My adorable grandson, aka the germ gremlin, keeps giving me his bugs; coughs, colds, hand foot and mouth and most recently strep throat. The thing is im struggling to recover every time. I understand im not 21 any more but I'm only 47. I'm on a modified FODMAP diet, everything cooked from scratch and I take supplements, including vit D. As long as im not actually ill I exercise regularly and get plenty fresh air. I also get between 7 and 9 hours sleep each night and follow good sleep hygiene practices.
Each time I get a bug I end up with time off work. I seem to be permanently exhausted for weeks after. It seems to take me forever to shake off even a simple cold and its starting to interfere with my life. I'm not able to support my family the way I want to or engage in social activities properly because I'm so often ill or just too tired to attend things.
Im wondering if this is an IBS thing. Does anyone know of any links between IBS, fatigue and being unable to deal with illnesses?
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BlackIsleGirl
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See an internal medicine doctor (GP). There are a number of things this could be. I don't think IBS causes the type of symptoms you describe. It mostly causes gastrointestinal issues.
Difficulty getting over infections is not typically a symptom.
tried to speak to a GP about it and got told I'm not young any more and everyone is getting bad bugs because of lockdown. About as much help as a chocolate fireguard im afraid but thanks for the thoughts though
I'm aware that lockdown has affected everyone's immune system but this issue has been going on for as long as I've had IBS, which is why im wondering if there's a link, and that was well before lockdown. Its certainly got worse over the last year and will be because I've had more exposure but I don't think its the cause. I did try to tell my GP but he was too busy pontificating to listen to me.
I am sorry you get this. Being unwell with any bug is a struggle, but it's just what we don't need for that to go on for weeks afterwards.
It makes a kind of sense though, because I've heard that I think, something like 80% of our immune system works from the gut.
I wonder if it might help if you can get a microbiome profile done? Those don't come cheap, but one of those would show which species are out of balance in your gut bacteria.
But then, I imagine it would take some doing to find the exact species you need. I have no idea where you could get tailor made supplements like that but there has to be some place.
I would like to have that done but can't afford it at the moment at all, with my skyrocketing energy bills like a bad dream right now and being only on my pension.
unfortunately, that's out of my price range just now too. I might do some research into gut biota and the immune system, GPs are a bit more inclined to be helpful if you've got a direction to point them in. Thanks for the pointer.
It's interesting, and made me think. Almost a year before I started to get IBS symptoms, I caught some bug in the middle of November 2016. It was horrible and came and went with awful chest symptoms. Then it went and came back etc. It didn't clear up until the first week of January, and I had a cough for a while after even though feeling better. That was the first time I hadn't been able to shake off a bug in max. 2 weeks.
My gut felt fine at the time though. And my diet was excellent and I had healthy exercise daily in fresh air and a lovely environment. But I had been through a lot of grieving and stress for some years.
I used to always come down with colds and chest infections before I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, asthma, IBS and acid reflux. Had a few stomach bugs that seemed to zap my immune system. Later, I found out I was very low in vitamin D. I now take vitamin D suppliments and natural honey. Has really helped my strengthen my immune system. It might be good to check if you are low in any vitamins or minerals. Hope you feel better soon.
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