Never Ending Cold/Flu Causing Other Issues

BuyIfNeed on 11/02/2024 - 08:10
Last edited 11/02/2024 - 11:12 by 1 other user

Hi everyone, just want to talk to the people who are going through similar problem as me.

Twelve years ago, I joined a new company, next day I had a very bad cold with so much coughing. It was long before COVID and I had many COVID tests with negative result. I think it might be A/C vent pointing at me. It lasted for a week and then became mild but it didn't go away.

Since then, I noticed it becomes strong if I eat any sweets or fruits or go out in cold, so I very much reduced eating them and mostly wear proper clothing. Form last 6 years I noticed I can't concentrate on my work and have constant Tinnitus in my ear.

Using elimination, I found it is due to wheat and rice. I stopped eating them and started eating oat and other millet. That helped a lot but every now and then if I make a mistake of eating any of them, I have to payback.

I talked to many GPs and specialists, all they do is prescribe Amoxyllin or stronger one which does nothing. Some suggested I am allergic and prescribed Claratyne which also didn't help. One GP suggested nasal cleaner that made it worse. I tried Yoga but that also didn't help. I am Vegeterian and I don't smoke or drink.

Any suggestion is welcome and very much appreciated.

Thanks

Health & Beauty

Comments

  • scooba on 11/02/2024 - 20:49
    +3

    You might have a parasite?

  • yadq on 11/02/2024 - 20:54
    +3

    I’m no doctor but I would recommend wide spectrum blood test AFTER you find a good GP. Finding a really good one ain’t easy but it’s crucial to crack your case and find long-term solution. Best of luck!

  • Cherry12 on 11/02/2024 - 20:55
    +1

    Could it be that your immune system is very low? Or that you have long COVID? People I know test negative but still have side effects after having it.

    I would try LDN Low Dose Naltrexone, you need a compound pharmacy for that, usual dose is 50 mg for alcohol dependence but in low doses such as 4.5 mg it helps regulate your immune system.

    There are many FB groups and websites about this drug treating many types of illnesses and infections.

    • CurlCurl on 11/02/2024 - 21:28
      +1

      There are many FB groups

      Oh yes. The good old Dr Facebook.

      • Cherry12 on 13/02/2024 - 18:23

        I know it sounds dodgy but I got them prescribed by a respected Immunologist and the medicine has proven to be doing its job

    • Gekov on 12/02/2024 - 11:53
      -1

      "alcohol dependence"

      No such thing.

  • RefusdClassification on 11/02/2024 - 21:05
    +2

    The vast majority of respiratory pathogens are virii like Covid coronavirus. Antibiotics are only good for Strep Throat (Streptococcus). GPs prescribe antibiotics simply because it makes the patient feel better (placebo effect). There are antiviral drugs (eg amantadine for influenza) but they seem to be specific to a certain virus or subgroup of viruses; they is unfortunately no broad spectrum antiviral for respiratory infections. It would be great if we could wipe out these diseases the way we wiped out smallpox and syphilis.

    • jjjaar on 11/02/2024 - 23:09

      Actually, we did wipe a strain of the flu out. The B/Yamagata lineage of influenza B has not been isolated since 2020 and it’s generally agreed that it’s now extinct.

      It’s believed that all of the lockdowns, masks, social distancing, etc. actually wiped out this strain - one of the four main strains of the flu - to the point where they’re now deciding whether it should be taken out of the annual flu vaccine (which is made up of these four main strains).

    • May4th on 11/02/2024 - 23:46

      Amantadine for flu? What are we in? 1980?

  • Daddy Chill on 11/02/2024 - 22:00
    +1

    Feel sorry for you mate

  • diss on 11/02/2024 - 22:20
    -1

    This may or may not be relevant but you might want to look into thiamine deficiency. It can cause a whole bunch of symptoms and knock-on effects similar to what you describe and is heavily involved in processing carbohydrates and the immune system. Processing carbs like wheat and rice requires thiamine and so eating them depletes it. Deficiency is hard to detect on a blood test. To fix it you have to “mega dose” thiamine of some form, fat soluble forms like benfotiamine are best but thiamine hcl is very cheap. It’s harmless so perhaps worth a try. There are some good videos on YouTube about it.

