[Stephxxx]

I'm not asking for advice as such....perhaps just a bit of sympathy as I'm feeling very sorry for myself right now

Over the past month or so I've had a kidney infection, flu, three colds and have developed asthma which needs steroid inhalers. And now I've just been being sick thanks to a dodgy curry I reckon. When is my torture going to end?! I'm beginning to think I've upset the man upstairs

[Roy Batty]

Have you been tested for HIV?

[JOANNE REID]

Originally Posted by Roy Batty

Have you been tested for HIV?

What on EARTH?

[Stephxxx]

Thanks for that Thats made me feel a lot better

[Roy Batty]

Originally Posted by JOANNE REID

What on EARTH?

Calm down. Recurrent opportunistic infections, in particular respiratory problems, are a symptom of HIV. Sometimes it's not 'just a bit of a cold'. Sorry if it depresses anyone, but that's life.

[Excalibur1869]

Originally Posted by Roy Batty

Calm down. Recurrent opportunistic infections, in particular respiratory problems, are a symptom of HIV. Sometimes it's not 'just a bit of a cold'. Sorry if it depresses anyone, but that's life.

Tht's what sprung to my mind as well to be honest. From what I know about HIV, it reduces your immune systems ability to ward off infections.

Steph you should really see a doctor if you're worried.

[Barbella]

Originally Posted by Stephxxx

I'm not asking for advice as such....perhaps just a bit of sympathy as I'm feeling very sorry for myself right now

Over the past month or so I've had a kidney infection, flu, three colds and have developed asthma which needs steroid inhalers. And now I've just been being sick thanks to a dodgy curry I reckon. When is my torture going to end?! I'm beginning to think I've upset the man upstairs

I had a similar run of repeated illness like this when I was in my late twenties. Admittedly, I had had a stressful job, thenthe loss of the job as well as an unhealthy lifestyle and a family to look after.

TBH, the repeated Kidney infections were worse that the repeated chest infections and colds. They always made me feel very low and very ill and in pain.


The only thing I can suggest you can do is look at your lifestyle, diet etc and see if you can find ways to improve that.

If it helps, its does improve with time, its just once your immune system is challenged it becomes harder to fight off the next bug. But you will pick up, believe me.

And I didn't have HIV

[myss]

I was thinking about your immune system as well but more on the lines of your vitamin and minerals intake. According to my mum (!) sometimes recurrent colds and similar sniffles could be down to lack of iron in your diet or a particular vitamin (like Vitamin C).

Don't make them beat you down, hope you feel better soon.

[euphie]

I had a cold I couldn't shift last year - turned out I needed steroids, as it was a chest infection. As soon as I started them, I felt ok, and haven't had any bother since

[molliepops]

Diet, stress, worry, anaemia and several other things to check before worrying about HIV unless the OP is in a high risk catagory for it I would have thought !

I know this may sound crazy but I always seem to get recurrent infections if I am unhappy - happiness seems to be a cure for me.

[fitnessqueen]

Originally Posted by molliepops

Diet, stress, worry, anaemia and several other things to check before worrying about HIV unless the OP is in a high risk catagory for it I would have thought !

I know this may sound crazy but I always seem to get recurrent infections if I am unhappy - happiness seems to be a cure for me.

I agree- since my long term partner dumped me in June I have had thrush, cystitis and am now on my fourth bad cold.....

[suicidal Pat]

i find i feel excessively run down & unable to get rid of colds when i overdo things, rush round like an idiot, don't eat properly & don't rest enough.

[doughnut8]

Try not eating meat or dairy for a month and I am sure you will feel much better and also morally cleansed.

[euphie]

I always get cold sores / mouth ulcers when I'm run down, so maybe the same sort of thing?

[Minky_Bum]

I would get to the doctors and ask for some blood tests, at least that way you'll possibly rule out a load of stuff. I had the same kind of illnesses in my early 20s - turned out I had glandular fever.

[Sharanski]

Hi Steph,

I got a bad dose of flu followed by a viral infection in September. Still ill now, mid november some 6 weeks later.

