A hard question to answer. We all have different DNA and immune systems. I was clearly standing in the wrong line when DNA was handed out. And, my immune system has been pretty much compromised since birth. I had my tonsils out at 18 months. They were so toxic, they almost killed me. Straight downhill from there.

With regards to viruses, I would say that your best defense is to enforce a strict policy of hand washing when coming in from being out anywhere. My guests also (willingly) comply to hopefully prevent me from getting some bug from the general public. I carry antibacterial disposable towelettes in my purse all the time. I even wipe "clean" restaurant tabletops with them. I'm Canadian. We don't wear shoes in the house. You can track in all sorts of dirt and filth in on your shoes. I travel in a pretty closed circle. If there is some sort of event and anyone is sick or thinks they are coming down with something, I stay home. Either they call and confess or I check before I go.

And finally, a very high quality vitamin and a good diet important. That's all I've got. Maybe someone else will have some better ideas. Take care.

Thanks Fantod, I am going to get disinfectant wipes when I shop this week. I love the idea of ditching shoes at the door too. I also check about people's health before we go anywhere and freak out when someone coughs or sneezes near us.
The vitamins we are doing and an immune booster and we try with the diet - mostly paleo.

I agree with Fantod, try to keep away from germs and keep up with your health. It is really all you can do.

I LOVE the no shoes in the house, but my boys and hubs would not comply.

There are many professionals that have written about comorbid issues that many of us face. Fibro can be different for everyone, tho!!

Many of us with fibro can have compromised immune systems, so keeping the immune system boosted is a good idea. You are already using a vitamin supplement and immune booster and that's great. I would look into adding a fish oil supplement and supplemental vitamin C as well.

I was going to mention dietary changes and it looks like you are following a paleo diet which is great. You may want to get her tested for food intolerances as well. I would make sure that you try to avoid sugar as much as possible. Some good substitutes are liquid Stevia (Kal brand) and xylitol. Also, a quality probiotic for children may be beneficial as well.

Since you are following paleo, a good cookbook to use is: Against All Grain by Danielle Walker.

cocoa - we have just started supplementing salmon oil and flax seed for omega 3,6, and 9. Vitamin C is a problem as the only sources she can eat are guava, kiwi fruit and prickley pear. She can't eat citrus or strawberries. She has a number of food intolerances, as does the rest of the family, Not all the same ones, of course, that would be convenient:-) he cannot eat corn, soya, citrus, strawberries, cinnamon, nutmeg, peppers of any sort, tomatoes and any form of alcohol (even in cough mixture) and she is sensitive to too much coffee and gluten. I really hope there is nothing else.

There is very little hard evidence that we're more susceptible to other diseases than the general population. I'm pretty much in the camp that believes we are the "egg" rather than the "chicken" - I believe we have fibro because we had something else first, not the other way around.

I agree with all the suggestions about precautions but those are precautions that are recommended for anyone in order to avoid colds, flu, and other contagious diseases. The biggie is regular hand washing. The biggest mode of transmission of contagious diseases is touching something with the infectious agent (door, anything that someone sick has touched) and then touching/rubbing the eyes. Regular hand washing prevents the vast majority of those transmissions.

For IBS, I am a huge believer in probiotics but I'm not a fan of the common drug store variety. I use a good pharmaceutical grade probiotic and it has virtually shut down my IBS. If your daughter has a healthy diet and no IBS or other digestive symptoms it may not be necessary, but at the first sign of digestive issues, or anytime she has to be on an antibiotic for any reason, I wouldn't hesitate to go with probiotics.

Hope you find some of these suggestions helpful, and maybe even comforting.

One thing I forgot - other than a good diet, the best preventative for osteoporosis is weight bearing exercise.

I think it's highly individualized and to be honest, I haven't really had much issue with getting sick from your average everyday crap (other than stomach bugs) until I hit the hormone he** of pre-menopause.

Pain and meds can make us very tired, whcih makes it harder, maybe, but I've never seen anything that says conclusively "Yes, FM means you will get XYZ."

Eat right, do your best to exercise, and that's all ANYONE can do to keep their baseline health decent, FM or not.

So Ditto Peace.

Thank you all for your input.

I second the probiotic idea! I take one every day even though IBS is not a huge issue got me. Highly recommended!

I had IBS long before I knew I had fibro. I don't get a lot of ordinary illnesses. Everyone seems to be different. Aside from the usual routes of disinfectant and diet there's not a lot you can do.

I don't believe I have ever read that there is any direct correlation between Fibro and suseptability to other diseases. So, I would have to say a definite NO to Virus and Bacterial illnesses like cold and flue

However, there are co-morbid diseases that occur along with Fibro in many people, like IBS and Hypo/Hyper thyroidism. This does not mean though that every has these illnesses or that a majority of people have them. It just means that there is a list of illness that CAN be seen in higher rates among fibro sufferers than the general population.

Right now you are thinking, blah blah blah blah so I will stop

Generally speaking I would advise that she keep as active as she possibly can and fight to control her symptoms. The more she moves the more she will be able to move.

I have two autoimmune diseases (fibro and endo)....but I rarely get sick...My illness immune system is quite robust! I've worked with kids for 18 years and seem to have built up quite a defense system. I get a flu shot every year. I haven't had the flu in over 15 years. I did manage to finally get strep throat three years ago for the first time ever. But other than an occasional cold and allergy issues in pretty healthy sickness wise!

I think it is good you are trying to help your daughter.
Is your daughter doing research too?
What kind of things is she doing to help herself. I think you said she is 20. Yes? Or have I got that wrong.
I hope this doesn't come across as harsh. I think it's important that she is doing all she can to do her part too to fight and arm herself. It's not all your burden to carry to take care of her.
Though I understand mother's instinct to protect her child. I am a little concerned for you and your health because you are so focused on your daughter's.

D - I have not yet come across anything you have posted that made me think "blah, blah, blah" I like that advice about moving - we are trying that. A very slow process at the moment, but we are getting there.
Christine - you are blessed not to get ill!
Naturegirl - When my daughter is strong enough and unfoggy enough she tries to research stuff too. The last few months she has been in a severe flare - too much pain and fog to do anything other than sleep. She is still at the stage where she can either bath (if I run the water) OR pull her bed straight OR have a friend visit for an hour OR watch TV for an hour or two in any one day. She was able to be cognitively awake during the day for about 4 hours for a few days in a row this week, but not much energy or strength. She walked out to the clothes line and back yesterday, unaided. Maybe 15 metres in total.
My health is suffering a bit, but we do what we can and my husband and son try to help where they can too.