Self isolating in the cold conservatory

[coldconservatory]

Hi all,

We have had covid recently and I need to self isolate before Christmas.

AIBU to think that I can sleep and work in the conservatory for the next two weeks so I can then visit my daughter for Christmas.

It's large and I already work in there everyday as working from home.

My partner and the children all go to school which is how we got covid in the first place.

There is a downstairs bathroom that I can use. I would only have to go upstairs to shower. Which I could possibly do every 3 days so or.

I'm the only one home during the day so I can make food, do washing etc after cleaning.

My main issue is that the conservatory is so, so cold! I usually wear several layers to work in there during the day.

I can bring a mattress down and we have lots of duvets and blankets I can use.

Need to possibly get gloves and a hat.

Any ideas of how else I can keep warm overnight please?

I don't understand who is in your house now.

One step daughter (god, I hate these abbreviations) and you and your wife. Any more kids?

And one other child (yours) who is living with your mother?

(Are you male or female? Relevant as males are more at risk.)

But you say you have all had it. I'm confused.

This all sounds bat shit crazy.

If I’m reading your post correctly neither your DD nor DM live with you so why are you banishing yourself to a cold conversatory ? Are you going to stay there for the next 4 week ?

@NoddyMcPintsAlot

This all sounds bat shit crazy.

If I’m reading your post correctly neither your DD nor DM live with you so why are you banishing yourself to a cold conversatory ? Are you going to stay there for the next 4 week ?

Because he (she?) wants to visit them at Christmas.

Just meet them outside OP and have a picnic in the drive or whatever.

You can see people without going in a house.

Or wait till your vulnerable mother has had the vaccine which should be January.

@Livelovebehappy

I thought even if you’ve had it you can still carry it? I’ve had it and was advised that having had it doesn’t give me licence to go visit people thinking I can’t pass it on. i guess I could still touch a contaminated supermarket trolley etc, and then pass it on by touching someone or something else.

I'm not sure of that either.

Really do appreciate everyone who has messaged with ideas to keep warm.

I promise I'm not trying to go for crazy, just want to spend time with DD.

For those who haven't rtft we live in two household at the moment so not DD hasn't been exposed and yes due to job and school I run the risk of being re exposed.

Hopefully that won't be the case due to immunity. But just in case I'm appreciative of everyone who has replied with great tips

I am so confused here. Is your daughter living with your mum, or her mum? If college is online why does she have to live elsewhere? If you have all had COVID it seems very unlikely you will re-catch it, and it is still a month until Christmas anyway.

Has isolate in the most miserable conditions possible become a competitive sport?

Electric blanket

"I understand there is possibly limited immunity after having it but I can't find information regarding how long for and if everyone has the immunity."

Dont' they say 6 months now? Plus you can get an antibody test? Why put yourself through all this?

"I am so confused here. Is your daughter living with your mum, or her mum?"

OP's mum. OP has said this. Her daughter's mum is OP herself obviously.

I thought the “you can’t catch it twice” stuff had been debunked. There’s been a few cases of people getting it badly twice, and one of my friends is involved in a study to see how long her antibodies last - she’s at four months and doesn’t have many left; less than 22%, although I believe that some people have a lot more.

I’d be genuinely interested in reading anything recent that still thinks that you’re safer if you’ve already had Covid.

What is the point in having 4 weeks of this OP when it's not essential?

1 Have Xmas early and see your mother now.

2 Do Zoom or phone or Whatsapp at Xmas

3 Phone her

See her when she's vaccinated.

Xmas is one day. It's quite possible not to see a vulnerable parent and find alternatives.

@Gwenhwyfar

"I am so confused here. Is your daughter living with your mum, or her mum?"

OP's mum. OP has said this. Her daughter's mum is OP herself obviously.

I wasn’t sure if OP was female or male, as they talk about their wife.

@Gwenhwyfar

"I am so confused here. Is your daughter living with your mum, or her mum?"

OP's mum. OP has said this. Her daughter's mum is OP herself obviously.

Not necessarily @Gwenhwyfar. They refer to the 'wife'. There are women on MN you know who are in same sex marriages. The OP says they are a blended family. Could mean anything.

"Scotlands clinical director has made it clear that studies around the world have shown you cant get covid twice"

But this is rare and not even certain - it could just be that people continued to test positive for a while rather than getting it twice, and I'm sure you can find things more recent than April. Look at the recent thread about the woman who wanted to visit her SIL at Christmas.

apart from this being unnecessary, do you really need to ask people how you can keep warm or heat up a room in your house?
Buy an electric heater
Layer up
Electric blanket
none of those things cross your mind?

Can you wear a hat, socks and gloves? Covering your extremities is important.

I would recommend a heated blanket over a heater
You're never going to heat the whole room so it's better to try to just heat where you are.

I think there is more of a risk of you being unable to see your daughter as a result of hypothermia if you try this.

Your DD is at college. Surely SHE is the biggest risk of having it?!

@outofthemoon

OP, I would do the same. Miss my kids so much. I am also wfh in freezing conservatory, heated throw helps plus hot water bottles. Please don't fall asleep with the heated throw switched on. I lived in completely unheated bedrooms until I was nearly 30. It's perfectly possible to sleep well in a cold room.

I hope you have a lovely Christmas.

I think you are right to be so careful, and it can be caught twice. My friend is on her second round, and very poorly. Her husband also. They both had it first in April/May.

Thank you so much for your kind words.

@JinglingHellsBells

I don't understand who is in your house now.

One step daughter (god, I hate these abbreviations) and you and your wife. Any more kids?

And one other child (yours) who is living with your mother?

(Are you male or female? Relevant as males are more at risk.)

But you say you have all had it. I'm confused.

I'm not male, neither is DW! I have 3 school aged step children and then my own child who loves with my mother sometimes due to college distance

Couldn't you take the lounge instead? Your family can use their rooms, conservatory and kitchen to hang out in the evening and weekends.
That sounds unnecessarily grim.

@DumplingsAndStew this is more recent: www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4257

Livelovebehappy no you're only contagious relativley near the start. People that have had it definitely can't pass it on in the way you describe.

@Gwenhwyfar

"I understand there is possibly limited immunity after having it but I can't find information regarding how long for and if everyone has the immunity."

Dont' they say 6 months now? Plus you can get an antibody test? Why put yourself through all this?

Who is 'they'? If it's Boris I might not believe it but regardless I can find any study that is factually based

They = experts

@coldconservatory I've literally linked the recent BMJ article twice.
Third time lucky?

www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4257