I've tested positive for covid - AMA

[ElloElloEllo122]

As the title says

Boy, OP had a rough ride here!

Hope that you get over it quickly @ElloElloEllo122

Can't believe I'm actually being blamed for why I have covid

I'm a nurse and see this all of the time. People are afraid that they'll get sick, so they want to make your case your fault somehow. The scarier the disease the more this happens.

I’m still struggling though. Occam’s razor: at some point you must not have followed the rules else you would not have contracted Covid!

It's nowhere near that simple. I've had plenty of colleagues get covid despite excellent sterile technique and scrupulous use of PPE. That's the nature of a respiratory virus.

OP Are you scared of what might happen? Hope you're better soon x

@peakygal
yes I am. I was scared from day 1 of this virus due to my uncontrollable asthma, and I've an ongoing cough for 3+ years now that I don't yet know the cause, but it causes me breathing difficulties. I was referred back last September, but understandably, the respiratory consultants are needed else where, so I've not yet been seen.

I'm scared if I go into hospital I may not come out, and I'm scared that my son would grow up not knowing me. Atm I have mild symptoms, and I'm hoping it stays that way for me 🤞🏻 I guess my fear only comes from what I've read if the virus through media and news channels.

@reviera yes I have had a rough ride!! I never for one minute thought a post aimed to answer questions for others would turn into a blame game and me being made to feel this is all my fault, and regardless of situation should remain at 2m distance (not always possible at all)

Ignore it @ElloElloEllo122, it's not always someone's fault that they get it. I hope you and your mum are okay

So all the people on here that tested positive without symptoms, how did you get a test? Did you pay for your test because you're not supposed to have a free test unless you've got symptoms?

@ElloElloEllo122 I had a temperture on Tuesday which is why I was tested. On Wednesday I lost my sense of taste and smell, literally nothing, it's very odd. Have a really awful cough but I'm asthmatic which doesn't help.

@MissConductUS I'm shocked I've been blamed. I've not once blamed anyone who has caught this virus for it being their own fault. I too work in the medical field, I've had dealings with patients who've recovered from the virus, some of which were in hospital for over a month...never once would I say "well it's your own fault you've got it, you did this and do you want a medal for isolating" so not necessary to someone who is scared of what may come of this and only wanting to help answer a question one may have if they have not had any personal experience with the virus. So many people have so many questions, and their only source of answer is the papers and news and nothing first hand!!

I hope your colleagues are all well and recovered? So scary for those who work on the covid wards. I really admire them, as every day you go to work to treat such unwell people with the risk of catching it yourself, and you never know if you will get it mild or severe. The PPE they have to wear for 12 hours is something on a whole new level, and yet they still sadly catch it...I hope you keep safe and well

Hello OP- I have a question about test and trace versus the covid app.

Basically- the T&T crew have said to him he can be released today, 10 days on from his positive test. The app, however, says he needs to isolate for 2 further days.

Apparently the app is wrong but he's too scared to step out the house in case it beeps at him to get back in! Have you had this discrepancy?

Also, have you been bombarded with messages and calls from T&T? We have 4 people in our household, two of which are under 7 years old. So I get phoned on behalf of each of us due to gdpr. It's a right hassle!!!

@Blueuggboots I don't know about others, but I booked due to being a close contact of a positive case. They didn't question it or anything. For my son I did his through 119 after my result, I told them he didn't have the listed symptoms, but was acting lethargic like I had been and they said it was fine to book him in, and they got me a test for him that day.

Sorry, I forgot to explain- the 'he' in my last post refers to my husband.

And also, good luck and get well soon - it's been a shitty 10 days here so hope you haven't been too poorly!

@AnneShirleysNewDress I'm the same with a permanent cough...but I would say it's different. Not dry, but more that it just happens and I have no control over a coughing fit (if that makes any sense at all) and my chest feels tight like with a chest infection

@Blueuggboots we've not had any tests in our house either - we've all been waiting to start coughing or suddenly get hot but so far there has been nothing. So we can't justify getting a test. I can't lie, I've been tempted to lie and say I've been feverish! But I haven't wanted to be dishonest. However, where we are (Yorkshire) there seems to be loads of testing capacity.

@AngelicaElizaAndPeggy
I don't rate the T&T myself. Mainly for the reason my mum put me down as a close contact, and that we had been closer than 2m etc (as you will know yourself the questionnaire you are sent after a positive is very lengthy and lots and lots of questions) yet they've still not contacted me at all!!!

I have the app, and check in where I can. My app has a countdown on it that shows a day longer than the test I got my results on.

My test result stated I was positive and I had to stay in for 10 days post test. I've counted 10 days and not included the test day, and it still gives me a day added to it (I guess 2 if I count the test day) so I guess mine is the same discrepancy.

I would go with the message with results on as it lists when the test was done and that it's a 10 day isolation. Plus not everyone had the app.

Also my husband is being bombarded with phone calls from T&T yet I've not heard a thing from them!!!!

When they next call a member of the family, as they will 🤣 get them to ask the question about the app saying a longer date of isolation and what should he do

How did you manage to get tested just for being in contact with your dm? My dm and df wanted to be tested after my sister tested positive as they'd been with her the day before, and were told you can only get tested if you have symptoms.

@yearinyearout I have a cough, so put that. Although I have a permanent cough, it is different. Not dry, but more forceful

@ElloElloEllo122 I know exactly what you mean about the cough. I have had lung pain for a couple of weeks but it's been worse since the weekend.

I get your point re T&T
Dh tested positive last Sunday and had a phonecall from his GP 8am Monday to check on him and a call from T&T.
I got positive Wednesday and haven’t been phoned at all even though I have a health condition which makes me vulnerable

OP, all of my colleagues have recovered and we don't have many covid patients at the moment. When the virus peaked here and we had lots of staff off sick I took a lot of shifts on the covid wards, as did many nurses from other areas. You go where you're needed.

As I said, people are blaming you because they're afraid, and helps them feel like they have control and it can't happen to them. I see this a lot with cancer patients - he must have smoked, she probably ate too much meat, etc. Don't take it too personally.

Best wishes for a full recovery from New York.

OP, what is worse, the symptoms of covid or the judgement of mumsnet?

(Hope you feel better soon)

@girlsyearapart it's so frustrating isn't it? If I followed the government guidance on ONLY isolate if you're contacted, then I would still be going to work, with patients and colleagues and potentially and unintentionally passed it to others just because I haven't been contacted by T&T 🤷🏻‍♀️

Cracks me up my husband gets a call every day to see how he is and I don't 🤣🤣 not that I want them to call me mind, but more of a point if you know what I mean!! I get a text every other day to say make sure to continue isolation etc

@MissConductUS
I'm glad they have recovered and are z such a worry. Without out medical staff we would be in deep trouble! I am in awe of all the medical staff worldwide working with active covid cases and on the wards. There is much higher risk of contagion when working so close with the case, especially when having it to incubate.

I'm trying not to take it personal as I know I've done everything from day 1 that has been asked of me to help prevent spread. It's easy to blame the person that has it and go full on attack, without even knowing facts

@Feminist10101

You can’t put a thread up in AMA and then refuse to answer questions.

She absolutely can!

Not sure who you think you are, repeatedly demanding answers, berating OP for the answers she does give and then demanding more answers. Rinse and repeat. So needlessly aggressive.

The tone of your posts on this thread earlier was utterly bizarre - hopefully you've calmed down a bit now.

@Thinkle
definitely the assuming mumsnet users that think they have all the answers and can berate someone they don't know or know the circumstances leading to it.