our family has very low immune system, always sick.

[fortristan]

I myself have a history of being sick, in the past 4 years my boys and I have been chronicly ill with one thing or another. Since Tristans dx it has become worse especially for him. I have had blood tests on myself, had a work up done this summer on Tristan which showed he was mildly anemic. We saw an internal medicine doctor who recomended seeing an allergist. We've tried vitamins, getting rid of pets, some exercise (not my favorite thing) like walks, bike rides ect.. I do smoke (not in house or car) and I would contribute some of this for myself, however, not with the boys. They have been the ones to get it the worst. (My goal is to quit this year, its a need to do). Since Tristans db we eat better and try to keep a good schedule. For the past few years friends and family have noticed and comment. There was a family in our church that we would comment on how they caught everything now they comment about us. Do any of you have or had the same problem and have any ideas for us.

[lynn]

I don't have any advice, but I can certainly relate. We are that family at our church!
Lynn

[rtread]

I am so sorry this is happening to you. I really have no advice for you, but i wondered one thing. Do you have any mold in your house. I have heard that this can keep an entire family sick.

PS. I also quit smoking, it hasn't been easy! 5 days now :)

Rania

[My_Dana]

Hi -

Low immunity can be due to countless things.
I have researched many facets of health and here's a few things I can suggest.


1. Take Probiotics - About 70% of your systems immune fighting defense comes from the lower GI tract - friendly flora, or more commonly friendly bacteria. This good bacteria fights and kills ingested bacterias and viruses. But it can get knocked out from using anti-biotics (kills both good and bad bacteria), steroids, and from many foods containing hormones and antibiotics - dairy and meats. My suggestion, try cutting out dairy and limiting meats, or at least get organic. Then pick up some good probiotics. This should be from a "reputable" vitamin/supplement company (not all are created equal). Good companies are Metagenics, Douglas Labs (they have Space Sprinkles, ideal for kids), and Natures Way to name a few. Even GNC has probiotics. I suppose they are ok. Great places on the web to get vitamins and such - www.vitacost.com and www.swansonvitamins.com.

2. Take "appropriate" Vitamins - I know you mentioned this, but again not all are created equal (Flintstones, mainly sugar). Sugar can suppress the immune system by blocking vitamin C absorption. I use a "whole food" multi-vitamin made by Nature's Way called Alive!. Good for you but may be tough for the kids. Douglas Labs makes a very good multi my Dana uses called Vita-Kids. Dana has only been sick 1 time in nearly 2 years. And even when sick she had very light symptoms. Take 2000-5000mg vitamin C per day. Take extra vitamin D.

3. Stay away from Antacids - Antacids suppress hydrochloric acid in the stomach. This is your first line of defense to kill unwanted bacteria and parasites. Suppressing the acid also inhibits proper nutrient absorption. Better to find the actual cause of stomach issues. Usually in adults it's lack of digestive enzymes that cause food to sit and burn.

4. Hydrogen Peroxide - The of the best kept secrets (mainly because it so cheap and modern medicine makes no money on it). Peroxide is phenomenal. The main reason it works is because it supplies oxygen (H2O2) which viruses and disease cannot survive..including cancer cells! Here's how to use it -
a. For early cold/flu onset - lay down on left side, place 5 drops of standard 3% peroxide in right ear. Let fizzle for about 5 minutes. Switch sides and do the same in the other ear. Do that every few hours.

b. For stomach bug from flu or food poisoning - Mix 1 capful of peroxide to 5 capfuls of water in a cup. Drink (yes drink). It will kill any virus or infection in your stomach in about 1-2 minutes. Repeat every few hours as needed. Even those painful shooting gas pains. I and my family have done and everyone I tell to do it, they say, wow that really works!

c. NEW ADDITION - Gargle with Hydrogen Peroxide - Use it straight. Works great for sore throats from infection, swolen glands. Also can knock out streptococcus virus.

One amazing self-help naturally web site is www.earthclinic.com. Here you will find people all over the world sharing what they have found to cure nearly everything that modern medicine can't. There is a whole section devoted to peroxide and apple cider vinegar alone.


