low immune system

Susannahmia

Ok, over the last 7 months Ive had to take about 6 courses of antibiotics. My immune system seems to be almost non-existent and i just seem to catch everything going and get worse and worse if i don’t take any antibiotics. Iv always been like this. My most common ailments are chest infections (probably as i had pneumonia as a baby). Im worried about taking so many antibiotics as ill grow immune and it sucks as i can’t drink and more importantly my pill is messed up each time:D . Anyways i can feel a sore throat coming on (almost guaranteed into turning into an ear infection). Im already taking Echinacea everyday and vitamins, which defiantly help. Can anyone recommend something else to help build me up? This especially sucks as Im supposed to be going to oxegen for the weekend with the boyfriend and i defiantly don’t want to be sick or on antibiotics! Both would ruin the weekend.

Nevyn

Talk to your dr and get a series of tests done to rule EVERYTHNG out.

humanji

Any second now Beruthiel will tell you that this is not a medical forum and you can't look for that advice here as nobody is qualified. See a doctor.

smash

imred wrote:

Ok, over the last 7 months Ive had to take about 6 courses of antibiotics. My immune system seems to be almost non-existent and i just seem to catch everything going and get worse and worse if i don’t take any antibiotics. Iv always been like this. My most common ailments are chest infections (probably as i had pneumonia as a baby). Im worried about taking so many antibiotics as ill grow immune and it sucks as i can’t drink and more importantly my pill is messed up each time:D . Anyways i can feel a sore throat coming on (almost guaranteed into turning into an ear infection). Im already taking Echinacea everyday and vitamins, which defiantly help. Can anyone recommend something else to help build me up? This especially sucks as Im supposed to be going to oxegen for the weekend with the boyfriend and i defiantly don’t want to be sick or on antibiotics! Both would ruin the weekend.

if you find something tell me, My wife has the same prob, a few years ago she got an infection and reacted to an antibiotic and it was pretty bad - since then she gets everything and every day she feels like crap because of something. She's been to doctors, specialists, dietitians and no result yet.

smash

I forgot there is a chinese place on top floor of dundrum there, they do good alergy tests, maybe try it out and it could help you avoid things that bring you down.

fuzzywiggle

Go to the doctor and get it checked out

J.R.HARTLEY

always consult your doctor, however if they've said you have problems and you're simply looking for additional help then i can recommend ginger, very good for raising the white blood cell count, and one of the reccomended foodstuffs to chemo patients for that reason.


edit :actually having reread your post go to a different doctor, no matter how nice this one is if they just keep sticking you on antibiotics for 6 months then they aren't looking after you.

Dragan

As already said go to a doctor. However there are foods you can eat that will raise you immune system, like onions and garlic, and this like glutamine which is a naturally occuring amino acid that you get from meat, or you could supplement with.

You could also take something like Gabba, or zinc which would help a lot.

Oh yeah, and go to your doctor.:D

AnitaMcCluskey

If the doctor cannot help, you can go to your chemist and ask for a tonic. Usually comes in medicine form. You don't need a prescription and it's not expensive. Works a treat for me when my immune system is down.

Oriel

*looks at his watch*
She's usually here by now...

finnpark

imred wrote:

Ok, over the last 7 months Ive had to take about 6 courses of antibiotics.

For Fcuk's sake. Your killing yourself man. Im surprised you have any immune system left.

This really angers me. Doctors handing out subscriptions willy nilly. The first thing you have to do is stop taking these death pills. :mad:

I really think you should demand more answers from your doctor and google the Internet for ideas, tips etc to why your immune system is low and what you can do to strengthen it up although if you keep taking antibiotics you won't have any immune system left. Demand answers from a doctor and don't just accept the easy way out - antibiotics.

Stress, is a major cause of low immune system. Also, do you get plenty of fresh air, excercise, eat large daily meal, drink orange juice etc

finnpark

Some things I found on Google:

Stress
Drink
Lack of Sleep
Low Fat Diet

Miss Fluff

Good you are taking echinacea, that will help. Go to your local health food shop and get yourself some acidopholus as well, this will help you when you have had to take so many antibiotics. Won't boost your immune system but will repair some of the bad work done by so many. As much leafy green veg as you can possibly eat, as well as garlic capsules too.

Marksie

I find zinc helps, you can get it in chewable forms

But do go to the doctors. I dont know what age you are but get it checked out.

My late nephew suffered similar and was diagnosed with Primary antibody deficiency in his early 20s, its exceedingly rare (1:20,000).

I am NOT saying you have it at all, but please get it checked out.

b3t4

I would highly, highly advise you go to a different doctor. If you have been going to a number of different doctors then make sure they are aware of how many anti-biotics you have already taken this year.

For 10 or so years my family carted my sister from doctor to doctor, hospital to hospital until finally one doctor sent her for the right tests and she has been healthy ever since. Previously, the doctors had just put her on more and more anti-biotics. At the time also, there was no thoughts of sugarfree anti-biotics so her teeth are now also ruined.

A doctor that keeps throwing anti-biotics at you is not worth there weight in salt.

A.

Strokesfan

Take PHARMATON for a few months - I didn't get sick at all when I was on it and I'm the queen of sniffly colds and infections! Get into a proper sleep routine as well. Antibiotics are terrible things I agree with b3t4. Pharmaton is excellent.

Paulj

i used to be the same. I used to pick up regular chest infections, they used always start the exact same way. First i notice a bit of a soar throat, then a runny nose, then the green flem and wheeziness. Went to a number of doctors they always just prescribe antibiotics.

What i've since discovered is that smoking cigarettes really weaken's my lungs (one doctor said that). I've since given up the fags and i think it helps a lot. Also i have excercise-induced asthma. The asthma is rarely a problem except when i get chest infections and do loads of excercise. Now, anytime i notice an infection coming along i take my preventative (the brown one) inhaler 3 times a day. I'm also taking that echinashia (sp?) stuff. I rarely get chest infections now.

(of course talk to your doctor about the inhaler stuff, the dose required depends on the person and the strength of the inhaler)

Black Swan

See a medical doctor and get checked out. Then seriously think about some form of physical fitness routine, in combination with a healty diet. Fitness and diet can help a lot, provided that you don't have a medical condition that warrants treatment first.

LegacyUser

I used to suffer with an eating disorder and my white blood cell count was low according to my doctor and this was causing my immune system to become very weak... He started giving me injections.. 2 a week I think it was for about a month until it improved.. Unfortunately I can't remember the name of the stuff in the shots.. I know it consisted of some numerals and letters like E11 or something like that... I'm sure your doctor would know it if you inquired about it... Good luck anyway

spurious

A doctor who prescribes 6 courses of anti-biotics in one year is a doctor that possibly needs to be changed.
You're destroying any chance you have of fighting infections on your own.