Sick and tired of being 'sick and tired'!

Mr Brooksy · 31-07-2012, 11:29 AM

Hi all,

My young family has been having lots of issues with sickness. I'm used to getting sick, but not used to being stick almost every second week (I'm not exaggerating)! I'm told that its normal for young families to struggle with sickness in the first few years after a baby is born and weaned.

Those of you who have kids, how often have you guys been sick? And how do you protect you and your family from the constant onslaught, without becoming a hermit?

Of those who have had these experiences, how many own or run your own business or branch/centre etc or you're responsible for multiple staff?

Thanks Brooksy.

blueoval · 31-07-2012, 11:49 AM

Mr Brooksy - I do not have kids, so I may not qualify to offer any advice here based on your criteria, but I will provide my opinion if I may. For the past 3 or so years I have been dosing myself up on vitamin C. Not the low milligram versions but the high milligram versions when I feel like Im coming down with something. I find that if I take a dozen of the course of the day and repeat for the next few days after, I feel tonnes better and most of the time back to normal.

It sounds simple and a lot of people will bag the hell out of vitamin C as a joke, but seriously I find its the best method of boosting the immune system and ridding any colds, flu's and other similar issues.

It's cheap over the counter and shouldn't be overlooked first off prior to drugs from the GP.

AU Mont · 31-07-2012, 11:54 AM

Vitamin C combating flu symptoms, & boosting immune system is a false myth started many years ago

all you can do is eat right, exercise and try to wash your hands after being in shopping centres etc. because alot of crook people cough in there hands and then push a shopping trolley for example

blueoval · 31-07-2012, 12:02 PM

say what you want, it works for me and I'm keeping to it.

As for washing hands etc, this is true.

**Polyal** · 31-07-2012, 12:03 PM

Ha I feel your pain...we just went through two weeks off one child getting a cold, then passing it to another two and finally we (the parents) got it once they cleared. It was a tough bugger this time aswell.

All part of growing up mate, dont know how old your kids are but IMO a bit of sickness makes them stronger. Mine go to creche a couple of times a week so they pick up all kinds of bugs etc...thats life.

As above, keeping them active during winter and good food is about all you can do. We do the Vitamin C thing, cant see it hurting, try not to use medicines until its "out of control".

Its hard, because no one sleeps well and you get snappy.

Cam · 31-07-2012, 12:12 PM

Well I'm a single dad and my boy and I used to constantly get sick. For 2 years he was never sympton-free for more then a few days at time. He eats well, takes a kids multi but none of that is any match for a kindy-flu!

It wasn't until him and I both got swine flu that his immune system built up and has only been sick 3 times (in 10 months).

Although it may not help fight off the flu, taking a decent multi, eating right and exercise will all help (especially help you feel less tired!). Going for a morning run/workout is a great way to start the day!

And anybody who says they don't have time, isn't trying hard enough

Spudz27 · 31-07-2012, 12:23 PM

Yeah I know the feeling. My daughter is at school, my son at daycare and my mrs works in childcare. I am sick so often, I do not think I am ever well lol. Until I had kids, I was lucky to get even a sniffle once a year. Since having kids and a partner in childcare, I could give you a list as long as my arm. I am still getting over the Flu, not man flu, but full blown flu, which I have never had in my life, and can say I never want again. I am not even supposed to risk getting things like that because of my heart, but this strain was not part of the vaccine. All I can suggest is healthy eating, plenty of vitamins and face masks lol.

whitelion65 · 31-07-2012, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blueoval

For the past 3 or so years I have been dosing myself up on vitamin C. Not the low milligram versions but the high milligram versions when I feel like Im coming down with something. I find that if I take a dozen of the course of the day and repeat for the next few days after, I feel tonnes better and most of the time back to normal.

.

Good luck with your liver Blueoval !

Mr Brooksy · 31-07-2012, 12:29 PM

Sorry, I should have given a bit more info... I'm 30 as is my wife and we have a 14 month old. It's our first child.

