Covid positive and scared

[Stressingismyhobby]

Just had my result and although I wasn't worried at first, I'm starting to feel a little anxious. I keep worrying that I'm going to develop nastier symptoms. I'm also worrying about how on earth I'm going to avoid spreading it to DH and DC. There's 4 of us in a 3 bed house with one bathroom - I can't really avoid them! I'm becoming paranoid about everything I touch.

Not only that but the DC have only just returned to school and now they have to miss 2 weeks - and that'll be longer if they or DH develop symptoms themselves in the next few days.

This is all so shit. Any reassuring stories?

I didn’t have a test as was in March but was poorly and Skype call with a doctor they were sure I had it. I basically stayed in the spare room and food and drink were dropped at the door. Kept all the dishes and then later I put my used dishes straight in dishwasher. I kept the door shut, had towels and own toothpaste kept in my room and the bath was cleaned by DH every time I used it.

I would say set up in one room I have no idea what ages your dc so how hard for them to understand. People, may have to share for the two weeks, my DS is a teen so fine for him to understand. I did not see a soul for two weeks at all, we used to Skype. They did not get any symptoms at all. I was incredibly fatigued for about three months.

If your DC are little then your DH needs to do everything.

@Valkadin

I didn’t have a test as was in March but was poorly and Skype call with a doctor they were sure I had it. I basically stayed in the spare room and food and drink were dropped at the door. Kept all the dishes and then later I put my used dishes straight in dishwasher. I kept the door shut, had towels and own toothpaste kept in my room and the bath was cleaned by DH every time I used it.

I would say set up in one room I have no idea what ages your dc so how hard for them to understand. People, may have to share for the two weeks, my DS is a teen so fine for him to understand. I did not see a soul for two weeks at all, we used to Skype. They did not get any symptoms at all. I was incredibly fatigued for about three months.

If your DC are little then your DH needs to do everything.

This was me back In March too.

I stayed in my bedroom. Too ill to eat, was drinking water a lot though so needed the toilet regularly. DH cleaned bathroom. I isolated for 7 days (its only 14 if you come into contact with someone)
You'll be okay

How are you feeling right now?

You should try as much as possible to isolate and practice hygiene as viral load may affect how ill others get.

You should rest properly to limit risks of fatigue etc. Do NOT do a Johnson and try to keep working

You will be worried. It's natural. Try to remember the odds are in your favour and focus on everything you can do - food, fluids, rest, relaxation.

I don't feel too bad. Fatigued, achey and can't smell.
I just dont know how I can isolate like that. I know it's important but I need to homeschool my children and they're so upset that we've told them to stay away from me. DH needs to work too. This is so hard.

I'm in the other end of those 2 weeks, I tested positive on a routine screen at work. I was lucky and never had any symptoms. I stayed mostly in one room, but came out with a mask on for food with family/ to watch TV and either kept mask on or stayed >2m away. We're lucky there is space enough to do this.

Can your dh work from home? If not then he needs to homeschool the children. Otherwise if they are old enough they can do it themselves (this is what mine did). If they're too little to do it themselves it won't make any difference, they'll catch up in the fullness of time.

Another option (and we had this discussion as a family) is to not issue from each other and accept they might get it too, but that this is likely eventually anyway. We didn't go with this in the end because my DC didn't want to but dh would have.

Good luck. Hope you stay well and that the worst that happens is boredom (like it was for us)

Your symptoms sound very similar to the ones I had and I had mild Covid. The worst part for me was the loss of taste and smell, it began to come back after 9 days. I developed a cough after 3 days, which lasted about a week but it wasn’t too bad at all. The majority of people don’t get it bad so try not to worry, I was panicking as well but recovered fine.

Personally I think it's ridiculous to say isolate from your own family. It's too hard and the chances are if they are going to get it you have already passed it onto them. Please try not to worry. Just do your best.

Thank you. We've decided I'll stay in the spare room as much as possible and DH will do anything that needs doing with the kids - food, schooling etc.

