How often do you get sick per year?
Posted by Ok_Praline7861@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 389 comments
Im talking about colds, flus, and covid.
I used to get one or two colds per year, often just the sniffles, but I feel I get sick more often now.
Decent_Confidence_36@reddit
2/3 times a year.. according to work 5/6 times a year
Justplaythefkngnote@reddit
Never, ever ever got colds in the summer. Now everyone seems to have one here in London. Viruses mutate, and there is something of covid in all of them now I think
AngelDelight74@reddit
If you’re anaemic, you pick up bugs really quickly. Get a blood test and boost your immune system and gut health. Take your vitamins and minerals (A-Z even supermarket brand) and cut back sugar. I find it makes me quite phlegm-y.
Captain-Birdseed@reddit
Usually one bad colder year. I’ve been off on long term sick for a year and a half now so I haven’t been to work and haven’t had a proper cold since then.
Puzzleheaded_Field37@reddit
Never, I didn't even get sick when I had the Covid shots, Honestly the only time I get "Sick" is either from being hungover, or going through some sort of withdrawals.
Apart from that I never get colds, I would probably eat raw chicken and be alright I have the stomach of an Ox.
CAPalmer1@reddit
All the goddamn time, but I’m a delicate little flower, and I have kids who are still at the ‘sneeze in your eyeballs’ age, so I catch everything they bring home from school.
WGSMA@reddit
I get sick maybe once a year, I get “sick” 3-4 times a year
panadwithonesugar@reddit
last time I had anything more than a sniffle was December 2019, there was a absolutely horrible bug going around and felt like half the country was in bed recovering. It was so bad infact, that when Covid hit a few weeks later, we were all convinced we'd already contracted before Christmas.
Unique_Day6395@reddit
You probably did, Covid was around in 2019. It was found in Italy in the autumn.
Old_Top2901@reddit
I went to Italy (Venice) in Oct 2019 and when I came back I had the WORST cold! Convinced it was Covid.
winobeaver@reddit
you brought it here?
Old_Top2901@reddit
Yes, cos I was the only person travelling between Venice and the U.K. that month!
Nick6819@reddit
Probably once or twice at most. Last time followed being in a human petrie dish of an arena in Birmingham watching Iron Maiden with temperatures outside of 30 degrees C.
Emotional-Brief3666@reddit
I'm nearly 70. I get aches, pains and injuries but very rarely ill as such. Maybe a cold but that isn't ill. I was ill in 2011 with pancreatitis and 2015 with appendicitis but I worked through both.
Fantastic_Fig_8559@reddit
I definitely get sick more often and it takes me down for longer. I never used to be ill ever. Now I feel like it’s every 3 months.
cheeky_chilli@reddit
Currently sick. Don't know what it is. GP appointments are almost impossible. So im riding it out.
Emilie_Charles@reddit
After the lockdown, I feel like my immunity has gotten weaker. I used to fall sick once or twice a year, but now I catch a cold almost every month.
Disastrous_Art8256@reddit
I’m still yet to be diagnosed but I’m pretty sure I have an auto-immune disorder/disease so I pretty much always have some kind of cold or flu
duowolf@reddit
maybe couple of times a year
Funky_monkey2026@reddit
I used to get VERY bad once every 4-5 years. 3 days in bed shivering covered in every blanket in the house. I'd often leave the gym covered in sweat in the middle of winter and walk home in a t-shirt before I'd feel cold.
I haven't been to the gym for 2 years now, but I'm in the garden a lot. I got a bit run-down last year. Migraines guaranteed every week though.
winobeaver@reddit
we do get sick more often nowadays. There's a whole new virus going round that didn't even exist when I was a kid - and it's even worse than the cold and the flu, it's fuckin shite
BeKind321@reddit
I get the flu jab each year and haven’t had the flu for about 15 years. I also get the Covid jab (I know that is controversial) but I am asthmatic and it really screwed up my chest when I caught Covid….
Bxsnia@reddit
About 4-5 times a year. And when I get sick, I'm sick for at least 5 days. Back in school my attendance was horrible because of this and my parents had to explain that I wasn't just bunking and was actually sick.
BusyBeeBridgette@reddit
My immune system is pretty much shot. I usually always have a cold or the flu.
Bxsnia@reddit
Can anyone smarter than me explain how a weakened immune system makes you sick more often? If you've got a virus then you've got a virus, no? Or is this strictly refering to symptoms from said virus?
thelaughingman_1991@reddit
Do you supplement any bits at all?
LengthinessSame695@reddit
Maybe two
ThrowawayYAYAY2002@reddit
Only when the season change drastically.
Exercise, hydration, fruit. That's the secret.
Druid_at_heart@reddit
I've had COVID like illnesses twice in the last year. Regularly gotten colds this summer due to high daytime temps and low night time temps, but nothing more than a running nose or sore throat
abelindc@reddit
Since my baby started nursery in February, 5 times this year so far
mkaym1993@reddit
Genuinely ill as in it stops me doing stuff it’s 1-2 a year. I often have a stuffy nose, but I think it’s just an allergy to something that I’m not aware of!
Conscious-Ball8373@reddit
Varies wildly from year to year. Last year it was one thing after another. This year I think only once so far.
RainbowPenguin1000@reddit
It used to be once a year, if that. I’d have a few colds but nothing that could stop me going about my day.
I got Covid in 2020 though and was ill for six weeks and ever since then I get ill probably about 3 times a year. It may be a huge coincidence and just due to me getting older but it feels more likely that my immune system is not quite as strong as it was before 2020.
cgknight1@reddit
Basically never - I seem to be a bit of a freak. The nearest I get is a big of a sniffle. If I had covid, it had limited impact on me. I have never taken a sick day as far as I can remember.
Bigtallanddopey@reddit
I used to be like that, I hadn’t been sick (vomited) for over 15 years at one point, I would barely get a cold. Then I had kids.
IssacHunt89@reddit
It cant be coincidence. I thought the sick bugs were never going to end at one point having them every couple of months...
Sea-Possession-1208@reddit
Yep, many kids could be used for germ warfare - just let the sverage nursery class run feral in an enemy base - and they'll be laid low for weeks
cgknight1@reddit
yeah never go near them...
fabulousteaparty@reddit
I'm the same, but often take mental health days! - you've got a right to them, and sometimes a day of veging without using pto is just what is needed!!
Little_st4r@reddit
My partner is like this. I'll catch something at work (he works from home) and it will wipe me out. Then he catches it from me and just gets a bit of a headache.
msrch@reddit
Yes me too. When I get sick I know because my resting heart rate increases to the 50s for 3 days, then I have about 4 hours of sniffles and then it stops. Usually only once a year but had it twice this year lol.
I do have a child, but I never get sick even if he does. And I work in a school! Maybe that’s why my immune system is so good?
My ex had Covid 3 times and I didn’t get it. I did get it in 2023, I tested because I lost smell and then had to isolate from work (school). I had 3 glorious days off and ran 10k on my first day of isolation 🤣
jamnut@reddit
Same. Even when I got diagnosed with cancer (practically symptomless) I got one with one of the highest survivability rates and had virtually no reaction to the chemo/radio. Even post-treatment i still do not get poorly
Sometimes I wish I'd get something like the flu or a bad cold just to see what other people go through, but sod's law suggests it'll probably kill me
Houseofsun5@reddit
Same, I think being single with no kids, never using public transport and working mostly alone helps a lot. If I had COVID I never knew it and can't remember the last time I had a cold, I could probably estimate it by however old that packet of Beecham's is at the back of the cupboard.
louwyatt@reddit
Help in the short term, makes things worse in the long term. You can't build immunity if you're never infected.
As a kid who litrally ate everything and the hygiene of a Chinese wet market. I very rarely get ill from anything. I've smoked for a decade and still barely get touched by the flue when I've caught it.
Houseofsun5@reddit
I grew up on a farm getting covered head to toe in shit daily and eating stuff straight from the ground washed down with unpasteurised milk , I am pretty sure my immune system works okay.
Any_Listen_7306@reddit
Same - I never get a dodgy tummy or am vomiting
Rekyht@reddit
That’s not really how that works, but sure
Tomatoflee@reddit
I have told people I’ve been ill as an excuse a couple of times but I haven’t been sick for years either. I can’t remember the last time. Same for me too with Covid; if I had it, I didn’t notice.
Fyonella@reddit
I’ve never in my entire 64 years had a cold or the flu.
Used to suffer with strep throat a LOT as a kid, but that stopped at 15 when I got Glandular Fever. Nothing at all since then.
GentlemanJim534@reddit
Once a year, maybe twice
BabyAlibi@reddit
It just depends.
Last year I had 4 x bowel infections. 1 x covid. 1 x norovirus. It was a tough year.
