Getting sick over and over again

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It's only April but I am getting another cold, or URI or whatever it is- this is the fourth time I've been sick since December. I had a doc appt today, but she did not seem concerned and did not Rx me anything. I've been wondering if I have a secondary bacterial infection. I have a sore throat, body aches, fatigue, cough, chest soreness and congestion. Another doc Rx'ed me a Z-Pack in March. I felt better for a couple of weeks, then it came back.

Anyone else been getting sick repeatedly in the last few months?

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Specializes in Women's Health, L&D,hi risk OB.

Could it be somethings else/too/in addition...EBV...Candida...?

Might be way off, but I was there too, had to find a good family physician who really got to the bottom of it. I made some simple dietary changes too! But that was the way for the first 3 yrs of nursing for me too!

fmwf

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Specializes in Family Medicine, Outpatient Pediatrics, IBCLC.

I used to get sick ALL the time. I almost constantly had an URI. Then I started taking regular allergy meds (allegra and veramyst) and I've been healthy for almost a yr!!! ::knock wood:: I think maybe I was just a breeding ground for illness.

PS. This is NOT medical advice, just my own personal anecdote.

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Specializes in Med Surg, Ortho.

I use to get sick all the time, in fact, several times a year. Just general sore throats, colds and achy like sickness. This may sound gross and some people do it and some don't, but sometimes I pick my nose (when it needs it)......okay don't laugh or flame me please. The only difference is that now, I will always always make sure I wash my hands before I dig in my nose or my eyes. Since I've been doing this, I haven't been sick in months. Same goes for my daughter.....I tell her if she must pick, wash first and of course after. These germs just find a way to get in our body so frequent hand washing is the only way I see to control it for myself. Hope you feel better.

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Specializes in cardiac, ortho, med surg, oncology.

A lot of stuff URI and stomach bugs have been going around and around this winter where I live. Maybe because it's been a long winter here......

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Specializes in Family Medicine, Outpatient Pediatrics, IBCLC.

Good point!!! Eyes are big one, since people often rub or pick at them without thinking twice. I used to be guilty of that (cuz of my allergies) but when I started nannying, I began using the inside of my shirt to avoid inserting germs!

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Specializes in CVICU, anesthesia.

Definitely try another Doc because it's better to be safe than sorry, I think nobody knows your body better than YOU and if you think something is off then keep looking until you get an answer that eases your concerns. BUT if you think you're just getting sick a lot because you're run down, not enough sleep, stress, etc. then try what I did: VITAMINS :up:! I used to get sick a lot and I don't think I've gotten a cold all year. It can be expensive and a pain in the butt, but this is what I take: 2 gummy multi vitamins, 1 vitamin C, 800mg vitamin D, slow FE iron, 2 fish oil and 2 flax seed oil. I swear it has made all the difference for me. I also religiously use Zycam if I feel something coming on. I'm talking 4 or 5 a day for 2 or 3 days when I feel a little sore throat coming on. (Knock on wood) but this regimen has worked for me for a year! :D

As a side note...if I ate a little better, maybe I wouldn't need all those vitamins haha! I really do try to eat well and get in my fruits and veggies, but we all know how well a balanced diet fits into nursing school (NOT)!!! :uhoh3:

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Specializes in Women's Health, L&D,hi risk OB.
Definitely try another Doc because it's better to be safe than sorry, I think nobody knows your body better than YOU and if you think something is off then keep looking until you get an answer that eases your concerns. BUT if you think you're just getting sick a lot because you're run down, not enough sleep, stress, etc. then try what I did: VITAMINS :up:! I used to get sick a lot and I don't think I've gotten a cold all year. It can be expensive and a pain in the butt, but this is what I take: 2 gummy multi vitamins, 1 vitamin C, 800mg vitamin D, slow FE iron, 2 fish oil and 2 flax seed oil. I swear it has made all the difference for me. I also religiously use Zycam if I feel something coming on. I'm talking 4 or 5 a day for 2 or 3 days when I feel a little sore throat coming on. (Knock on wood) but this regimen has worked for me for a year! :D

As a side note...if I ate a little better, maybe I wouldn't need all those vitamins haha! I really do try to eat well and get in my fruits and veggies, but we all know how well a balanced diet fits into nursing school (NOT)!!! :uhoh3:

I agree 100%. I started my old regimen of cod liver oil first thing, eating lots of fruits and veggies and I am good finally!

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Specializes in LTC, case mgmt, agency.

One of my co-workers has been going through the same thing. She's on her 4th mutation of the cold/flu virus thing. She takes really good care of herself so it isn't that. But she had taken antibiotics from her MD as well and it came back in a few days with maybe a slight variation of one kind or another. Sorry to hear you are not feeling well. I wish she were better too so I could tell you what she did, but she is still sick yet as well. Take care and I hope you feel better soon. Something is going around.

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Thanks for all the advice, everyone.

LittleWing21 made me think of something-

I have an eye disorder which has gotten worse in the last year. It causes a lot of eye irritation and I touch my eyes frequently- much moreso in the last few months. Maybe I've been picking up more viruses because of this. I am going to be more vigilant with my hand hygeine.

My latest cold symptom is that burning post nasal drip. I'm sick of being sick!

I am going to be driving across three states next week for a ten-day job orientation/training. I sooo don't want to be sick for that!

Thanks again for all your replies.

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Specializes in Too many to list.

Perhaps you never really got over your last infection, and need to have a culture done of what you are coughing up. One of our staff had this problem. Three back to back URIs turned out to be H. Influenzae. When finally she was given the appropriate antibiotic to treat it, the problem resolved.

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Could it be somethings else/too/in addition...EBV...Candida...?

Might be way off, but I was there too, had to find a good family physician who really got to the bottom of it. I made some simple dietary changes too! But that was the way for the first 3 yrs of nursing for me too!

fmwf

What is EBV? E.Bola Virus?:lol2:

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