Cold keeps coming back every 2 weeks

[hkazmi]

I was not able to get a flu shot this year. I used to rarely get sick in the past few years (5+ years or so).

Anyhow, I keep getting a cold (runyn nose with greenish mucus, no fewer or aches) every two weeks. The first time in Oct, then in Nov I did not go to a doctor and just did home remedies. When I got sick again in Dec I went to the docs and got penicillin, 500g 3 times a day for 10 days. I completed the course. But here I am two weeks later and have a stuffed nose again.

I'm planning to go to the doc again and have a appointment later in week, however was curious should I be looking for something beyond a cold. I also have allergies, but only in spring due to pollen, could these be allergies, or maybe allergies that end up giving me a nasal infection.

[akumunokami]

Same here, only the whole house has got it. Every one of the six of us gets flu-like symptoms every two to three weeks, lasting for a week. Antibiotics seem to help but it comes back immediately once the antibiotics are done.

So far it's causing respiratory distress, kidney issues, fevers over a hundred, and extreme fatigue. I've been researching and it seems hardly anyone's taking environmental factors into account. We've narrowed it down to severe change of temperature (we keep having to turn the heat on and then off), the dry heat causing bacterial growth, or possibly a high level of mold (we live in an old house with poor insulation).

Unfortunately, two of the symptoms seems to be an inability to notice when we're getting too hot or cold and poor circulation (whole body's overheated but extremities remain cold). It makes it difficult to determine the cause as well as fight any infection.

This time of year where we live there's a lot of pollen and mold in the air, so I'm leaning toward those factors. I personally have never had allergies to pollen but bad reactions to mold, so I'm leaning that way. But it's entirely possible to develop an allergy to something you're exposed to a lot of (something I've been discovering personally over the last few years), so it could just be allergens.

It doesn't help that we have three children in the house, two of which are elementary kids (and currently down for the second time with 102+ fevers).

If we all continue discussing and taking into account factors which might cause it (geographic, environmental, habits, etc) we might be able to diagnose the cause and help others. I'm sorry, but it seems like the doctors just don't have a clue, and that's worrisome.

[mini129]

Since moving to Germany, I have been constantly fighting sickness. I feel like I am fighting it everyday. I take tons of vitamins and when I don't, I get really sick. I always have a sore throat and headach. I eat really healthy and get enough nutrients from the food I eat (I eat meat and tons of veggies). I have been diagnosed with thyroid problems  but I take meds so I can't image that the two are linked. I was thinking that maybe it could be allergies. I am from a very dry climate and have moved to a humid climate. Maybe that could be the reason.

[volswaggen]

You'd think with all the people in here having the exact same issue, someone would have found a solution. Usually once or twice in the summer and several times a winter, I have this problem. Starts with a scratchy throat and weakness/jitteriness in the muscles. I keep thinking it's a cold coming and I can stave it off with Airborne and Echinacea tea or something, but inevitably it turns into minor nasal congestion, followed by a sinus infection and feels like a clogged ear. At some point during this, it moves into my chest/throat. Sometimes it's gone in two weeks, last one was three weeks. I was better for about two weeks and starting to feel "normal" when the scratchy throat came back again.

Just for the sake of finding a common denominator, I take a men's multi, plus vitamin D. When my bloodwork came back, I was D-deficient, even with a 2000 IU a day supplement. I stay indoors quite a bit. Also take an Omega supplement and Cal/Mag/Zinc. Have a pretty stressful job, a kid in preschool (I think it started before he went to school, but it hasn't helped), eat not great, but not terrible. Try to do a protein shake with greens and almond milk at least a couple times a week.

Wonder if I could be over-doing the Vitamin D even though my last bloodwork showed deficient? Like some here, taking Vitamin C often seems to cause a cold.

[Awald112]

I have had the same happen to me.  I was sick for two weeks, cold like symptoms, you know, the coughing, green phlegm, congested sinuses.  After two weeks of being fed up, I finally went to the Doctor's and was prescribed a course of Apoxicillan or Amoxicillan, either way, you get the point.  Finished the entire bottle, now, literally 9 days later, I get a nasty sore throat and green phlegm again.  I've read all the blogs above but not sure how long to wait before I go see the doctor again?  I did have pnuemonia about 5 years ago and I am a recent quitter of smoking ( almost 7 months now ) but this sickness is really affecting my job and my life, HELP!!!!!!!

[Mizuchi]

This might help some people but not all.

If you have chronic sinus infections, it might be because of a tooth problem (even if you aren't having mouth pain). In the eighties, my mother was constantly getting sick for almost a year, she later found out that it was because of tooth that had died and became infected. The nerve in the tooth was dead so she didn't feel direct pain from it. A chronic infection of any kind will put a major burden on your body's immune system.

So if all else fails, visit the dentist and tell them about your symptoms.

[xuly]

Hi, i have the same things going on, every Friday i wake up with a sore throat, stuffy nose, its been going on for about 4 months now and last for 3 to 4 days, i seen a DR, and he told me oh nothing is wrong, just drink more, i drink alot of water and tea, so i know that is not it, has anyone said what to do ?