Bugs

I'm a trained complementary therapist too. I've given reflexology to daughter and reiki to granddaughter. I used various oils to ward off bugs etc. I'm now going on my first holiday abroad for 27 years in 4 weeks. I'm absolutely petrified something will go wrong or we will be ill so I can't go. It's just my luck

Lots of good advice on here. Might it be a good idea to wash hands every time you come back into the house after going out? Clinical studies have shown this is very effective.
The other thing is to boost your immune system. Make sure you eat plenty of veg to get the vitamins and minerals you need. Home cook from fresh ingredients whenever you can, check everyone's vitamin D levels are replete, make sure you get sunshine (don't burn) etc. Ask your GP for a test. Some sources say 85% of brits are deficient. Lots of info on this sort of thing online.

Think of it as sending your immune system to the gym to build up its muscles, and to the laboratory to prepare its recipes for antibody weapons that will attack those bugs when they come back a second time. With the antibodies, a defence can be mounted at once and that particular bug stopped in its tracks. Without the experience of meeting them the first time the immune system would be taken unawares in the future and the infection would clobber you worse then .

Be glad your DGD is getting all these bug, encourage her to catch them. The more she gets the stronger her immune system gets and the better she will be able to fight off future infections.

I have been known to swat flies but I do save spiders even though I'm not keen on them - buy a spider-catcher and put them outside. Don't bleach them, they're very useful creatures.

Can I just add I may have gotten the wrong end of the stick regarding spiders? I assumed you squirted it with bleach to kill it. I think you meant you clean the area where its been. Sorry. I jump to too many conclusions sometimes!

Sorry but I can't get over the bleach/spider thing. What a horrible way to go! I will have that thought in my head all day now! However I wanted to add that I take 'golden paste' on a daily basis. A mix of turmeric, black pepper and oil. Started in November and since then I've had not a sniff of anything! (see what I did there?) Seriously though, I have been in close contact with flu/chesty coughs/raging colds etc. Apparently turmeric is a natural immune system booster. Works for me! Oh and I'm a firm believer in NOT being too hygenic/clean etc. Obviously I don't live in my own filth, but killing every germ/bacteria constantly can't be good for you! Your life must be a constant battle and that must be hard for you. You have my sympathy. (also any spiders you may 'bleach'! have it too! )

Sorry you feel so anxious about bugs, especially if you’ve been ill. Thing is, doesn’t matter how careful you are, bugs are airborne. So if you go on a bus or into a shop, you may catch one. Point is, try not to worry so much. Chances are you won’t pass on whatever ailments family have if you’re careful.

why on earth would I feel the need to use sanitizer for signing a screen
I use one after using the touch screen - doctors' surgeries are full of people with germs!

My dgs seemed to go down with many illnesses after he started nursery. He has been going for 2 years now and no longer gets ill often. I think it is just par for the course. I go down to look after him when he is a little unwell so my dd can go to work. When he is really unwell she takes a days holiday to stay home with him but when he is on the mend I go to look after him until he is well enough for nursery again. The phase will pass.

The chemicals in many of these disinfectants can do you more harm than the germs they remove. All that is needed is hot soapy water.

Gabriella I m one of your sinners then I ve never even thought about people using a screen at the doctors, I use the doorknob to get in the room I hold the handrails as I go to the surgery and touched seats others have sat on on my bus journey to the doctors why on earth would I feel the need to use sanitizer for signing a screen That’s very OTT in my opinion

ethelbags I think some kind of therapy would help you and your GP can arrange it. Such an extreme reaction e.g. bleach to deal with a spider, smacks of OCD. I'm no fan of spiders but they are not intrinsically dirty, nor are moths. If you do see your GP, be honest about how bad it is.

Can sympathise, I had the flu in February two weeks later a chest infection then two weeks after that the worst of the lot, a severe tummy bug which lasted for a week, leaving me really weak, I have now recovered and dont want to think about any more bugs lurking!
Good luck Etheltbags1

I stressed the importance of hand washing because our hands are the biggest spreaders (?) of germs.
Only last year, I was standing in the foyer of A&E dept to collect a friend and counted 92 people enter without using any of the 8 huge, well signed, hand sanitisers facing the entrance.
I was there for about 10 minutes.
Even in my GPs surgery, there are people who sign in via a screen that everyone touches, yet they don't use the sanitiser right next to it. It beggars belief.