    • BuyIfNeed on 11/02/2024 - 22:47
      -1

      I had full blood test an year ago, I had low TSH but Thiamine wask ok. TSH is also normal now

  • Uncle Chop Chop on 11/02/2024 - 23:04

    Gnathostomiasis? Or some kind of parasite perhaps.

  • HerpinDerp on 12/02/2024 - 09:18
    +1

    100% see an Immunologist, what's your IgE level when you're exposed?

    Save a blood test for the really bad rainy day when you have full blown symptoms to see how high you spike. No point testing when you're not flaring.

  • susannetsv on 12/02/2024 - 09:21
    +1

    I have seen many ads for a service in the USA that tests hair samples and does a test for hundreds of different things you may be allergic or have an intolerance to, and it’s not that expensive , it’s called Check My Body Health and you should be able to find it online . I think sometimes if you have allergies it causes stomach discomfort even if you can’t feel it and if acids make their way up it can cause chest congestion , especially wheat and gluten foods , anyway might be worth looking into .

  • Gekov on 12/02/2024 - 10:36

    Could just be a vitamin C deficiency.

    Try a supplement.

  • ChatCPT on 12/02/2024 - 11:37

    blood test?
    genetic disorders/hereditary?
    referral to immunologist
    referral to dietician
    check house for mould/leave moisture absorbers around house anyway
    take vitamin supplements
    be generally healthy

    are you overweight?

  • Darayus on 12/02/2024 - 11:42
    +1

    have you thought of using sinusflow

    https://www.chemistwarehouse.com.au/buy/53787/FLO-Sinus-Care…

    it does not work at first but it will assist you in keeping your sinus cavity open up, clear the mucus, and clean up upper respiratory passage.

    I had similar issue and my ENT surgeon at RPA recommended it to me and it worked as a miracle.

    You can try it.

    • BuyIfNeed on 12/02/2024 - 11:58
      -1

      I have tried similar nasal cleaner but that boosts the mucus growth. I found I need to keep my nose dry. Even humid air makes it worse.

      • Darayus on 14/02/2024 - 09:53

        Then increase the use of nasal wash for more then a day. this will help you to lubricate your sinuses and then release the mucus. doing persistently will enable you to clear all your gunk and junk from the nose.

  • loadofrubbish on 12/02/2024 - 13:07

    try paxlovid anti-viral covid treatment, it is nasty but resets all the organs. :) It helped me avoid long-term covid effects such as losing my breath riding MTB.

  • thesilverstarman on 12/02/2024 - 13:10
    +3

    There are so many things that could be the cause. I'll tell you a few things that have happened to me, and what I learned, because some may resonate with you.
    I have always been nasally—runny nose, coughs etc. I still am. But I found out that I am allergic to a couple of things. The first is certain grasses and plants, and the second is cats. I have both at home. If I am near the coast, I have no symptoms. But at home, I have to use an eyedrop with antihistamine every morning, and an asthma puffer most days. It gets me through the day. You can get tested by an immunologist to see what you are allergic to. It's not cheap, but after a series of injections, you will find that you are heaps better. I used to live on antihistamines and since I have had the tests and treatment, I rarely needed them. For years I thought I had constant colds etc but it was just allergies.

    If allergies are not the cause, then you need to stand up and tell your GP what you want done. Ask for full blood work and see if you are deficient in anything or if anything else shows up. Ask for a pharmacogenetic blood test. This will show you how you process medications, and which ones you shouldn't take. It is invaluable because there are some drugs that you will metabolise fast and some slow. For example, you may need more painkillers than the rest of the population. It also shows you which anti-depressants are suited for you because if you ever need them, it can be a hit-and-miss affair. I learned that I cannot take one type of antihistamines, because it causes headaches, brain fog, and more cold-like symptoms. Guess which one I had always taken…

    When you get the blood results, ask for a copy of them. Do your research, as you will find that what is considered a normal range is not always right. Unless you are at the top of the range you may be low in that item. A blood test is a test at that moment in time, not a result that covers every moment. So if your vitamin D is in range but at the lower end, bump up your dose. And don't take any supplements on the day you get tested, because you want a true picture. In my case, I take twice the daily dose for vitamin D to register in the range at the top end. I also take vitamin C, fish oil and a daily multi. If I get a cold, I double the Vit C and D. I can see that some days my urine is bright yellow, which some may say is a sign I am wasting money, but other days it is not. In my view, my body uses what it needs on the day. A full blood test will also rule out other things, for example, some people are too high in iron levels etc.

