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.

That’s good to know your 7yo is ok even though she’s positive. I know many many families with children who have had Covid recently.

Either some family member never gets it, even though they are all living together or even sharing a bedroom ( it’s so random ! ) .

Or one of the adults is feeling unwell, tests positive and then tests everyone else , even though they are 100% sure that they don’t have it. To discover like you that their kids had it but had zero symptoms.

I don’t know ANYONE who has been vaccinated who has been very ill with Omicron . The adults mostly say it’s like a bad cold or mild flu and the kids seem to have nothing more than a few sniffles.

I know that’s not very scientific - anecdata and all that. But I hope it’s reassuring.

@Ahshitihavecovid

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

You’re very self-depreciating. But: can I just say I am incredibly impressed with your kids- you have clearly done a stellar job parenting

Test you ECV child daily, IF she’s tests positive your GP can prescribe antiviral medication if she needs it. Try not to worry, me and DS1 are positive at but DH and DS2 are still negative.

@Newbabynewhouse

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

No. I am a nurse in a children's hospital. All throughout covid, children have been able to have a parent with them in hospital, even if the child or the parent have covid. Most children have been admitted to hospital with something else but tested on admission and found to have covid, but there are plans in place for positive patients with positive parents.

@Newbabynewhouse

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

Op has lots of kids. If one of them has to go to hospital, she'd need to stay and care for the others

Thinking of you @Ahshitihavecovid hope you’re all ok tonight x

I felt worse before I tested positive! So I hope you're starting to feel better soon.

I've just had negative day 5 so hopefully you'll do the same.

I've been most worried about my mum who has cancer chest drain in catching it.

She's positive and asymptomatic!

Your kids sound great. You've done a great job raising children though what sounds like an awfully difficult time - and raising decent ones too. I hope you're all ok.

And dd secures you at least 1 takeout

Op it's so hard in winter but make sure rooms are ventilated and aired. Need a good draw of air through pull it through.

Hope you feel better soon, sending best wishes to you and your family.

Thank you all so much. I don't have any rl people to sound off to so I can't tell you how much I appreciate you all talking me down.

Yesterday was awful, I couldn't even get my head up off the pillow. I got up a few hours ago, had a shower and feel 100% fine now.

12 and 11yo had fed themselves and the little ones, tidied up and washed up and done a load of washing 😭 as well as putting the little ones to bed, they had also left snacks and a bottle of water just inside my room door in case I did wake up.

16yo had a day of it yesterday too but is fine today again.

Thank you all so much for allowing me to just be overdramatic, the reality, as it always is, was far less dramatic, but I do always try and plan for the worst.

4yo also has covid now so 12yo and 11yo are just bunking up in one of their bedrooms and thoroughly enjoying endless screentime and texting for food when they need it.

Even though I had a few pretty rough days it isn't even a tenth as bad as I thought it would be.

It is really reassuring to know that I would be allowed in with dd if she was taken in, but she hasn't got even as much as a sniffle.

I've also phoned my local shop, one of the women who works there has to walk past my house daily and she has said she will happily drop off bread and milk when I need it and will be doing so later on for me, I'll be buying her a large bottle of something nice when I'm out of isolation.

Now I just need to keep the little ones entertained for a week stuck in the house (unless it stops raining and we can go in the garden). Might be more scary than covid 🤣