Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be done with this term, and endless bugs

55 replies

picketingpanic · 18/10/2021 17:07

It's half term next week and I've just worked out that there hasn't been a single week this half term where both my children have been in their educational settings for a whole week.

Endless viral illnesses, colds, stomach bugs, tonsillitis. When will it end?

I only have two children, and I am a SAHM. I can manage, but I have chronic health issues myself and obviously I am picking up all these shitty bugs too, despite everyone necking Sambucol like brandy. I should take out shares in Calpol.

I have absolute sympathy for working parents, and large families, how are you managing?

OP posts:
Underamour · 18/10/2021 17:11

I almost started a thread yesterday “AIBU to think that parents are sitting ducks for any and all viruses their kids being home?” For the same reason. YANBU. The worst part is when you are in the middle of extreme and severe illness and people assume you or the kids are bunking. Roll on 2022!

IWantT0BreakFree · 18/10/2021 17:15

YANBU. I work in one school and kids attend another. Double germs. I can't remember the last time I felt healthy 😩

Invasionofthegutsnatchers · 18/10/2021 17:18

I'm a teacher in year R and there are so many nasty viruses going around. We are constantly washing hands but it's all airborne and I keep getting ill. Roll on half term.

Original poster
picketingpanic · 18/10/2021 17:19

You could hang coats off my glands rn.

Also I've watched so much Peppa Pig that my brain has completely stagnated and I can barely formulate sentences.

OP posts:
hotelharibo · 18/10/2021 17:20

Yup I feel you.

Considering keeping mine off this week just to give us all extra space to recover!

Original poster
picketingpanic · 18/10/2021 17:20

@Invasionofthegutsnatchers

I'm a teacher in year R and there are so many nasty viruses going around. We are constantly washing hands but it's all airborne and I keep getting ill. Roll on half term.
I was a secondary teacher before I was a SAHM and I was also constantly ill. The year of my first maternity leave was the healthiest I have ever felt in my entire life. Grin Obviously it all went solidly downhill once the first child hit nursery.
OP posts:
Glassofshloer · 18/10/2021 17:20

I’m not managing to be honest I’ve been worrying about my job and absences a lot. I’m optimistic her immunity has picked up a bit though, fingers crossed it seems to be easing off - but it’s been a hellish year of DD not being in nursery for more than a couple of weeks at a time, maximum. A&E trips, broken sleep more nights than not, the works. Just awful.

All I can recommend is a good multivitamin, early nights when you can get them & using toddler hand gel on your kids when you leave the house & come back - the Boots stuff claims to work for 7 hours, I dunno if it’s hype but DD’s immunity picked up just as I started using it. It’s called Nilaqua might be worth a shot?

chalamet · 18/10/2021 17:20

I have a third of my class out with covid. It’s not ideal.

Original poster
picketingpanic · 18/10/2021 17:21

@Glassofshloer

I’m not managing to be honest I’ve been worrying about my job and absences a lot. I’m optimistic her immunity has picked up a bit though, fingers crossed it seems to be easing off - but it’s been a hellish year of DD not being in nursery for more than a couple of weeks at a time, maximum. A&E trips, broken sleep more nights than not, the works. Just awful.

All I can recommend is a good multivitamin, early nights when you can get them & using toddler hand gel on your kids when you leave the house & come back - the Boots stuff claims to work for 7 hours, I dunno if it’s hype but DD’s immunity picked up just as I started using it. It’s called Nilaqua might be worth a shot?

I'm joking about managing but tbh I am knackered and in dire need of a week to just sleep and drink tea and watch Netflix. I have a horrid feeling it's going to get worse before it gets better.
OP posts:
Glassofshloer · 18/10/2021 17:22

Awww OP. It’s horrible isn’t it. You have my sympathies. Doctor said it’s worse this year because of covid, germs have come rushing back with a vengeance.

Original poster
picketingpanic · 18/10/2021 17:24

Well our immune systems had better be as beefy as The Rock by this time next year or I am going to live on a remote archipelago.