This year I haven't been physically ill at all (not awesome mentally though)
ebbs808@reddit
4 times I work outside so every time the season starts to change.
plant_bean@reddit
3-5 times a year. It has got much less recently. I eat plenty of veg and i think i’ve had a bit of exposure since i’ve started working in london
Alasdair91@reddit
I seem to get really ill once a year where I need time off work and then just feel “under the weather” a couple of times a year.
toon_84@reddit
I get a really bad cold every time the clocks change.
carlitobrigantes@reddit
like 2-3 times during the latter half of the year. i currently have my first sore throat/itchy ears/headachey stuffy illness coming on
Sophiiebabes@reddit
On average, once every 5 years
CommonSpecialist4269@reddit
I’m currently pitched up with what I think is flu that I’ve been suffering since Tuesday. I’m not getting any better. It feels like I am, and then I just get slapped in the face again with a fever. It also feels like my lungs are trying to eject themselves from my body when I cough. I’m coughing so hard I’m nearly throwing up.
I don’t get sick often, but when I do I usually get pretty damn sick. Last time was norovirus in January.
Optimal_Influence_64@reddit
Has anyone found anything really helpful in wording it off vitamins or supplements wise ? I used sambercol on my 4 year old it did help him a lot but I still catch everything going and can't afford to waste money on supplements that don't do anything
Unique_Day6395@reddit
High strength vitamin D.
Optimal_Influence_64@reddit
Thank you
Tough_Conclusion271@reddit
Basically never, at most I get a slightly runny nose once per year. Been at my job 11 years havnt had a single day off sick. Never been what I would deem "ill" .. never been bed ridden etc.
Can only assume Its somewhat genetic as my mum is exactly the same. Can't say I'd put it down to anything else, I'm generally fit but don't have any specific diet, supplementation etc
animalwitch@reddit
I take time off for being sick basically never, unless it's really bad. I might have to take actual sickness come winter, but yeah, I normally just tough it out.
I did recently take a few days "sick" because my manager pissed me off but I guess that doesn't count lol
_FreddieLovesDelilah@reddit
Fucking loads because selfish healthy people decide to come into work when they have a virus and make everyone else sick. I ended up breaking a rib because I caught a cough.
Taashaaaa@reddit
Trouble is most employers don't want you to take time off work even if you are ill. They did for a while during covid. But my job's policy for covid now is that if you're well enough to work you come in. So basically they don't care if you infect other people. I at least mask up if I'm ill. But most people don't.
_FreddieLovesDelilah@reddit
It’s so wrong isn’t it? I really hate our work culture. It’s should be a criminal offence to knowingly hurt someone by infecting them.
Taashaaaa@reddit
I foolishly thought that covid had got people to change their mentality about taking sick days. But it didn't seem to last.
sorelytempted3@reddit
I get paid less when I'm off sick so I only do it if i have a fever. I do wear a mask though. I don't care if people stare (I'm in sweden where they never wore masks) I know I'm doing what I can to limit the spread. This will be the new normal for me.
As an aside I've only had one mild cold since December 2019. Don't think I had covid.
Rootvegforrootbeer@reddit
I used to get sick every month but since Covid I don’t really get sick anymore, maybe twice a year?
London-maj@reddit
Very rarely, due I believe to my daily kiwi fruit.
theotherquantumjim@reddit
Psychopath test - do you peel them before eating?
London-maj@reddit
Never. I cut them in half and scoop the insides out with a spoon. Does that make me a psychopath?
theotherquantumjim@reddit
Nope. That is normal behaviour. I worked with a guy who would just munch straight into the hairy skin
London-maj@reddit
The skin is supposed to be full of nutrients. I just don’t like the texture of it.
theotherquantumjim@reddit
And why would you? It’s like eating a hairy shin
Jassida@reddit
About once a year I’ll get a bad cold
Dear_Grape_666@reddit
I WFH and don't have kids, so it's insanely rare for me to get sick. Think last time I was ill was 2 years ago when I had covid. Only caught that because I went to A&E with my partner, so of course there was covid there lol.
Back when I worked in the office I think I was off sick 4-5 times a year at least. Had perma HR warnings about all my absences, but it's not my fault the office was a goddamn petri dish.
AttersH@reddit
All the freaking time. My immune system is shocking & I don’t know why. My doctors don’t know why either. I am a really healthy eater, mostly unprocessed foods, plenty of fruit/veg, I try look after my gut health etc, good fibre, protein. I run 4/5 times a week. I genuinely feel like I look after myself pretty well. Im not perfect but I give it a good go!
And yet, I catch every cough & cold going. Last winter, I had Covid twice & the flu - I got tested for each illness because I ended up in hospital with my asthma each time 😫 I do have primary school aged kids, so I know I’m far more likely to come into contact with this stuff but I get ill more than the kids do! Just last week, I came into contact with my nephew who had a bad cold, as did the rest of my family. I caught it. No-one else did, not even his own parents & siblings 😵💫
VirtualToe5509@reddit
About 8 times a year. I’m not going to work when I’m sick.
Little_st4r@reddit
Last time was November 24 but usually twice a year on average. Im a primary school teacher and used to get sick constantly but seem to have got used to all the bugs after 14 years of teaching
lepan06@reddit
2-3 times a year? most has been 6 but thats because Id been isolated for 3 years
Pale_Slide_3463@reddit
Can’t remember the last time I had like a cold sickness really, but I tend not to be around children. I wash my hands a lot and such but only because I’m on immune suppressants, tbf you think I’d be sick way more 😂
Fit_Permit8679@reddit
That's reassuring as I am soon to be starting immune suppressants. Any more tips apart from hand washing eg do you wear a "covid " mask in crowds? I am bit anxious about starting the med (in my case Methotrexate)
Orwell1984_2295@reddit
The best way to avoid infections is to wear an N95/FFP3 mask and washing hands too.
Fit_Permit8679@reddit
Thankyou I will order masks
PureObsidianUnicorn@reddit
Another tip is to ensure you have hand sanitiser and try not to use any handles without covering your hands (public bathroom door handles, trolley handles, train carriage handles etc). I’m convinced this is why I haven’t had a cold in almost 4yrs (I did have Covid 2021 tho). I will use my sleeve to grab the bars on the bus, I carry a tissue or handkerchief and simply don’t touch anything on the underground. I push the shopping trolley with my forearms.
My mum is on methotrexate for arthritis. She does the same and also never gets ill, although she does get the flu jab annually. Best of luck to you mate!
Fit_Permit8679@reddit
Thankyou great ideas, yes my problem is arthritis too .Will definitely use those tips for door handles .
Pale_Slide_3463@reddit
Trying to stay away from big crowds and kids mostly, I carry sanitizer with me also. Tbh if you going get sick there’s not much can do but just be careful. All these immune suppressants are different, I was never sick on MXT but Azathioprine it was so bad all the time lol.
Also idk if they told you but if you get an infection or do get ill they say to stop the medication to build up your immune system again.
Fit_Permit8679@reddit
Thankyou I can stay away from crowds but children will be tricky as I am main caregiver to my 2 youngest grandchildren when their mum is working.
Away-Ad4393@reddit
Avoid crowds if you are going shopping by going as soon as they open in the morning, this applies to going to medical appointments too ( they can always be rearranged)
E420CDI@reddit
I do this (immunosuppressed too) when my CFS and social anxiety allow. Home delivery is a healthy alternative.
Fit_Permit8679@reddit
Thankyou good ideas
Away-Ad4393@reddit
Washing your hands really helps, especially if you wash them after shopping,using public transport etc.
nick1881@reddit
I seem to pick up something most times I travel. Just on my second flight for the day, so wish me luck. If not this time then on the way back in 4 weeks.
filbert94@reddit
I haven't thrown up since December 2015. Can't understand it.
Get a cold maybe 3-4 times a year for about a week.
TheKhaos121@reddit
Only once maybe twice a year, but since covid everyone wants to make up for not being disgusting so I seem to get at least 5 or 6 a year now. I work retail so I spend most my days with colleagues getting as close as humably possible to tell me they are sick, or watching customers cough all over the fresh baked bread.
Miserable-Ad7835@reddit
Can't really quantity it, but much more often than pre-covid, not really sure why.
Orwell1984_2295@reddit
There's now increasing evidence that Covid infection, especially repeatedly, damages the immune system. Here's just one of many papers: https://www.bmj.com/content/390/bmj.r1733
louisejanecreations@reddit
Same. If I was sick it was super minor and barely impacted me but now I need one or two sick days which is insane.
Miserable-Ad7835@reddit
Yeah exactly this, weather it's long term damage from COVID or a side effect of the vaccine, I have no idea, but something is different.
queenieofrandom@reddit
Long term damage, covid is vascular so it affects everything
Miserable-Ad7835@reddit
Who down votes this?
memcwho@reddit
Once a year, normally.
Feel it coming on a day or two before hand. Plenty of time to warn co-workers I'm likely to be ill in coming days. Gets a laugh and a 'why what are you doing tomorrow instead of work' jab.
Day of. Deaths door all day, truly unable to move or think. Call in sick
Day after, coughy normally, but able to function as a human bean. Call in sick if it's a Friday. Gotta be healthy for the weekend, right?
SuboJvR23@reddit
Probably 4 times a year on average, near guaranteed around October and Christmas. This year I had covid again in spring sometime
Hubby has a job where he’s out and about with people a lot so picks up everything to bring home to me working from home 😃
randomscot21@reddit
Where you live and work makes a huge difference from my experience.
