Is it really possible to "build up your immune system"

I take cod liver tablet daily. Seems to do the trick.

Thanks Biker, always good to see when someone has read all the threads. I'm sure you are right, far more interaction between mood and health than we realise. Think I will pop off to the pharmacy tomorrow and see what I can get to help. Need to get myself out and about and start driving again before I become a complete cabbage. Just haven't had the heart so far.

Nonnie you won't have the heart for anything right now...I think it's classed as "autopilot" it's something that sort of takes over us at times of distress...otherwise I doubt we would be able to function left to our own devices, hence! the autopilot kicks in.
As for the driving,maybe little short journey, no need to far and only when you feel like it,

I can't really put it down to the outdoors or the exercise, Jalima, as twenty of the twenty-two years leading up to getting the allotment were spent living and working on the canals,so frequent travelling around, as well as walking the dog and the children, meant lots of time outside and exercise working locks

Thanks Biker, Yes everything is on auto pilot and things I used to care about don't matter. I 'keep busy' by knitting anything and everything as doing something with my hands seems to help and I feel as if I am doing something rather than nothing. If I didn't have so much wonderful support I would have given up long before now.

At the first sign of a cold I start using First Defence spray (other brands are available) and take Vit C and zinc. In the last 15 months I've only had one cold that has failed to respond to this; on 4 or 5 other occasions the cold has either vanished after a few hours of ominous symptoms, or turned out to be a mini-cold lasting only a day or two.

A friend who has COPD and reacts very badly to respiratory infections said that her specialist nurse had recommended her to use FD pre-emptively, e.g. when using public transport or going to crowded places.

I won't put my name down for an allotment then MamanCaz!

The vit D that I take as prescribed by GP is 400iu. It is for osteoporosis, also contains 600 mg of calcium.

Grannyknot, I am on long term antibiotics so bought some kefir grains. I make my own kefir from whole milk. pm me if you wish or google it.

I don't really have any idea how to improve your immune system but in my 70s now I must say that 98% of the time I feel really fit and have lots of energy as I have had for all my life.
Considering I have a low white cell blood count and I have had this for over 10 years I must be doing something right.
I do take supplements, after the menopause my GP suggested Omega 3 and Glucosamine which I've taken for over 20 years in addition to this I now take Vit D and B12 because I don't eat meat.
Home cooked meals no meat or cheese, eat out once a week and very occasional take always.
I have just got over a cold this Christmas I've never had flu.
Google it

Alexa very good advice, alas not very practical in our busy world.

Liz46 thanks for that info. Coincidentally, I was at the beautician's earlier this week and she offered to give me some Kefir grains. I'm to collect them on Friday. So I'll happily make my own, soon!

Nonnie - and all who are struggling with their health because they are sad - and a hug.

We should all take vitamin D supplements from October to about April. The sun does not get high enough the rest of the year in the UK. Vitamin D is really important to our health.

I taught school for years with only one or two colds a year, and anyone who is around children all day is at the receiving end of all germs.

So what did I do that made the difference?

I don't really know, except eating a well-balanced diet, changing out of the clothes I wore at school on getting home, when I usually took a shower as well, and walked part of the home every day to get some fresh air.

We aired our flat thoroughly for 10 to 15 minutes every morning too.

As I say, I don't know if any or all of this helped- I was a martyr to colds and sore throats as a child, so perhaps I am just immune to all and every bug by now!

I have just spoken to my mum...as I lay here in bed feeling sorry for myself!! she puts me to shame.!

She had just come back from swimming (again) she went on Monday morning, she just been to Tesco and Aldi (she goes supermarket everyday , they are quite lucky a shave 3 major ones on the doorstep.

Yesterday she got on bus went to sort something out in nearby town.She looks after my dad who has mild PD.

I said you sound bright and breeezy! she said yes I feel like I could jump up and down!!
She said "don't think I will go Aqua jog this week its getting too busy"! lol

Shes 82!!! lol oh shes made me feel brighter...takes no vit suppliments etc although I have persuaded her to think about some vitD as they have just given up their static caravan. Shes already booked an Elvis tribute weekend away for Feb!! I cnt keep up with her...

Nonnie; I'm so sorry about your son. Hugs .

Nonnie did you make it to the chemist! if so, did you end up with anything....

Thanks Tegan

Yes Biker drove probably less than 2 miles after not driving for several months and went to Boots. I bought a massive 3 for 2 batch of calcium, plus magnesium, plus vit D which should help with all sorts of things. Don't think I need the Vit C as I eat a lot of citrus and other fruit and veg. Also talked to the pharmacist about the indigestion I now have after GP said to try to come off the Lansaprazole I have been on for years. Had missed the DM scare story about it. I now have something to take until, hopefully, my body learns to live without the meds.

I've always been deeply suspicious of omeprazole and lansoprazole we used to hand them out like sweets at the surgery. A bout of indigestion recently [something I don't usually get] got me using a small dose of ranitidine which worked. There are, I think, quite a few things on utube about weaning oneself off PPI's.

Tegan I was put on those years ago when diagnosed with hiatus hernia even though I had no symptoms. Wish I had challenged it at the time. I assume my body adapted to them and will now take a little time to adapt to me not taking them. I am increasingly concerned about DH and all the meds he takes, I try to persuade him that everything he takes has some sort of nasty side effect but he was brought up to believe there was always an answer in a bottle and thinks no one should have to have any sort of pain or discomfort.

Me too Tegan; I was prescribed them by the GP when I had to take a NSAID - then I read the contra-indications and side effects.
Same GP will not now prescribe any NSAID - has he stopped prescribing the omeprazole I wonder? He said he and his family all took them when going on a long journey.

You have to take omeprazole with NSAID's; a friend of mine almost died from a stomach ulcer when she was prescribed ibuprofen without omeprazole. I think the problem is that, when you stop taking omeprazole your body overcompensates by producing even more acid than before. They were never meant to be taken long term.

Having said that, when I did have my bout of indigestion I realised how awful it must be to suffer from that all the time. Bit like the way that I never understood people wanting to take things for morning sickness because I never suffered from it.

I was prescribed Naproxen without omeprazole by another GP a couple of years ago. When I asked for them again when I had a problem recently another GP (3rd one!) prescribed them for two weeks and just asked if I had had stomach problems.

I thinks some Naproxen [if not all] is ec coated. Ec coated stuff is often more expensive so it's probably cheaper to prescribe with a PPI. We never liked to give people Naproxen very often [I do miss my job, sometimes; as a total hypochondriac, I was fascinated by the drugs we used to stock!].