Still coughing but we need food

[TheoriginalLEM]

Day 7 today so I'm able to go out tomorrow, we need food. DP is still isolating but he'll have to run me in the car, he won't get out.

I'm still coughing but temp been normal since day 3. Gov says can still go out and I'm due back at work.

I'm obviously going to have tissue but I'm scared of what will happen if people see me coughing.

I cannot not go, i also need stuff for my mum.

I'm goung to get lynched

@Tennis82 did you have a temperature after the first week. All the guidance I have read is to continue to isolate if you still have a temp but a cough may go on for a while after.

@TheoriginalLEM
Masks do nothing, i am

That is categorically not true if you are the one doing the coughing..if coughing into a tissue works, the so does coughing into a mask and that is better as there is less risk of you coughing while scramblong.around for a tissue. It won't stop you catching things but cuts that likelihood that you will innfect others.

@Tennis82

I'm repeating what's been said on the thread as you clearly haven't read it

From gov.uk
"If you live with others and you are the first in the household to have symptoms of coronavirus, then you must stay at home for 7 days, but all other household members who remain well must stay at home and not leave the house for 14 days. The 14-day period starts from the day when the first person in the house became ill. See the explanatory diagram"

I have added the diagram.

So many confused people, me included.

One more thing
"The OP is correct in that they can go about their daily business after 7 days."
Not true. She can go shopping for food but we are in lockdown, she can't go about her daily business as normal.

@Tennis82
I've had symptoms for more than 3 weeks and was blue lighted to ED last week. I live alone and was still told that I must self isolate until I am symptom free.
What does "blue lighted" mean? Is this when you call out an ambulance for yourself?

Having said that, you are working the 7 days guidance so you can go out of course, though if I are you I would at least try to get a.morrisns box or a local online delivery first

You need to contact your manager, inform them that you've got symptoms (you are not symptom free) and you must isolate for a further 7 days at least.

This is rubbish too.

OP has self isolated for 7 days, and in line with the guidance can end that now. Anyone else in the household either only a couple of days into symptoms or not showing symptoms continues to self isolate.

It’s really not hard to understand. Someone even posted a handy graphic upthread for those that are obviously struggling.

@Alialialiali it means I was taken in an ambulance on blue lights due to severe respiratory issues.

This is from NHS 111 for the people saying she can't go out with the cough or to contact people

The guidelines are out there and are clear. Please can people just read them instead of spreading bollocks.

@NerrSnerr I had a temperature for the first week and ongoing respiratory issues including severe breathlessness and persistent cough throughout. The advice given by the staff in ED was that I must self isolate until I am symptom free.

I am in the same position as OP, also NHS worker. I am definately expected back at work tomorrow.

FFS the 7 days is based on an average amount of time when the majority of people are most infectious.

So yes the op can go out as per guidelines but there is a smal chance she is still infectious, which gets smaller every day as the symptoms abate. Wearing a mask would be considerate and cautious but I assume the op doesn't have any. Also she and her family have no food so she should get some in however she can

@cannotfindanickname I'm the same - four weeks of coughing- I had to run back to the car yesterday and leave the supermarket!

That's fair enough @Tennis82 as you were clearly unwell and that was medical advice given to you individually. NHS111 have issued blanket advice for those who haven't attended A&E and that's what needs to be adhered to unless told otherwise from a medical professional (like you were)

Op, sorry if these have been recommended already. Try oakhouse foods, they still have delivery slots. Also there's a website called "beelivery" which some friends have had success with.

I'll stop going on in a minute but the reason why the guidelines seem confusing is because people are giving conflicting advice.

If you feel inclined to give advice on isolation periods, when to go out etc please take 5 minutes to check the latest guidelines. It's a scary and confusing enough time without people giving out misinformation.

Take some mints or something to suck, can help with a cough but obviously be careful touching things and eating when at the supermarket. Do you have hand gel ? Not worth catching something else too.

I have a cough, it's a bad time to have an random cough. I've had it since the start of the year, always get it in winter as asthmatic.

@tennis82 Same, I've been I'll for 2.5 weeks with 'diagnosed' CV (no testing as not admitted) but have pneumonia and pleurisy. I'm still in bed but there would be no chance I would be risking leaving the house until I feel better, your infectiousness reduces overtime but you can still be infectious for longer than 2w..its not worth the risk for me.

@Tennis82
How do you know when to call an ambulance though. I was pretty bad last week and this was my dilemma...
Also, did they test and confirm you? I also really wanted this.

@NerrSnerr as an aside it took me phoning my GP (25minute wait in telephone queue); who then told me to call 111 (3 hours in telephone queue); who then said a duty GP would call me back (within an hour); who then told me to immediately phone 999; who then said a paramedic triage would phone me back (within the hour); who then said I needed an ambulance as a matter of urgency.

Once I was there the ED matron was so mad at the paramedics because they brought me in.
Infection control, patient confidentiality and patient safety was completely out of the window, especially in the isolation unit. It was pandemonium and I really felt for the staff there. They stabilised me and sent me home with medication. I'm glad they didn't keep me in but I've been advised to directly call 999 again if my breathing gets worse. I'd be so worried about what sort of situation I'd be going into again.

Our NHS staff are completely worn out heroes and we haven't hit the worst yet.

But yes the guidelines say 14 days if you live with other people, so technically it's fine.

@Alialialiali I contacted my GP and then 111 one their advice. 111 told me to call an ambulance. I was struggling to breathe, talk and coughing was violent and persistent. I was unable to say a whole sentence without having to take several breaths.

I wasn't tested due to the fact I wasn't admitted.

Same boat as you OP, finished my 7 days yesterday. Still have a cough, in fact cough is worse today but no other symptoms for days now. I'm a nurse and expected back to work on Friday (my next scheduled shift).

@Tennis82 you have been told to continue to self isolate as obviously you are still unwell, no one gets blue lighted to A&E with just a cough. OP, myself and many others have lingering coughs which is totally normal after a virus. Can you imagine is every nurse and doctor stayed off sick until their cough had gone? Our patients would be looking after their own ventilators, or just die!