I live in Cambridge and every time I go back to Scotland in the winter I get sick. I think it is the cold and damp that does it. Working with people who have kids I’ve also found in the past makes you susceptible to an increased risk.
DiligentCockroach700@reddit
Pretty much never. I got COVID in 2020 but I only knew because the test came up positive. Never had any symptoms. Haven't been sick since then.
Grand-Impact-4069@reddit
I get sick quite often as I’m immunosuppressed. Through the summer I’m generally ok as the germ bags I call my children aren’t in school. The rest of the year I could get easily get a cold each month
rob1408@reddit
Never really. I get a mild cold every now and then. But I haven’t been properly ill since I was a kid.
Responsible_Trash199@reddit
Haven’t had even something as tiny as a cold for about 9 years. And I also had covid. Barely affected me, just made me sweat a bit more than normal when working out.
People that constantly get sick are just negative,stressy people. That negative energy they constantly push in life, makes them sick and weakened
miklovesrum@reddit
Not at all often. Interestingly, before I stopped drinking alcohol I used to be ill more often.
PudWud-92_@reddit
It used to be once a year. Since having my son 3 years ago I can’t remember a time where either myself or my wife didn’t have at least one illness every couple of months.
zingyyellow@reddit
Last time I was sick was 2020 covid, work forced me to have 5 days off, which worked out great 'cos I was able to change the curved bath panel. Had to make a template and glue some planks together. Couldn't smell a thing.
superkinks@reddit
I have 3 kids, I think I have a cold more often than I’m well.
supercakefish@reddit
Roughly once per season.
debbiewardx@reddit
If you're talking throwing up, every couple of weeks. Headaches every couple of days. Only got a couple of actually colds in the last 9 years though so at least that's something lol.
Pure_Struggle_909@reddit
During the last 3 years I’ve had a cold only once. I wash my hands like a maniac and I eat loads of supplements and buckets of vegetables.
stevey83@reddit
Since I hit my forties seems to be more often. Recently had an infected thyroid causing hyperthyroidism. I think I’ve now gone the over way and gone hypo. Last few weeks I’ve been absolutely shattered. Got blood tests tomorow.
ShiningCrawf@reddit
At least once a month since Christmas. Two colds in a month is not unheard of.
I have a toddler at nursery, and I'm pretty sure Long Covid has wrecked my immune system.
Embarrassed-Entry183@reddit
1 time per year now I’d say, it’s mostly a flu that certainly slows me down but doesn’t keep me in bed.
I used to get the flu 4-5 times a year and bed ridden for a couple of days probably half of them but I changed up my habits, stopped alcohol consumption, stopped smoking, stopped processed foods and drink and eat 2 times a day max with no snacking. 2-3 litres of water a day.
Sleep has improved significantly and get up and go is like I’m early 20s again (31M now) adding in supplements too but clean supplements.
Sea-Possession-1208@reddit
A proper viral lurg with fever sore throat cough, feel rotten once or twice a year. Just coming to the end of a 2.5 month cough that has just ... lingered, but outside of the first 2 weeks has not made me unwell. Was almost certainly worse experience than a normal cold because of how horribly stressed I was at the time.
D+V same, once or twice a year and fortunately rarely lay longer than 48 hours.
Sniffles a bit more often. But they're just sniffles.
Migraines every couple of months, but thank the lord I'm rarely incapacitated by them. (Yes they are still migraines, I know some people have truly debilitating ones. For me the aura is the worst bit. Once I can see again and put coherent thoughts together the headache and nausea light, noise and movement sensitivity are quite mild, and long may this continue)
Anything requiring antibiotics - every 5-10 years. Most recent was an infected piercing - so my own fault really.
I mix with small children a lot. This feels like a small amount considering my day to day mixing.
No-Dragonfruit7605@reddit
for the past couple years up til recently it genuinely felt like every 2-4 months . im a student so i think that definitely plays into it, not to jinx but i havent been ill since may/june so hoping i have another couple months before i get a cold again lol
CHawkeye@reddit
Last time I was sick was covid in 2022. Last time I took a sick day from work was 21st January 2009 for flu.
Put it down to Eating me greens and not drinking much!
rlaw1234qq@reddit
I think you go through different phases in life, influenced by your age, environment and the state of your immune system. I remember having a phase of years with constant sore throats - it was when my kids were young. Another time I was doing a city commute every day - in the winter, with many people having coughs and colds, I picked up a lot more bugs. One thing to remember - one of the best ways of avoiding colds is to wash your hands frequently and to keep your hands away from your face and eyes.
gemmajenkins2890@reddit
I had that horrendous cough/chest whatever it is from last November until this February.
Not been ill since
🤞
migo_81@reddit
I travel semi frequently for work, both times I've done longer flights for work trips this year, I've ended up with COVID.
2nd time I was out of action for about a week and a half
cannontd@reddit
I used to smoke and would get ill a few times a year and be ill for 10 days at a time.
These days I really look after myself and I’m probably going to put a hex on myself but last time I was ill/sick (cold etc) was a year ago and it was 24 hours mainly.
Things I did that help massively:
No smoking (and vaping) Far far less alcohol - I mean, don’t have to lie to the doctor levels Decent food, no UPF Regular hand washing Not touching your face (last two habits from covid)
Dyalikedagz@reddit
Few times
forgot-my-other-name@reddit
I haven't had any sickness in 3 years other than two days with suspected sepsis when pishing blood. Turns out was just a couple of stones I crushed up and weed out so no problem
onebodyonelife@reddit
Twice in my whole life. Once in December 2017 and 2 days sick with covid in 2023.Autistic with Pharamacophobia.
WiccanPixxie@reddit
When I took the train to/from work I would catch every lurgee going and was always ill with some kind of cold or bug, like every few weeks. Since I’ve been driving, I get maybe 2-3 colds a year.
Many-Hippo1709@reddit
Pretty sure I’m low level sick all the time so I guess that only counts as once?
hellojaddy@reddit
Since 2020, I’ve had 2 colds and Covid twice. So not often! I have a toddler about to start nursery next week so I’m sure I’ll be a shell of myself by December
conorsoliga@reddit
Havent had a cold or flu type illness in like 10 years now.
MercyCapsule@reddit
I used to have colds 80% of the year before I got this mysterious illness in early 2020. Now I barely get them.
JustNoGuy_@reddit
I haven't been any kind of sick for about 5 or 6 years now.
wafflespuppy@reddit
Very rarely and I'm immunocompromised. The last time I was properly ill was about 18 months ago and it was the first time I'd taken time off work in 6 years, I could barely walk. I'll occasionally get a bunged up nose but that's about it
Lanky-Amphibian1554@reddit
I don’t get those kinds of illnesses any more.
I ate some bad aubergine dip on 2022 and was sick for two days from it.
I care for a vulnerable person so I am really strict about masking.
One day I won’t be caring for that person any more, but I’ll still probably be really strict about masking, out of habit and also because fuck viruses, that’s why.
Hazz3r@reddit
It used to be once a year or so but as I’m getting older it’s increasing in frequency.
Adorable_Stable2439@reddit
During the summer months not very much, although in 2024 I managed to catch Covid during the week in August which contains my wedding anniversary, sons birthday and wife’s birthday. So everybody was really thrilled with me for that. But in the winter months…. Literally every other week it feels like. This year seems to have been a bit better since I started taking vitamin C supplements around march
No_Watercress8348@reddit
Usually a cold once a year and a stomach type flu once a year, both courtesy of the kids and they’re fairly back to back once winter slaps into us.
LockedinYou@reddit
Once or twice really, it's normally the heyfever that has me in tatters at the start of the summer
leoinclapham@reddit
I haven't had a cold or other illness since I had COVID in 2022.
TheGreenPangolin@reddit
So I actually measured it last year. I had some kind of cold/virus on just over 1/3 of the days in 2024. That doesn't include multiple UTIs, fungal infections and other infections that didn't make me feel actively unwell. I was very immunosuppressed (still immunosuppressed but less so now).
Redgrapefruitrage@reddit
Three times a year, on average. This year it’s been a horrid cold in January and then two colds over the summer.
Otherwise, I’m not ever ill really.
rainbow-songbird@reddit
I have 2 kids in nursery I get sick once a year - for 365 days
Victoriah4@reddit
Once a year, if that. Usually, it’s a really bad cold for a week, and that’s it for another 12+ months. I have a kid that went to nursery during COVID-19, so our household’s immune system is made out of vibranium 😂
mata_dan@reddit
One or if I'm unlucky two where I actually feel fairly unwell. Maybe 2 more where it's not so bad. And maybe 2 more where I think I might have a cold but it doesn't quite materialise.
Annoyingly there are a few I can pinpoint to being dragged out to something just before more important plans days later and then having someone cough in my fucking face and then be ruined and miss out on life...
wizzywoo22@reddit
I don't tend to get sick very often but when I do it's quite bad. I haven't been unwell since December 2024 but that was with really terrible flu!
Throwaway6765656@reddit
My December 2024 flu was also diabolical and conveniently started on the first day of my 2 week annual leave. Got over it and had around 4 days grace before being struck down with norovirus on New Year’s Day. Hell and horror x
frankie_0924@reddit
Jan 25 and I was exactly the same. I was poorly for 3 weeks. Awful!
