Hi Mamas,
We moved 2 months ago from NC to WA. Since then our family of 4 (husband, me, toddler, infant) have cycled through 3 colds back to back, the last one being particularly rough with chest coughs. I had it the longest, and I rarely get sick. We've all finally been better for a few wonderful days, even though I've had a headache on and off.
Well, today my toddler woke up suddenly from his nap with a bad stomach bug of some kind (he couldn't even keep fluids down for a few hours..doing a bit better now, and sleeping, poor guy). My husband came home from work an hour later with the same thing.
How do we break this cycle? Could our immunity he low since our bodies are adjusting? What can we do to combat this and break out of this pattern?
I stay at home with the kids at the moment. We've tried to be careful about washing hands, making sure bedding/linens are washed regularly, eating healthful meals (for the most part), and getting good rest..has anyone else been through this? I'd love some pointers.
Thanks!!
Thanks for the feedback! I'm glad we aren't alone and it's not all in my head. Our kids have their first checkups with the new doctor soon (and us after that), so we'll talk to them as well. I hope it doesn't get too much worse!
My first inclination is that it is actually allergies. Different regions have different allergens. You may want to consult an allergist.
I am guessing the stomach bug is unrelated though.
You're adjusting to your new environment - and it takes longer than a few months to do that.
Every season you will be exposed to new pollen and local bacteria/germs that you never encountered before.
It will get better eventually but give it another 10 months or so.
My advice?
Wallow in it.
Seriously - go out and garden and get in the dirt - kids too - in the sandbox or a mud puddle.
In between colds and other ailments, get as much full exposure to you new environment as you can.
Eventually things will calm down and you'll achieve a new normal.
This is not uncommon when you move to a new area. Your body had developed immunities to the different strains of bacteria and viruses in your old location, but now that you moved to a new area, there are different strains for your body to build its defenses against.
When we moved from Iowa to Texas in 1992, the same thing happened to us....stomach bugs, colds, even pneumonia.... (my body really took a beating... I had pneumonia back to back, two different types...) ... In particular, I was really under a lot of stress with a new baby, my dad passing away, and the move.
The best thing is to continue what you are doing... eat healthy, get exercise and plenty of rest, and all of that..... it will pass as your bodies adjust to the new viruses.
We moved to a different part of the US a 2 years ago. I think it took 9 months of more sickness than normal before we were back to being a healthy family again. My guess is we were not used to the germs on this part of the US. Either that or moving made our immune systems stressed. Who knows. Just do your best to keep everyone healthy..eat well..try to not be stressed out. It may take a while. Last school year was rough for us!
Little ones tend to get sick and then get sick again - or our family did.
And we'd get worn down from sleepless nights (up with colds, etc.) and then get bugs ourselves.
Throw in the stress of moving, and I think it's not that odd you've been sick.
Two other thoughts:
- how's the air quality in your new home? Need to clean filters in air exchange system, or is there carpet, etc?
- climate is different so takes a while to adjust
When we couldn't fight bugs and just were wiped out we went in for a full check up. Sometimes we'd go on antibiotics if necessary - if there was some underlying infection.
Good luck :)
Check the walls in your new home for mold. There may be something in the home that is making you sick. This happened to my in-laws. They moved from CA to TN and were sick for a year because of black mold.
It can also be that you're catching all the bugs that have gone around that community in the last couple of years (that most community members are now immune to), and you're catching them, getting over them, and in a microbial way, becoming part of your new community.
Good luck!
It's probably environmental. Is there carpeting in the new home; new or old? The fibers and what the carpet is treated with can cause illnesses to the installers as well as the customer. I suffered, my husband even worse in the past. Then we found a company that manufactures only green products and changed from using bleach, 409, Mr. Clean, Lysol etc and NO carpet in the home, the only time we suffer with allergens is from winter to spring (things blooming) and sometimes summer to fall.
What most of Americans don't know is that the U.S. government does not protect and warn us, the consumer, about chemicals that can harm us; the FDA only regulates food and drugs. The manufactures of these toxic products only want one thing and that is for the consumer to put money in their pockets. We all heard about J&J Shower to Shower and the $72 million lawsuit. One of my business partners has been in cancer research for over 30-years and I have learned so much from her regarding environmental wellness.
I know some have said your bodies will adjust, but you could be adjusting to toxins that will have long term effects and will surface later in life.
I also agree with Heidi B regarding mold.
If you can find a way to live green, I would suggest that.
I don't have any advice but just wanted to let you know that you are not alone. The last two months my family has been sick with virus after virus. This is very unusual for us. We are normally very healthy people. My Dr said it's going around and they have seen a huge increase in sick patients over the last few months. I have missed work and my daughter has missed school. I am currently on the tail end of a nasty virus that knocked me on my butt for over a week now. I haven't been this sick for as long as I can remember. Hang in there and I hope you all feel better very soon!
Probably new allergies. Your bodies will adjust..but you can ask a doctor about allergy medicine in the mean time.
I live in MD and have for 16 years. Before that I moved every 2-3 years of my life. It was always something new for us. MD is by far the worst for allergies of anywhere I have lived though.
I agree with B on this one. I moved from Nevada to Germany one year and was sick for about six months and so was my daughter. We had pneumonia and colds. My husband and son did not get sick just us. Remember the temperatures in the regions are different as well and you have to adjust to that as well.
So do enjoy your new environment and jump in and get dirty and then get well and enjoy the scenery.
the other S.
Could some of this be allergies to your new area?
We had a rough season this year. I honestly think the best things are staying away from the person in your
home to get the cold/flu. For example, when hubby gets sick from someone at work, I try to keep the youngest
away from him, I'll sometimes sleep in the guest room until he's no longer contagious etc. We take vitamins.
I tell my older kids to stay away from the sick kids at school. I tell the kids to not touch their eyes, mouth
etc. I have my kids wash their hands right when they get home from school telling them how important it is.
Do you kids go to daycare? School?
It may be the new location
Picture it Waltham 2008...(yes I'm going into Sophia Petrillo mode). Our newly rebuilt renovated elementary school reopens merging 2 schools into one much larger one. My munchkin is in second grader and I' doing htat lunchlady recess monitor thing.....And did I mention first communion "school"... The 2 of us were constantly sick. I think it was an adjustment thing..and the "sharing" of germs between us didn't help....Flu (even with a shot and it wasnt the swine one)...pink eye ear infections, strep compounded with double ear infections....bronchitis....blick....did I mention everyone else was also sick at school too..yup, that that was the spring with the swine flu, too..Things eventually got better after the school year was over..and 3rd grade was oh so much better, more normal
Good luck and feel better
You can't break this cycle.
You have moved to a new place and your bodies are building their immune system to new things. New trees, flowers, air, people, germs, etc....
I'd say by the end of summer you guys should be done with all this then when school starts back up in fall it should start again. Once you get through the next "winter" season you should be good to go as far as your body being acclimatized and done with the new stuff.
