Question:
Does anyone suffer from feeling like you have a bad cold or virus all the time?
I think it has something to do with hormonal changes, but I'm not sure of the
connection. Also, what do you do about it?
Answer:
If you're talking about nasal congestion, there may well be some
hormonal component. Do you notice any puffiness or water retention
connected with your cycle? If so, try tracking whether the congestion
occurs or worsens around the same time. Water retention doesn't just
affect the stuff we can see (ankles, etc.) - it can also cause other
tissues to swell, including the ones in our noses. (Oddly enough, one of
the best things you can do to reduce water retention is drink more
water; it stimulates your kidneys to do their job more efficiently. This
assumes, of course, that you don't have kidney problems). Or it might actually be allergies; as they age, some people do develop
allergies or sensitivity to things that never bothered them before.
Try this: get a calendar, and make a note whenever the symptoms seem
worst. Note when your periods (assuming you're still having them) occur.
If no correlation turns up, then try to pay attention to what else you
may be doing when the symptoms flare. Laundry? I've found that most
scented laundry products make me sneeze these days, so I've switched to
the unscented brands. Same with personal care products (shampoo,
deodorant, etc.)
I've found that tracking symptoms this way can be very helpful if I
finally feel the need to see my doctor. Instead of saying, "I feel
crummy," I can tell her more precisely what's happening and when, and
that helps her pinpoint the problem.
Another thought - I had what the doctor and I thought were seasonal
allergies (grass, trees, ragweed), but the allergy tests showed this to
be wrong. He suggested I give up all dairy products and see what
happens, I did and I no longer have the seasonal allergies.
It is possible that you have dairy or some other food allergy. If you
want to try giving up dairy, you would see the difference in a day or
two.
This is just another suggestion, what Pat said above also makes sense. Good point. An awful lot of us develop problems tolerating dairy as we
age. I can have cheese and yogurt, sparingly, but if I drink milk or eat
a milk-based dessert (ice cream, cheesecake), I go into Gastric Hell. If it's an intolerance rather than a direct allergy, it might take
several days for whatever-it-is to clear out of your system. Unfortunatly mine is an allergy, not lactose intolerance. If I have just
a drop of dairy (any kind), my asthma acts up and I feel very foggy. You
are right tho, that lots of people become lactose intolerant as they
grow older.
What I would give for cheesecake, canolli, pizza and the list goes on.