Motor_Possibility_22@reddit
I think you are either in this camp or the camp that always seem to have some level of bunged up/cough/snot. I haven’t been ill for about a year but the last time I was I was bed ridden
KEW95@reddit
I have multiple health conditions, so I have a foot in both camps 🤦🏻😅 I don’t constantly have a cold, but I do get them semi-frequently and they tend to completely zap any energy, whilst simultaneously making it difficult to sleep 🙄
onion2077@reddit
I felt absolutely shite christmas day last year. Didn't even touch the christmas dinner. I think that may have been caused by the death of my grandad the previous April. Just couldn't be arsed with it all and went back to bed around 1 ish, where I slept til dark.
HerbTP@reddit
Same, I dont get ill often, but when I do, I really suffer.
Agreeable_Rub1108@reddit
Probably 3-4 times a year but I have diabetes which affects my ability to fight off infections as effectively as I should be able to.
I'm normally ill with a cold twice a year but I can normally battle through that one at work and try to keep my distance from others.
It doesn't help that I work with germy crotch goblins
cragglerock93@reddit
Sickness as in a stomach bug? Never. But colds and flus, I think I'd guess at 4 or 5 a year. I just got over a moderate cold. I felt fine tbh but I hate my nose being blocked and having to blow it.
D0wnb0at@reddit
Used to be 2-3 times a year working in an airconed office with hundreds of people. Was always something going around.
Since the first lockdown in March 2020, I spent a month at work till they sourced us all laptops to WFH. I haven’t had a single cold/flu/covid/bug since. Think it was around Xmas 2019 the last time I was sick.
Granted, I’m anti social and barely leave the house and that is likely why, but it is mad looking back on how much I would get sick cause people came into work not feeling well.
peachesandcherries26@reddit
I haven’t had cold/flu from 2015-2023, nothing for 8 years. I caught covid for the first time in Nov 2023 from a nurse who was extremely ill to the point that she couldn’t even speak properly. Haven’t had anything since.
AreaMiserable9187@reddit
I got Covid in 2022, that was horrid. But colds, flus don’t really get me. But I have so much other stuff going on health wise 😂 currently dealing with a very severe B12 deficiency that’s making me want to cry all day every day.
CrimpsShootsandRuns@reddit
I get mild sniffles and colds fairly frequently since having kids due to then bringing all manner of germs back from school/nursery.
If we're talking day off work, bedbound sickness, the last time I can remember was about 3 years ago.
TSotP@reddit
Less than once
dazed1984@reddit
I don’t, haven’t had a sick day from work since 2019, might get a mild cold once a year that’s about it nothing debilitating.
fluorine_nmr@reddit
I'm the same. I used to comment how I never got sick (not as a flex - just stuck out to me). Now I feel like I'm sick so often that I worry my manager will think I'm faking or just being weak. I went to the doctor, he did a whole bunch of tests and then said he believes it's due to work stress. Sigh.
Another thing is that old viral infections you think have gone away can sometimes cause absolute havoc, maybe making you susceptible to other infections or doing sinister things below the surface. The more I read about virology, the less I like viruses. Don't want anything to do with the bastards really.
AndyJBailey@reddit
3 sick days in 43 years.
U2fangirl@reddit
I rarely got sick ever. Then I got covid in 2023 and it must have diminished my immune system because I have been sick sooo many times. Last winter it felt like I was down with a cold or some sort of bug for most of it. I have paid close attention to my health this year in hopes that I can avoid it this time around
BeanOnAJourney@reddit
Not very often, but that's not by accident. I've a weakened immune system and a cold for me is never just a cold, it is always serious, severe, and prolonged, is always accompanied by a sinus or chest infection (sometimes both!), frequently develops into pneumonia, and i don't even want to think about the horrors of 'flu, let alone talk about it. So, I do my very best to avoid viruses like the plague in order to keep safe and yes that does mean masking in high risk areas, fastidious hygiene, and vaccines.
DrFabulous0@reddit
Once, and it lasts all summer. Fucking hayfever.
SirChinfor@reddit
Rarely. I usually get something in December/January and then randomly as it warms up again. I have other chronic illnesses though so sometimes it’s a case of, oh it’s just a cold it’s not as bad as Horrible Chronic Illness iygwim
CooperFish@reddit
Used to work with kids, so used to get ill at least 3 or 4 times a year, usually right when I took a holiday. Now I don't work with kids and can work from home when needed, haven't been ill beyond a headache etc since last summer
Old_Top2901@reddit
I feel like I have the immune system of a garden pea! I get every cold and stomach bug going round it feels like! And I take vitamin D, C and zinc every day! I do normally get over them fairly quickly but just this year I’ve had 3 colds and 2 stomach bugs.
RaspberryJammm@reddit
It used to be at least once a month (I've always caught everything going!) but now I've been taking covid precautions due to having long covid and I think I've had a virus maybe once in nearly five years!! Masks work.
Dimac99@reddit
I managed to catch a cold during lockdown in summer '20 and the only contact I had was with delivery drivers, so I don't even answer the door without a mask these days.
I've had two colds since (all of these colds have tested negative for covid) and it's been because I've taken a chance and not worn an FFP2/3 mask. When my parents got covid I managed to live in the same house and not catch it thanks to mask wearing. I don't think I'm one of those people who is naturally unaffected or immune, given how a wee cold knocks me back. Masks work.
Ok-Rooster-1568@reddit
Usually once or twice. I rarely get sick but when I do, it's really, really bad.
ahhh7316@reddit
I get a cold/flu/tonsillitis about once every six weeks, probably because I work with children
F_DOG_93@reddit
Very very rarely. But I'm about to be very sick very soon. I'm going into jaw surgery in a couple months and it means I'll be out for an entire month. Some go back after 6 weeks. I'll be eating solid food after 6 months. Some people report they aren't confident enough to bite into apples after 12 months.
luckeratron@reddit
I have young kids, one at nursery and one at primary school. I feel like I'm constantly ill. We had norovirus a few weeks ago and I'm just getting over a (mild cold). It sucks.
andyH1971@reddit
I get two colds a year the first one lasts from Jan-July the second from August-December, it’s not always a full on sneezing coughing full of snot cold just a sniffle and bit of a runny nose but other than that I don’t seem to get ill
jrw1982@reddit
A lot less since 2019 when I last worked in an office.
As in, from 6 to 7 colds a year to 0-1.
Unusual_Purpose_7185@reddit
A couple colds a year. Full-blown flu maybe once every few years if not longer between, but the last time I had it severely was about 2014.
I-was-forced-@reddit
Twice now normally November and April like clock work and the flu/lurgy are getting worse and worse everytime .
anabsentfriend@reddit
I get cold / flu viruses every time I'm around young children or the parents of young children. If I can avoid them I don't get sick at all.
MiniCale@reddit
Colds around 4 times a year maybe.
A nasty flu or Covid maybe once or twice a year.
Usually when I’ve been somewhere busy I will end up ill.
Real-Butterscotch127@reddit
It depends on the year. I usually get either 2 common colds or 1 bad cold/chest infection a year.
Less_Instruction_345@reddit
Maybe once every 18 months I get ill enough with a cold/flu that it will stop me going to work or going about my day.
7thfem@reddit
i feel like i get a cold every month now its so annoying
CoatDelicious9289@reddit
Other people feel well and healthy ???
Thalamic_Cub@reddit
2-3 times a year usually. At least one will be a stinking head cold that knocks me out for two weeks
FantasticWeasel@reddit
Generally twice a year but the cough and recovery goes on for 1-3 months at a time.
DannyBrownsDoritos@reddit
This year I've missed work three times I think? COVID, migraine and food poisoning.
violettkidd@reddit
I'm pretty much always a little bit sick, with either a cough, running nose, blocked nose, sneezes, sore throat or a combination
FakeNathanDrake@reddit
I used to go a year plus at a time between illnesses, even the cold, but I got ill a surprisingly high amount between early 2024 to early/mid 2025. I suspect it was stress that tanked my immune system, the place I was working was on the way out and I was pretty miserable, finally got out via VR this summer.
10deadpuppets@reddit
About 8 colds a year, I’d say, and one flu or Covid every two years.
tieganpaigeg@reddit
i feel like i’ve constantly got a cold or one brewing. i work with kids tho so that’s probably why
alanm1986@reddit
i didnt really get sick at all untill i got to 35 and have kids, 39 now and I get sick at least 3 times a year now, dunno if its related, probably is as im worn out
shuffling_crabwise@reddit
I have a kid at nursery, sooo...most of the time lol. In all seriousness, a cold every month or two, but they usually last for 1- 2 weeks If I've just had one, I'm way more likely to get immediately taken out again
UnusualActive3912@reddit
Maybe once every two or three years with a cold.
Agile_Figure_4634@reddit
Probably a reasonable cold/sniffles a couple of times a year. Flu maybe every three years.
Had COVID definitely once (maybe twice). It sucked.
Worried-Penalty8744@reddit
I’ve barely even had a mild cold since the pandemic.
