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.

What are you going to do about school tomorrow? I wonder if your youngest might be better at school: less time with you, less viral load. And it will give you some time to rest, to wipe surfaces, check medicines etc.

@DasAlteLeid

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

I'd say not even mild flu. It's more like a cold for most people I know (including me).

Thank you all so much, I feel a lot calmer, I just needed to panic and have someone to be practical for me for a minute. Single parenting is great, but times like this I realise it's pretty lonely too.

Dd is very outdoorsy and I have an OK sized garden so she will be in her element outside all day, it's feasible for me to stay away, go down at nights and get things organised for 12yo and 11yo the next day, we will all wear masks and test every couple of days.

Hopefully it will all pass in a week and I can find something else to panic about

You children sound lovely, very mature and sensible. Keep calm and safe, all of you xxxx

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.

No need. Download the Getir app/Uber app/other similar apps and if you have an Amazon account, use the Morrisons Fresh thing. You can get bread/milk/anything else delivered within an hour or two. Also, Getir are in their own words "Handing out promo codes like confetti" at the moment so you get loads for your money.

@greenlynx

What are you going to do about school tomorrow? I wonder if your youngest might be better at school: less time with you, less viral load. And it will give you some time to rest, to wipe surfaces, check medicines etc.

I'm not putting any of them into school, it would maybe be best for her, but I wouldn't forgive myself if she got a positive when she got home one day and passed it onto someone else. Overall I think I'm more comfortable with us all isolating just now.

Its freaked me out a bit getting a definite negative 12 hours ago then 3 strong positives later on.

Download the Getir app/Uber app/other similar apps and if you have an Amazon account, use the Morrisons Fresh thing.

I honestly wish I could. I live in the absolute back of beyond, even amazon take 2 days to deliver here, its a lovely place, just very out the way, eg there are only 4 takeaways in the area on justeat 😂 and even then its about a tenner delivery.

Is it mainly your DD that you're worried about? Could she stay elsewhere? Children are luckily not getting it too badly when they do get it so try not to panic too much... i had covid in Nov and managed not to spread it ti DD and DP..use different towels, handgel masks and wipes all the time if you cant send her elsewhere xx

Its freaked me out a bit getting a definite negative 12 hours ago then 3 strong positives later on.

That's quite normal. On my last day of isolation I got a very quick definite positive and then the next day and the day after, absolutely no line whatsoever. I don't know why but I expected it to fade out slowly...test by test but that's not the way it happened. Also my husband who I continued to share a bed with as we have no spare room, didn't test positive at all.

Hold on.. ive not thought about this before would they seriously have a child in hospital and not allow an adult there if that's the case im even more shocked at how bad everything's became

When my teenager's friend was worried about us (false alarm) she was trying to persuade her mum to send pizza. I had no idea this was going on so don't underestimate the ability of secondary age dc with phones :)

There's literally nowhere else for dd to go unfortunately. No family at all, no real friends around here yet that I know outside the school run.

I really don't think they would allow me into hospital with dd if she needed it I'm not 100% sure of the rules but I'm fairly sure they wouldn't allowed a covid positive case in who didn't need to be there.

@PastMyBestBeforeDate

When my teenager's friend was worried about us (false alarm) she was trying to persuade her mum to send pizza. I had no idea this was going on so don't underestimate the ability of secondary age dc with phones :)

😂😂 dd is pretty popular at school tbh, I reckon if she played it right she could scam a takeaway every day for the whole isolation period.

@Ahshitihavecovid

There's literally nowhere else for dd to go unfortunately. No family at all, no real friends around here yet that I know outside the school run.

I really don't think they would allow me into hospital with dd if she needed it I'm not 100% sure of the rules but I'm fairly sure they wouldn't allowed a covid positive case in who didn't need to be there.

It is very likely that IF your DD was to test positive and IF she was to become unwell enough to need to go to hospital, it will be after you have completed your 5-10 day isolation, so you would be fine to go with her. But I’m sure it won’t be necessary!

Hello OP, just wanted to say well done for posting, you knew what you needed when you were panicking and asked for help - amazing.

