Weak Immune System - Infections, bugs and so on.

[leashy11]

Sorry if this is in the wrong place, I could only find topics about the immune system in parenting. Does anyone else seem to have a rubbish immune system? More to the point does anyone know how to boost the immune system?

I've come down with infections repeatedly this year, I'm on my 3rd course of antibiotics in 5 months because I just can't fight minor things off and they turn into major things. For example, recently a few people around me have had a mild bug that gave them a headache and a bit of a sore throat for a few days then they were fine. I got it and thought I would be too so did nothing for a week by which point it had turned into a full blown ear, nose and throat infection and has progressed into laryngitis so I can't even speak now! Even on antibiotics I'm having a struggle getting over it and have no idea why my immune system is so lacking.

Anyone else like this?

[Jill]

Regular (2-3 times a week) exercises do miracles
Then something goes wrong with the knees or any other weak point, you have to rest and then start over... but still much better than no activity at all.

[Spireite]

No sorry twin, I think I've got a strong immune system (though I don't wish to tempt fate). I have one cold every two years and I can blame a particularly stressful event for it. That's it. Interesting topic though. I think you need a good immune system for prolotherapy to work.

[leashy11]

Oh dear! Looks like I'm doomed as far as prolo goes then! I get every cold going even though I do a bit of exercise every day and they last and last until I appear to have a near constant cold going on! Definitely not allergies either because I'm on meds for those already. I literally live in fear of people with colds in the winter because I seem to run into them everywhere!! If I get a stomach bug I'm laid up for at least a week then incredibly weak and faint for about another week after that. I really don't know what the problem is with my immune system.

[Jill]

There're immunology specialists, may be you should try to get an appointment since simple solutions aren't working.

[leashy11]

Hmm my HMS twin, maybe stress is my problem. I've had constant stress for at least 7 years now and it's just one thing after another going wrong and causing me huge amounts of stress that just keeps building, perhaps I need some relaxation.

[Rosebud]

Leashy11, I think you hit the nail on the head there... Stress does have a big impact on your immune system!
Chronic stress weakens your immune system.

Here's a cut & paste from a good article about it;

"Fast Facts
* People like to ignore it but stress is a big deal. In our society it can be unrelenting. Stress can come from both physical and emotional sources. Illness is stressful for example. Stress affects the hormone cortisol produced by the adrenal glands.
* In small quantities cortisol is helpful. It’s anti-inflammatory, speeds tissue repair and controls excess immune cell production.
* Continued stress raises cortisol levels. Cortisol slows the production of “good” prostaglandins. Prostaglandins (localized hormone like cellular messengers) are derived from essential fatty acids like fish oil. “Good” prostaglandins support immune function, dilate blood vessels, inhibit “thick” blood and are anti-inflammatory. Slowed production allows for the opposite - inflammation, immune suppression, etc.
* During a period of raised cortisol (from stress), immune system cells disappear from the blood. The part of the immune system most sensitive to increased cortisol levels are the Natural Killer Cells. Immune system function will plummet.
* As adrenals become fatigued, the production of cortisol and other hormone levels will fall. Lower levels of cortisol will allow immune system cells to circulate in excess."

If you want to read the whole thing it's righ here; http://immunedisorders.homestead.com/stress.html

[Spireite]

Prolonged stress is definitely bad for healing, which I've researched a bit, and presumably the immune system which are closely related. (The immune system leaps into action to do the healing - first the invaders or damaged cells are hoovered up etc etc) I avoid/postpone what stress I can (eg fighting appalling unprofessional solicitors, useless council) for a couple of weeks post prolo to give it a chance to work (and let these useless professionals know how much stress they are causing).

Stress for me reduces the quality or quantity of sleep I get, and that is when most healing (and presumably germ fighting) takes place. Hence try and avoid anything which interferes with sleep.

I also think that a dysfunctional, misaligned body is stressful to itself! Something we injured people can't do too much about in a hurry. I also think that if cerain parts of the autonomic system is irritated, that can make us more anxious and stressed. Eg for me, if my neck is bad (eg just had prolo there) then it temporarily affects that side too.

There are some conditions though in which a weak immune system is a part, so maybe unfortunately you could have one of those.

Some minerals and vitamins are particularly good for boosting the immune system, which you could look up.