OP posts:
Glassofshloer · 18/10/2021 17:25

Archipelago sounds good Grin

I still check DD’s temperature in her sleep every night because I swear it’s left me with a touch of paranoia. All in this together we are! Take care x

Kb2942 · 18/10/2021 17:29

I'm done with it and sounds like we haven't had it half as bad as you! Dd has a covid test this morning as she has a cough... I don't really have much advice but I can't wait for the winter to be over and it's not even began yet 😟 here in a sahp, Dp works and can't afford any time so hoping we don't actually get covid or anything. I'm not convinced DD's cough is covid. I think it's her allergies this time... seems to suffer real bad in late October the last few years!

MilkywayMonarch22 · 18/10/2021 17:29

It's madness ! Our DD13m has been ill NON STOP and has hardly been at nursery since starting in September !

We've had so many days off and are only coping due to my mum and dad being around to take random days as well

I dread to think how wed cope with two kids!

Original poster
picketingpanic · 18/10/2021 17:31

I've just ordered two bottles of that hand sanitiser recommended unthread, and two bottles of Sambucol. Though I've been on Sambucol since August and it's barely made a difference, though maybe it has and I would be dead by now without it 🤷🏻‍♀️

OP posts:
Glassofshloer · 18/10/2021 17:34

Oh and another thing. In my desperation I took DD out of nursery for 3 weeks to give her a chance to recover before next bug. That also seemed to help. Not an option for most though I know.

SandysMam · 18/10/2021 17:38

I agree op, and once again it will be the women’s careers that suffer because the boss just won’t understand (and the men can’t possibly take time off!!). Life certainly feels very exhausting at times!

MrsMonkeyBear · 18/10/2021 17:44

It's been endless sneezing, sore throats and coughing in my house since my 2 went back to school. They've just gone on half term and I've just succumbed to the cold that they had last week.

I almost removed to a remote island 3 years ago when within a 2 week span the kids had scarlet fever, chicken pox (that got infected,) an ear infection and then 24 hours after DD1 went back to nursery we all got Noro

earsup · 18/10/2021 17:48

They also seem to be lasting for longer this year...my cold is now in week 2...almost gone....

TreesoftheField · 18/10/2021 17:48

It's insane.
We've had
1 week off with chickenpox
2 days after vomiting
Toddler has had 2 bouts of vomiting a fortnight apart and had to go for covid test today because of constant coughing.
Somehow I haven't caught any of it, but working full time and rearranging everything all the time is so stressful.

Panicmode1 · 18/10/2021 17:52

Yep, I feel your pain. I have four children - 2 plus DH had Covid at the beginning of term so missed the start of the school year, and then we've had the 'cold from hell' for the past three weeks...I am now in bed today and feeling ghastly....make it stop!!!

MyMabel · 18/10/2021 17:56

God yes. DD2yo is in nursery and this term we’ve had two viral infections needing a&e and ambulances out twice, lots of common colds, constant running nose, tonsillitis and last week norovirus which we all caught and currently in a one bathroom house I saw my life flash before my arsehole eyes!

Plus, now staff at nursery have tested positive for covid so that’ll be next to come home, I’m pregnant, only half jabbed and bloody terrified 😭

Original poster
picketingpanic · 18/10/2021 18:10

@SandysMam

I agree op, and once again it will be the women’s careers that suffer because the boss just won’t understand (and the men can’t possibly take time off!!). Life certainly feels very exhausting at times!
Well yes. Mine is already dead in the water due to having a disabled child, but I have learned to accept that. Women really have borne the brunt of the grunt work during this pandemic.
OP posts:
erinperin · 18/10/2021 18:18

It is exhausting isn't it. I'm pretty lucky that we all tend to have pretty good immune systems and don't really get sick very often, but I've definately noticed a difference since schools going back. After all the lockdowns and staying away from people our immune systems aren't what they used to be and we seem to be catching everything (except covid ironically). My youngest dd just started school nursery in August and her nose hasn't stopped running since. Last week I've managed to get a cold, I didn't really think much of it but each day I've woken up feeling worse, and yesterday I woke up in extreme pain with gunk leaking out of my ear so I'm now on antibiotics. I'm pretty lucky though as I had this week booked off work for my oldest dds birthday. I was thinking about it yesterday and this is the first time I've been ill since I caught the flu in 2014.

JustLyra · 18/10/2021 18:21

It’s been brutal. It’s reminded me of the term after they start nursery for the very first time and pick up everything!