Help : Medical advice

Folks,

Perhaps you might be able to help.

4 years ago, during a holiday on the content, I picked up a flu-like viral infection.
In effect, for six months, I was kaput with flu-like symptoms.
Aching muscles, nasal congestion, sore eyes, headache, sweating/shivering : basically feeling dreadful.

I underwent a series of medical tests (blood tests, lymph tests etc, chest x-rays).
Nothing irregular showed up.
My local doctor and the hospital, diagnosed anti-biotics to cure the ailmentn and rest.
In time, these symptoms passed.

However, since then I have picked up very bad colds several times per year : I'm not talking about regular 1 - 2 day colds.
The colds that I manage to pick up are 7 - 8 day affairs : in effect they feel like mild flu.

I've tried every type of concoction to boost my immune system to prevent me from getting colds.
I have ingested vitamin C each day (1000mgs per day) : I've made sure to eat a balanced diet : made sure I get plenty of rest.
Yet each year my system succmbs to catching very heavy colds.

Does anyone else get heavy colds?
What do you do fight them?

Or what do you do to help prevent picking up colds?

All advice appreciated.

__________________
.."But finally the last thing I’ll say to the people who don’t believe in cycling, the cynics and the sceptics. I'm sorry for you. I’m sorry that you can’t dream big. [I]I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles. You should believe in these athletes, and you should believe in these people. I'll be a fan of the Tour de France for as long as I live. And there are no secrets - this is a hard sporting event and hard work wins it" - Armstrong 2005 TDF
morelike hypocrisy.

It sounds like you are doing a lot already but I do a couple of thing in addition. Wash your hand frequently and disinfect your surroundings frequently.
I also use a nasal rinse everyday. Just a saline soulution but it seems to help keep down the sinus issuses.
If you have never used a nasal rinse it is a different experience. You squirt a saline sloution into one nostril and it comes out the other without ill effects.

__________________
Dope,when training and talent just aren't enough.

i wonder how spartacus would fight it?

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Anything is Possible.

Washing hands more often is a good idea. I wonder has anything in your life changed that would cause you to be in contact with viruses/bacteria more often? Perhaps a new job working inside more often, or even coming in contact with sick people more. Perhaps your wife or someone in your household has a new job working inside more then they used to and could be bringing this stuff home like a carrier. Just a thought

Thanks fellas.

I was approaching this subject more from the perspective that it is probably better to try to boost my immune system.

__________________
.."But finally the last thing I’ll say to the people who don’t believe in cycling, the cynics and the sceptics. I'm sorry for you. I’m sorry that you can’t dream big. [I]I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles. You should believe in these athletes, and you should believe in these people. I'll be a fan of the Tour de France for as long as I live. And there are no secrets - this is a hard sporting event and hard work wins it" - Armstrong 2005 TDF
morelike hypocrisy.

Lim, each year of marriage seems to stip away the will to live and drains the resistance to death away until death is a merciful alternative. This could be part of your problem.

__________________
Dope,when training and talent just aren't enough.

I used to get nasty sinus viruses and infections with depressing regularity since childhood. After difficulty trying to clear a blockage in my left sinus I finally demanded a referral to an eye, ear, nose & throat specialist. He found a polyp that had started in the sinus and punched a hole into the anterior nasal cavity, where it could be seen hanging in the back of my throat on a good day.

Well, since he removed that thing I rarely get sick and when I do I'm over it a lot more quickly. Not saying that's what you have, but you might want to see a sinus specialist.

If I were you, I'd be gorging on seaweed. According to what I've learned here at Cycling Forums, seaweed cures everything. How do you think that Elvis was able to meet with the Grays from Zeta Reticuli? I'll tell you how, when the paramedics got to the scene, and found the King on the floor by the toilet, they forced seaweed down his gullet. See, it even cures death.

__________________
Sex is horrid
Pain is Fun
I cut my fingers off
One by one

Frequent orgasms are known to lower one's immunity. But if you are indeed married, that can't be the problem.

Lim, have you had tests to check your immune function?

These are specialised blood tests your average GP (or hopital) would not routinely order.

Referral to an immunologist/haematologist might be in order.

__________________
The good news is - I can treat the injuries I am about to inflict.

Step away from the bottle Lim... the booze will do you no good.

As a side note, if I do drink a few *cough* beers a day then I do tend to get more nasal irritaion... then the post nasal drip... which sucks cause there's plenty of good beer out here.

I don't know - I've always found liquor (specifically, rum) to be a great med.

Actually CNN.com this week had a story about a newly released study that found that car accident victims that had consumed alcohol prior to the crash had a lower incidence or mortality and brain damage. Those that had brain injuries typically had less sever injuries than those that did not imbibe.

__________________
Sex is horrid
Pain is Fun
I cut my fingers off
One by one

"Great taste, less brain damage."

Bloods were tested.
Local GP referred me to the haemotology dept in hospital
They took a series of blood samples from me.

Both the doctor and the hospital said that the readings turned up normal, when the test results came back tow weeks later.

__________________
.."But finally the last thing I’ll say to the people who don’t believe in cycling, the cynics and the sceptics. I'm sorry for you. I’m sorry that you can’t dream big. [I]I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles. You should believe in these athletes, and you should believe in these people. I'll be a fan of the Tour de France for as long as I live. And there are no secrets - this is a hard sporting event and hard work wins it" - Armstrong 2005 TDF
morelike hypocrisy.