To keep them off school anyhow

[DougRossIsTheBoss]

I thought I had COVID. I really really did. I had a temp, still have a splitting headache, muscle aches and feel hugely fatigued but admittedly no cough.
Nearly all my work colleagues have got it. There's a huge outbreak

So I kept the kids off school, made DH stay home, cancelled hair appt and gym and ordered an online shop. I resigned myself to a self isolating Christmas. I cried and cried

And now I don't have it!
The test came back negative

My problem now is:

1. I don't believe it. I still feel really ill. What if I tested too soon or something. I did actually get another one done today because it was taking so long I thought it was lost

1. Now I have stared down that barrel I don't want to face it again. I want to see my dad at Christmas so badly. I lost my mum this year and I can't bear to be without him. If I am negative I should send the kids back to school but WTAF is the point for 3 days?

AIBU to ignore this negative test and wait for the second test to be sure?

Primary DS doesn't much care
Teen DD wants to be in school for end of term stuff with her mates
DH will want to go on random shopping errands if he's allowed. He is the king of 'popping to the bloody shop'

Can I just not tell them??
Or not tell the kids at least and keep
them off?

I just so badly want us all to be safe and be able to see dad and having been handed this get out of jail free I don't want to waste it

Personally, I would tell them. You can decide what you want to do but your children and partner should also be able to make that decision for themselves.

Partner I know I shouldn't lie to him. I'll just have to beg him

DC are 10 and 13. Can they really make an informed decision?

Obviously, yabu. Talk to your family and let them think about it,but don’t make them feel guilty for wanting to go to school in the one week they get time to enjoy themselves with their friends.

I see that. I know DD would like to go (DS I really don't think he does)

But is it worth her picking it up on those 3 days and ruining Christmas? I know she would like to see her cousins who she is really close to.

I guess I have to ask her and hope people can see my perspective

I think you should wait for the second test results, just to be sure.
If you feel as ill as you say you do, and there is a huge outbreak at your work and a lot of your colleagues have tested positive, then your whole family need to self isolate until you know for definite.
No one wants Covid for Christmas and I understand how much you want to see your dad and your kids want to go to school, but the only responsible thing to do here is wait and see.

Well Fuck me

My phone just literally pinged with my result from today- POSITIVE

I took a postal test (self administered) on Friday the first day I had a temp and because it hadn't come back I took another at a drive in centre today.

Fri result came back an hour ago negative
Today result just this second positive

So I guess decision taken away from me after all.

Back to sobbing

Thank God I did take the second one though as I would have potentially gone on to infect a lot of people

We had similar in the summer, DH was very very poorly. Our GP said up to 30% are false negatives. She said if you've got symptoms consistent with Covid, then treat it as Covid and isolate yourself and household,

It's not the end of the world - OK, the children will miss the last couple of days of term, which isn't nice for them, but everybody's SI will expire before Christmas.

And you haven't gone back to normal and then caused an entire school or two to take it back to their grandparents. Your reticence because you still felt ill has potentially saved lives as well as hundreds of people's Christmases.

I know it's still horrid for you and I hope you feel better soon, though.

Did you poke yourself hard enough in your self administered test? Compared to the drive in test?

I have colleagues proudly announcing they are negative whilst bloody coughing everywhere.

I do wonder
I mean I thought I did but drive in lady proper made me gag and it's hard to do that to yourself

Other possibility is it was too early as it was literally within a few hours of having a temp

Jury is out on Christmas

It's either a big win or a huge fail

If no-one else has symptoms or they get on and have them very quickly we can be very safe at Christmas

But with my luck each person will come down at 9 day intervals and we'll be self isolating until next term

You poor thing x

OP well done on doing the second test, you will literally have saved lives by doing that instead of just relying on the first test.

I’m sorry you feel so ill. Hope you recover soon xxx