Avoid getting sick while working in a clinic??

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Specializes in Cardiac, Home Health, Primary Care.

I'm in my MSN program and EVERY semester have come down with horrible sinus infection or cold. Before clinicals I seemed to have my rhinitis (vasomotor) somewhat under control but NO MORE. Currently battling what is at least my fourth URI this year (likely another 1 or 2 in there) and only thing I know that's changed is I'm working in clinics where people bring every viral illness in.

I wash my hands. I use hand sanitizer constantly. I take a good multivitamin.

What seems to help you? Or is this something new people to clinics go through?

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First the disclaimer: I am NOT a doctor so don't take my advice as medical advice.

Having said that, I swear to you that I had a whole list of issues from sinus infections, heartburn, abdominal pain, colon infections, UTI, etc.. I did a body/colon cleanse and cleaned up my diet and have not been sick for four years! No more Prilosec or Nexium. No more antibiotics. No anti-inflammatory. Nothing!

I believe many people get very sick and continually get sicker over time simply because they are not listening to their own body. They run to doctors where you promptly get treated for the symptoms but not the underlying disease. It could be many things... but for me I think the diet was making me extremely ill. I now avoid gluten and dairy, and try my best to eat more whole fruits and vegetables.

Oh- and multivitamin will most likely do nothing if the underlying problem is something else like food allergy, candida (too much bad bacteria in the GI), or any host of other things.

If you are serious about it, then what do you have to lose? At least try eliminating processed foods and focus more on water and raw fruits and vegetables. No pop/soda. No/little sugar. Nothing out of a box like Mac & Cheese. If you can avoid gluten- do it (at least try). When I did this I felt ten years younger and knew it was key to my health.

I wish you the best and I do know how you feel. It is awful... Please, PLEASE, take my word for it and try to improve the food you put into your body!

PS: If you are diebetic or something else then clearly you should speak to your doctor about dietary changes.

Regards,

LW

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Probiotics 25 Billion CFU daily.. you'll be amazed!

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Specializes in critical care, ER,ICU, CVSURG, CCU.

i can not say enough GOOD! about probiotics :)

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

I went through just about every virus and bacterial infection known to humankind the first few years I was in healthcare. Now I hardly ever get sick, and I'm nobody's idea of a health-conscious individual---I eat all the wrong stuff, am overweight, don't exercise regularly, and live with a lot of stress. I don't know, maybe I just caught most of the illnesses when I was younger and am simply running out of 'em. :roflmao:

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Specializes in Cardiac, Home Health, Primary Care.

I usually take probiotics but just get what's on sale. Need to just suck it up and get some good stuff!

I'll have to try a cleanse when I have time to think! Between work, clinicals, and papers it's hard for me (living by myself) to do much but convenient foods (shameful I know lol)

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In my opinion, I agree that probiotics are great IF your GI is healthy already. I look at like a lawn... if your lawn is already infested with weeds then adding fertilizer without weed killer does nothing to eliminate the weeds. Probiotics are meant to restore the good gut flora, but if you have significant bad flora in your gut then probiotics will probably not help. Just my 2 cents...

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Don't feel shameful, just acknowledging it is a great start. What I/we are advocating is that you have clearly reached a point that you should be really focused on your own health- what can YOU do to make yourself healthier. Because obviously, you have had to attend doctors this whole time and yet continue to get sicker, right? You are like I was and need to me more proactive in your own health. I had sinus infections 2 to 3 times annually for at least ten years. Now, I have not had a single infection in four years. I have not taken any sinus medications at all! ZERO. How does one explain that? It was not the doctors that helped me. It was a hippee in Ohio that knew a lot about nutrition and body toxicity.... I kid you not. I geniunely feel that she saved me!

NOTE: I do still value modern medicine, however. I am not saying it is "bad". But... in this case modern medicine did not heal me. I had countless doctor visits, four colonoscopy's, at least 6 diverticulitis infections, on and on.... was terrible.

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Specializes in Cardiac, Home Health, Primary Care.

Sounds like me! I don't go to doctors often until it gets bad. I usually wait it out and use my neti and essential oils. I have been diagnosed with reflux after chronic coughing.

Do you know if mostly fruit is ok with most cleanses (as far as clean food)? My major problem is I HATE almost all vegetables. I do like my fruit though....

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I am exactly the same! I have a very very hard time getting the recommended vegetable intake. In fact, I still don't get near the recommended servings. But see, right there you have confirmed in my mind that you are probably like me and not getting proper nutrition for good health. What I have to do, is to juice my vegetables. I put about 1/2 vegetable and 1/2 fruits so the blender is literally topped off. I add water to maybe about 2 cups. You can add some yogurt for flavor and texture (and it's great for good gut bacteria). Blend it up and a full pitcher is about 3-4 glasses. Put the pitcher in the fridge and drink throughout your day!

You are not alone here. It is not easy, but I am almost certain that you can reverse this and feel amazing. Now if *only* I could get my butt on that stupid treadmill! :)

Regards,

LW

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Oh and you mentioned URI. Did you mean UTI as in Urinary Tract Infection?

If UTI, do you drink enough water? I do not drink enough water and I noticed that I have bladder issues with pop and beer. So I rarely drink pop, and pretty much never drink beer. But wine or bourbon do not affect me... (thank goodness! :) )

Regards,

LW

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Specializes in Cardiac, Home Health, Primary Care.

URI = upper respiratory infection. A mix of sinus infections and what seem to be textbook colds

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