Viral infections non stop
Hi from the Nordic countries! Is anyone elses main symptom frequent viral infections? Mine is that + the insane fatigue they result in.
Some background:
Had Covid for the first time February 2022. It took 3 weeks before I could go back to work (as a music school teacher). I started having a viral cold once a month since then. (Before that I was sick 2-8 times a year). That felt like a lot, and I was quite embarrassed having to be so much away from work. Other than that I was pretty ok. But that was nothing in comparison to what was about to happen...
I had Covid again in June 2024. It was worse, the cough was so bad I thought my heart will stop, toenails were bluish even though my oxygen level was ok etc. From that infection on I've been getting a cold TWiCE every month and I'm also insanely fatigued. Not a single fully normal day since then. A couple of bacterial and fungal infections but the viruses have destroyed my life. Or large parts of it.
I've been well enough to continue doing about 50% of the workload I used to, which is just enough to keep up with rent and car. Other than that I just rest and I've needed to do so many adjustments to just get the work done. Taught online (we are officially not allowed to), worked while sick, compensated lost lessons later, hired collegues to keep my lessons out of my own pocket, and been officially on sick leave but I try to minimise that (fearing the consequences). Other than that I mainly recover, sitting or lying in my home.
Social life is minimal (mostly people visiting), my beloved long term partner left me (and there went the dreams about a home and family, I'm already 42F), relatives think I make this up and just go crazy mode about this all (I've started lying that I'm just busy doing fantastic stuff like gym and volunteering to skip the drama...). Absolutely no excercise, if I bike to work (2.5 km) it takes me hours to be able to even it sit straight, let alone stand and teach.
I was studied in the hospital, I had too low CD8 and NK cells (so viral defence is a problem) and low vitamin D and low ferritin. So far everything else normal. I also don't sleep too well but I've been like that for years.
..So just curious, is anyone else getting sick this often? And is anyone else trying survive as a teacher with this condition?