However I also started full time WFH then so am far less exposed to the public transport sniffers and coughers
PresentReindeer9011@reddit
Now I’m not a waitress (server) not a lot. The amount of people who came in unwell with a cold was shocking. The last thing I want to be when I’m unwell is to come out to a restaurant
Far_wide@reddit
Between 0 and 2 times a year, at a guess.
Aggravating-Factors@reddit
I typically get some sort of bug in October and will have it on and off through to the end of January as I have a compromised immune system.
LemmysCodPiece@reddit
I have a weakened immune system too, it is the aftermath of cancer treatment. These days I just stay out of the way of people, which is ace to be honest.
E420CDI@reddit
Immunosuppressed gang!
Formal_Produce3759@reddit
Once or twice.
E420CDI@reddit
You only get sick twice, Mr Bond.
Durzo_Blintt@reddit
Ive had COVID five times, once per year since 2020 with this year being the only year I've dodged it. I've only had one cold since 2020 as I work from home now so I dodge a lot of unnecessary shit.
When I used to work in an office I'd get about 3 colds per year.
Twocanvandamn@reddit
I’ve had a mild cold for a couple of days one time in the last 3 years. My missus and daughter were ill as fuck with it
I’m active, fit and eat well but I believe the difference is taking 12000iu of vitamin D3 a day
It’s made a big difference to my immunity
E420CDI@reddit
ME/CFS and immunosuppression have entered the chat
Squirrel_Worth@reddit
I used to get 4-6 a year, but have a work from home job now, so can usually get away with just 1 if that.
Affectionate_You_858@reddit
I never got sick however following lockdowns I seem to be quite ill 4-5 times a year
Adamzey@reddit
I used to get sick once every other year, now it's once every year, and maybe every other year I get a second occurrence.
Within the last 2 years my sickness was November 2023 November 2024 August 2025
Happy_fairy89@reddit
I had the flu for the first time ever in January, went back to work too soon, ended up with pneumonia. Then, I got Covid in July and sailed through it.
I don’t recall any other ailments since then or in between ! I’m healthier than I was before as I quit smoking after the pneumonia.
Key-Original-225@reddit
I haven’t been sick since 2021, where I got shingles in the summer and over Xmas I had a mysterious fever that lasted 24 hours.
(Unless we include the thrombosed haemorrhoid that gave me an insane fever before it burst, which when it did I felt almost immediately better which happened last year
I never get colds or flu or such like
tsmiv12@reddit
I used to get Hayfever badly and lots of colds before COVID. Since Lockdown I have rarely had a cold and my hayfever seems to have disappeared. I did give up alcohol and cigarettes during Lockdown, so it may have some relevance. However last year, 2024 I got COVID three times, the last time so bad I had to take a week off work. Prior to that I had only 2 days off work in five years, both times being gastro problems.
Technical_Fudge_8043@reddit
Much, much less since I retired. All down to less exposure, I imagine.
Me2309@reddit
Since having my baby 7 (almost 8) months ago I’ve had 3 colds, norovirus, a kidney infection and a more minor stomach bug
bananabastard@reddit
Once every 3 years.
TD_Meri@reddit
Had Covid 6 times and it’s badly affected my chest and I have to use inhalers now. Pre Covid I used to get a cold maybe once a year, but now I seem to pick up every cough and cold that’s going round. Where I work has a really strict sickness policy though so even if I’m really ill, I have to go in to work and just power through it.
ljammm@reddit
See my work is like this, it isn't covid it's employers forcing people to come in who aren't well enough that's the problem.
19wesley88@reddit
Same, since I had covid i just get hit with everything now. Really do think it's some form of long covid.
Uk-Reporter@reddit
Before covid, hardly ever, barely even a cold. Then I got covid...once, twice...three times. Been downhill from there, asthma - so now on inhalors - chest infections. Feels I always have something.
Throwaway6765656@reddit
I commuted 5 days a week on the London tube between the ages of 18-25, and spent my weekends drinking, eating shite, and in pubs and nightclubs. Got sick maybe once a year if that. Covid came along, my job went fully remote, and I aged out of partying all the time. Also started doing exercise and eating better. I now get unwell every couple of months 🙃🙃🙃🙃🙃🙃
sharpied79@reddit
How many COVID jabs have you had?
If at least 2-3 or more, there's your answer...
stubbywoods@reddit
A proper cold that I'd wanna take time off from? Maybe once a year (throw in an occasional flu). I'm probably a bit sniffly and/or a victim of unusually potent hay fever a couple more times a year but those don't feel like real sickness because my energy levels are fine.
Hashujg@reddit
Once a year in December to be precise 2nd or 3rd week of December 😂
Zutsky@reddit
Tend to have one bad one once every couple of years. It alternates between covid (had it in 2021 and earlier this year), and stomach flu which I've had a couple of times in the past 3 years.
Drunk_Cartographer@reddit
If you’re my colleague it’s every year, the exact same week at the end of July that coincides with the first week of school summer holidays. It’s been 4 years consecutively but she can’t help when she is sick so it’s fine.
-mmmusic-@reddit
usually once in later autumn - early spring, sometimes twice.
TripleDistance@reddit
Every 6 weeks pretty much I get something. But I have pretty much no immune system due to a blood disorder
placidkiwi@reddit
Once or twice a year. I can usually see it coming... someone else in the family is always patient zero.
To be fair, apart from a cold that kicked my ass in January, and I've avoided several other sniffles that got through the front door since then.
My wife just reminded me that before 2018, when I started working from home, I'd get sick several times a year. She'd remember... I'm such a miserable git when I'm sick.
Dissidant@reddit
Only times I've really been on my back like that
That flu doing the rounds in the mid 90's as a teen
Dodged covid in spite of working (out and about too), tested regularly etc and was careful/sensible
Second jab made me unwell though for a week or two, at one point had a small travel bag ready as at its worst thought I'd land in hospital
Spare a thought for those who work nurseries I know a couple, contrary to the theory of people building resistance they catch absolutely everything under the sun, including multiple covid when it was still potent (its less so now) and its horrible
Gold-Collection2636@reddit
I pick up colds quite often, I work in care and have school age children. COVID I have had 2 or 3 times since 2021, and I unfortunately before that got a bad case of the flu at least once a year. I haven't vomited since 2018 though so swings and roundabouts I guess
UhtredTheBold@reddit
It depends on how many holidays I have that year. This year I'd literally just shut down my work laptop after setting up my ooo and thought, humm I don't feel so good. And sure enough stomach cramps and diarrhea followed soon after.
toby1jabroni@reddit
Much, much less now I work from home the majority of the time. When I was working in an office full time I would frequently get colds (maybe 3-4 times per year). I rarely get them now, perhaps once every other year.
KingForceHundred@reddit
On average, never. Maybe cold every two years and never caught Covid (afaik anyway).
HughWattmate9001@reddit
16 - 25 a few weeks of the year spread out. 25+ a week a year spread out max. I am not super healthy never have been. I put my frequent illness in younger years down to drinking and smoking. Stopped that around 23 ish and by 25 still unbealthy but less sick each year. I think part of it was also back then thinking that it was the whole world against me attitude I had and laziness thinking I could not do something. If I felt sick i was just sick and that was it. These days if I get up groggy and knuckle down after 30mins or so I snap out of it and I'm fine. I don't think I ever really gave myself a chance.
theworldsaplayground@reddit
I used to get a cold once or twice a year. I haven't had so much as a sniffle though since 2021.
TapirOfDoom@reddit
Covid has damaged some people’s immune systems. It is no coincidence that some people commenting here are comparing how frequently they got ill pre- and post-pandemic.
There was a recent piece about it in the BMJ
https://www.bmj.com/content/390/bmj.r1733
jbenbrook99@reddit
I think I’ve taken 1 sick day in 7 years of working.
Afraid-Astronomer886@reddit
Very rarely. I think it's a mixture of a good immune system and the fact that I don't spend much time around children or people really
wibble089@reddit
I haven't been properly ill for quite some time, I used to get colds all the winter when my kids were younger, but I didn't have one at all all last winter.
However I'm sitting here at home in bed as I've just confirmed I have COVID - doesn't seem too bad, but as a bad cold didn't seem to improve after a couple of days I dug out a self test and got 2 lines. Must have picked it up somewhere in a restaurant or crowded tourist area on holiday the last couple of weeks.
jamesyjam@reddit
Since I started taking a multivitamin, I don't seem to even get colds anymore. If I do, it's the odd sneeze and slightly runny nose.
Since lockdown though, I'm much more conscious on sanitising my hands before eating etc when touching public door handles, handrails etc. makes me think colds and flus are mostly spread by poor hygiene. I.e. coughing on your hands then touching everything.
I've had covid twice since 2021 and that's the only times I can remember being ill where I felt rough.
belfast-woman-31@reddit
Never, can’t remember the last time I had a cold, never had the flu or a stomach bug. I did have Covid twice but was asymptomatic each time.
All this despite having the absolute worst diet with no fruit or veg, never (apart from after the loo) washing my hands, no heating in the winter (front door always open) and no protections basically.
I’m guessing the answer is what I don’t have which is kids. Kids are just illness carriers.
fistmcbeefpunch@reddit
I went 12 years without a sick day at work. Then I had a kid...
