This isn't off-topic when we're discussing immune systems crashing for no apparent reason. Back in December 2014, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that there were roughly 1,000 people living with HIV in America, with about eighty new cases popping up every year. About 86% of those were men. And keep in mind, those are just the people who actually went out and got tested.
Like I said: it’s unlikely, but it’s certainly not impossible. People play the lottery every day despite having much worse odds of winning.
bluegardener4 said:Now you're just starting to creep me out...
Look, I'm not trying to rattle your cage. But if you're going to build an entire argument around having a weak immune system without actually addressing why you're constantly on antibiotics, we have to look at the variables. HIV isn't likely the culprit here, but it remains a statistical possibility. It’s better to run the test and know for sure than to sit there guessing. Besides, modern medicine handles it effectively these days.
A blood panel from a year ago? That's ancient history. It tells you nothing about today.
bluegardener4 said:By the way, they tried to push antibiotics on me again yesterday. I turned them down.
velvetmoose9 said:What about a CBC, metabolic panel, or CRP levels?
Did anyone actually suggest those tests? If not, demand them yourself. At least start there.
Go get tested for HIV too—the virus that causes AIDS. At the end of the day, a compromised immune system is the primary symptom.
Take some probiotics and multivitamins. A little bit of vegetables isn't going to fix you overnight. Avoid whatever triggers your sensitivities. Not everyone is built to be a powerhouse; life isn't fair.
I suspect you’re dealing with a legitimate systemic issue, and frankly, your doctor sounds incredibly negligent. Until you can get an opinion from a more serious specialist, try adjusting your diet following gluten-free protocols—think Celiac guidelines. If malabsorption is at the root of this mess, you need to test that theory. Google the symptoms and see how they stack up against yours.
Whether it happens five times or seven, it makes no difference. You completely dodged my question. I find it impossible to believe that any doctor in person, after seeing a patient that many times, would just write a prescription—let alone antibiotics for a viral infection—without offering a single explanation or ordering follow-up tests.
If what you’re saying is true, we’re looking at criminal professional negligence against you and all of us. That kind of "care" does nothing but damage your immune system and paves the way for everyone by breeding antibiotic-resistant superbugs.
bluegardener4 said:Yeah, every single time they examine me, listen to my lungs...
I’m genuinely lost here. If this happened once, fine... whatever. But you got prescribed antibiotics seven times in a single year, and your doctor didn't mention a single thing during any of those visits? Not one word about strep throat, swollen tonsils, an ear infection, or some nasty bronchitis that might turn into pneumonia? Seven times and they said absolutely NOTHING? And you mentioned seven times a year—are we talking about this happening over several years?
Are you actually getting an exam when you show up? A sore throat can be bacterial, though based on your description, that's usually not the case.
The fact that antibiotics are being prescribed this frequently without any real justification—without even taking swabs or running a culture and sensitivity test—is a perfectly valid reason to find a new doctor.
You seem pretty young to me. Even if you’ve got a serious job to manage, you aren't a child anymore. You're the one in the driver's seat when it comes to your own health.
Another thing—if you actually want to boost your immunity, cut out the nicotine entirely if you smoke, and lay off the alcohol for a while until you're back on your feet. Your liver needs a chance to reset. Try taking some milk thistle for liver regeneration; you can find it easily on sites like Vitacost. Also, get outside and move around regularly, even in the dead of winter.
If your doctor is prescribing this entirely on his own initiative—rather than you asking for it—which seems wild considering it’s happening six or seven times a year—then he’s likely spotting some underlying inflammation. He’s trying to get ahead of potential complications. Maybe there's something else going on with your health that you haven't mentioned here. Any other medical issues?
By the way, how can you possibly feel awkward asking a doctor why they're prescribing something? You're the one swallowing it.
There's a thread over on the Health forum about boosting your immune system; go give it a read.
why that you take antibiotics for viral infections?
First off, antibiotics don't touch viruses. Second, they wipe out the beneficial bacteria in your gut, leaving your nutrient absorption shot in the arm.
Build up your own immunity instead. Take a course or two of probiotic capsules to restore your gut flora. Keep up with fermented dairy products. Then move on to vitamin and mineral supplements alongside a more diverse diet. Stay hydrated—drink plenty of water, regularly rinse your nasal passages with saline, and use a propolis spray for your throat. In a few months, you'll see the difference.
Alex Gonzalez5 said:they say: "WE'LL MOVE WHEN THE CEO SAYS SO" OR "WHEN HE GIVES THE ORDER"...
