Antibiotic and immune system issues

[bakogirl]

I rarely ever take antibiotics typically because I'm scared of the side effects. A few weeks ago I had to take one for a UTI. Ever since I think my immune system is shot and that scares me so bad. I have been keeping up with my vitamins and probiotic but I think I really got messed up. I rarely ever get sick. A week after the antibiotic I caught this strept throat feeling thing that lasted 4 days it then turned into what felt like a cold for another 4 days. I've been ok for a few days now but woke up today with a bad eye infection. Nobody in my house has had anything. Usually they catch bad colds and I'm the only one who doesn't get it. Now I'm the only one getting these infections. Do antibiotics lower your immune system? I'm so scared I'm going to be susceptible to a SV. I do everything with caution. Wash hands, handle food right, I clean my baskets with my own wipes when I go shopping. I just don't know what to do. I keep taking all my suppkements hoping its gonna help but I keep getting something new.

[daffodil]

I'm not sure if they lower your immune system, but they are not easy on your body. I'm sorry you have not been feeling well. It is a good idea to keep up your vitamins and eating healthy, so it sounds like you are doing everything right to stay healthy. I hope you are much better soon!

[Miss_Pink24]

It does depend on the antibiotics you are on, but they should not lower your immune system too much. What they do do though is kill all bacteria in your body including the friendly bacteria which is usually there to help to prevent infections, if these bacteria are no longer around then opportunistic infections can take hold and give you horrible infections like thrush and strep throat. The eye infection is more than likely caused by bacteria too.

*SVs are caused by viruses and not bacteria, so your chances of catching one should not be increased due to the antibiotics. The part of your immune system which attacks viruses should still be intact, and as *SVs are only caught from injesting particles of virus and you have been washing you hands, handling your own food etc then your chances of catching one should be minimal.

Hope you feel better soon.

[bakogirl]

Thanks for your input. I just feel so invaded. Seriously I'm the only one here that has caught stuff and I'm the most cautious. It's aggravating. I went to the doctor today and they perscribed antibiotic eye drops. They said its conjunctivitis. This just sucks and it doesn't help hearing that the SV is still running crazy. I got a panic attack at the doctor because I read on Facebook my cousins daughter has it real bad. Thankfully I haven't been around them. It just makes me even more nervous. Like when I went to Walgreens the other day to get a couple of things and out of nowhere the cashier tells me all the bugs going around. She said the stomach one is the worst. I was thinking of all people she had to tell me that. I'm trying everything I can to help myself but I feel like I'm not doing something right. I just hope we don't get the SV. But it's hard because you can't stay inside all the time.