sucks not knowing.

I would not suggest vitamins as me and my hubby watched a proper documentary on it and you basically get what you need from foods and stuff and you pee the rest out so it is essentially wasted and waste of money. This was from medical professionals and they even took pee samples from a lot of people to prove this. I do not bother with them now, I did start taking some but no benefit what so ever.

i don't know what to suggest really, maybe what Amanda and others said, I have never tried this myself though. Might do now, not sure. The worst is not knowing when you know you are not right isnt it and you do not want to seem to the doctors like you are paranoid or anything. It sucks , just hope you start getting better soon.

Many vibes for you and hugs and hope you get to the bottom of it.

     

Well, it's been a week since this horrible coldy/virus thing started and whilst it's not a bad as it was, it's still here. I had Tuesday off uni, and also took Wednesday and Thursday off nannying, so got plenty of rest, but it didn't seem to help much. After uni on Friday I was completely wiped and by 9pm I could have fallen asleep standing up. Just sorting the animals was enough to do me in

I've had a quiet weekend and do feel ok when I'm sitting or resting, but when I get up and try to do anything I feel rubbish again...

I'm going to give it a few more days but if not I think I'm going to go and see the doctor. I don't want to waste anyone's time but if there is a solution I'd quite like to fix it! I might pick up a multi-vitamin tomorrow from the supermarket and see if that helps.

You really have suffered love, please keep us informed. I am glad you are feeling a little better today.

Hugs

Jo xx

Agree you should go and be checked out. But found some vitamin and mineral supplements helpful in the past.
If of help I can ask my partner to. Check you on the quantum analyser. You would have to come to Cheltenham though and I don't know how far this would be for you.
Also an allergy test could be of help. Just sounds like something systemic.
Lots of love from us.

Thanks guys, you are all so kind

I managed to battle my way through today as it was my last day at placement and I really wanted to go. The staff and children made me a lovely thank you card and gave me a really sweet send off

I picked up some Echinacea this evening so I will see how I go with that. My college tutor said when she started working with kids she was the same and picked up everything going, but she started to take Echinacea as a regular supplement and swears by it now. She said it really helped, fingers crossed it does the same for me. I'm reluctant to go to the doctors as this really does feel like a virus, but if it doesn't clear up soon I think I will.

c.bolduan wrote:Agree you should go and be checked out. But found some vitamin and mineral supplements helpful in the past.
If of help I can ask my partner to. Check you on the quantum analyser. You would have to come to Cheltenham though and I don't know how far this would be for you.
Also an allergy test could be of help. Just sounds like something systemic.
Lots of love from us.

That is so kind, thank you.

Cheltenham isn't too far from us so if this doesn't go and the docs can't help then I might take you up on that. I'm hoping it's just a virus though!

Just sent a reply in the infirmary.
Do you think it is possible that your low immun system is stress related?
Let me know if you want to meet up.
Love und Hugs

So sorry to hearyou are unwell. Two things came to my mind when you described your symptoms. Chronic fatigue syndrome and mono.. A doc would have to make the diagnosis. I know from experience what your tutor says is true....you pick up every little thing the kids get. Look at the bright side, inafew years your immune system will be super strong.

How are you today my sweet?

Hugs

Jo xx

I'm still feeling pretty rubbish Jo. Thanks for asking, though

I'm going to have a couple of quiet days now (no nannying this week) and give the echinacea a chance to kick in, and if I'm still feeling bad by the end of the week I think enough is enough and I'll be off to the docs.

I just thought I'd let you all know that I went to the doctor this morning and I've got a chest infection. I'm on a 7 day course of anti-biotics.

It's likely I probably had an underlying infection for a while and that was making me feel so rubbish.

Hope you are feeling better!  

I hope the antibiotics work quickly with no yucky side-effects     

Oh sweetheart, I hope you are feeliig a lot better today. Lots of rest I think for you love but please keep us up to date as to how you are.

Hugs

Jo xx