I'm panicking, please someone help me be practical, I have covid.

[Ahshitihavecovid]

I've been feeling like a bag of shit for a couple of days, did a few tests and they came back negative, tested tonight - positive.

I have 5 dc, a single parent, rehomed in a new area through WA so know nobody here, can't have social media due to the dv.

Fridge and freezers fully stocked, gas and electric fully charged so I'm not too worried about that (aside from bread and milk but I'm sure 10 days without those will be fine).

Dd is 16, he also has it. My other dcs are absolutely fine, they are 12, 11, 7 and 4.

My 7yo had pneumonia a couple of years ago, she was really unwell, in hospital for 6 weeks, it got to the point I was taken aside and told she would die during surgery. She pulled through thankfully, but is still under the care of the hospital.

I don't know what to do, we have been so bloody careful I don't understand how I've got it, I guess it doesn't matter though.

I'm terrified dd gets it, I'm more terrified she gets it and gets hospitalised and I can't be with her.

My 12 and 11yos are very mature, they can make meals etc if need be, they can also take care of basic housework if need be too (not sure how much worse I'm going to get).

I'm just panicking, I need a plan to minimise risk to dd, to make sure everyone is looked after if I'm unwell.

I don't know what to do. Can someone please just bulletpoint a plan of attack for me please because I'm currently in disaster mode and don't know how I can cope alone and protect dd.

Have you been vaccinated? If so, there's no need to panic. You're not likely to be very ill at all.

Try not to panic (tip number one, probably not helpful, BUT! Lower your shoulders from around your ears, and take some deep breaths if you feel the panic rising - breathe in for four, hold for four, breathe out for seven and repeat).

Wear your mask round the house and get DS16 to do the same. When COVID struck my DH and DD they isolated away from me in the house, we used communal areas at different times, left windows open as much as poss. Can DD12 and DD11 look after the younger kids while you and DS16 isolate together upstairs?

My DH had quite a bad case of pneumonia several years ago and as a result is deemed CV by the NHS and at risk for COVID, he’s had it twice and been fine. He’s also obese and not in great health. I hope this reassures you a bit about your DD.

Maybe order an oximeter from Amazon Prime to come tomorrow, that way if anyone gets COVID and seems to be struggling with their breathing or you’re just panicking a bit, you can stick the oximeter on their finger and reassure yourselves/get medical attention if necessary.

Remember 95%+ people who get it are fine. You and your family will be too. Hugs x

PS If it’s Omicron it’s honestly very mild for nearly everyone, just like a mild flu. It is very contagious but far less potent than the earlier strains according to medical professionals and anecdata x

1. Do not panic as it will not do you any good
2. Make sure that Covid positive use a separate toilet and extra care is taken in disinfecting communal areas
3. Dishes must be washed separately as well
4. The most vulnerable child should wear a mask in your presence and wash her hands regularly
5. Stock up on ginger as ginger tea is really soothing during covid
6. Speak to your GP about your concerns and see if they can offer any advice on the subject

Hope this helps and you have a speedy recovery 🙏

Practically, write lists.
Dinner plan for each night, food prep if you're up to it if not assign tasks to the kids - Now’s their chance to prove their maturity!!
Also set them cleaning tasks.

If you’ve been vaccinated then hopefully you won’t feel worse than a bad cold.

Also if you’re not feeling too unwell and older DDs are still negative, maybe drop them at the supermarket with a list of ready meal/frozen/tins of soup etc, so if you do all get ill you’ve got some easy food to prepare.

YY to vulnerable child wearing a mask too. Good idea @HeebieJeebies7!

I have been vaccinated, as have my 16 and 12yos, I do feel really shitty (I had cancer a few years ago which has affected my thyroid and my immune system so bugs do seem to hit me harder).

I have every piece of medical equipment I could have, oxygen machine, nebuliser, oxymeter etc (because I'm paranoid, can you tell) so I'm as equipped as I can be at home.

Thank you, I needed someone with a calm head to talk me down a bit.

My 12 and 11yos have said they will look after the little ones and shout if they need me, not ideal, but its the best I can do in the circumstances. 12yo, who is clearly far more sensible than me, says she will call her friend tomorrow, speak to her mum and she will get bread and milk as needed.

My worst nightmare is my 7yo catching this and being in hospital and having nobody there with her

My top tip is mask & fresh air/ventilation.
Dd2 & I managed to avoid it without isolating her away when dd1 had it pre-Christmas.
Practical - have you got enough food/elec/gas etc.
Have you got enough LFT's for the family. If not order & keep ordering.
If you are all staying home - make it an adventure. Hunker down as a team. Can you watch a boxset or film series together or have a boardgame tournament/play cards.
Rest, drink lots of fluids.
Homeschool?
Good luck!

Thank you, good plan for dd to wear a mask as well as 16yo and I, she has a buff thing she wears in school and she wears thermals as well due to the windows being open so she won't mind at all.

I'm fortunate to have 2 toilets so it's definitely feasible to have me and 16yo upstairs and the others downstairs. They can all do sleepovers in the living room too, I can turn it into a game I suppose.

