DH just tested positive but we have 3 DCs who are clinically extremely vulnerable.

[Dogatetheleftovers]

DH just received email informing him that he’s had a positive test. Not surprising really when lots of colleagues have it. But he’s tried to be really vigilant, wearing kn95 masks, hand washing etc because of our kids. Now that he’s tested positive, coughing, tight chest, fatigued, we’re left wondering what to do. The DCs are teenagers so old enough to understand the risks and to know that they’ve all had shielding letters. I’ve had one as well. I’m terrified now and I know we’ve got to wait 14 days to see if one of us has it too. Already one dc has temperature and headache! Anyone offer any kind words of support or advice, it would be most welcome.

How worrying for you.
Do you have space that your husband can physically seperate from you all? Use a different bathroom/toilet?
We've had Covid in our house but only DD had it and neither I or DH picked it up (or were asymptomatic).
You may be able to contain it.

Thank you Beamur. Yes, we’ve agreed that he’s going to stay in the box room and we’ll bring food to him. I’ve just ordered some masks, alcohol wipes as the guidance says that he should wipe down any shared bathroom facilities after use and wear masks. But it’s horrible. As well as underlying physical health problems which make her cev, my dd is autistic and her anxiety has soared this afternoon. She is shaking from head to foot with worry that she could get ill or that we could die. This is horrendous.

You all isolate from each other as much as possible on the assumption that any of you can have it. Particularly strict isolation for DH and the kid with symptoms who should also be getting testing. Even amongst those shielding there have been very very few deaths amongst children so it is extremely unlikely that this will happen.

I am sorry, that's a very scary situation for you Keep reminding yourself that even for vulnerable people (and I'm one, I really do get this) this is in high proportion a mild thing.

What can you do to practically try and take a bit of control that might help you feel calmer? Is dh isolating in the house? Worth cleaning/getting any clothes he's been wearing in the washer, airing everything out and reduce what's in the house? What can you do for tonight that might help you and the kids chill out and take your minds off it a bit?

Cross post, sorry.

What helps your dd soothe usually? Is she someone who would benefit from statistics and information on how tiny a proportion of people are seriously ill, or is she better with sensory input or distraction?

I’ve tested positive and am currently on day 8, and and CEV due to being immuno suppressed.
It's unpleasant and I feel rotten but at no point have I been scared I need to call an ambulance. My kids have caught it (teens) and have been manageable with paracetamol, albeit they feel rough too.

Very scary time but please know even as ECV they are likely to be fine. I am too and had it quite mildly, no medical intervention needed, recovered now. Definitely try to isolate your DH if possible and keep the house well ventilated so as to dispel viral load. If you all can, and they are old enough, just stay out of each other’s way for a bit. I recommended getting an oximeter to reassure about oxygen levels. It will be a rough few weeks but you can get through this.

Oh you are all so kind, thank you. We’ve arranged a test for dd who has symptoms and everyone is going to try to keep apart a bit although not easy in a family of 5 with one bathroom! My autistic dd is very stressed and I need to think of ways to keep her calm but it’s hard. I can’t think straight myself at the moment but it all falls to me to support my DCs as DH is out of bounds. I’ve just read on another thread that I’ve been following about a poor lady whose DH has deteriorated in hospital and it brings it home how awful this can be. One thing I’m not going to do is watch the news. I’m now trying to plan which dc will need extra medication if they fall ill, emergency protocols for each of them as they have separate medical conditions requiring different medical responses. Somehow then I’ll need to focus on looking after DH and then my own needs as a cev in my own right.

I know of disabled children who are clinically vulnerable and had it (2) and were absolutely fine. parents felt rough, but kids ok

Can you do some mindfulness body check type activities with your dd to help her calm. Maybe along the lines of “I know it feels scarey but look your body is well right now” kind of do a body scan so she knows she is fine. Let her have a temperature check. Just try and keep her reassured in the moment?
Fashion a weighted blanket and chill with some films to help her relax?

Hope you are all ok OP, you mentioned getting a plan together for medication etc for all DC , I would do this asap, then if you do feel ill, it's all sorted. We became ill over weekend in December and 111 were really good, and go medications out for all of us in case we needed ( asthmatics ) . Also mindfulness and breathing techniques for your DC might help . It helped my autistic DD to have a plan of what to do , like a list, if she didn't feel good, we found one on Instagram eg Paracetamol 6 hourly , what foods might help with nausea, what she'd like to drink etc and when to drink . What time to monitor temp etc. She's a real lists person.

Treatments for covid are much better now and children are rarely ill enough to require hospital admission. Do you have an oximeter or one of the aps you can apparently get for phones? Have you all been taking vitamin D supplements - if you have time to up the dose for those with symptoms. If you arent taking supplements anyone who can bring some for you?

