This is such a great question. I had a terrible stomach virus right after Christmas and I was confined to bed for 10 days and that set me back eons. I wasn't sure I was ever going to get out of bed again - much less walk. With the encourgagment and help of family - I was able to get back on my feet again - but I am still definitely much weaker. So the doctor prescribed a 5 day IV steriod treatment - which did nothing for me except lower my immune system enough to get me sick again. It wasn't a stomach thing so I was able to work through it better - but still it was not easy or fun. I take vitamin c everyday and I drink a special acai berry juice that I think helps keep my anti-oxidents high - but I have 2 nephews in grade school that I love to spend time with and they are always bringing some bug home with them....so I too, would like to know - what can I do to prevent myself from getting sick?

First off sorry your getting sick a lot. I really don't think were you work it's really preventable. My mom works at Walmart and she always takes airborn./I have heard from my doctor that emergency C works and we can take it. I used to be on IVIG were I was pretty much immuned to evereything but now I just get a flu shot and otherwise just deal with a cold. I hope you feel better.

The flu shots are a life saver! I hadn't been sick with a cold for years and this year I skipped the flu shot and had the worst cold/flu! It lasted 3 weeks!

I really don't think there is anything a person can do to prevent illness, except to avoid folks that seem to be sick, and keep your hands clean and away from your face. If there was a solution, the person who discovered it would be a zillionaire!

As lchoppel said there is no guaranteed way to prevent getting sick.

However you could speak to your doctor about:
1.) washing your hands often. This way if you touch a door knob, shake a hand, etc and get germs you are trying to wash them off before you put your hand up to your eye or mouth where it has more access into your body.

2.) Make sure you are not deficient on vitamin C and zinc this will help immune system. Realize there are MANY parts of your immune system and making sure one part is healthy does not necessarily buster another part. Again consult your physician to determine if your are very low.

3.) Lysine is an amino acid that helps inhibit viruses. I give it to my daughter when she gets cold sores. The faster I give it to her (earlier in symptoms) the better it works. Since colds are viruses this is applicable to your question. Also try not to eat things with arginine amino acids during this time as this counters the effects of lysine. so example stay away from nuts while taking lysine.

4.) Drink enough fluids, this helps flush your system out.

Best wishes to you,
EP

Since I have been on this site, a lot of my old theories went by the wayside. I thought that by having MS, I didn't get flus and colds. I haven't either for years and years and especially since my MS kicked in.

But you people have a different problem. I don't wash my hands that often. I put fingers in my mouth. But I do avoid all chemicals as much as possible. And I don't use anything with a scent in it because that aggravates me. And I eat well and take all my vitamins.

The last time I got a flu shot, I came down with MS and NEVER AGAIN will I get a flu shot and I have never had the flu since. My immune system seems to be in overdrive!

I get out in the public and go places and don't get sick. I just get tired. Fatigue is enough for me.

MAN! Having this cold sucks my friend! you are not alone!

Physically?...

ride out the storm my friend! & drink lots of warm green tea (if caffeine isn't an issue for you. It can be for some MSrs, me included...but I NEED the tea now BAD), try loads of cough drops (if they don't make you cough more (they did for me, so I couldn't have any), keep a puke bucket handy (yes gross, but this cold will make you cough so hard you will puke), also, stock up on the toilet paper rolls cause the this cold might tend to give you "lovely" nosebleeds...

emotionally?...

realize it could be worse! I have had this "cold/flare" thing for a month & it has yet to go away!...So it can always be worse my friend...

But YAY, I just got my new Medi-Cal card in the mail & I have my next Neuro. appt. coming up at the beginning of next month so he can evaluate all this "cold/flare" stuff & point me towards some kind of relief & that's a good thing.

I feel your pain my friend! Again, you are not alone!

Take care,
Stay sane!

P.S...Does anyone ever feel like they don't really catch things like colds or flu's that much, but when they do, they are literally on death's door & they have can hardly get rid of it?

I mean, there will be times that the cold will be going around & my MS & Epilepsy will be so bad, that I guess God takes pity on me & spares me that go around cause I'm already going through enough.

Then like this time I have this "cold/flare" going on a month now & I've been doing all the stuff I mentioned in my previous reply.

I also remember another time I got the "Flu" so bad, I couldn't even get out of bed or eat for a number of days, that was bad as well.

But then the rest of the time it's really bad with the MS & Epilepsy, so God spares me on the cold & flu sending me to death's doorstep, I guess, it's weird.

Anyone else experience that?

HUGS to you all who have been sick with colds or flu along with your MS.

I have never even had a fever when I had a type of flu back in the days before my MS kicked in. I just felt bad and couldn't really go to work. Never felt nauseous just crummy. I never get the flu now since I have MS and thought that I was immune from it because of MS. I guess that is not true for you all. I am sorry that you feel bad.

But I never even had a fever until I started taking interferon. I got a fever in the beginning when I took my dose of interferon. And it really made my MS worse so I could hardly get up. But once the fever went away, I was back to my normal. Hope that the fever doesn't knock you out.

Take care. The vitamins really work for me. Try to eat as well as possible and that helps me.