SoggyWotsits@reddit
I don’t think I did at all last year, or this year yet. I’m sure my Covid vaccines have me superpowers because I haven’t really had a cold since. I’ve never had Covid either!
KindlyFirefighter616@reddit
maybe twice a year?
tacticall0tion@reddit
Very rare I get sick with a cold, or anything minor... I only deal in extremes apparently.
Last "illness" I got a serious stomach bug, lost 5kg over a week via both ends, last year. 2023 my appendix almost exploded, I spent 5 days in hospital getting it removed. Literally a week before that happened I got a major infection in my elbow from a pin prick sized hole that caused my arm to swell so much it was unusable for two weeks, and I was taking 16 antibiotic tablets daily to combat it.
lavayuki@reddit
Rarely ever.
Maybe once every few years. I never get sick, I have a pretty strong immune system
1968Bladerunner@reddit
Usually feel a lil' rough twice a year - as weather changes to the chill of late autumn, then warms again in spring, but not enough to get me down or inconvenience me.
impamiizgraa@reddit
Since I started wfh in 2019 (pre Covid) basically never get the common cold. I did get Covid once before vaccination.
Then nothing at all until I started a new job requiring 2 days in the office. Now I get a cold maybe once a year and especially if I’ve been around children.
Business-Action-4725@reddit
Maybe 2 weeks a year if that.
Keeping fit, eating healthier and not drinking too much alcohol all improve it for me.
throwaway768977@reddit
Normally once or twice a year I will get a sore throat and mild cold, maybe spend one day in bed. I went through a bought of 4/5 colds from August to January last year when I was working a stressful job in healthcare and getting a packed train twice a day. I found out I was very vitamin D deficient and since supplementing and moving to a office/wfh hybrid job I haven’t been ill since… touch wood.
dimesdan@reddit
I'm type one diabetic, reasonably well controlled and I get something three, maybe four times a year.
J8MXY@reddit
Couple of times. Just had the flu a few weeks ago, lasted about 6 days. Don’t recall getting ill like that in summer for many many years if ever.
LimesFruit@reddit
Got Covid in 2021, now I’m always sick. Every single day of the year.
Set_nickname@reddit
I have cystic fibrosis so I get colds very frequently when the weather gets cold. If I don’t have my flu jab every autumn I’ll get the flu as well which is horrific.
mostlymadeofapples@reddit
A cold or something every couple of months probably, but with two kids in school we get exposed to most of what's going around locally. Most of them aren't a huge deal though, it's rare for something to completely put me out of action.
badgerkingtattoo@reddit
Used to get sick a lot, then I developed a sun allergy (polymorphous light eruption).
The cure for sun allergy is to slowly build up exposure to the sun. Every day, even in winter, I try to go into the garden in my boxers and let the sun shine on me for 10-20 minutes. Some days it’s not possible, because I live in the UK, but most days I find time.
Since doing this I rarely get sick. I have not had a cold in at least 12 months. Though, I did get a stomach bug courtesy of my toddler niece.
panalangaling@reddit
About two or three a year lately
dani-dee@reddit
I have kids, pre Covid (they were 4 and 7 when we went into lockdown) and I would get several colds a year plus a stomach bug in the winter. Now they’re 10 and 13 and I probably only get 1 cold a year now. Last stomach bug was January 2020.
I did however have pneumonia in February this year. Nobody else was ill in my family though so can’t blame them.
HerbTP@reddit
Not often, I'd estimate every 18 months or so. Although last year I had covid for the first time, and it messed with my immune system so two months later, I ended up with flu and a month after that a cold. Was not a pleasant time but I haven't been ill in over a year now.
Inkyyy98@reddit
I haven’t had many illnesses this year, the odd cold but I can’t remember the last time I had one.
I’m sure that’ll change when my sons in nursery this week
Void-Flower-2022@reddit
I get colds and coughs often, almost monthly/every other month, but never have had anything more than that, other than norovirus when it went around- but I was lucky that it only affected me for about two days.
deathschemist@reddit
Once, maybe twice.
Got sick last November, it was ROUGH
Adam-West@reddit
Way less than when I was in London. And since Covid not much at all. It’s all about to change though as my kids about to start nursery.
seven-cents@reddit
Hardly ever.
I stopped getting colds when I stopped using the tube for commuting in 2008
I caught the flu (proper flu) in around 2018 which was the sickest I've ever felt and it took months to fully recover, and the last time I was sick was when I caught Covid from my mum in 2021, which was pretty mild compared to the flu
Starlinkukbeta@reddit
Not been seeing sick for years, fortunately. Eat well, drink well, and play well. All good for the soul…
ScriptingInJava@reddit
My wife is a teacher, which means she's also a biological weapon 10+ months of the year.
Last year I got covid 4 times, several colds and basically anything else that kids will bring into school having been around all of their family and friends over a holiday period. I dread January these days.
XharKhan@reddit
Depends, on years when ive changed jobs, way more often than years I haven't...I think i adjust to the new selection of viral infections etc in the new place.
But generally, once a year tops, I do take supliments, exercise regularly, eat well (sometimes 😋), get fresh air walking the dogs etc...i think that has an effect too.
Thoughtful_giant13@reddit
Very rarely fortunately- maybe once a year, if that. A couple more times I might get a slight sniffle or sore throat but it won’t develop into anything. It was worse for a bit after covid but seems to be leveling back out now.
quite_acceptable_man@reddit
Have you got young children? Before children I would get one or two colds a year at the maximum. When the children started nursery, I would get a cold pretty much every other month. Now they're teenagers, I get maybe two or three a year.
AnonymousTimewaster@reddit
Varies per year. Usually like twice a year maybe?
I seem to always get flu in November/December time though.
AceSouthall@reddit
Use to be a cold 3-4 times a year with a really bad sore throat. Now I have a toddler who goes to nursery so double that, in the past 12 months I've had 4+ colds, COVID, HFM and my first migraine (solid 26 hour headache)
younevershouldnt@reddit
Once on average I guess
StereotypicallBarbie@reddit
Rarely.. but I wash my hands, avoid big crowds.. rarely shop in person if I can get it delivered! My daughter has compromised immunity so I anti bac everything.. I also have cats so I obsessively wipe surfaces 800 times a day!
I do get really sick with a cold last winter! But it’s not usual for me.. that thing took me out! Had to have two days off work couldn’t move from my bed
Kamikaze-X@reddit
Before kids - maybe 3 times a year
After kids - no word of a lie, since Christmas pretty much every couple of weeks
Internal-Climate-847@reddit
Since my daughter was born easily a couple of times a year. Before that I would barely get sick maybe every few years.
jonathing@reddit
I work with children, I'm well about twice a year
benithaglas1@reddit
Normally once a month, sometimes twice I'll be extra sick. So that makes it somewhere somewhere between 12-24 times a year. 12 being a little low and 24 being too high. I always feel a little off though, like I'm always tired or in some sort of pain.
atsevoN@reddit
Before maybe one cold every few years, this year alone I’ve had 4
Dark_Akarin@reddit
Teachers: That's my secret, I'm always sick.
Mustbejoking_13@reddit
Before kids, never. After kids all the time, every time.
Robprof@reddit
I get the starting symptoms but it seems to stop after a few hours or days
Luna259@reddit
Never
anti-sugar_dependant@reddit
Haven't caught anything for years, but I wear a respirator mask in all shared air, run air filters at home, and avoid catching covid, which damages your immune system so you get sick more easily.
julialoveslush@reddit
Once if that, I don’t go out much.
PorkVale@reddit
Last year I didn't get sick once. This year I've been sick twice.
At the end of 2019/start of 2020 I was sick 3 times in 3 months.
On average I get sick enough that I need to stay home from work once a year.
Affectionate_Day7543@reddit
Once or twice a year. Though I did catch an awful chest infection for the first time in my life in January and was basically incapacitated on the sofa for a week. Now I really feel for folks with respiratory illnesses. Haven’t been ill since though and somehow managed to dodge my partners recent sniffle. Can’t help but feel one will come for me soon with the end of summer
Bitter-Crazy4119@reddit
It was pretty much never until my kids started nursery. Now about 6472 times a year.
Els236@reddit
It depends. In my previous job (2023-2024), I was in a revamped modern office and didn't get sick once in a year. I then spent almost a year at home unemployed and I barely had more than a couple of dehydration headaches or an iffy stomach for a couple of days. As soon as I got my most recent job, I was ill almost immediately. Several days with a case of flu, constant blocked nose and sniffles, headaches, iffy stomach, the works. Then again, I'm in a retail environment with a tremendous footfall, that also happens to be like a warehouse, being extremely dusty with aircon that probably hasn't been serviced in a decade.
Still, the company hasn't been too thrilled with the fact I've had about a week off for sickness in the \~10 weeks I've been there.
I did have "the COV" several times (that I tested positive for) and it had very long-lasting implications (I lost my sense of smell for months), so it wouldn't surprise me that it left me at least slightly immuno-compromised, which I can almost back-up with the fact I've had way more bronchitis-like symptoms (post-nasal drip, coughing up blood, etc) during colds/flus, which I never had before.
spik0rwill@reddit
I used to get sick once a year. Since my kid started going to nursery it's more like 12 times a year!