Well, that's my 2 cents. Hope it helps you and yours.
Good luck and let us know!

Dana' dad,
Ed

Dana, 8yr young, dx'd T1 4-20-2006.

[Carrie]

Ed...

My grama used to keep a bottle of peroxide by her sink!!:D I gotta ask, though...how does putting peroxide in the ears help with the cold/flu?!?

You mentioned taking 2000-5000mg vitamin C per day!!! :eek: Is that for only adults? I mentioned to the guy in the health food store last year that I gave my kids 1000mg of vitamin C in the winter. He thought that was too much, and would cause diarrhea (it didn't).

[twodoor2]

A high quality Omega-3 supplement is supposed to help the immune system as well. I also give my children Stoneyfield Farms organic yogurt and Kefur (drinkable yogurt - and it comes in flavors) which contain probiotics. They also get a high quality vitamin twice a day. Also, get some humidifiers and keep them in each room if they are congested, or even when they're not. It does help, especially if they have a respiratory problem or cold. If it's a particularly bad breating/respiratory problem, breathing in steam from a facial steam machine (Vicks makes them and they sell them at CVS/walgreens) really helps. When I was pregnant, I got bronchitis, and couldn't take strong antibiotics. I would breathe in steam, and it really helped.

I have not tried the pill form of the probiotic, but now that Ed mentioned it, I think I will. I also like the tip about hydrogen peroxide, I use it for my skin, didn't know it could also help colds.

Eat healthy - that's probably the best thing you can do to avoid sickness.

Thanks Ed!!!

[My_Dana]

Ed...

My grama used to keep a bottle of peroxide by her sink!!:D I gotta ask, though...how does putting peroxide in the ears help with the cold/flu?!?

You mentioned taking 2000-5000mg vitamin C per day!!! :eek: Is that for only adults? I mentioned to the guy in the health food store last year that I gave my kids 1000mg of vitamin C in the winter. He thought that was too much, and would cause diarrhea (it didn't).

Hi Carrie,

The peroxide in the ear is a bit of a mystery of how it actually works. I think since many kids/people can get an ear infection/head colds, the extra oxygen in H2O2 gets deep into the ear canal and helps to kill off infections there. It certainly can't hurt so give it a try!

As far as extra vitamin C, your tolerance factor is when you get the runs, you basically hit your limit. The main reason that happens is the vitamin C is actually NOT getting absorbed. Which means you are not getting what you think your getting. You want to look for a vit C complex as this helps in the absorption, not just plain ascorbic acid. I believe at most you may get 6-10% ascorbic acid. So that 1000mg may only be 100mg. Since vit C is water soluble, it's very safe to take high dose. In fact, therapeutic levels for illness can be 10,000mg+! See Dr. Pauling work.

We use Emergen-C packets. You can get a Wal-Mart or the on-line stores I mentioned in the other post. It contains 1000mg vit C plus 32 mineral complexes. We give Dana 1-4 packets a day. Well tolerated and much better than sodas!

Cheers.
Ed

[WestinsMom]

Another tip on Vitamin C is to spread it out during the day.

[My_Dana]

Along with Twodoor...

Yes. Omega-3 fish oil a must for all.
Great natural anti-inflammatory and a load of other great benefits.

The yogurts are good for the probiotics but very light in potency. The capsules/powders are much higher and rated in billions of live cultures per capsule.

Another very useful thing to clear sinuses - a Neti Pot.

This is from India and is small 8oz. tea pot looking thing. It is used to pour a water solution in one nostril and out the other.

Extremely effective in loosening a congested head. Feels great once you used used to it.

The solution is - clean water + a big pinch of baking soda + regular salt.
I add about a capful of peroxide to this for infections. Be sure to get the water temp to around 98deg. Feels much better. To use, bend over a sink turn your head so that your ear points straight into the sink. You will be looking left or right. Place the Neti-Pot spout in the upper nostril and pure. The gravity will pull the water solution through you nose and it will come out your other nostril. Breath through your month and relax. Then turn your head to do the other nostril.

You can get the Neti Pot and pre-measured sodium packets in a box of 100 at Walgreens. I use these. Much easier.

