Is it possible to always be sick

[KTPoof]

I get a cold every two weeks like clock work and each time it last about a week to a week and a half. It doesn't matter if its fall, winter or spring, I am always sick. During the summers I would get strep throat anywhere from 2 to 4 times which is why I have recently had my tonsils removed. I am sick once again with a sinus congestion, cough, yellow mucus, tiredness and pain in the lower back and have had family and friends ask for the hundredth time why I am always sick. I never have a real temperature, my body temp is naturally 97.6 and I never go above 99/100 when sick, but can only name a handful of times in my whole life that I have had a high temperature. I am sick so often that I no longer go to the dr or take antibiotics because its pointless and I don't want to be constantly shoving drugs into my system. Now is it possible that I am just a sick person and need to somehow build up my immune system or is this something i should really get checked out?

[jennyfromcrawley]

I hope you feel better soon.  I know that for some people (students in particular) colds and bugs feature a lot for a while..but as you get older your immunity builds up and you seem to get less colds.

I would recommend in paying for a flu jab each Autumn to minimise your risk of a more serious infection.

Let us know how you get on with the journal and the doctors outcome

Best wishes

Jennyx

[KTPoof]

Sorry about the missing information. I am a 23 year old college senior in Massachusetts. I was the one who told my dr that I wanted my tonsils out. I have had problems with them for a couple years and couldn't take the swelling or constant strep anymore. I have had allergies for as long as I remember so I know the difference btwn me having a cold and me having an allergy attack. There is no watery eyes or constant sneezing and dripping nose that accompanies my allergies. My allergies also tend to make me foggy while when I get a "cold", I am just constantly tired and have a headache. Thanks for the advice though, I should keep a sickness journal to show to my dr's.

[jennyfromcrawley]

one last thought, could these be allergys and not colds?

[jennyfromcrawley]

As you have recently had your tonsils removed it seems like your doctor is aware of your constant ill health.  You dont say your age or your peer group.  Students often mix in large social groups and are likely to be subjected to more germs. Also if you are working in a public environment (doctors surgery, hospital, school etc) the same would apply.

My other thought is that you may have at one time caught a virus that has weakend your immunity to other bugs.  Glandular fever is one that often makes the sufferrer vulnerable to many other bugs.  The best advice I can give you is to do a diary of all the bugs and colds you are suffering including symptoms, dates and what you currently do to remedy them (lemsip etc) and then take this diary along to your doctor to get his advice and possibly arrange for a blood test to see if you do have a weakened immune system

Best of luck

Jenny
(im also sufferring with a cold at the moment, but rarely get them so sympathise with you having to live your life dogged by them)