Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Sick of my family panicking.

206 replies

Strawbz8988 · 27/12/2021 10:42

Covid It's all My family talk about. Think about. I have a cold and I'm happy to stay away from everyone. My sisters saying I should get a test so I can go see my parents. My parents are fully jabbed and getting some flow tests today just because. I have no fever. No dry cough. I have a runny nose and a tickly throat. I have 3 family members texting me today. Sister thinks I should get a test as she presumes I wanna see my parents over Christmas. Adult niece has been testing all week and says maybe I should test but would I like to go walk with her and her dog aswel. Mum's saying I need to stay home and keep away and get a test yet asking me what I was doing and she heard I was in bed early. Now my niece is asking me if I have any tests here.

I am so sick of people panicking when I'm not even going near them. I have a mild runny nose and a tickle in my throat when I lie down..why can't I just keep away from them if they don't want to take risks?

OP posts:
ravenmum · 27/12/2021 12:36

@montysma1

Doesn't matter as long as she stays home for 10days.
It does matter if she's seen anyone in the last few days, though.
beautifullymad · 27/12/2021 12:37

If you are planning to leave the house or see anyone then yes, you should test.

Omicron presents as a mild cold in most cases. Tickle in the throat is one of the top symptoms, runny nose and fatigue.
Omicron doesn't give the usual symptoms and is much more contagious. It's thought that 50% of all self diagnosed colds at the moment are in fact omicron.

It takes a few seconds to swap the nose and one minute to process the results (read after 15).

That's it. But if you aren't coming into contact with anyone you don't need to test.

Janus · 27/12/2021 12:38

@auberginefrog I’m part of the Zoe study, their main symptoms are now a sore throat, runny nose, headaches, that’s exactly what mine started with. The nhs website is so far out of date. I know these are the symptoms of a cold too but if you have these symptoms you need to do a test.

PicaK · 27/12/2021 12:39

You've got the symptoms that require you to go for a pcr test.
So go for a pcr test.

Fallagain · 27/12/2021 12:40

@Strawbz8988

I will stay away from people I'm not going into any shops etc. I was under the impression the test was for fevers. Coughs. Loss of taste and smell. I am not sure where you draw the line with it really without becoming ruled by it. Ofcourse it's important to not go near others and protect the vulnerable.. but if its mainly a mild cold then what is all the panic about if I keep away and feel OK? It's not going anywhere and I'm finding that people have forgotten how to live now and their lived revolve around this .
FFS! Nearly 2 years into this and still the same questions.

It won’t be a mild cold for everybody.
If too many people get covid and need to isolate then essential services like hospital, carers, food supply and bin men won’t be able to operate.

ravenmum · 27/12/2021 12:41

I am beyond furious and devastated that she is in this position due to some persons ignorance and or laziness
The tests don't give you 100% certainty @nitsandwormsdodger
I tested on Saturday before my children came round to visit and was negative. Then positive the next day. Maybe the one on Saturday just didn't pick it up. You may have caught it from someone who tested negative for all you know.

Outlyingtrout · 27/12/2021 12:41

Sounds like all the drama is coming from you and yet you’re trying to paint them as obsessive crazies. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you will know that Omicron seems to present with mild cold symptoms. Whilst it appears to be less dangerous than previous variants, because it’s so transmittable we still need to limit the spread in order to prevent the NHS becoming overwhelmed and key services being affected. If you have symptoms, which you do, then you either need to isolate or take a PCR (and isolate if positive). It sounds like you haven’t expressly told your family “I have symptoms and will be isolating”. So they are wondering what the hell is wrong with you and why you won’t just take a bloody test. And if you have been clear with them that you are isolating and won’t see them, they are probably hurt and bewildered as to why you would choose not to see any of them rather than just taking a quick and simple test.

You’re a drama llama.

ravenmum · 27/12/2021 12:42

if you aren't coming into contact with anyone you don't need to test
You do if you have symptoms and have recently been in contact with anyone.

oftenbaffled · 27/12/2021 12:42

@ravenmum

I am beyond furious and devastated that she is in this position due to some persons ignorance and or laziness The tests don't give you 100% certainty *@nitsandwormsdodger* I tested on Saturday before my children came round to visit and was negative. Then positive the next day. Maybe the one on Saturday just didn't pick it up. You may have caught it from someone who tested negative for all you know.
Out of interest, Why did you test a second time?

Your children had already arrived

ravenmum · 27/12/2021 12:48

Why did you test a second time? Your children had already arrived
The children visited on Saturday and I tested negative before they came over. They then all left. On the Sunday my bf was due to come over so I tested again. (Texted the kids to say I had a positive LFT and they had just that minute arrived in front of their aunt's house, so they quickly did an LFT too.)
I haven't been testing every day usually, just now because of all the coming and going everyone is doing.