LovlehKebab@reddit
Not too often tbh, I get the odd cold. Never had flu, more aches and pains these days unfortunately..
InvestigatorNaive456@reddit
Usually sick st Xmas and again at Easter for a few fluy days, a minor cold or lurgy otherwise - almost certain to be on AL
Organic-Hippo-3273@reddit
Get a bit unwell maybe once a year
darkerenergy@reddit
as soon as winter hits if i get a cough then it stays until spring, but actually time off work is only once or twice a year on average. if the coughing is bad or combines with a cold i'm lucky i can leverage my hybrid work to allow a bit more wfh during that time.
worst-time-@reddit
Until I was 19, I never got sick. Ever. Not even a sniffle.
At 19 I had a flu that wiped me out - it wasn’t covid, I tested multiple times, it was just a real bad cold.
Since then, I’ve been consistently some level of sniffly and throaty.
Last year I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and put on treatment, I’m now 22 and still consistently sick. Any time I go to a social gathering, it’s guaranteed I’ll be extra sick in the morning and days following.
I think I wasted my immune system on my youth smh
chippychips4t@reddit
I had one year where I was worried about myself as I seemed to go from one illness to another. I hadn't moved to a new area, started working in a hospital/school or any of the other things that can make you sicker than usual while your system adjusts to a new environment. However the following years I have been much more healthy. I think i must have had the illness and then built up immunity.
waluigi_wife@reddit
I haven’t been sick since November last year. I had a pretty bad cold for a few days. Ideally would have stayed off work but apparently they needed me in (they did not). I’m not sure why I don’t get sick more when my flatmates get sick a fairly usual amount.
coaty79@reddit
I'm disabled and now housebound so no never now there's always an upside lol
lol25potatofarm@reddit
Just get sinus issues in the summer but rarely ever get deathly ill. Last time i was properly ill was 4-5 years ago with covid in December. Luckily only lasted a week with no long-term effects (i think? And hope lol).
urmumr8s8outof8@reddit
Rarely, once every couple year maybe.
TheWyrdSmyth@reddit
Once or twice a year I get hit with something - this year has been a chest infection.
Last year was appendicitis.
The year before was flu.
Once I have my one bout of sickness, I'll have the sniffles for a couple of weeks, and then I'll be fine for 9-12 months - no colds, nothing, then BAM.
wickedwix@reddit
I usually get like maybe one cold or spell of flu a year, I had I think two last year and I attribute that to my boyfriend having a 5 year old nephew and kids just being germ magnets.
Kitty_Boom95@reddit
Never had covid as I got vaccinated very early, and I worked from home during the peak, but I get sick very often. I get a bad stomach bug or flu every 6 months, and colds/coughs/general run downness every 2 months or so. I've always been like that, even as a kid.
RevolutionarySelf988@reddit
Once every two years. Always happens during international football tournaments. Strange
mattymattymatty96@reddit
Officially never.
To my employer about twice a year. Especially when i know its fully booked 🤫
deltree000@reddit
I'm on immunosuppressants, I'm sick about 2-3 days a month. Exhausted the rest.
Haytham_Ken@reddit
Probably a couple of mild colds a year 🤷🏽
CharmingDig909@reddit
Once every few years, also managed to not get covid despite being in healthcare
Sensitive_Ad_9195@reddit
The past couple of years it seems like I get something about once a month, whether that’s sniffles or a flu or a stomach bug
Amylou789@reddit
Now I've got a kid mixing with other kids, literally every other week. And bad ones too - I've had about 15 days off work the past year for 'colds'
Slanahesh@reddit
I haven't been noticeably sick for about 2 years now I think, since I last had covid. I do work part time from home and I have kept up hand sanitisation habits from lockdown times though, so I like to think that plays a part.
ChampionshipOk5046@reddit
Flu like stuff several times a year, usually after being in an aeroplane or shopping centre
I keep forgetting to carry a mask.
It's not serious but it interrupts my fitness regime and I hate it.
Terrible_Biscotti_14@reddit
Probably once or twice a year. I’ve found I’ve been getting more random illnesses though, last summer I had slapped cheek (parvo virus). I work in retail, so am guaranteed to catch something around Christmas, due to the sheer amount of customers who will cough in your face with no attempt to cover their mouth.
Mysterious-Set321@reddit
I'm lucky that I don't often get ill enough to take time off, my Dad is the same
I do get migraines but unluckily they're often on the weekend. In the last 10 years I've called in sick maybe twice due to migraines and once for a wrist operation
OkGlass6902@reddit
Always more than the average person. 2-3 cold a year.
trexphyton@reddit
Since I've been taking multivitamins, hardly ever now.
asecretsquirrel@reddit
I pick up everything going around. Often my kid will come home from school completely fine and I’ll still manage to get a cold from whatever’s going around in school.
I do have a couple of autoimmune disorders though so I’m putting it down to that
Real-Apricot-7889@reddit
It varies. This last year, I was sick loads. Think I got flu, Covid and norovirus!! Plus a few colds. But others years, just a few colds.
LittleSadRufus@reddit
About once a year. I get the flu vaccine every year too. When my child joined nursery until about 6yo it was about six times a year though.
LDNSarah@reddit
I get a cold a few times a year but that tends to be quite minor and I still go about my day just with the sniffles. The last time I felt truly unwell and basically stayed in bed for a few days was in 2019. In Nov 2023 I felt unwell too but slept it off during the day.
Active-Hotel1719@reddit
A lot more often than I used to this year alone I’ve had Covid, pneumonia, 3 chest infections and 2 vomiting bugs
darcy-1973@reddit
Never but really bad flu in 2019
TytoCwtch@reddit
Used to be once or twice a year. However I’ve just had two colds in a row. First one was fairly normal but I then had two days of feeling healthy before catching a second one. The second one has wiped me out. Spiked a fever of 37.9 at my worst and it developed into sinusitis and bronchitis. I’m on day 15 of symptoms and only just able to breathe through my nose again.
This is my first proper illness since COVID though. I live alone and I have very limited interaction with people so I think my immune systems just not been exposed to much the last few years. Really hoping I can get a good nights sleep again at some point soon!
Khaleesi1536@reddit
Only once or twice but it wipes me out. Had COVID again in June and I felt absolutely rotten
DisMyLik18thAccount@reddit
I Don't keep track but one or two at most, I think I knight even go full years without getting sick
I_wanna_be_a_hippy@reddit
Usually zero
quellflynn@reddit
I get a real shitty illness.
I'll feel under the weather Thursday, then by the time work finishes I'll feel rough, wake up Saturday sweating, maybe a bit of puking, a bad night's sleep, then Sunday feeling groggy and thinking fuck.it,nim not going work tomorrow, go bed, sleep much better, wake up Monday annoyed that I feel ok and I've just wasted a weekend.
maybe twice a year
sihasihasi@reddit
Once or twice a year, but it's never bad. That said, I've got the tickly cough from hell at the moment, which is driving me nuts.
sunnivapeach@reddit
Probably 2-4 times a year, usually when the season changes.
bluejeansseltzer@reddit
Usually three times. Two colds, one bout of digestive trouble. Usually not ill for any longer than 3 days at a time though.
thecoop_@reddit
Rarely. Once or twice a year tops but since Covid it’s been less
First_Folly@reddit
I used to get ill quite often but I put that down to being stressed for the best part of a decade. Towards the end of my last job I was taking a week off at a time, I got headaches, I was exhausted all the time, I was short of breath and my chest hurt.
Despite that it took until 2023 for me to catch covid. I did still get a few colds over the last couple of years but I've not had the flu for as long as I can remember and I haven't thrown up for around 20 years. I haven't been unwell in general for at least 6 months.
shortercrust@reddit
Varies but probably two times over the past year. One cold and one stomach bug. But I can get bad hayfever so it’s sometimes difficult to know what’s going on.
Dxcesare@reddit
Once maybe twice. Usually only twice if I’ve been in clubs a lot and I’ll get something off someone somehow.
The one time is usually pretty bad but I recover within two or three days.
2AMarvin@reddit
I've never had covid as far as I know, certainly no symptoms, and haven't had a cold or flu for more years than I can remember.
pizzapopsicle@reddit
fairly often, probably about one every 2-3 months. although, I do work in childcare, so there's constant bugs going around anyway
Last-Deal-4251@reddit
Last couple winters I’ve been lucky to avoid anything beyond a runny nose and a bit of a cough. Fingers crossed I keep well this winter too. I’m a single parent to 4 kids in 3 different schools so it’s a miracle we’re not constantly unwell tbh.
j389191m@reddit
i used to be terrible with young kids it felt like every month ! i’ve started taking a shit load of vitamins and supplements and weight training since Jan and not so much now ! kids are back to school next week so if i ain’t sick by end of Oct i would say it’s working
Norman_debris@reddit
Typically once, usually close to Christmas.
Although I do have several days of debilitating hayfever.
