Think I have 'symptoms' and I'm a teacher. Just need reassurance im doing the right thing.

[NoMoreShows]

I've been awake for most of the night coughing. It started at around 7pm last night. It's 4am and I've been awake for the past hour solidly. Its a dry cough. I have mild discomfort when I breathe but nothing that would normally concern me.

My dinner tasted 'funny' last night. The children said it tasted fine but it was just a bit bland to me and didn't taste right. Can't really explain how though otherwise.

I'm a primary school teacher.

They've told us "not to take any chances" if we think we have symptoms. 2 of our bubbles have already been closed due to positive tests and several children have already been off with suspected symptoms although nearly all tests have come back negative.

A few other teachers have had to isolate with symptoms until test results come back.

I know I need to phone and tell them and not go in but I don't feel 'ill' as such (no temperature) and years of dragging myself in, dosed up to the hilt and just surviving the day have conditioned me and I feel incredibly guilty it just feels 'wrong' to phone in when I don't feel 'ill' enough to take time off. Just need reassurance really.

Plus its the last few days before half term. And that always feels especially bad for being ill. Thanks.

Don't feel guilty!

@NoMoreShows

It's not a dilemma!

I know that really but I rarely take time off and am just used to dragging myself in regardless of how I feel - and that's what's expected usually. I've only ever had time off for d&v bugs. Other illnesses, I just drag myself in and barely function.

It just feels 'wrong'. But obviously it's a pandemic and no one should take any chances.

In this case dragging yourself in has the potential to wipe out the children’s grandparents, parents and cause problems for any of the children’s pregnant Mums or relatives if you pass it on, some of whom will likely be providing half-term childcare or seeing the kids during family visits. Stay home and get tested. At least if there’s a suspicion of COVID, their families can balance the risk of seeing family over half term & if it comes back clear and there’s an outbreak you’ll know it wasn’t you. Seriously, not worth going in - in fact, grossly irresponsible to do so.

I do think you should definitely get tested and stay off today. I think you were right to use “myself” though because you were the subject and object of the verb.

Just think how annoyed your colleagues will be with you if you come in coughing and with changes to your sense of taste. I'd be furious if a colleague came in with those symptoms. I'm a teacher too, I get it. But things aren't normal right now, you really can't go in until you have a negative test.

I arrange cover in a school and people forcing themselves in and then being sent home and having to arrange cover at the last minute is so stressful. Please call in early and make it easier for everyone. If you are found to be coughing the school will have to send you home.

Teacher here too, know how you feel but please stay home lovely. You would be devastated if you had it and caused harm to children or your colleagues.

xx

You’ve done the right thing-at least your symptoms are unambiguous.
Hope you feel better soon and get the test results back quickly one way or the other

I've already let school know. It's sorted now and I feel guilty than I did an hour ago!

*less guilty

You've done the right thing, OP!

Have written emails this week thanking young university students who have done the responsible thing and isolated despite being symptom free. They were protecting me and their fellow students, and I was grateful. You are protecting your pupils. And their older siblings (teens can totally get LongCovid or pneumonia), their parents, their grandparents, their pregnant mums etc.

Hope you feel better soon!

Cancel the cheque, OP

You did the right thing. Now look after yourself. Hope you feel better soon.

You'd feel a whole lot more guilty if you went to school and infected your colleagues and the children and their families that you teach.

Yes, get a test and stay home.

Fingers crossed you feel better soon & get a quick negative result.

The reason you feel guilty is clearly because you're a great teacher and committed to your job, and I'm sure you'd normally go in as you put your work & the pupils first. By not going in, you are putting them first, and whoever else they may come into contact with, too.

I’ve woken up with a sore throat, feeling hot and red cheeks that feel hot to touch but temperature normal. Was expecting it to rocket. Not symptoms that qualify for a test but I’m suspicious as those can be the only symptoms according to my DD at uni who knows of lots of cases.

Surely you've phoned in with Covid symptoms pending a test rather than phoning in sick. If you feel well presumably you can work at home doing the overwhelming burden of paperwork and getting ahead with lesson prep.

I hope you don't have it but if you do get well soon

You absolutely should not go in and you shouldn’t feel bad about it either because you are doing the right thing . I’m a governor at a primary school . We know that our teachers usually drag themselves in unless they are really ill . However this is not the time to do it . Our head has made that crystal clear . But I think you know that anyway . As PP says obviously you whole household needs to self isolate too . Hope you get well soon

Hope you feel better soon, OP. Don’t feel guilty. We have to stay off when this happens and get tested. You can still do the online parents evening, as long as you feel well enough.

@perfumeistooexpensive

I've had a dry cough for the whole of this term. I'm awake from coughing now. My test was negative. I haven't had a problem with taste though. Try a few strong flavours and see if they are affected. I know that you should call in sick, but what a dilemma for you. Have you any other possible symptoms? I know others will say that you must isolate and test, but if you feel really well, maybe the cough is of no consequence. Sorry that I can't be more helpful.

This is terrible advice.

You need to isolate and get a test and not go out unless it’s negative. And you know that. Imagine if you’ve got it, infect the kids and colleagues, and one of them has a vulnerable relative that dies.

Sorry just seen you’ve decided. Well done!

I had symptoms on Monday night (high temp) booked a test at 5.55pm for 6.30pm! Got the results back 8.40am yesterday morning. Negative. Got kids to school on time, feel fine now

You did the right thing in this instance, the dry cough all night (not just on and off) and the taste thing is quite indicative.
Although, if your taste has gone now, you may have been infectious for a day or two already.
I hope it all goes OK.

this isnt a dilemma. This is going to have to be the biggest cultural shift, where people dont force themselves into work ill. I know its annoying and its going to be a long winter, but if we dont, we arent going to be able to isolate the virus.
I had to isolate the other week. it was boring as hell, but got to be done

You’ve done the right thing. I know it is hard. Our daughter had a productive cough and other people she had been in contact with had it too and had tested negative. My husband thought about going into work (while waiting for results) with a mask and staying far away from colleagues and he ran it by them first. He got short shrift with that idea. No one wants you in with symptoms.

Imagine going in and coughing at everyone - you wouldn’t be popular.

Will you let us know how long the results take? I know home ones take forever.