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Original poster

How ill over Christmas before you uninvite yourself?

61 replies

xmaslurgy · 23/12/2022 21:01

How ill do you think you can get away with and still go to christmas at a family members house?

Flu sure stay at home, same with covid. But what if its a cold. Or chickenpox?

OP posts:
Jules912 · 23/12/2022 21:59

Chicken pox I'd ask, we had a similar issue in the summer and it turned out everyone else there had already had it.

Mariposista · 23/12/2022 22:02

We are past the chicken pox stage so only covered in blood, projectile vomiting or unconscious would be excuses in our household (same criteria we use for school absence 🤣)

Sisisimone · 23/12/2022 22:11

I can't believe anyone would rock up to spend the day with people bringing kids that have chickenpox. Seriously WTF

Colds I'd be considering ages and health of other guests. My dd had a bad cold recently that took her a few days to shake off but my mum had a similar virus and was really ill for 2-3 weeks. I wouldn't want to inflict that on anyone

Wiloswisp · 23/12/2022 22:18

I wouldn’t be too pleased about getting the virus we have from you. 4 weeks now, severe chest infections and no sign of it going even with antibiotics.

RichardsGear · 23/12/2022 22:25

How ill do you have to be before guests realise that expecting sick people to shop for and make Christmas dinner is a bit much to ask?! However it's very much complicated by one of the elderly guests recently having a cancer diagnosis and this might well be their last Christmas. DH and I are both feeling absolutely shit though and haven't bought a single item of food.

logicisall · 23/12/2022 22:40

We'd literally never all meet up until summer at that rate and who knows if somone might die by then

But on the other hand, you could potentially kill a vulnerable someone a lot sooner.

If you're ill, just stay away. I'm currently in bed with flu/cold 38.2C fever after meeting someone with a mild (for her )cold. I'm exhausted, my ribs are aching from the dry coughing and can barely make it to the kitchen for a hot drink. Please be sensible.

Abraxan · 23/12/2022 22:50

You can get Chicken Pox twice, so makes no difference if they have had it before.

It's still very unusual to get it twice though, so the risk is minimal if everyone else there has already had it.

notsorich · 23/12/2022 22:53

LetUsPonce · 23/12/2022 21:19

Mild cold - go.
Heavy cold - ask.
Chicken pox - not go.
Covid - not go.
Stomach bug - not go until had been completely clear for 48 hours.
'Flu - redundant question as there's no question of going anywhere with real 'flu. Just making it to the bathroom is an odyssey.

This.

Abraxan · 23/12/2022 22:53

Family are coming to ours for Christmas.
I have a chest infection and dd is still coughing following a nasty bug she had. We are both well over a week (dd a fortnight) since first being ill so over the main contagious period. I'm on a second course of antibiotics - still not better but tons better than last week.

Everyone knows and are more than happy to come.

toomuchlaundry · 23/12/2022 22:54

Have you got the lurgy that lots of posters have got threads on at the moment? I am in week 4 of it, not sure I would be wanting to spread that if you are in early stages of it and likely to be contagious

WineAndDontDine · 23/12/2022 22:57

Errr.. at least one of the kids has had a cold at any point for the last 3 months. We wouldn't go anywhere

WineAndDontDine · 23/12/2022 22:57

logicisall · 23/12/2022 22:40

We'd literally never all meet up until summer at that rate and who knows if somone might die by then

But on the other hand, you could potentially kill a vulnerable someone a lot sooner.

If you're ill, just stay away. I'm currently in bed with flu/cold 38.2C fever after meeting someone with a mild (for her )cold. I'm exhausted, my ribs are aching from the dry coughing and can barely make it to the kitchen for a hot drink. Please be sensible.

Sorry that was in reply to this!

anyolddinosaur · 23/12/2022 22:59

We allowed a child with chicken pox to visit. They were supposed to be post infection but ours caught it from them. We figured our child would get it eventually anyway and it was a convenient time (school holidays). Our experience was the younger they get it (unless a baby under one) the less they are bothered by it. Babies and pregnant women are the ones really at risk.

oakleaffy · 23/12/2022 23:05

After an attack of shingles, I’d never take chicken pox lightly again.
If people can get vaccinated, do so.

