If you are in the Austin Area, Dr. Murphy at BSW - Lakeway or Dr. Geyer at Georgetown Orthopedic Group both have phenomenal surgical outcomes.

Long-term, having a healthy diet, adequate sleep, and exercise can all boost the immune system. If you or a family member commonly get sick, taking a deeper dive into gut health via stool testing & labs can be helpful.

In the short term Viracid by Orthomolecular is a great immune boosting supplement and available through my Fullscript https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/dockatiept

Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Zinc, NAC, probiotics, and elderberry are all good immune boosting supplements in times of heightened illness.

If the flu hits, all the previously listed supplements, salt & iodine baths, Oscillococcinum, other homeopathy based on symptoms in addition to staying hydrated and resting may help you feel better faster.

I recommend all moms get a referral for pelvic floor PT postpartum. There are so many changes that your body went through that it’s important to get an evaluation to find any deficits you might have lingering that could lead to dysfunction long term if not addressed. Recovery from a C-section vs vaginal deliveries can have some differences, but also a lot of similarities.

If you don’t have access to a pelvic floor PT, I recommend doing some sort of core/pelvic floor recovery program to build a solid foundation prior to jumping back into your regular workouts.

The Raise with Strength - Postpartum Course is a great option that consists of 3 workouts per week that average about 20 min. It starts easy enough to start before 6 weeks if you feel ready and ends with light resistance work to gradually ramp you up. It also includes lots of educational information regarding when you should see a pelvic floor PT for a full assessment. Strengthdignitywellness.com/courses

I’m so sorry you are dealing with this! I personally put activated charcoal in my toddler’s water when he has tummy bugs. The AC will bind any bugs/toxins in their system and help eliminate it. I also personally take it when my toddler is sick as a preventative measure. You can get the activated charcoal at Whole Foods or Natural Grocers.

While it’s possible you will need to change type & size of your tampon after a major event such as childbirth, it’s more likely that underlying pelvic floor dysfunction is the cause of your tampons not staying in place. If you are not managing intra-abdominal well then your body will push the tampon out. It sounds like this is happening especially during your workouts when we typically generate more intra-abdominal pressure to generate the force needed to exercise.

A sign of good pressure management is that your tampon is further in after your workout than when it started. It’s important to be able to manage pressure effectively to prevent conditions like pelvic organ prolapse and incontinence.

Based on what you have described is happening, I highly recommend you see a pelvic floor PT local to you that can coach you through good pressure management and body mechanics through functional movements to avoid long term pelvic floor dysfunction.