How do you deal with symptoms that happen often and are unlikely covid?

[gingerlace]

I have a 12 year old who often claims to loose his sense of taste at the slightest sign on a sniffle and this has always been the case since way before covid.

Last week he told us he'd lost his sense of taste and moaned about his dinner being horrible because he couldn't taste it. No other symptoms and no other cold symptoms either. We booked a test and isolated. The test come back negative which I knew would be the case. Suddenly once he knew the test result his sense of taste amazingly came straight back. I think the loss of taste has become more of a behaviour thing rather than an actual loss of taste. He gets out of eating his dinner because the moaning becomes unbearable.

It will without a doubt happen again and again. My husband is self employed, we lost 3 days of his earnings waiting test results.

How would you deal with this? I really don't want to put anyone else at risk but with it being a covid symptom should we get him tested every time? I've tried speaking to him about how serious covid is and how careful we need to be about what we say to people but I don't want to upset/scare him because he's extremely sensitive. I was hoping the test in itself would make him think carefully about making such claims but it really didn't phase him at all.

Try a big spoonful of cod liver oil each time he loses his sense of taste - it's full of vitamins and good for colds. And perfect if you have lost your sense of taste because it tastes vile.

Why does he have to “get out of” eating dinner? Stop making him eat dinner and presumably he won’t need to pretend to have a loss of taste anymore, if he is pretending.

He's doesn't 'have' to eat dinner.. I don't sit and force feed him. He's always asked what he wants for dinner, he always says 'dunno' so I tell him what I'm making and if that's ok. When it comes to eating it he decides he wants something else. I'm not making 3/4 dinners every night until I hit the jackpot. If he said I don't want that I want pizza then I'd make him pizza. If he doesn't want to eat it when it's served then he doesn't have to eat it. If he's hungry later he'll have cereal or toast or something.

@Porcupineinwaiting

Try a big spoonful of cod liver oil each time he loses his sense of taste - it's full of vitamins and good for colds. And perfect if you have lost your sense of taste because it tastes vile.

😂😂😂 i think that is the perfect answer!

@Porcupineinwaiting

Try a big spoonful of cod liver oil each time he loses his sense of taste - it's full of vitamins and good for colds. And perfect if you have lost your sense of taste because it tastes vile.

I have never tried it. Is it awful? I suppose it would be one way to test how genuine he is! Knowing him though he'd swallow it down and enjoy it 😂

Cod liver oil is vial🤢 but porcupine is spot on!

Op my dc are really fussy when it comes to meals. I now do them a plate of things when they come in from school and are hungry (I prepare most of it the night before when I'm doing the packed lunches. Dds typically has, carrot sticks, baby tomatoes, raisins, some cheese squares, a boiled egg, a slice of bread or water biscuits, and sliced apple.
Ds likes a ploughman's!

I do 'grown up' food for me and dh, if dc are hungry they have that too, but generally they don't! Their food is quick and easy; boringly repetitive, but it's what they like and pretty much covers the major food groups! If you were able to do something similar for your ds, it means he can pick at what he likes, no fuss no drama, no pandering to 'I can't taste anything'. Of course a blocked up nose / common cold will reduce taste, our sense of smell being essential for taste!

Weekends are a bit different as we all eat at the table at the same time, and it's very much a time for chatting, and catching up with everyone's news!

lost wages=less money to spend on ds.

oh and the codliver oil...

@firedragon101 that wouldn't work with him.. he isn't picky as such will eat most things but very mood dependent. he likes all the food I make but often decides last minute he doesn't fancy it. Even if he asks for something specific for dinner there's no guarentee he'll eat that. he'll often take a bite and say he wants something different. I've no idea why he does it but I'm not overly concerned about him as he will eat most things. His dad will often go evenings without a meal. Me however can't get my head around it.. I love food 😂

I would probably avoid testing and isolating unless he had other covid type symptoms. Otherwise you’re getting into ridiculousness. What if he gets a negative result then the next day decides he once again can’t taste anything? Over and over. You’ll never leave the house!

@Lemons1571 this is my point.. will cost us a fortune in lost earnings. My concern is if he says it at school and gets sent home. He's already had time off for it last week. I don't want him to realise that when he says it and gets to stay at home!
I may speak to the school tomorrow and see what they suggest.

Do you think it's acceptable that if he does say it again and school do insist on negative tests that my husband continues to work? My job is mainly WFH at the moment with the odd need to go to the office.. but my husband can't and obviously doesn't get paid if he's off isolating.