You guys so far may be onto something, I have always been a sporting guy, but have pulled out of winter sports (soccer) and had a disrupted cricket season so I haven't been nearly as active as I used to be.

**supershifty** · 31-07-2012, 12:30 PM

My daughters are now 17 & 15 - but I understand your pain. Before our girls attended school they got the usual sniffles and high temps. Me & the Mrs rarely got sick at that stage. When they started school - well, that's a different story! Just about everything they brought home for the first couple of years, we got too. It settled after that - my only guess is that our immune systems built up resistance. My Mrs was always a stickler for healthy food and cleanliness - without that, things may have been worse. We also didn't rush off to the Dr to get antibiotics everytime something came up - we believed to give the immune system a fighting chance, not everyone will agree with what we did, but I think it worked for my family.

I think the biggest hassle we had was head lice in the end - what a mission that was to get rid of! I don't wish that on anyone!

Cheers!

poppa smurf · 31-07-2012, 12:34 PM

diat and exercise is the key.....nothing better than fresh air and sunshine

if you are not eating correctly a multivitamin may be of some benefit.....some will swear by the vitamin C.....I dont know...so cant comment

the flu immunisation is pretty much a waste of time because the one you are immunised against will not be the one that gets you.....I speak from experience

you may also be suffering from SBS or sick building syndrome......get the house open to blow the germs away as much as possible

the cold wont harm bubs.....no eskimo ever died from the cold....the bugs are the ones that get you

wash hands before eating anything and especially after shopping and so forth

kids are well known little grubs.......they carry every disease known to mankind.....I suggest you dispose of them immediately

but I do know of a couple of folks who can become attached and if this must be well I guess keep them warm, well ventilated and away from yourself

outside is your key to wellness.....sunshine and fresh air cleanses the soul and builds up your immune system by continuously exposing you to small amounts of bugs on a daily basis

but you will still get wogs and coughs......thats nature telling you that you are not invincible..... not everyday is going to be happy happy joy joy!

good luck and keep the tissues handy

blueoval · 31-07-2012, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whitelion65

Good luck with your liver Blueoval !

My liver is perfectly fine mate.

AU Mont · 31-07-2012, 12:37 PM

one of my kids falls sick all the time, ever since a nasty tick spent 5 days on his head without me noticing it.... that was a couple years ago. :(

my other kid is fairly lazy, however has never gotten ill from the flu....... ever.

The Yeti · 31-07-2012, 12:54 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6c1NYCEecbs

I was one of the sickes people I new, and when I got kids the situation got worse.

I did 2 things to rectify this, A got fit, I was 130+ kg I dropped down to under a 100 and this worked wonders, I also got a regular flu shot, and I went for 5 years with out getting even a sniffel

over the last few years for a number of reasons I havent been looking after my self, my wight has ballooned out to arround 110kg and this year I neglected to get the flu shot and now some one only has to phone in sick and I get what ever they have, I'm struggeling with it at the moment

for me this is the final straw, when I'm right I'm back out and exercizing again and as of last week Ive stoped eating **** and so on. like you I'm tired of being sick and tired

blueoval · 31-07-2012, 01:03 PM

Well done Yeti. Exercise is definitely a rudimentary part of my life too and has really lifted my health in many ways, everyday sickness being one of them. Keeping your weight down, healthy foods in, and maintaining a regular exercise routine is certainly an excellent way of reducing your chances of everyday colds and flu.

Mr Brooksy · 31-07-2012, 01:08 PM

That YouTube clip is hilarious! Good find

brett7777 · 31-07-2012, 01:32 PM

I read an article where they suggested that garlic & cod liver oil boost your immune system.

brett7777 · 31-07-2012, 01:34 PM

Also read that very high doses of vit C can give you diarrhea.

blueoval · 31-07-2012, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brett7777

Also read that very high doses of vit C can give you diarrhea.

