The sad reality for me is that the older I get the harder it is to come back from illness and I'm not sure how in the long term I'll cope with it. Being a second twin, premature and having Cerebral Palsy are considered common factors.

My biggest hurdle is and has always been respiratory problems. It's easy for me to get caught out and is usually the first thing to go when I'm ill or stressed. Coming back from respiratory problems is like trying to climb a mountain.

I usually steer clear from the conventional route, because not only is my immunity compromised, but I believe the conventional route will compromise my immunity more. I tend to take a cocktail of remedies including vitamin D, echinacea, manuka honey, vitamin C, a tonic, a vitamin and mineral supplement and a honey and lemon drink.

I was already taking echinacea and other supplements before I became ill, so it’s easy to see how susceptible to illness  I really am. I also take a natural cough tincture, as I tend to get a cough when I get a cold, together with a homeopathic cold and flu remedy, a homeopathic infection remedy and ginger root to settle any digestion issues.

When I feel really bad I allow myself paracetamol, so I can concentrate on the secondary symptoms without feeling too poorly. I also take an acidophilus and a digestive enzyme so the mucus doesn't settle on my chest, so that I can continue to eat normally.

Thirteen days into it and the only thing that has really helped so far, is the homeopathic constitutional remedy and although I’m not back on my feet fully yet, I feel a little more normal now. All of these remedies work, but given my issues and medical history, it will always take me longer to come through the healing process, regardless of what I take.

Where homeopathic constitutional remedies bring the body back into balance and where we need the support, the constitutional remedy works well. I'm feeling more normal or what I consider to be more normal for me. In the meantime, I need to continue to stay well.