In case this gives you hope - I had Covid last year and neither my DH nor two children caught it, despite us living in a very small flat. We had to isolate in the flat together for ten days, no outside space, no windows open as it was freezing, no second loo, and because my children have additional needs they were still cuddling me and being close, as they couldn't handle any change from normal contact ... and none of them caught it. So, it doesn't always spread :-)

I had covid 2 weeks ago, it was like a pretty miserable head cold.
No idea how but none of my 3 DC nor my DH caught it off me, I stayed out of the way but didn’t isolate away from them and DH and I shared a bed every night.
DS2 who’s 11 had it before Christmas and his only symptom was a headache on day 1 and it went away after a dose of calpol.
Fingers crossed you have similar and your dc don’t get it either.

It’s likely omicron, which is good. Open windows, turn heating on, dettol wipe anything you touch.
Get your eldest uninflected child to inventory food, then you can meal plan simple meals.
The infected and the vulnerable can wear masks.
If you have Alexa put it on drop in and you can chat constantly.
Rest. Unlimited screens. Fluids. Keep doing LFTs, if only to compare lines and track progress.

@Ahshitihavecovid you might be mouldering in your bed but they'll eat well then. They'll be OK. Get well.

dettol wipe anything you touch.

Why? Fomite transmission has been more or less disproved - this is a respiratory illness which is spread through the air.

Far better, from both a health and environmental PoV, to distance, mask up where close contact is necessary and keep doors and windows open than randomly spray chemicals about the place.

Christ, I can't believe we're two years into this and people are still banging on about crap.

OP I really hope all will be well. I totally get your fears but the vast majority do get through it ok.

There is a new NHS trial for anti virals, have a look here and see if you are eligible (the kids won't be unfortunately) digital.nhs.uk/coronavirus/panoramic-trial

People have made the most important practical suggestions of masks/open windows etc.

Practical things to do if you can - get everyone to start putting the lid down when they flush the toilet. Separate the toothbrushes so they are not all touching each other in a pot. If you have extra toothpaste tubes, separate them too (if you only have two tubes, use one for the positives and one for the negatives!). Give everyone their own towels to use. Use separate plates, cutlery etc, wash the ones used by positive people up last.

Don't know if you can get these/if money is an issue.

But dentyl mouthwash has been shown to kill covid - safe and won't hurt to try it anyway if you can get hold of it - www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/coronavirus-mouthwash-kill-dentyl-cpc-b1724070.html

Carageenan nose spray such as Boots Dual Defence might reduce risk of transmission www.infectiousdiseaseadvisor.com/home/topics/covid19/nasal-spray-with-iota-carrageenan-decreases-risk-for-covid-19-in-exposed-healthcare-workers/ - it may also reduce your symptoms - pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33596218/

I used FFP2 masks when DS had covid, I didn't catch it. They're a bit pricier but if you can afford it they're worth it.

Lastly, I know it's out of reach for most and may not be practical, but if you could afford it a HEPA filter might reduce transmission risk indoors too. We didn't have one when DS got covid, and still didn't catch it.

Hopefully it will be mild for you and not transmit any more than it already has. Completely understand the worry but I have got my fingers crossed for you that all goes smoothly and none of the advice is needed. Wishing you lots of luck.

Just to ease your mind in the hospital I am in covid children are allowed a parent with them even if they are positive themselves

Sorry to hear of your losses, OP. I’m not surprised you’re freaking out. BUT:
DD doesn’t have covid yet and might not get it.
If she does, it is statistically likely to be mild.
If she does develop pneumonia it almost certainly wouldn’t be until you are recovered.
My DD14 has been in hospital three times with covid and all children have been allowed a parent, with varying degrees of strictness of whether parents can swap and if so how often, etc. obviously not all areas are the same but maybe you could check to put your mind at rest.
Hope you feel better soon, and your littler ones just have an exciting few days of camping out that will become a nice memory for them.

I mean she has been in hospital three times DURING covid. Completely unrelated to covid.

OP if it's any reassurance my son had pneumonia aged 4 from swine flu. He had covid in October and was totally fine - a day of fever and feeling rubbish and then nothing other than an occasional cough.

Thank you all so much for talking me down last night. I think I need to catastrophise when something happens before I become a regional person.

I did tests on the little ones this morning and 7yo has covid, she is absolutely fine and I wouldn't have known at all if I didn't test.

Hope it stays that way, we are all just distancing and wearing masks and being as careful as possible, and hope the other 3 don't get it.

I'm still feeling pretty crappy but thankfully the other positive cases are absolutely fine.