    There is also no harm in looking outside Western medicine. I had glandular fever twice when I was younger. I saw a traditional Chinese doctor who gave me some foul-smelling herbs, and I was cured in a couple of days, much to the surprise of my GP. All I know is that it worked. The Chinese Doctor has told me that there are things that he can't help with, for example, hay fever. He could put an acupuncture needle in and stop all symptoms, but when he took the needle out they came back. I liked the fact that he didn't try to pretend that he could fix everything.

    For years I had headaches. Massages and physios couldn't help. I ended up seeing a Chiro. I had heard all sorts of bad things, but I gave it a try. They gave me an x-ray and showed me where they thought the problem was. After a couple of months of treatment, the headaches had gone. The treatments were stretched out with longer and longer gaps until the point where I only went in if I had a problem. My GP was suspicious because he said that most over-service patients and try to be more than chiros, but in my experience, this was never an issue. The chiro never tried to be anything more than a person who worked on my neck and spine, and after the first couple of months, the time between treatments kept growing longer. After trying everything else, I found that they helped me. If they had tried to get me to try other non-chiro treatments or sell me anything else, I would have walked away. I think that you need to find the right one.

    I hope that something here might help you. Good Luck.

    • ihbh on 12/02/2024 - 17:09
      +1

      If I am near the coast, I have no symptoms

      Why don't you move to the coast? I would try to do this an all costs.

      chiro

      read this for the foundations: https://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/idl9h4/why_is_c…

      my urine is bright yellow, which some may say is a sign I am wasting money

      Medium-dark yellow urine is often an indication that you are dehydrated. Your lack of understanding goes hand in hand with the chiro comment.

      • thesilverstarman on 13/02/2024 - 12:36
        +1

        "High-dose vitamins can turn your pee a bright, almost neon-yellow color. The most common culprit is vitamin B2, also known as riboflavin, which is found in most multivitamins. The neon color in pee is just a harmless sign that you're taking more than your body needs, and the excess is mixing with your pee". uwmedicine.org

        Easy to say move to the coast, but some of us have family and careers that necessitate living where I am.

        As for the Chiro, its easy to be dismissive until you have had something work.

  • Universal Constant on 12/02/2024 - 13:16
    +1

    Have you had a checked for vitamin D deficiency? You would be supprised at the levels of deficiency, in Perth yes sunny Perth, my brother's doctor ordered him to take 5 1000units per day. Vit D is really important for immunity amongst many other things. It is oil soluble so don't overdose, that is why blood testing is crucial.
    Being vegetarian if you have not already also done, check iron, vit B12, magnesium and zinc levels.

  • ihbh on 12/02/2024 - 17:11

    Some suggested I am allergic and prescribed Claratyne which also didn't help

    Try Rhinocort (over the counter) for a few weeks to see what happens to rule this out. It's a nasal spray that is a steroid used to treat nasal symptoms such as congestion, sneezing, and runny nose caused by seasonal or year-round allergies.

  • lew380 on 12/02/2024 - 17:55

    Some fasting, a few days or maybe a week or two if you can. It's a good way to boost your immune system, give your body a chance to rebuild and repair without the stresses of food. The mother of all elimination diets, then switching to some sort of a carnivore diet and slowly reintroducing other foods. I have some more drastic tips but those are for a private message.

    I find caffeine to be quite bad for me, I've switched to rooibos and ginger and lemon grass teas, with some honey, it's done wonders for me, don't get colds any more.

  • misu p on 12/02/2024 - 18:04

    I strongly believe that I was sick when working for 1 company because of the AC, not because of the cold as I love cold and I never have any issues with the AC itself but something in the air caused a lot of health issues for me, like coughing a lot. It started when I joined a company and it finished afterward.

  • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 12/02/2024 - 18:58

    If only there was a specialist field of medicine that deals with Ear, Nose and Throat that you could get a referral for…..

    • BuyIfNeed on 13/02/2024 - 08:27
      +1

      Yes, I have met few ENTs and followed their suggestion but still here.

      • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 13/02/2024 - 19:31

        What was their suggestion?

        • BuyIfNeed on 14/02/2024 - 16:03

          One specialist suggested for tonsils operation, but nothing changed after that.

          I went to another ENT, as he proposed I went for ear drum replacement because it had a hole in it. That didn't fix the problem and my new ear drum has got a hole again.

          They sit with a checklist, if it is not in their checklist they say it is psychological.

          • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 15/02/2024 - 18:37

            @BuyIfNeed:

            my new ear drum has got a hole again.

            and then what did the ENT say?

            Seems you chop and change how you get advice, meaning nobody likely has the full situation.

  • ribze1 on 12/02/2024 - 21:00

    Eat a balanced diet, this includes meat. We are omnivores.

  • Unlimited on 12/02/2024 - 22:59

    I can definitely relate to what you are saying. When I have too much sugar in my diet, I catch a cold or something else. What I have done is cut sugar out at home and only have sugary food when I am out and about. The other thing that helps when I feel that I am going down with something is a combination of these two:

    • Bioceuticals ArmaForce
    • Nature's Way Garlic + C & Horseradish

    I am also vegetarian so I take supplements (B12, multi vit, iron, D3 and the occasional probiotics, all bioceuticals brand).

    I have heavily research into ayurveda and went to see a doctor and definitely, the good one are spot on what is happening to the body. They really help treat the root causes of the issues rather than just the symptoms.

    Another thing that is not to be treated lightly is that your issues might be psychosomatic. Since learning the SKY breathing practice (https://au.artofliving.org/) a lot of these issues went away.

    I hope that all help.

  • Oofy Doofy on 13/02/2024 - 00:04

    You went to specialists, yet can't list them? What did they even say to you?

    • BuyIfNeed on 13/02/2024 - 08:16
      +1

      As suggested by one specialist, I went for tonsils operation, but nothing changed after that.

      I went to another ENT, as he proposed I went for ear drum replacement because it had a hole in it. That didn't fix the problem and my new ear drum has got a hole again.

      They sit with a checklist, if it is not in their checklist they say it is psychological.

      • Oofy Doofy on 13/02/2024 - 19:42

        I hear you bro. One's health is always in 'flux', and diagnosis is the messy part of medicine, as is misdiagnosis and differential diagnosis.

  • Sirocco on 13/02/2024 - 02:35
    +1

    They are prescribing amoxycilin as they think you have sinusitis. But you might have chronic sinusitis or bacterial sinusitus that never resolves itself because of poor nostril airflow.

    What is the airflow through your nostrils like?
    When you breathe in, does the side part of your nose collapse (maybe one side) and restrict flow by chance?
    If yes to the above, you might have a deviated septum.

    I had the same thing you describe, a 'never ending cold', but ended up being severe sinusitis. I ended up having my deviated Septum operated on to improve the airflow. When they operated, they found bacteria rampant in my sinuses and cleaned it all out…. ever since the operation… no problems.

    I hope this advice helps.

    • BuyIfNeed on 13/02/2024 - 08:20

      One ENT said my nose bone is bent and need an operation but another one said, many people has bent bone but they don't have any issue.

      I don't want to go for another operation and have no change.

      • Sirocco on 13/02/2024 - 10:31
        +1

        Yes, but you are one of them who DOES have the recurring issue! I would be following this up.

  • max900 on 13/02/2024 - 07:30

    How is your oral health? They sometimes can cause problems for respiratory health. Try taking probiotics too.

    • BuyIfNeed on 13/02/2024 - 08:24

      I took yakult for a month with no change, then I read somewhere they are useless because the acid in our stomach kills them before they reach to our gut.

      So I tried probiotic capsules but they caused me severe constipation which took a while to resolve.

      • CurlCurl on 13/02/2024 - 10:14

        they say it is psychological.

        My thoughts exactly.

