Please can someone who has lived with a positive case talk to me .

[Chaotic45]

DH tested positive via a lateral flow last Tuesday, regular test Wednesday which was positive.

Fairly mild symptoms so far- aches, chills, runny nose, big of a cough, lost sense of smell last night (Sunday).

Track and trace have asked us to all
Isolate until the end of Christmas Day.

DH has been isolating in our room since Tuesday. We share a bathroom but not a toilet. DC and I have been lucky to be provided with lateral flow tests which are so far negative (and I was allowed a regular test last weds which was also negative).

We have no intention of breaking the isolation rules whatsoever but I'm wondering about when to let DH out of the bedroom. He is really struggling with the confinement and it would be wonderful to have him join us in the house for Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.

I'm mindful that the isolation of ten days was technically started on weds when he took his regular test, but he actually tested positive the day before so that maybe takes things back one day?

Also I'm aware that until fairly recently the first person who actually tested positive in a household only had to isolate for seven days, rather than ten- so that's making me wonder if maybe he's ok to join us after seven days.

Having said all this I am really worried about catching it and I know I'm going to be worried about even looking in his direction despite loving him dearly and missing him being with us.

I've even asked him not to wrap my presents as I'm worried about him shedding virus onto them. Not that I give a fig about Christmas presents at this point!

Can anyone share how they navigated this?

A good friend of mine did this. They are both doctors.

He got it and isolated from her and the children. They managed to avoid catching it.

Rather than people being 'insane' I think you are stunningly obtuse.

Why the fuck wouldn't you isolate in your own house? As I said upthread if I get it or told to isolate I don't want to risk anyone else. My bedroom is not a cell, I have Netflix and books. I'll cope. It won't be enjoyable but there are far worse places to be.

Why the fuck would you isolate in your own house

Because it's bad enough one of you being really sick?

Because if one of you is ill, it's quite nice having the other one on hand to look after you, and cook and look after the kids?

Because you cant afford to lose 2 wages at the same time?

It's not a mild, mild illness for everyone.

Thank you for the responses, especially the kinder ones. I didn't expect everyone to agree with our approach, but I'm not sure why posters have been quite so nasty about it- you may not agree but there is logic to me and DC not catching it, especially at the same time as DH.

I'm am sorry to hear some people or their family members have really suffered with it, I have lost two friends and a family member and so have seen what it can do. Two of DH's colleagues are now in hospital one of which you might have expected to struggle, but another who you wouldn't.

My best friend had it back in April. She was quite ill in hospital. Rest of family did Not get it, she didn’t isolate. Another friend had it and none if her family got it, she didn’t isolate either.

The positive lateral flow test can be used as day 1 - test and trace haven't quite caught up with this yet but logic and my hospital occupational health use the lateral flow - false positives are rare and in this case you know it was a true positive.
There's also a half way house between full self isolation and normal life which I thought seemed reasonable as time went on, for example sitting on the other side of a room for a limited period of time.

I'm just agog and can't get past confining to the one room for over a week
I mean, if that was here DH would have to have been pissing in the corner of the bedroom for over a week lol
I presume I'd have left him some food on a tray outside the door and told the kids to keep an eye out and not to try and step in it.

We didn’t isolate from one another. DH carries on working from home and I looked after the children as best I could and DH gave me breaks and cooked/cleaned etc.

I don’t know anyone who had it who isolated from their own household but if it’s working for you all, fair enough.

OP is only following the rules and you are all accusing her of being cruel or insane??
The rules are that anyone positive should isolate in their room for ten days

DC (teen) tested positive for it and DH and I both looked after him, during our SI, taking food/drink up and making sure he was ok. We didn't confine him to his room, although he pretty much stayed in bed for several days. DH and I both then tested positive several days later.

Both of us were quite poorly, but DH felt more or less better within about three weeks.

I am still too ill to work 3 months later. I don't regret not isolating my child from me for 10 days, or whatever. But I would say that those who didn't catch it or had it mildly have been lucky. It's very unpleasant if you've got long term effects from it.

@Rubybluesy

OP is only following the rules and you are all accusing her of being cruel or insane?? The rules are that anyone positive should isolate in their room for ten days

How does that even work toilet wise (assuming you haven't got an en-suite)

Just realised maybe you've got a porcelain potty thing that goes under the bed a'la Victorian times if so fair enough

You're weirdly obsessed with toileting. Common sense suggests that those without an en-suite will leave the bedroom to use the family bathroom

I had it in March, had a really heavy cold with loss of smell and body aches. I didn't stay in one room in the house, but of course didn't leave home for two weeks. DH and DD stayed home with me and were both fine. I don't think I could have managed being stuck in one room for a week or two .

Of course DH is using the bathroom! He has an en-suite toilet and sink and he's using the shower as needed followed by me airing and cleaning the bathroom.

He's in a lovely big bedroom, with everything that he needs and is in bed dozing, on the phone, watching Tv or reading. Food and drink on a tray, and lots of FaceTime together.

There's no way he would happily join us in the rest of the house whilst he is highly likely to be infectious given that he's less likely to pass it on from the bedroom. That's his choice and is driven by a strong desire not to put DC and I at risk of catching the virus.

Other people have and will do it differently and that's fine. I've asked everyone that I've spoken to about this after being surprised at the amount of posters who think I'm bonkers and everyone has said they would do that same for an adult.

@Northernsoullover

I'm quite surprised so many of you would be happy to carry on regardless. If I get it I certainly won't be pouting at having to isolate from my family. I wouldn't want anyone else to get it.

It's impossible for some of us to isolate. Unless one of us moves into the shed there's not a lot we can do. Neither of us would want to give it to the other obviously but some things can't be helped

@Rubybluesy

OP is only following the rules and you are all accusing her of being cruel or insane?? The rules are that anyone positive should isolate in their room for ten days

It's not 'the rules', it's guidance.

I had it and husband never caught it despite spending lots of time together and lots of contact. It was just a bad flu for me with no lingering symptoms. We didn't know it was COVID at the time as this was back in February, so we made minimal efforts to stay apart.

DH and I have just discussed this and agreed we would do the same OP, dont know why you're getting so much stick! Bedroom has an ensuite, we'd sort out TV access for the sick person, and the other one would cook and deliver food, and look after / walk Ddog. Absolutely no point both of you being ill if you can avoid it with some minor inconvenience.

DH tested positive and isolated in his room for a week. Positive test was 3 days from first symptom of illness but ony about 12 hours from first corona virus symptom. We were really careful after the test but obviously not before. Share a bathroom but he disinfected after use. He struggled with isolation but did stay put. The children and I didn't have any symptoms.

Wellthisismorethanabitgrim - you get a text from test and trace when you are isolating with a positive family member telling you that you must stay at home and would be breaking the law otherwise. So no walking the dog I am afraid

Track and trace even

You're weirdly obsessed with toileting. Common sense suggests that those without an en-suite will leave the bedroom to use the family bathroom
Oh OK fair enough lol, definitely seen some posts on here saying they literally didn't leave the room though so was just wondering, did'nt mean to come across as some kind of toilet weirdo

It's impossible for some of us to isolate. Unless one of us moves into the shed there's not a lot we can do
Exactly, I hear ya.

Glad so many of you have such huge houses that this is possible.

If DH caught it and insisted on isolating in our bedroom for two weeks, I'd love to know where I'm supposed to sleep? In the cat bed?