[leashy11]

Thanks for all the info, I'm going to look into supplements to help and try and get my stress levels down although I'm not sure how I'm going to achieve that as my stress is mostly due to circumstances I can't control or stop! I'm going to have to try harder to stick to my New Years resolution which I have every year: "Don't worry about things you can't change".

[lea197]

Hi

I have a weak immune system and always fighting viral infections off too and most of the time antibiotics do not work for me so i have to rest.
So i know how you feel

[Eloise]

One word about antibiotics - they can actually be the cause of future problems.

There was a study that showed that kids given antibiotics for ear infections were much more likely to get a recurrent infections within the next few months than kids given a pretend drug. The doctors and parents had no idea which the kid received - so no bias was there, and there was no increased problems of exploding ear drums or complications for the kids that got the pretend drug.

The explaination is - that when you take antibiotics - they kill the bacteria - and your body doesn't actually learn how to fight the infection - hence you then get the same infection AGAIN! Also, by killing off all the bacteria - even good bacteria - you then leave yourself open for re-infestation by even nastiers bacteria, and also bacteria that is resistant to the antibiotic that you have just taken. Also, the majority of infection - EVEN sinusitis!!!!! - are viral - and so taking an antibiotic just causes all the problems and does NOTHING for the infection. The reason of "preventing a secondary infection" is nonesense (unless you are at VERY high risk of death!) as you are opening up yourself to GET an even worse secondary infection by killing off all the harmless bacteria in your body and leaving the gap for a more dangerous bacteria to leap in.

So if you can - ride out an infection and take the paracetamol, fluids etc and plenty of rest - and you may actually be helping your immune system. Also, some daily gentle exercise (within your mobility limits) and a good diet full of vitamins and minerals can go along way. If you do want to take a supplement - get a good brand multivitamin that covers a wide variety rather than single vitamins. Also, things like the "friendly" bacteria yougurts can be very good - especially if you are forced to the point where you HAVE to take an antibiotic (i.e. to prevent a hospital admission)

[serenity79]

I do, but I have always attributed it to my ME/CFS. I seem to get every cold/bug/infection/tummy ache/sniffle that's going around. Just as I start picking up after suffering from one thing, it seems I catch something else and get knocked straight back down with it. It's so frustrating. I avoid antibiotics as much as possible because they make me feel so utterly rubbish, but sometimes they're needed. Always make sure I take my pro-biotics at the same time though, otherwise there's trouble!!

[leashy11]

I do avoid antibiotics as much as I can, I usually try to ride these things out until I get to the point where I'm extremely ill and only then go to the GP. I try all home methods first because I hate antibiotics, for the sinusitis I tried everything I could thnk of including steam but it just kept getting worse until I was completely over run with thick green mucous and it had spread to my ears and then laryngitis in my throat! I also take probiotics daily and have done for 20 years so it's not like I run to the doctors for antibiotics the second I get ill!! I do a bit of exercise every day too and take a multi vit which is why I'm baffled as to why my immune system is so poor. Until this year I hadn't taken antibiotics for years but I seem to be getting worse anyway.

On a more positive note I've recently found online that alot of people are saying coconut oil has helped their immune systems so I've ordered some to add to my wheatgrass smoothie each day. It contains an acid that's found in breast milk and we all know "breast is best"!!

[Shadowlady]

Hiya Leashy,

I've found that a good healthy diet isn't quite enough to keep me feeling healthy all the time, so I take a multi-vit most days and a slow-release-super-duper-high-strength-only-found-in-health-food-shops vit C supplement which does wonders for me and my immune system. It really is ridiculously high strength, so it needs to be slow release else it'd go straight through! Vit c is important for a healthy immune system, as are other things like zinc, but the vit c seems to be the most important bit for me. It's also water soluble, you don't keep stores of it so it needs topping up regularly and any excess you just pee out, so I probably have needlessly expensive pee, but I don't get ill half as often as I used to!

Hope you feel less stressed and much better soon!

Take it easy,

S

[ali280]

hello
I know exactly how you feel. this year alone i have had plurisy, chest infection, cellulitis, pharengitis(sp) , and shingles.
ever bug that is going around i get, and it takes a few doses of antibiotics to get rid of it. I usually try to get well on my own but if i leave it too long it just gets out of control and i get really ill...( Plurisy was a cold that went on too long)
hope you are well at the mo. take care and I understand what you are meaning... aint it C*** when you have a low immune system.