It can, but that's the time you should reduce the dosage.

http://www.orthomolecular.org/resour...s/v01n12.shtml

saber · 31-07-2012, 01:42 PM

Where I work, we have a fair few folks who hail from various parts of the UK.
Kinda strange that the good majority seems to get sick 2-3 times per year….they claim the “bugs” here are different to those in the UK…

Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on your view) while others all around me fall sick, I can’t seem to catch anything!

BlueBear · 31-07-2012, 01:43 PM

Having been in your position, albeit many years ago, I would suggest that you don't overlook the matter of stress.
I have run my own business, or managed them for others for most of my life, and I can only tell you from experience, stress will win, it cannot be avoided.

Consider, when it was just the 2 of you, you could no doubt come home and get some relaxation, or maybe just go out together, take a weekend away etc. now however, I bet you come home to a stressed out wife, who just wants you to get the baby off her hands so she can have a bit of time out, or even just to get things done.
Now add that the baby is sickly and it just multiplies itself over and over. now you get less sleep, and probably not good long sleeps either, you keep pushing yourself even when your not well, your wife is the same, your both getting irritable with each other, result = no real chance to recharge either for yourself or your wife.
Perhaps you now even don't want to come home from work too early, and then feel guilty about that too, it's a vicious circle hey?

What to do?
Fist, you need to talk with each other about the need you both have to recharge, then discuss how you can each get a chance to have some time out regularly, unfortunately, you wont get the chance very often to have the time out together, but if you work on it together you will get through it and it will get better.

if you don't?
Both your business and/or your marriage will fail. I should have capitalised WILL.

like I said, stress will win if you don't take steps to deal with it.

I only wish someone had told me this many years ago, I wouldn't be the mental mess I am now.

Cheers,

nstg8a · 31-07-2012, 01:46 PM

I've had the flu jab every year for the last 7-8 years and haven't had more than a sniffle.
Didn't get it this year and so far I've had the flu three times.

Got a late shot a couple of weeks ago, hopefully that's the end of it.

Flu jabs work.

Mr Brooksy · 31-07-2012, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueBear

Having been in your position, albeit many years ago, I would suggest that you don't overlook the matter of stress.
I have run my own business, or managed them for others for most of my life, and I can only tell you from experience, stress will win, it cannot be avoided.

Consider, when it was just the 2 of you, you could no doubt come home and get some relaxation, or maybe just go out together, take a weekend away etc. now however, I bet you come home to a stressed out wife, who just wants you to get the baby off her hands so she can have a bit of time out, or even just to get things done.
Now add that the baby is sickly and it just multiplies itself over and over. now you get less sleep, and probably not good long sleeps either, you keep pushing yourself even when your not well, your wife is the same, your both getting irritable with each other, result = no real chance to recharge either for yourself or your wife.
Perhaps you now even don't want to come home from work too early, and then feel guilty about that too, it's a vicious circle hey?

What to do?
Fist, you need to talk with each other about the need you both have to recharge, then discuss how you can each get a chance to have some time out regularly, unfortunately, you wont get the chance very often to have the time out together, but if you work on it together you will get through it and it will get better.

if you don't?
Both your business and/or your marriage will fail. I should have capitalised WILL.

like I said, stress will win if you don't take steps to deal with it.

I only wish someone had told me this many years ago, I wouldn't be the mental mess I am now.

Cheers,

Yeah, stress is fairly high at the best of times. Even my staff tell me I'm over doing it. Something to note, that stress rises higher when your wife actually works for you as well... and your baby is at your work place.

I have been thinking about asking friends to look after the little one once in a while (plenty keep offering). It's just that my wife keeps putting the idea on ice as she is a little over protective.

galaxy xr8 · 31-07-2012, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nstg8a

I've had the flu jab every year for the last 7-8 years and haven't had more than a sniffle.
Didn't get it this year and so far I've had the flu three times.

Got a late shot a couple of weeks ago, hopefully that's the end of it.