The PP who said I've probably given it to them anyway - yes, you're right but if there's any chance I can avoid them getting ill - and therefore avoid extending our isolation period, then that's what we'll do. It is ridiculous though.

@flossletsfloss

Personally I think it's ridiculous to say isolate from your own family. It's too hard and the chances are if they are going to get it you have already passed it onto them. Please try not to worry. Just do your best.

Only 50% likelihood apparently.

I would always try to do what I can, especially as viral load can affect severity. I'd hate to think I hadn't tried.

We had to isolate in march, it was hard, but we had cleaning systems and I was glad to do it really.

Glad to do the cleaning l mean, not the overall isolation - that was shit

My SIL father has it but her mum didn't and they were sharing a bedroom and bathroom.
My husband and youngest daughter had it but not me or my eldest.
It's weird that it doesn't seem to affect everyone in the house. We were together all the time because they caught it right at the beginning of lockdown.

It's hard, but you'll get through it.
My partner and I both got it, but we isolated from each other. Being isolated as well as scared made it worse.
make yourself comfy, get in treats (it's amazing what you can get delivered within minutes on uber eats.) And call your family on WhatsApp or facetime (it really helps).

Practically, if you don't already get a vitamin D supplement in pronto (Amazon next day) this has been shown to reduce severity of symptoms and likelihood to get infected), eat if you can (your body will be replacing a lot of cells) and keep yourself distracted.

Thank you all. Still can't believe I got it in the first place - we have genuinely followed the guidance to a T.

@Stressingismyhobby hope you're ok? DH had a temp earlier and has had a test. He has been isolating in the spare room since we got home. We all have colds but he is the only one with the temp and only registered 'high' once and has been normal ever since. I'm so nervous. And thank you for the PP who suggested Vit D. We have a multivitamin but maybe I will get some full strength vitamin d in too.

Hi @Wowthisisreal I'm Ok, thank you, feeling better. Please try not to worry. If it helps, I've felt worse with a bad cold so even if your DH does have it, it's not to say he'll be really ill. You're doing the right thing by isolating him as soon as possible. Hope the result is negative. x

I know you've said you'll isolate already but I just want to reiterate how important this is. Viral load is a thing and you really don't need to homeschool them. If they are young they will catch up and can have a go at the worksheets the school send home. If they are older they can manage it themselves with a nudge every now and then from DH.

Look after yourself

Have lots to drink! Water not wine 🤣

Hope you stay feeling 'ok' & the others don't get it!

I’m just coming out the other side and totally understand your anxieties. I didn’t isolate from DH or 3 DCs and none got symptoms. We were very strict and didn’t leave the house at all, got groceries delivered on the doorstep etc. Just be careful to rest! The exhaustion has been the worst bit for me and I’m a bit worried about coping with my return to work next week.

The school isn't sending any work home, unfortunately.

Yes, I am being really strict about isolating. I am in one room all day and if they want to talk to me, they do so from the hallway - much further than 2m away.

I recently tested positive. I wouldn’t worry too much as for most it is a mild illness. I mostly had cold symptoms, lost my sense of taste / smell around 6-7 days later. Single parent so didn’t isolate away from my son completely but we both sat in separate rooms as much as possible. If his test is to be believed he didn’t contract it despite having the same symptoms as me and developing a very slight cough.

@Stressingismyhobby

The school isn't sending any work home, unfortunately.

Yes, I am being really strict about isolating. I am in one room all day and if they want to talk to me, they do so from the hallway - much further than 2m away.

How are you feeling? I hope your symptoms are mild still

Watch your temperature regularly. It sounds like you may escape it with mild symptoms. Isolating as much as you can from them is the right thing to do.
Lots of films, books, mumsnet. 14 days is quite a while to be like this but try to stop the worries. You are ok, they are ok. Two weeks of schooling can be caught upon.

Sorry OP, hope you get better soon and that your family don't get it. Praying for you.

So lovely of you all to check in on me. I'm feeling fine apart from the no smell/tastebuds. The aches/pains have gone.No temperature at all.

@wowthisisreal did your DH get his results?

@Stressingismyhobby yes, negative thankfully. Just bad colds for the household!