Building up my immune system.

I take vitamin supplements. It took a couple of months to notice s difference but I keep more or less bug free.

Might be worth having a chat with someone who understands pre and pro biotic supplements, particularly if you have been treated with antibiotics. Sometimes there are knowledgeable people here or even somewhere like Holland and Barrett. I am treated by a homeopathic consultant who sometimes suggests specifics to me. They have helped me enormously but I do think there's a need to be careful about quality. I also know I respond to a Vitamin C and other supplements but that's a very personal thing and I wouldn't recommend a generalised approach. You've had a horrid time, hope your body can restore itself soon.

Sorry to hear of your health problems Kitty. From my own experience I have had great benefit from acupuncture. I have been visiting the same chap for about 15 years, only when I need him and he has worked wonders. You do need personal recomendations as not all acupuncturists are as effective.

I also have Yeo plain unsweetened yoghurt which I think says it is a Probiotic or similar. I dollop it on fruit nuts etc. It is the one in the green pot and totally addictive

I try and get out for a walk every day and take vitamin D.

All the above seem to keep me going, especially as I have Polymyalgia which affects my immune system.

Just checked and it is Yeo Organic Bio Live yog. Someone on GN recommended it to me.

Will try to track that down. Thanks NanKate. Good luck Kitty- I think you could do with some!

The Yeo Greek yoghurt also contains the probiotic bacteria Nankate.
9.7 g fat per 100g, so even creamier and more delicious IMHO than the one in the green pack, as long as you're not too hung up about the low-fat thing. I have some every day.
Kitty I do hope you're better soon.

I'm not that keen on yogurt!!

Thanks Jane will try your suggestion. I am loosely following the low carb high fat eating planning, so I now choose full fat varieties of yogs and find I am more satisfied/less hungry.

Could you put a flavouring in a yoghurt Kitty or is it the texture of yog you dislike ?

And, where has my immunity gone?

I'm in roughly the same situation as you kitty . I had an upper UTI a few weeks ago and now it's back and no appointments available today! I had a bad reaction to the last antibiotics so in a way I am reluctant to have them again. I must now stock up on the biopics. Good luck kitty

Are you drinking plenty of water, tea etc. Also re the UTIs do make sure you completely empty your bladder when you wee.

Lots of thorough hand washing too.

If you find it kitty can you see if mine is there as well? It vanished in March and hasn't been seen since.

I think it is true that taking antibiotics lowers your immune system at the same time as fighting the infection for which they have been prescribed. I seem to remember that from when the children were young and one ear infection/thrust infection followed another.
Yes, probiotics have to be the road to go down. The live yogurt is an easy and pleasant route to follow, but perhaps Echinacea might be good too (ask at somewhere like Holland and Barrett) and of course Cranberry juice against Cystitis etc.
Another less cheerful idea is that whatever anti-b you had might not have totally cleared previous UTI's, but just suppressed them and a CHANGE of med might be called for. Would your GP agree to a blood test to make sure your white blood cell count is not still raised?
Other than that, you need to avoid others with bugs! Wear gloves when handling books in the library, stop snogging the milkman kissing friends and family if they have the suggestion of a sniffle and increase your vitamin intake!! ???

Eat a healthy diet, get enough exercise but don't overdo it, keep rested and, probably most important of all, try to keep happy. Perhaps one multi-vit a week.

But really, when bugs come along, there's bugger-all you can do about it.

Kitty since a foot op in september
I have had similar to you, a coughs cystits, conjunctivitis.
So last week went to the doctors and requested blood tests.
I'm waiting on the results
A few years ago my blood test showed a problem with white blood cells.

So just wondering if you have had any blood test done by your GP?

kitty
Time to start putting yourself first and give your body time to recover.

Thank you all.

I had blood tests a short while ago when I was having palpitations and feeling 'funny' - I forgot those in my litany of woe!!

That was when I stopped drinking (!!!) and I've not been well since!

Well there's the answer!
Alcohol is a great disinfectant and preservative, the bugs don't stand a chance??

I'd better start again DB - pronto - before I snog the milkman!!

Why not treat yourself!! ????

After two UTI's in a short space of time I bought some D Mannose powder. When I was on holiday last time I felt that I was starting to get another UTI so took the D Mannose for a few days and it cleared it. I now take it just every so often. Optibac also do a pro biotic that targets that area. I'm also obsessively taking my turmeric in the form of a drink plus adding it to soup.

Organic pro-biotic yogurt such as Yeo or Rachel's can be improved by adding berries, either fresh or frozen (thawed!) which also boost the immune system. Otherwise pro-biotic capsules or powders from a health food shop may be stronger and have a quicker effect.
Add nuts and seeds too for a boost.

Vitamin D - we do not get enough in this country! And vitamin C with zinc along with a multi vitamin as they are rarely strong enough to have much effect if supplies are really depleted

Ask for the full results of your blood test, lowered neutrophil count could mean your immune system is low.
You could have a low-grade infection which has never totally gone away and which needs treatment.