I have to confess we try to avoid our children/gr.children when they have colds or stomach upsets. If we catch it it just takes us so much longer to get over it. I'm still trying to recover from a chest infection that started last August! No sooner do I get to the end of a course of treatment than it starts again, I'm also asthmatic so that gets worse too! We're pretty good about handwashing and general hygiene in our family but sneezy toddlers with runny noses are walking time bombs. And my hairdresser is my arch enemy at the moment as at my last three appointments she has had a cold and has spent the whole time coughing and sneezing over me! DH and I will continue to have our Flu jabs every autumn and hope the we can at least ward off that particular ailment.

Too much washing is not helpful we will never build up a strong immune system if we are constantly scrubbing and washing and worrying I have never considered how I wash my hands I just haven’t the interest unless I was going to perform an operation
If you have a compromised immune system Ethel that’s sad and obviously what has made you so overly concerned but the fact that your daughter freaks out and then your granddaughter just shows the negative effect these phobias can have for generations
Try not to worry what will be will be

Hi willow, yes I remember you before Christmas, I was wondering if you had managed to have a bug free Christmas, looks like you got away with the sickness at least.I too have emetophobia, this seems to be what the op is suffering from, it is truly horrible.I have just been reading about a young women that has been cured of this by a hypnotherapist,she had lost a lot of weight and was unable to eat out or go on holiday.She is now able to live a normal life.Maybe it would be worth having a go .

The vast majority of people have no idea of how to wash their hands effectively

My little grandson (now 8) had hand washing lessons in the reception class where the children were taught how to wash their own hands properly. He still follows it very carefully. I think I might get him up here to work and get him to teach the lads how to wash their hands cups, plates, cutlery, benches....

The vast majority of people have no idea of how to wash their hands effectively.
You should use proper soap such as original Palmolive or Imperial Leather, which are scientifically proven to be the most effective at removing bacteria.
All these hand washes are a con.
15-20 seconds of thorough washing (see YouTube videos) followed by properly drying your hands is by far the most effective way to wash.
Wet/damp surfaces (including hands) breed bacteria far faster than dry surfaces and I keep a pile of flannels near the bathroom basin and kitchen sink for that purpose.
Towels usually only get the middle used and it's more hygienic to use several flannels per day and chuck them in the w/m.
Tea-towels draped over the oven door are a no-no, especially if you have pets shaking themselves in the kitchen after being on walks.
The OP's GD seems to have been unlucky to have come down with so many bugs but they're easily passed around in school and between family. Children should be taught proper hand-washing too.
Being careful not to eat food outside (as people often do when walking around) is best practice. Touching door/trolley handles, bus seats etc will transfer germs onto whatever you put in your mouth. It might help stop obesity too.

I'm phobic about vomiting bugs but I'm not bothered about anything else. I ask my kids not to come round for 48 hours if they know they or the kids have been sick as it affects me so badly since I became diabetic. I don't believe in sanitising everything within an inch of its life. I don't like dirt but I think over sanitising things makes life more difficult in the long run. Worms, nits, etc are all part and parcel of life. There is research which suggests that worms used to ward off asthma which is why these worm free days we have such a high incidence of asthma amongst children. Nits are horrible little varmints but are easily eradicated these days.

My friend came to visit me bringing her 32 year old daughter. Her daughter came out of the toilet panic stricken because there was a spider on the wall. These fears are passed on by parents to their children. It's so unnecessary. Apart from being nonsense.

We had a thread about something similar before Christmas when I said I had a phobia about being sick so was worried about my family visiting and being ill while they were here for 6 weeks. Worst fears nearly realised when my DiL went down with a sickness bug the day they were due to fly from the other side of the world! The airline changed their flights so they set off a day later but I had 2 nearly sleepless nights worrying that not only would the rest of them get the bug on the flights (worst nightmare) or that they'd arrive and bring it with them so we'd all be ill. Thankfully it didn't happen although she did bring the chest infection she'd had which I started with just before they left and was ill for 3 weeks and the children were ill constantly with coughs and colds. I think sometimes we worry ourselves ill but if your immune system is compromised it's only sensible to try and stay away from anyone with bugs if at all possible. I hope you enjoy are all ok for your holiday.

My DGD’s both have very long hair and you’re right paddyann they’ve both had nits a few times. Unavoidable with long hair and little girls who like to hug each other . Not the most pleasant job to get rid of them but it has to be done . I’m scratching thinking about the critters ! ?

I think if your daughter couldn't cope with nits she has a problem...children get nits.The cleanest of kids will catch them ,especially wee girls with long hair .You all seem to be obsessed with cleaning and that is not healthy.We need to build up our immunity to germs .Sure clean your house and wash your hands but dont take it to extremes your GD will get an awful lot of clods and bugs before she's much older and nothing you do will stop that happening.