Very safe. You can do multiple time a day if you want. The peroxide adder is mainly for infections.

I used this on my 8yr old (Dana). She fought it at first, but then after a few times said "it's not that bad once you get used to it.". Plus, she knows how much better she feels.

This is also great for people with allergies and general sinus issues.

Hope that helps someone.

Dana's Dad.
Ed

[mph]

There was a family in our church that we would comment on how they caught everything now they comment about us.

We were THAT family, too;). But the "commentors" literally wiped the puke off their children and brought them to church or took them to the bathroom to puke or poo and then brought them back to class (with green noses, sneezing, and coughing). And they wondered WHY we got "sick" so often and MISSED church. Apparently we had a different definition of being "sick." We kept them home with ANY signs of illness so as not to spread it further and to let them REST and fight it off:(!!!

Since we have home churched (for other reasons), we are 100X healthier :D! Not that I'm advocating it, just noticed it as an aside thing!;)

Others have given great tips. Have you done an online search on immune system boosters? Vitamin C, zinc, and omega 3s are great starters.

[twodoor2]

Does anyone know if you can give Omega-3 to a 22 month old, and if so, how much?

[Adinsmom]

I am anal retentive about hand washing. ;) The first thing I say when my family comes home from school, outings, etc is "go wash your hands." When I am preparing meals/snacks it gives me extra time to get it on the table. + I like to know that Adin's hands are clean for bg checks.

I have also noticed when we eat alot of junk or fast food we are more susceptible to the illnesses making the rounds. Even though I supplement with vitamins and fish oil.

Good Luck.

[Gwyn]

This won't help with the autoimmune issues, but we wash, wash, wash our hands. Every time we come into the house we wash. It seems to help.

We also gargle with plain water or hot salt water once or twice a day if we have been around anyone who is sick. Doing this supposedly cuts your chances for step and flu by about 50%. (I'm not sure where I read this, so this could be one of those old wives tales:D)

[My_Dana]

Does anyone know if you can give Omega-3 to a 22 month old, and if so, how much?

Hello Twodoor -

Yes!
You can and should give your little one omega-3.
Of the two critical ones, EPA & DHA, DHA is the one most important to developing brains. Try this one - http://www.vitacost.com/NSI-Liquid-Mega-EFA-Omega-3-EPA-DHA-Lemon-Flavor
Maybe start with a half teaspoon. The anti-inflammatory affects should help in many areas of health. You'll want to watch the bg levels at first just to be sure no changes. But should be ok.

Studies have shown babies of mothers that took omega-3 fish oil during pregnancy have higher IQs!

[Schpoodle's Dad]

I hate recommending most supplements because they can cause some nasty interactions with blood glucose levels, but.........

I don't know if it is available in the US, but one of the most popular cold prevention supplements in Canada is Cold-FX. We use it during flu season and it helps a lot. You need to take quite a bit when you first feel the symptoms coming on and then you taper off. It does not help once you are already sick. A lot of people compare it to echinacea, but we find it works a LOT better.

I would talk to your doctor before giving any to Tristan because it has a lot of ginseng in it.

(I hope this is ok to post. I know that product promotion is against the rules, but there does not appear to be a generic version of this available.)

[OSUMom]

Just a reminder for anyone with children who have tubes in their ears to prevent ear infections - do not put the peroxide in their ears. I forgot one time and put alcohol in my son's ear to prevent swimmer's ear - :eek: Not good!

[twodoor2]

Hello Twodoor -

Yes!
You can and should give your little one omega-3.
Of the two critical ones, EPA & DHA, DHA is the one most important to developing brains. Try this one - http://www.vitacost.com/NSI-Liquid-Mega-EFA-Omega-3-EPA-DHA-Lemon-Flavor
Maybe start with a half teaspoon. The anti-inflammatory affects should help in many areas of health. You'll want to watch the bg levels at first just to be sure no changes. But should be ok.

Studies have shown babies of mothers that took omega-3 fish oil during pregnancy have higher IQs!


Thanks, this is actually for my non-D baby. I'll try it, as well as the probiotics. I already give the twins coreomega brand omega-3. They make faces when they take it, but they take it!!