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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

How to deal with a paniker

15 replies

SMJYellow · 14/03/2020 19:00

About 5 years ago, my brother was in his room all day. He got up at night time and my mother saw a rash on his arm. She absolutely completely panicked. He's an adult by the way.

The first thing I did was take his temperature and he had a fever. Then I did the glass tumbler test and the spots faded. I said to him and my mother that I never remembered him getting the chickenpox when he was small. My mother pankied and wanted to phone for an ambulance for him. He didn't want an ambulance or to go to hospital. I told him and my mother that he will be ok. Just drink plenty of fluids and take ibuprofen.

The next day, he was lucky to get a doctors appointment. The doctor diagnosed chickenpox and told him to go home, rest, drink plenty of fluids, and take over the counter medicine.

She completely undermined my experience as a carer but that's neither here nor there right now.

There's a new virus circulating our country and travelling around the world fast. From what I see, the government and health officials will want many people to try and treat this at home and hope there's no complications.

I feel somewhat prepared for this.
I have a thermometer
I have an oxyimeter finger reader to read stats and monitor signs and see when it will be time to phone for help after 3 days or so.
I have a bottles of water.
I have over the counter medicine

I might get a few more supplies too like some woollen blankets for insulating bodies. I'm not too sure about this one yet. We'll see.

I feel somewhat ok and prepared to treat my family when and if they get sick. I'm going to have an absolute paniker on my back though.

OP posts:
SomeoneElseEntirelyNow · 14/03/2020 19:02

Can't you just tell her you'll be keeping your distance for her own good, and then leave her to it?

HappyHammy · 14/03/2020 19:07

What country are you in. A oxygen meter is not an accurate test. It can read low if your fingers are a bit cool. Is tap water safe to drink where you live. Self diagnosing and diagnosing others isn't always helpful.

GrumpyHoonMain · 14/03/2020 19:10

You should follow NHS advice. Judging by my experiences with 111 nobody is going to pay any attention to self-reported oxygen readings if you don’t also have symptoms that justify calling 999.

SMJYellow · 14/03/2020 19:33

I'm in Ireland. I'm following the Irish equivalent of the HSE.

I didn't diagnose my brother when he got sick a few years ago by the way. I was trying to help him by getting him to drink fluids and go to bed and go to gp in the morning.

Just to say, no body in the house is sick right now but I'm somewhat prepared for when and if it does happen. If we show symptoms, we need to self isolate. From my understanding too, the authorities will want many people to treat our symptoms at home and let the virus pass. The oximeter is for my own benefit so that I can monitor oxygen levels and if it drops to the low 90s and sits there without climbing up again, I know it will be time for help. I have it as a just in case measure.

OP posts:
SomeoneElseEntirelyNow · 14/03/2020 19:39

I don't really get what your mum has to do with any of it, tbh

HappyHammy · 14/03/2020 19:40

What are you oxygen levels normally running at? What is a normal oxygen level range? Just follow advice, have enough food in, soap, essentials. Can your family look after themselves and seek advice if they do become unwell, do you think it would be best not to visit them if they have symptoms.

SMJYellow · 14/03/2020 19:41

She pankied a few years ago, and I suspect if sickness comes into the house she will panic again. I would prefer if she would relax a bit or if she's feeling unwell herself, to take to the bed and stop worrying about my brother and me living at home.

OP posts:
SMJYellow · 14/03/2020 19:43

It's good to know oxygen reading. My oxygen is reading at 97/98/99. Sometimes it may show 100 but a lot of the time it 97/98/99.

OP posts:
mauvaisereputation · 14/03/2020 19:44

Failing to see what you being right about something 5 years ago has to do with Coronavirus. Your mum will be triaged if she goes to hospital, so it’s not like they’ll accidentally admit her if her condition doesn’t warrant it.

SMJYellow · 14/03/2020 19:46

I live with my family. My mother is the only vulnerable person in the house. My family will be hopeless if this sickness comes into the house.

OP posts:
Sparklesocks · 14/03/2020 19:47

It’s always good to be prepared but also you need to prepare for the fact you might get ill yourself, and won’t be able to care for anyone else. The best thing to do is just to practice good hygiene and keep an eye on any potential symptoms.

Fannia · 14/03/2020 19:48

You sound very calm and sensible, but maybe that could make someone who is very anxious think you are underreacting. You need to get some clear written guidelines for her so she can see the correct advice for herself.

Marmite27 · 14/03/2020 19:48

FYI ibuprofen is really dangerous with chicken pox

HappyHammy · 14/03/2020 19:52

Agree with Marmite27, ibuprofen should not be given for c.p. unless especially prescribed by a doctor.

TorkTorkBam · 14/03/2020 20:00

You will probably have to be a bad guy and be very very firm with her to sit down and be quiet.

Of course, if someone in the house gets noticeably sick it will be her first most likely even if one of the rest of you were the carrier. So there won't be any panic, she'll be in bed.

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