I have enough food for about a month if need be, I'm pretty organised in case of things like this thank goodness.

I'm just going through every worst case scenario in my head before I settle down and be realistic.

My youngest had Covid less then 6 months after pneumonia like you describe and I do understand your concern but it had no impact. You are over reacting on quite a scale and probably know that. You need calpol/nurofen basic children medicine, some lateral flow tests and lots of TV. It’s not a problem if the children catch it and hopefully those over 12 are vaccinated. Take it a day at a time, don’t look ahead.

Talk yourself down from that ledge immediately @Ahshitihavecovid. She doesn’t even have COVID yet, let alone need medical attention. I suffer from anxiety too so I understand about leaping ahead to the worst case scenario, but you’re imagining something that is probably never going to happen and stressing yourself out when you’re already feeling rough, so stop it! It’s counterproductive too as stress will make you feel worse and be less likely to cope. Remember calming breaths, shoulders down, circular thoughts banished as the paranoia they are, and get some sleep ❤️

I have absolutely loads of LFTS, I order them all the time because of this very reason, if one of us gets it and we need to test then they won't last long.

You don’t need to split up - everyone can sleep in their own beds. Don’t make work or panic for yourself or make the children scared. It’s Covid not the plague and we are on our third infection but worst thing would be to install fear. Just try to calm down and act normally.

@DasAlteLeid

Talk yourself down from that ledge immediately *@Ahshitihavecovid*. She doesn’t even have COVID yet, let alone need medical attention. I suffer from anxiety too so I understand about leaping ahead to the worst case scenario, but you’re imagining something that is probably never going to happen and stressing yourself out when you’re already feeling rough, so stop it! It’s counterproductive too as stress will make you feel worse and be less likely to cope. Remember calming breaths, shoulders down, circular thoughts banished as the paranoia they are, and get some sleep ❤️

Thank you. I needed that.

I know I'm in worst case mode, 2 of my dcs died some years ago, and then dd almost dying has made me go full scale anxious mess when the slightest thing happens.

She pulled through her pneumonia and operation, covid WILL be mild if she gets it, I have everything I need in the house, I have competent dc who can look after them so I can stay away, it's going to be fine.

Great tips here

Just posting to send you best wishes

Feel better soon xxxxxx

My DD was hospitalised with pneumonia at 5 and got covid last year at 7. She had absolutely no symptoms other than a slightly raised temp for a couple of hours. Luckily it doesn't seem to affect children too badly (in most cases).

Hope you feel better soon

Thank you so much

My dd got sepsis, then went into organ failure due to her pneumonia being misdiagnosed for a couple of days, so it was a really long road for her. Her liver still hasn't fully recovered so I'm really going to try and prevent her from getting this if possible. She will be fine, she won't panic and is just cool as a cucumber (doesn't get it from me) so even if I panic keep us separated she will be absolutely fine with that, enjoy it even 😂

I am over anxious though, I write letters before each time I gave birth, and for every op I've had and hidden them just in case I die. God its ridiculous, but it weirdly calms me down when I go OTT and do everything I can.

Personally in your situation I would aim to keep the infection away from the vulnerable person as much as I could by staying in separate rooms/ keeping the house well ventilated and not preparing food for her if possible. Wiping the door handles/ taps and lots of hand washing but not so it stresses you out!

It sounds like you are really well organised and that your family are pulling together. You can’t do any more except to try not to be afraid and to rest and get better and stay as cheerful as possible. Take one day at a time. Good luck!

You will all be absolutely fine, the reason you have caught it is because Omicron is basically the symptoms of a heavy cold but more contagious! My granny is 86 and has Diabetes and a heart condition, she had Covid a little over a fortnight ago and was absolutely fine, yes she felt a bit miserable for a few days and like she had a head cold but never even considered that she’d need to speak to a medical person. My DH caught it from her but not me nor either of our two little boys.

One of the very few good things about covid is that in the majority of cases children aren't badly affected. I was terrified of mine getting it, they're age 3 and 15 ,both have had it and neither had any symptoms at all. Everyone I know who's children have had it have had very few or no symptoms at all. My two stepsons have also just had it and have been much more poorly with common colds. I know it's easy for strangers on the internet to say but please try not to worry. You will all be fine

I have no practical advice but

My 6 yo is on nasal cannula oxygen, he has a heart condition and he has covid. He didn't actually get it from me. When I had it we carried on as normal and he didn't catch it. Back at school a week and he gets it. He's fine
A cough and a bit tired. Oxygen Sat's are normal. Eating a little worse than normal but not much. There's every chance it will pass her by and if it doesn't that she'll feel likes she's got a bit of a cold xx

YOU WILL BE FINE
I'm immunosuppressed and CEV. And I have OCD anxiety to give you context.
Statistically several of the over 11s will have a head cold and be grumpy. Everyone can eat toast, chocolate, crisps or tinned potatoes and be fine for at least a week.

Wear masks and keep as many windows open as possible. Great air. Fresh lemons squeezed into water. Don’t worry,

@Ahshitihavecovid I hope you are ok tonight and sorry to hear about your losses .