I have also had loads of meds from GP including oral steroid tablets and inhalers.

==================

*Ignore* the peeps who said "have you been tested for HIV" -- you must know your own circumstances but in mine that is exceedingly unlikely unless someone infected me with a needle without me knowing .... (oh yeah that evil doctor with her flu jab needle -- ha ha).

=================

These things happen but I am *gradually* getting better -- but it is really *slow* ..... eating better (more healthily helps), as does taking lots of vit + min supplements (inc Echinacea + Garlic).

And at the weekend I was finally feeling well enough to try a small bit of exercise for the first time in ages and went out for a short bicycle ride.

Although I had to have my asthma inhalers with me (just in case) I felt slightly better afterwards.

======================

Big hugs + sympathy, Steph, because I know how being ill / not quite 100% for weeks and weeks makes you feel depressed and "what's the point? / when is it going to end?" -- I know that feeling, I've been there.

[Stephxxx]

Originally Posted by Sharanski

Hi Steph,

I got a bad dose of flu followed by a viral infection in September. Still ill now, mid november some 6 weeks later.

I have also had loads of meds from GP including oral steroid tablets and inhalers.

==================

*Ignore* the peeps who said "have you been tested for HIV" -- you must know your own circumstances but in mine that is exceedingly unlikely unless someone infected me with a needle without me knowing .... (oh yeah that evil doctor with her flu jab needle -- ha ha).

=================

These things happen but I am *gradually* getting better -- but it is really *slow* ..... eating better (more healthily helps), as does taking lots of vit + min supplements (inc Echinacea + Garlic).

And at the weekend I was finally feeling well enough to try a small bit of exercise for the first time in ages and went out for a short bicycle ride.

Although I had to have my asthma inhalers with me (just in case) I felt slightly better afterwards.

======================

Big hugs + sympathy, Steph, because I know how being ill / not quite 100% for weeks and weeks makes you feel depressed and "what's the point? / when is it going to end?" -- I know that feeling, I've been there.

Thanks for that - and for everyone elses comments. I've mentioned it to my doctor and he says if when I come back to him in 3 weeks for a review of my asthma meds I'm still unwell he'll organise some blood tests. He reckons my immune system might be a bit low which is probably right.

Thinking about it I've had quite a few ulcers and coldsores too so I'm probably just run down. My diet has been particularly poor recently too so that could have something to do with it, and adding it to the fact I work 12 hour shifts in a new job.....I'm not so worried now so thanks

Must admit it's a right pain though - I know no one enjoys being ill but I'm completely fed up of it now!!

[JBag]

Originally Posted by Stephxxx

and adding it to the fact I work 12 hour shifts in a new job

Yuk -- that could be a large part of the problem why you are so rundown Steph. Sounds like very long hours and if it is on shift system and some of them are at night it has probably caused you some sleep deprivation.

Sleep is one of the body's own best natural remedies therefore if you are working long hours / night shifts etc, you may be missing out on good regular sleep for body repair.

[Rob22]

Originally Posted by Roy Batty

Have you been tested for HIV?

That is a horrible thing to suggest, talk about frightening the OP.

The OP, may have IBS (irratable bowel syndrome) which results in watching what you eat (the right foods).

[Nesta Robbins]

Hi Steph,

Being so unwell for this length of time would make you extremely fed up and run down. I think it's worth having the blood tests the doctor suggested, as it can sometimes pick up small things too, that the doctor might not consider. I was confined to indoors for a long old time, trying to recover from illness and my blood tests showed up a chronic vitamin D deficency from lack of sunlight. Something people don't always think of, but can really zap the energy levels. Really easy to fix and within a week I felt miles better. Feel better soon, won't you.

[Roy Batty]

Originally Posted by Rob22

That is a horrible thing to suggest, talk about frightening the OP.

The OP, may have IBS (irratable bowel syndrome) which results in watching what you eat (the right foods).

It's just the first thing that came to my mind. Other suggestions put forward here could also be the reason behind the OP's health problems. A simple test would rule it out, so it's not that big of a deal.