Shingles is absolute agony.
feels like a deep burn, with wasp stings and a deep, gnawing ache all at the same time.

Don’t go spreading chicken pox about.

oakleaffy · 23/12/2022 23:11

anyolddinosaur · 23/12/2022 22:59

We allowed a child with chicken pox to visit. They were supposed to be post infection but ours caught it from them. We figured our child would get it eventually anyway and it was a convenient time (school holidays). Our experience was the younger they get it (unless a baby under one) the less they are bothered by it. Babies and pregnant women are the ones really at risk.

Except once one has the herpes virus, it’s in your body for life, and can erupt as shingles which is really so much worse than chicken pox.
I used to think chicken pox was nothing to worry about, til I knew people with shingles then developed it myself.
It’s so bad that even pressure from sheets is agony.

VanGoghsDog · 23/12/2022 23:52

xmaslurgy · 23/12/2022 21:36

We'd literally never all meet up until summer at that rate and who knows if somone might die by then

Show quote history

Well, there might be a funeral......

HamBone · 24/12/2022 00:34

LetUsPonce · 23/12/2022 21:19

Mild cold - go.
Heavy cold - ask.
Chicken pox - not go.
Covid - not go.
Stomach bug - not go until had been completely clear for 48 hours.
'Flu - redundant question as there's no question of going anywhere with real 'flu. Just making it to the bathroom is an odyssey.

I agree with @LetUsPonce, although for stomach bugs, I'd leave it 3-4 days with no symptoms, because it's the worst type of bug to pass onto people, IMO!

logicisall · 24/12/2022 06:05

@WineAndDontDine My answer was in response to being ill at Christmas and not visiting potentially vulnerable others. Yours???

VahineNuiWentHome · 24/12/2022 06:14

However it's very much complicated by one of the elderly guests recently having a cancer diagnosis and this might well be their last Christmas.

@RichardsGear tbh in that case, I think the decision rest with the elderly guest. They might chose to see people/spend Christmas with them and take the risk of being ill themselves. They might decide that being safe is more important.
What is the most important should be their choice imo

alexcparr · 24/12/2022 06:28

Our entire household and extended family are all suffering with this lurgee. My mother in law has just tested positive for covid. Every family member who we plan to see over Xmas all have the same symptoms (including me, 27 weeks pregnant). I've been wondering the same thing - as we all already have it, surely it doesn't matter if we mix with each other?

MardyMincepie · 24/12/2022 06:35

I wouldn’t meet up with any of them. Agree about any infection being so variable DH, DS and I all had colds about 3 months ago. Hardly affected DS, DH was ill enough to need couple days laying on sofa, I needed four days rest.

WineAndDontDine · 24/12/2022 12:56

logicisall · 24/12/2022 06:05

@WineAndDontDine My answer was in response to being ill at Christmas and not visiting potentially vulnerable others. Yours???

"If you're ill, just stay away".............. clearly responding to that ridiculous statement that implies anyone with colds should stay indoors at Christmas 🤣🤣🤣

DingDangMintyBells · 24/12/2022 13:29

VahineNuiWentHome · 24/12/2022 06:14

However it's very much complicated by one of the elderly guests recently having a cancer diagnosis and this might well be their last Christmas.

@RichardsGear tbh in that case, I think the decision rest with the elderly guest. They might chose to see people/spend Christmas with them and take the risk of being ill themselves. They might decide that being safe is more important.
What is the most important should be their choice imo

We see it the other way around. It may be their last Christmas so they get to mix with anyone well enough and anyone ill stays away.

FrownedUpon · 24/12/2022 13:32

I wouldn’t want anyone ill coming to ours and passing on whatever they’ve got. It’s really selfish.

maddy68 · 24/12/2022 13:56

Chickenpox only after scabbing unless everyone in the family has had it