That’s a crystal clear message about how little you matter to them. It isn't me insulting you—it's your own colleagues doing the work. Why are you letting yourself be treated as if you're worth less than him? Don't let them get under your skin.
Alex Gonzalez5 said:... But finding another job isn't exactly a walk in the park, you know 🙄
I hear you. But honestly? Finding your health again is a much harder climb.
I recently lost a family member to lung cancer. A smoker. Only in his fifties. He was a great man, gone way too soon. You want to know the truly grim part? After the initial shock and grief wore off, both of his sons went right back to smoking. They want to quit, they really do, but they just can't. It’s like there's something in that nicotine that hijacks the brain.
So, get out while you still have the chance before it does permanent damage. Start looking around at where else you could land—maybe the universe will throw a better opportunity your way than you're even hoping for.
Read my last two posts again. Do you really think I’d write them if I didn't give a damn about you? I didn't throw 🙂 🙂 🎉 at you just for the hell of it. This is a legitimate issue, and the way they're treating you is unacceptable. You're an equal human being, and you have just as much right to health as anyone else at your company. It’s wrong that their addictions are actively harming yours. Based strictly on what you’ve described—and my own experience dealing with smokers—I don't see a path to victory here. Every single one of them is stubborn and obnoxious, and when you factor in the CEO... honestly, walking away is probably your best move. You only get one life. You have to look out for yourself, because those smokers surrounding you certainly won't.
Like smoke driving beasts out of their dens. Take a hard look at where you stand at that company—if they actually respected you or valued your input, they wouldn't be acting this way. They either don't need you or they're afraid of you. Honestly? Your smartest move would be to start looking for a new job.
Aelia—we have a similar law here in the States, it was mentioned earlier in the thread. Alex Gonzalez5 is in Canada.
Smokers just look out for their own. They label anyone trying to quit as weaklings. Honestly, they’d be doing themselves—and everyone else—a massive favor if they were actually forced to cut back at the office.
Look, there's Article 63 of the OSHA regulations. You can file complaints directly through these email addresses . My advice? Send it to both the local field office and the central headquarters simultaneously. That way, they can't play dumb and claim they never saw it.
Donna Fowler3 said:Look, when you're trying to market something, you want it to look cool. If someone who knows nothing about the series reads "The Mockingjay," they aren't gonna think it's some heavy indie drama—they'll realize it's a massive blockbuster meant to grab everyone's attention.
As for the movies, the first one was solid, but the second felt a bit weak. The books are pretty easy reads, though that third one dragged for me. Now that they're splitting the last part into two movies, I'm kinda nervous...
Or they might assume it's just some sequel to "How to Kill a Mockingbird," based on a video game script—part one of an "angry little bird" trilogy.
Of course, it’s all quite logical: lure in unsuspecting customers who don't have a clue what's actually going on right as we hit the final installment.
Betty Edwards22 said:. Use an isotonic spray afterward. They actually encourage mucosal recovery while simultaneously calming down that hyperreactivity.
What kind of spray are we talking about here? (Even Google isn't giving me anything useful)
Look, man, what kind of "guarantee" are we even talking about? When you buy a toaster, a warranty just means if the thing dies, you get your money back or a replacement. A warranty doesn't mean you’re actually going to be happy with the toast it makes.
What kind of guarantees do you get in medicine? You get probabilities, not certainties. There isn't a single guarantee that you’ll walk out of surgery alive, let alone a guarantee that the results will turn out exactly how you pictured them.
It’s highly likely the procedure will fix the issue—but exactly how much, and whether you'll actually like the outcome? Even a doctor doesn't know that, and they can't.
analogbison15, once you fix your nose and skin, if you still find yourself struggling with the same old confidence issues, stop trying to solve it the same way—it’s a dead end. You need to invest some actual money and time into psychotherapy. A psychological wound earned in early childhood isn't something you can fix with a scalpel. I truly hope the nose surgery does the trick for you, though—fingers crossed.
If the procedure went smoothly without any complications, and you’ve actually got decent conditions at home—meaning you can get some peace and quiet without someone constantly breathing down your neck or bothering you, plus you have someone to grab extra water or run to the drugstore if you need something—there’s really zero reason to hang around the hospital longer than necessary. Honestly, you'll sleep much better in your own bed. You'll need to swing by for a follow-up in a few days to have the tampon removed, but there's no need to stay stuck in a hospital ward just for that.