        Many probiotics produce a by product called short-chain fatty acids in your gut. These by products have many benefits to your gut health, but a sudden influx of them could cause TEMPORARY diarrhoea. Other probiotics produce gases in your gut as by products.

        These symptoms can happen if you take too many probiotic supplements or don't eat enough fibre while taking them.

  • idonotknowwhy on 13/02/2024 - 12:26
    +1

    I am Vegeterian

    Make sure you're getting enough Zinc. Zinc has been shown to truncate the infection period for colds and flu.
    Look out for any other deficiencies caused by your restricted diet, and consider supplementing them.

    P.S. Just an idea but, If vegetarianism is not for ethical/regligous reasons, I can pretty much guarantee that beef won't cause any allergies/symptoms you've described.
    For long term cardio health, etc - you can sort that out later. Surely the stress and symptoms you have now need to be addressed before whatever the WHO says is unhealthy about beef these days.

    A/C vent pointing at me

    While you can't "catch a cold" when you're cold like they used to say, the A/C will dry out the air you're inhaling, which reduces mucus in your nostrils. This can make you more suceptible to infections going around the office.

    Using elimination, I found it is due to wheat and rice.

    You've clearly got some food intolerances. It sucks because it's hard to find them all, even if you do a strict elimination diet, as sometimes there's a threshold before you notice symptoms, and different intolerances take different amounts of time to present symptoms after you eat the food :(

    IMO, it could be worth getting checked for asthma (at the GP). Perhaps seek another GP if your current one is just prescribing antibiotics.

    I don't suppose you've started getting dandruff or flaky/red skin?
    This part is anecdotal / not sure if it's backed by science: but I've noticed some of these things come in sets (Athsma, dandruf/red skin/, tinnitus, lower-GI tract issues) and they can be triggered by foods (different for each individual).

  • Duckie2hh on 13/02/2024 - 12:38

    Have you tried to see whether going on holiday to Asia (warmer climate and more humid) can help?

  • RocketSwitch on 13/02/2024 - 17:06

    I can relate, I got sick, and after I was better, I became dizzy every day. Kind of like when you drink 1-3 cups of wine and your eyes are delayed—my 3rd month now. Doctors say it's chronic sinusitis. Nothing has worked so far. MRI cleared me. I should see an ENT, but what can do?

  • figarow on 13/02/2024 - 17:40

    Go carnivore for 6 months and see what happens

  • boirganz on 13/02/2024 - 18:57

    Try and find a single decent GP in your area (ask around it’s the only way) who will help you. Keep going back to them particularly when symptomatic.

    At a guess you may need to see an ENT or immunologist and get a full skin pick test and blood work up to determine what if you’re allergic to something. It could be something slightly obscure

    If that isn’t an option financially ($100s of dollars) but there’s an anllergy element to it there’s the option of trying all the different antihistamines - there are about 5? Different ones available over the counter. Plus at least twice daily full nasal saline rinses.

  • Kiro on 13/02/2024 - 20:56

    • medication will cause issues with gut health and in turn effect you bodies intake of the good stuff, take probiotics to get you system back into shape

    • your body craves vitamin D, this can be had by being out in the sunlight that you body will absorb, or take the vitamin D pills.

  • BlahBlahBlaah on 14/02/2024 - 02:20

    Try a steak. All the meds you use are tried on animals so you have blood on your hands anyway. Seriously though, try a steak, humans are meat eaters. A nice t bone or just go for a tomahawk and report back. Try a steak.

    • johnfuller on 14/02/2024 - 09:53

      did i mention try a steak?

  • DewinDell on 14/02/2024 - 08:18

    Since you say you dont react well to wheat, make sure you get a celiac test done. Also, eat meat. Seriously, it is good for you.

  • Prosci on 14/02/2024 - 10:18

    I was in a similar boat but managed to shrug it off after 20 years. It may or may not work for you:

    1. Eliminated dairy (most significant factor)
    2. Vitamin D intake
    3. Minimised alcohol consumption (redundant for you)

    For the last year or so, my ENT health has probably been the best I've ever had.

    Good luck!

  • Eeples on 16/02/2024 - 20:18

    Try Dymista, no need for prescription now.

    If not effectively take Senega and Anmonia and warm showers/steam and report back.

    Get an asthma test.

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