Have to self isolate for 14 days. Gutted.

[plessuregirle]

It's my 30th birthday next week and I've just been told I have to self isolate for 14 days. Meant to have work started on the house on Monday and not sure how that's going to go re cancelling/postponing. Really hope they don't charge me for the time. Going to be stuck home for 2 weeks with a toddler on my 30th. How can I improve this situation?

Not sure if I'll be paid as I can't work for 2 weeks now. I'm a lone parent. I'm in counselling and depend on it for my own sanity and won't be able to go for 3 weeks. I have severe anxiety and am medicated for it. Feeling panicky

Ohh this is sooo rubbish. I’m so sorry! Do you have any outdoor space (garden) you can use?

Thank you for taking it seriously and being a decent human being. Some people would have said screw this and carried on as normal

No garden. Little flat. It's going to be hellish!

Can your counselling be done online? Most therapists are offering zoom sessions now.

Be nice to yourself - any standards or expectation of what a birthday should be are out the window. You can always have another 30th celebration when all this is over.

Do you have anyone who you could have a zoom chat with on the day?

Are you isolating because you have symptoms?

@plessuregirle I'm sure the counselling can be done over the phone.

It can be done over the phone but I have my toddler with me who doesn't nap anymore.

The work due- workers can work if they take proper precautions. They will have faced this before.

Can you shut yourself and your tot in a room out of their way? Get ready for lots of tv and snacks.

Have you got support nearby to drop you things off, if you need them?

Also, your tot can go out, if there's someone they will go with.

@picklemewalnuts if you're self isolating, workers can only come if it is an emergency.

He has to self isolate too, I'm presuming. He's pretty much always with me unless I'm at work. It's likely he also came in to contact with the same person so not worth putting someone else at risk unless I'm totally sure...

Ok think of things you can do rather than get upset about what you can’t - first thing is I’d just move your birthday celebrations to 2 weeks time after your isolation ends! Then you still get to celebrate your 30th
Get an online shop in - get some pumpkins - do some fun Halloween stuff with your child, pumpkin carving etc!

Maybe arrange a few video calls with friends and family!

Sort out changing the date of your work being done on the house ASAP so you can tick that worry off your list

Who has told you that you have to self isolate? There seems to be a lot of people spuriously telling other people that they need to.

Unless you a member of your household or support bubble has symptoms or a positive test, or you have been contacted by track and trace, you do not need to self isolate.

I was contacted by track and trace telling me I need to self isolate.

Yes, if he had the same contact as you, then he isolates the same as you.

Are you sure about the emergency thing? Even when you don't have symptoms? That's not what I've seen happening.

@picklemewalnuts yep, I'm sure. You can't have people in your house. I can't imagine the builders would be best pleased if I let them come in whilst I was self isolating.

If u get yourself tested, in one of those drive in test centres, so as to have minimum or no contact with anyone, would that help. You usually get your results in 2-3 days time

You might find, depending on when you were exposed, that it's less than 14 days as you're already X days in, if that makes sense. I'm on Day 8 now and found out day 4 so 10 days up to day 14. Check to be sure as it will make a difference. Organise the counselling for after bedtime if they can be flexible. Allow more TV, eat whatever you feel like and get out some play doh or colouring for toddler to keep them going. Mine loved cars and jigsaws too at that age. Have you a friend who can drop some trrats to your door? It's hard and it feels like being under house arrest but it's not forever and hopefully you're OK re covid.

Shopoholicin it doesn't matter if you're negative, if youve been exposed you need 14 days from exposure. I'm negative but I have to wait (and might have to have a second test).

@ShopoholicIn

If u get yourself tested, in one of those drive in test centres, so as to have minimum or no contact with anyone, would that help. You usually get your results in 2-3 days time

If you are required to isolate for 14 days by Track & Trace, you have to comply. Having a negative test (and tests should only be done if you have symptoms) only means you are negative at the point of testing - symptoms can develop up to 14 days after contact which is why you have to complete the full 14 days. I've just had to do it and it is hard.

Ask if your counsellor will do a catch up/holding type session, so not going into the deeper stuff you wouldn’t want to with your toddler there but having some contact with someone who knows what you’re dealing with and can help you talk through the additional challenges of self isolation. Just having that contact might be enough to hold you steady until you can have proper sessions again.