Girlonit · 27/12/2021 12:49

I’ve no problem testing I do lateral flows for work anyway and we all had a pcr test recently as we’d been in contact with someone and Ds started with cold symptoms (all four of us negative). But realistically if we’re all testing for cold symptoms, how much disruption is it going to cause to workplaces, children’s schooling etc? It seems that pretty much any illness is now a covid symptom, my son had conjunctivitis beginning of December and I was told it can be a covid symptom so got him tested just incase. My work have been good but we’re so short staffed and I’ve such a big work load I’m not sure how it will work if I’m off every other week awaiting covid test. The last few took a few days to come back too.

Sorry Op, none of that is what you were asking!
In your case I’d get a test so I knew for myself more than anything. But so far the government advice hasn’t changed so you don’t technically have to test or isolate.

GoodPrincessWenceslas · 27/12/2021 12:50

DSis's covid started out as a mild cold. She's now on day 9 of feeling lousy, with extra delights like a pleurisy flare-up.

whynotwhatknot · 27/12/2021 12:59

i wish theyd update the official symptoms

every day theres a thread here saying i dont need a test it sjust a cold

Girlonit · 27/12/2021 13:01

@nitsandwormsdodgeryoh may have caught it from someone with no symptoms? Interestingly how often were you doing lateral flow tests yourself? They’re free you could have been doing them daily to protect your daughter and yes they’re not 100% but it’s the best we can do isn’t it? Also there’s nothing to say your daughter didn’t give it to you and just didn’t have symptoms.

Inertia · 27/12/2021 13:02

You are creating the drama and fuss. All you need to do is book a PCR test, it’s not hard.

You have symptoms of what could be either Covid or a regular cold. Either get tested or isolate (in your house) for ten days. Yes, we do need to learn to manage with a virus that isn’t going away, but that doesn’t mean wilfully spreading it when you have clear symptoms.

Girlonit · 27/12/2021 13:06

As I posted above though @whynotwhatknot. How can we test everyone with a cold and keep schools, nursery’s etc open? In December alone I had five days off awaiting test results, luckily I’m paid for it but it’s a nightmare for my work. One of my friends works in a nursery and she’s be sending a few children home every day, plus she could have about 50% of her staff off at any one time and would need to close completely.

MissMaple82 · 27/12/2021 13:11

My family are the same! I dont want the vaccine either and they treat me differently as a result. People need to just get on with it and respect other people wishes. This nonsense is really pissing me if now.

ExtremeIroning · 27/12/2021 13:12

@Strawbz8988

I will stay away from people I'm not going into any shops etc. I was under the impression the test was for fevers. Coughs. Loss of taste and smell. I am not sure where you draw the line with it really without becoming ruled by it. Ofcourse it's important to not go near others and protect the vulnerable.. but if its mainly a mild cold then what is all the panic about if I keep away and feel OK? It's not going anywhere and I'm finding that people have forgotten how to live now and their lived revolve around this .
Do a lateral flow test. Easy.

I tested positive and I didn't have symptoms for another day. Now I feel awful. In bed and poorly, and I have had two vacs and a booster

ChateauxNeufDePoop · 27/12/2021 13:13

This is where Omicron is so tricky as it presents as a cold and we're now in cold season. Whilst some of your family does sound a bit OTT you should at least be taking a LFT.

MissMaple82 · 27/12/2021 13:13

Tests are an absolute Ballache, are you all really going to test every time you have a sniffle?? It's ridiculous

Groovee · 27/12/2021 13:13

My husband had a cold on Wednesday. Dd tested positive on Christmas Day from her weekly work test. Dh came through as positive yesterday. I suspect the "cold" was Covid all along. Caught from his friend who didn't tell anyone his wife had tested positive.

Sick of my family panicking.
PinkSparklyPussyCat · 27/12/2021 13:14

Either get tested or isolate (in your house) for ten days

Or get tested and still have to isolate when it may not be necessary as people are being told 5-6 day turnaround for results in some cases. Do the government really think people who will lose money will test and isolate for that length of time when they may not need to? 1-2 days is bad enough but getting towards a week is unreasonable.

SundayTeatime · 27/12/2021 13:14

@MissMaple82

My family are the same! I dont want the vaccine either and they treat me differently as a result. People need to just get on with it and respect other people wishes. This nonsense is really pissing me if now.
Well, of course they treat you differently. I wouldn’t respect your decision not to be vaccinated either. There is nothing to respect.
ravenmum · 27/12/2021 13:14

The test takes less than five minutes and involves poking a stick up your nose. I can cope with doing that a few times a week, yes.

ApolloandDaphne · 27/12/2021 13:15

@MissMaple82

Tests are an absolute Ballache, are you all really going to test every time you have a sniffle?? It's ridiculous
Yes I will because I don't want to spread Covid to others as I am not a selfish twat.
Swipe left for the next trending thread