He needs to rest as much as possible, as does the child with symptoms.

Are there ready meals in the freezer? Can any of the teens cook? Have you got arrangements in place for people to bring you food if needed? Morrisons food boxes are available when normal home deliveries are not. Make plans with your children for what they do if you become ill too, but hopefully if that happens your husband will be starting to recover.

Plan for the worst, hope for the best. And in 2 weeks time this will be behind you and you will feel so much more relaxed.

So sorry you are in this position. I have seen lots of (apparently well informed) speculation that taking a Vitamin D supplement helps your body fight the virus, so unless there is anything specific to your medical condition which makes it inappropriate to take a Vit D supplement, I would suggest doing that.

Get child with headache tested immediately. You and other 2 children stay downstairs and DH in boxroom, dd with symptom in her own room. Does she have a room of her own? I know it must be devistating for you but if you let dd with temperature mix with other DC or yourself one of you could get it too and may be really seriously ill or even hospitalised. You have to keep dd with symptoms away from other DC and if gets positive test she can be with your DH so not alone then.

Would she like to watch a Blu-ray? Let her choose one. Could she watch it in her room. Could you get her a takeaway as a treat?

Here for hand hold. I tested positive 31 December and none of my 3 teens/young adults have had it at all. Two got tested as felt a little off colour. I'm in my fifties and have had worse colds, not been pleasant but certainly not awful. I got a pulse oximeter via amazon after reading on MN how these are recommended by many GPs and it has been reassuring to check my sats.

Hopefully no-one else will get it although the unexpected benefit of finally getting it is that I've stopped worrying about getting it and I was too tired with it to worry about actually having it. So rather weirdly I've be less anxious since the positive result.

The odds are definitely in favour of even CEV children having nothing more than a rough few days. You as Mum need to look after yourself too now. Lots of sleep, good food and distraction in terms of TV etc.

I would suggest keeping the bathroom window wide open throughout the day to maximise ventilation. I have read that flushing a poo can cause virus to aerosolise (sorry if TMI!) so would recommend that everyone puts the toilet lid down before flushing. I agree that it is a good idea for everyone to isolate from everyone else as much as possible.

Your kind advice and supportive messages have melted my heart. Thank you to you all. We already take vitamin d at a high dose, thankfully. I’m going to try to get my other dd tested tomorrow as she now has a temperature of 39.2 which is worrying for her at any time because of her health issues but makes me even more scared now due to Covid. One dc tested today so should get results tomorrow. My heads hurting but I think it’s the tension. Early nights for everyone here. I’m trying not to think too far ahead but I know the virus can ebb and flow with deterioration after a week or so. I can’t share any of my fears in real life, being a carer makes you very isolated and friends have drifted away over the years. I don’t want to worry elderly dm so I’ve just told her what’s happening but that we should be ok. I usually get essentials for her so I’m trying to book online shop for her too. Trying to print out emergency protocols for medics if we need to show them the specialist advice re managing the kids’ conditions if they catch Covid but the printers stopped working now as well. Plus the dog has been sick so it’s going well here today! But everyone’s messages on mn have been truly appreciated.

Another person thinking of you. This all sounds incredibly difficult and I so hope you all stay well.

DH needs to remain in his room at all times, only leaving for the loo which he must bleach after use. Handles, taps, loo flush button, use disposable towels. Food bought to bedroom and empty tray left outside. No one else must go in his room.

Rest of house. Isolate from each other as much as possible. Use masks when in same room and sit 2 meters apart. Wear mask when preparing food. Bleach anything touched daily.

If you have a second toilet ask the kids to solely use it and bleach before and after use

I have a 6 Yr old with severe complex needs. He had 5 hospital admissions involving 3 very serious chest infections from sept to dec last year. I was terrified of him getting it but all the consultants, doctors and nurses said the same thing , basically any children are mostly getting through it with mild effects even those like my child with severe respiratory issues. It is hard to believe that i know but that was their experience of children and civil. So really hoping you are all OK and feeling better soon .

You’re already together with everything. Well done

Sorry to hear that. My husband had it over Christmas. It is very hard to keep totally apart and to be honest I wasn’t very careful for the first few days as I thought it was just a cold. I didn’t get it (do regular tests through work) and the kids didn’t get symptoms (although they might have brought it into the house without symptoms). I work in a hospital and would echo what others say that it’s unlikely young people/teenagers would get ill from it. However it obviously makes sense to keep your husband isolated as much as possible for the next few days. Anxiety around Covid is a big problem - my main tips would be not to listen to/watch the news, take deep breaths, listen to music, do things that distract you as much as possible.

I’m glad you have space for your husband to separate himself off. