To feel like I have been left to die in manner of plague victim?

[MadHattersWineParty]

Forgive the slightly melodramatic title. I arrived back in London on Saturday evening after a spending Christmas with my parents a few hours away. My boyfriend drove me back as he spent Boxing day with my family. Flatmates away until the new year so on my own (normally I love these times!) Friends all with family etc.

I was ill all over Christmas, then went to a walk-in centre Saturday afternoon and got antibiotics for bronchitis. I've had it before.

Since then I have been sick as a dog. Can't leave the house, can't sleep because of coughing, just generally struggling. Dropped my phone in the middle of a coughing fit and buggered up the sim somehow so can't text or call on it.

My boyfriend has been in touch via Internet. But he's off work, lives twenty minutes away, has a car....but says he cannot risk getting ill from me (big annual bike-race meet thing on New Year's Day) is bronchitis even contagious?

Anyway, this morning I saw a package had been dropped through the letter box. It had strepsills in it, ibuprofen and a little box of cough mixture. So he took the trouble to come to my house and post that, but not let me know he was there or come in and make me some soup, a cup of tea??

I may be over sensitive because I'm poorly but....I half expect to find one of those big crosses on my door like they did to let everyone know there were plague victims dying inside....

[WhyYouGottaBeSoRude]

Oh that sounds like bliss! I hate having people faffing round me when i'm ill. I'd much rather they just posted all medicine and food through the door and bugger off so i could sleep on the sofa. Even better if they dont ring or text to say theyre doing it.

[AlistairSim]

Poor you, sounds utterly grim

Your boyfriend seems to be showing you how important he thinks you are...more

[LineRunner]

Ok, here's the thing.

My OH and I are quite clear about keeping our distance during episodes of the lurgy because we both have kids to look after full time, as we are both lone parents.

The package is his way of showing he cares. Odd, but caring.

[woowoo22]

Am on the fence. Totally. Therefore have nothing useful to say.

Get well soon.

[VitalStollenFix]

poor bugger. It's rotten feeling grotty.

I think it's quite sweet that he made you up a little package and posted it through the door but also laughing a bit that he's acting like you've got the plague.

I think it is contagious, yes.

"Bronchitis is not contagious if the cause is due to:

smoking,
air pollution, or
other inhaled irritants.

Chronic bronchitis is contagious if the cause is viral or bacterial infection."

So if it is really important to him that he doesn't come down with what sounds like a bloody miserable illness, then it's sensible that he stays away.

[DomiKatetrix]

He doesn't want to be ill for NYD, would you rather he steer well clear or show this bit of caring and drop off the package?
Get well soon. Use your alone time to try sleep off some of the illness.

[VitalStollenFix]

He's thinking of you, he cares about you, he's bringing you things he think might make you more comfortable, that shows he cares. He's not unreasonable to not want to take a chance on getting ill himself.

I make my husband stay at the other end of the house if he's got something catching. I don't love anyone enough to breathe in their germs if I can help it

[Unescorted]

Could it be your neighbours .... heard you coughing but didn't want to drag you to the door?

[Xmas2014Santa2014]

Yes they might not be from him !

[MrsDiesel]

I think your boyfriend sounds lovely taking the time to make and drop off a package, bo wat would I have come in either. Who wants to risk getting ill!

[MadHattersWineParty]

Vital thanks- I wasn't sure if it was catching or not but I suppose in this case it definitely is. I suppose he's being sensible. God love him though because strepsils and cough mixture aren't touching the sides of this!

unescorted- lovely thought. ...I think my neighbours both sides are away though. Just as well, I'd have driven them mad by coughing.

[TooMuchCantBreathe]

Yes bronchitis is catching, well the cause is, it won't always turn to bronchitis but will be nasty - as I understand it anyway.

He's being nice, letting you know that he is thinking about you and trying to help even though he's trying to avoid the germs. Bronchitis is nasty and doing the rounds with gusto at the moment, hope you start to feel better soon for you.

[JennyBlueWren]

Next time you're online thank him and put in a request for whatever else you want/need. An old flat mate always demanded trifle when ill and got it for me too when I was ill. I now demand this of my husband if I'm not well.

[StrattersThePreciousSnowflake]

I always want shepherds pie. I've obviously missed a trick with trifle :(

It was a sweet and sensible gesture, get well soon x

[AwfulBeryl]

[BarbarianMum]

I like being fussed over when ill. Dh likes to be shut away in a room to get on with it. Consequently illness is always rather fraught in our household.

I think you will just have to chuck this incompatibility into the mix and see how much it matters to you in the wider scheme of things.

[londonrach]

Tbh my dh becomes very ill if he comes in contact with anyone with chest infections etc. as a result he and his mum (also bad chest) have to stay away. Last time resulted in a trip to hospital and over 8 weeks of illnesses. I understand why your boyfriend is keeping away. Sounds like he cares if he dropping medication through the door. Keep yourself warm, lots of hot drinks and lots of sleep. Hope you better soon xxxx

[TinklyLittleLaugh]

Phew OP, for a scary second I thought you were my DH posting.

DH got some manflu thing in the hectic run up to Christmas. He decided to stay in bed, (bedroom right up on the second floor). I got up, did my usual working from home, running round after the four kids thing.

At about 9pm, I was contentedly watching TV, when a feeble, haggard figure, tottered into the living room and bitterly reproached me for leaving him to rot all day.

And er, well I had actually, I'd totally forgotten about him. . Still feel a bit guilty; he is quite nice when I'm ill.

[JoanHickson]

Ask for a flask of soup and anything else you need. He wants to help and stay well.

[BirdhouseInYourSoul]

I always want mashed potato and gravy when I'm ill. I wish someone would post some through my door (in a tightly sealed tub)

Instead DD brings me tea if she's home. If not, DS brings me biscuits.

I hope you're feeling better soon OP.

[raltheraffe]

Not great timing really using a thread title like that.

[BarbarianMum]

????

[Dumbledoresgirl]

Aw no, I think that was a bit rotten of your bf. Could he not at least talk to you via skype or similar?

I recall having flu once when I lived alone and only saw my bf at the weekends. By about Wednesday, I was so deprived of company and somehow, even though I knew I only had flu, I was still needing reassurance that I rang the GP surgery and had the GP out to see me (that was way back in the days when GPs made house calls). I feel guilty thinking about it now, but I know why I did it then as the isolation was really disconcerting for me when I felt so ill.

I hope you are better soon.

[SparklyTwinkleGlitter]

OP, I take it you have never been seriously ill then?

Talk about drama lamas. Jeez!

[SorchaN]

Your partner has probably already been exposed to your virus and is unlikely to avoid coming down with it unless his immune system is performing significantly better than yours. Still, it's understandable that he'd want to take precautions, and sweet that he brought you something to help with the symptoms. But given average incubation times, I'd expect him to start sneezing sometime between tonight and tomorrow morning. That bike race may have to wait till next year...