New-Success4439@reddit
The number of paid sick days I have per year…
ArmouredFlump@reddit
Used to get sick loads as a kid. Turns out my appendix was inflamed. Wasn't really sick again for 15 years. Then I got Leukemia. Life's been a bit of a roller coaster since, but Ive got through the last few years with not much worse than a cold.
K0monazmuk@reddit
Hardly ever myself, although i live rural and don't really frequent shops with large amounts of people, or places with such, not sure if that has anything to do with it.
Friends with kids at school age always seem to have the lurg.
Electricbell20@reddit
I'm really variable. I've gone a few years without a illness. Then I had recurring tonsillitis for about 2 years, probably 4 in total. Then nothing. Totally fine again until this last year. Had COVID twice in the past 12 months and took a good three weeks to start feeling like I'm getting better.
Emergency_Good_6492@reddit
I tend to get really sick in the autumn usually
raerazael@reddit
Once or twice a year but its usually quite a bad time when I do
salty_sherbert_@reddit
Think the last time was late 2021 / early 2022 when I got covid (and was horrendously ill from it as have asthma)
Since then (touch wood) i havent been ill. Even when ive been around people I lived with that were really ill and seemed to be getting bad colds every couple months through one winter.
Not sure how or what im doing but must be doing something right
Chance-Simple1356@reddit
I get these brief bouts of flu, maybe a day or two max every two to three months or so. Definitely not the norm.
LemmysCodPiece@reddit
That isn't the flu. You are confusing the flu with a cold. Influenza kills people. I have knowingly had flu once and I spent a week in bed as I barely had the strength to stand.
Chance-Simple1356@reddit
Nope it’s flu like. I’m literally bedded.
WHO tf just jumps on some random they’ve never met or know anything about to diagnose them 😂
dippedinmercury@reddit
They are right, though. Flu doesn't last a day. You may have flu-like symptoms, but that doesn't mean you have influenza. Influenza kills many people every year and it isn't uncommon to be bed bound for weeks. Last I had influenza was around 2014 and I was able to sit up in bed for about 45 minutes on day 8. Influenza is no joke and it certainly doesn't last a day or two.
Chance-Simple1356@reddit
My god you autists are something else man
dippedinmercury@reddit
How do you manage to stay upright when your legs need to share that one braincell?
LemmysCodPiece@reddit
Flu kills people. It is a really serious disease, if you had actual influenza 4 to 6 times a year you would be dead, seriously. If you are getting actual influenza with that frequency then seek medical attention as you have something very wrong with you.
I have a compromised immune system as an after effect of cancer treatment. I get vaccinated against flu annually as it could kill me. Last winter nearly 8000 people died of influenza in the UK. In 21/22 it was 15,000.
True-Abalone-3380@reddit
I think I had flu about 20-25 years ago for a couple days and think I had a proper bunged up cold a few years ago.
Can't think I've had a sick day since the 1980s.
If I had COVID it didn't affect me so no idea really.
(For reference, I'm an unfit 60 year old in London(ish))
EvilTaffyapple@reddit
Probably pick up 2 colds per year, but only 1 of them affects me enough to take some time off work - the other is usually the sniffles for a few days and headaches.
TheAdamena@reddit
Once or twice
Except for this year where I've been ill like five times already for some reason.
Adventurous_Deal2788@reddit
Hardly ever. I usually get a cold once a year but can easily power through.
Traditional-Idea-39@reddit
About 5-6 times a year, it’s ridiculous.
everybody-meow-now@reddit
Hardly ever. I'm always surprised when I get a cold, they usually feel more like flu.
Perception_4992@reddit
Probably a few times a year feeling grotty cold. Bed ridden with flu, once every 3-5 years.
dippedinmercury@reddit
I had COVID 5 times, some of them worse than others.
It's always been the case with me that I don't necessarily get sick more often than the average person, but when I do and it's something on the airways, it hangs around longer and gets more serious much quicker. I don't have any chronic conditions relating to the airways, no one has really been able to explain why this is the case for me.
Since COVID I feel it's become worse - every cold now comes with the added risk of walking pneumonia. The last bout I had kept me bed bound for two weeks, and that came after two weeks of "just" generic cold that wouldn't go away. So four weeks total.
I had pneumonia a few times before COVID as well, but it feels like the journey from normal respiratory virus is so much shorter these days. Like there's a weakness in my lungs now that makes me more prone.
My last bout of COVID was exceptionally awful and I came very close to ringing an ambulance due to breathing difficulties. I hope I never get this again and that people will be more sensible in future about going to work when they're unwell. I hate being ill and I hate that people think it's weird how it takes me so long to get over what they think is just a common cold. It's not like I'm enjoying it.
Apsalar28@reddit
Now I'm working from home maybe once or twice. I'll pick up a bug of some variety, usually from friends kids.
When I was traveling into the office on the bus every day it was more like once a fortnight.
petrolstationpicnic@reddit
Very rarely, until I had a child. Now its every month it seems.
She started nursery a year ago, and ive been off sick from work on 3 occasions, I hadnt been off sick in the previous 5 years!
throwthrowthrow529@reddit
I get slapped with man flu probably twice a year, outside of that I’m usually pretty good.
ADM_ShadowStalker@reddit
Usually very rarely until I had kids... 2 years ago, I did get tonsillitis twice within 6 months, which laid me out for a week at a time... and before that I had Covid for a week or so (and loss of smell/taste for about a month after that, which was worse than the Covid itself tbh).
Outside of that the kids bring home weapons grade coughs and colds quite often. Usually ends up going through everyone else in the house first, leaving me with a chesty cough for a couple of weeks afterwards lol.
Before all that though I'd maybe get one cold a year, nothing major usually, and have that away within a week.
Roseaux1994@reddit
I don't get colds or other viruses, and made it to the end of 2023 to catch covid... however, I get frequent headaches and migraines triggered by air pressure so don't know what's worse tbh 🤷♀️
Puzzleheaded-Put-800@reddit
3 times this year and it’s not even winter again 😭 I had the worst flu and fever IN JULY OF ALL MONTHS
JennyW93@reddit
I used to have cyclical vomiting syndrome, and every 6 weeks I’d vomit uncontrollably for three or four days straight. Don’t have that anymore, thankfully.
Aside from that, usually twice or thrice a year with things like colds, but I haven’t been sick at all in the past year.
BillyJoeDubuluw@reddit
I personally wouldn’t consider colds to be sicknesses… but in any case I only get one every blue moon.
Obviously a proper case of the flu can knock you off your feet, which I’ve been lucky enough to avoid.
Quackers-RJ@reddit
Officially once or twice a year. As far as work is concerned however, every other month.
Immediate-Jump3566@reddit
three/four flu scenarios and several more sniffles.. feels like its getting worse year on year so can relate. Working from home is arguably a godsend, but wonder if getting out less is part of the problem.
mycatiscalledFrodo@reddit
Sick enough to be off work? Once every couple of years. Colds? Depends on the kids & my eprl colleagues, could be once a year could be 3 or 4
alphahydra@reddit
Normally a couple of colds per year, but currently, with two young kids in nursery, that has skyrocketed to a cold every 2-3 months with the odd bout of vomiting or fever swapped in as a little bonus.
Thread-Hunter@reddit
Thankfully I very rarely get sick. Can't remember the last time I was ill. I think diet plays a big part in our overall health.
Birdie_92@reddit
Probably twice a year give or take. When I get a cough I’m basically left with it for weeks on end though so it’s super annoying. I used to get sick more often when I worked as a carer, I guess I came into contact with more germs so that makes complete sense. I also found I was more likely to catch another bug if I was just recovering from one, there was an unfortunate time when I caught bug after bug and felt like I was sick more often than healthy (again this was when I was working as a carer). I think I was really run down and kept coming into contact with viral infections from my work… One thing I don’t miss about that job.
Severus_1987@reddit
Loads since having kids. In winter it seems like at least once a month, sometimes back to back
ZeroCool5577@reddit
Once a year maybe twice
DoItForTheTea@reddit
Same as you.
BaBaFiCo@reddit
A cold probably once a year. Actually sick, maybe once every five years.
No_Reception_2626@reddit
About 3 or 4 times a year. Last year I had flu 3 times. However I'm a teacher so constantly around illness.
ArtisticWatch@reddit
Once or twice
Usually during December and February time
el_pieablo@reddit
Time off work sick? Covid. Never felt ill enough since then to call off.
-myeyeshaveseenyou-@reddit
I’m sick more than I’m well. Recently diagnosed with asthma age 41 and I reckon that’s been the cause of a lot of the problems I have had. When diagnosed my lung function was down to 56%. Exercise is a trigger for me and I have generally had pretty physical jobs. Been out of work for 4 weeks in total in the space of 7 months which triggered me to ask why I was being sick so very often and recovering so very slowly.
WoodenEggplant4624@reddit
Not often but if I do get a cold it takes a little longer to recover as I get older. Once a year maybe less.
Steve8557@reddit
Me, about zero. My partner she gets sick like 5-6 times a year. So we average out at a couple of times per year
DigitalStefan@reddit
Maybe every 2-3 years I’ll catch a cold or flu.
Managed to get COVID 3 times in as many years though.
aje0200@reddit
Got Covid right now…
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