Flu jabs work.

Do not mistake the "flu" with the common "cold", the flu jab is to protect against influenza and if you got it or anybody else you would know it as you would be layed up in bed and more then likely in hospital.
I would say you got a common cold not the flu, and the influenza jab does not stop people getting the common cold which many people are lead to believe.

Cheese3 · 31-07-2012, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nstg8a

I've had the flu jab every year for the last 7-8 years and haven't had more than a sniffle.
Didn't get it this year and so far I've had the flu three times.

Got a late shot a couple of weeks ago, hopefully that's the end of it.

Flu jabs work.

I have refused to get the flu shot the last 15 years (25 now) i DONT get sick, i can't remember the last time i was home from school now work with a sniffle/cough/cold.

I truely beleive "shots" are worst off and im a HUGE beleiver in this article http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/vic...-1226437596794 I know this covers every issue, but i remember when i was a kid i was climbing trees at a young age, eating sand, catching lizards/ playing in the drain catching tabpoles ect ect ect i was outside in rain/hail or shine now days what "modern" families beleive exercise these days is opening up a window and playing the WII

I just want to make clear!!! This is my own opinion/view only, i am not having a go at anyone on these forums, not a personal attack directed at anyone.

nstg8a · 31-07-2012, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by galaxy xr8

Do not mistake the "flu" with the common "cold", the flu jab is to protect against influenza and if you got it or anybody else you would know it as you would be layed up in bed and more then likely in hospital.
I would say you got a common cold not the flu, and the influenza jab does not stop people getting the common cold which many people are lead to believe.

Sigh.

I had the flu, even the local doc said it was the flu.
And the flu does not 'more than likely end up in hospital' that's only for the more severe cases.

Gotta love how people who don't know me, never saw me when i was crook can tell what was wrong with me.
. Who needs docs when aff has all the experts needed in a one stop shop./

outside · 31-07-2012, 03:02 PM

for me its giving blood, i used to get a cold/flu 2 or 3 times a year but since giving blood not once in the last 5 years have i had as much as a runny nose
works for me

Mr Brooksy · 31-07-2012, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by outside

for me its giving blood, i used to get a cold/flu 2 or 3 times a year but since giving blood not once in the last 5 years have i had as much as a runny nose
works for me

Thats... errr different. Never heard of that before, but as long as it works for you.

DoreSlamR · 31-07-2012, 03:11 PM

I feel your pain, been sick and tired of being sick and tired for a long time now...

The last 3 years during the colder months I would be continually sick with bronchitis, it would back off for a few weeks then I'd get a head cold and start over again, going straight to my lungs.

When I say it backs off, I would still get coughing fits during the day, to the point of choking and vomiting.

A year ago I diagnosed myself as having asthma but it took four different doctors to finally come to the same conclusion.

The first two fobbed me off as just having a common cold and said I should harden up because everyone has got a cold right now.

The third at least tried to get to the bottom of it by getting x-rays, blood tests, and an EKG.

Ended up writing up a flu vaccine script for me and said come back when it's gone and we'll jab you...

That was three weeks ago and I hadn't gotten better, so I went to ANOTHER doctor, described my symptoms as I did with all the other doctors and he said "text book asthma"

We'll see I guess, I'll be a new man in a week he says, since I've been living with daily, untreated asthma attacks for 3 years...I think he's right.

galaxy xr8 · 31-07-2012, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nstg8a

Sigh.

I had the flu, even the local doc said it was the flu.
And the flu does not 'more than likely end up in hospital' that's only for the more severe cases.

Gotta love how people who don't know me, never saw me when i was crook can tell what was wrong with me.
. Who needs docs when aff has all the experts needed in a one stop shop./

Your right I don't know you but I do know when people complain or whinge that they had a flu is more often or not just a cold, especially if they had it 3 times with in a yr

I work in the health sector ( so I guess you are right again, I am an expert,

) and see this more times then not,

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/coldflu.htm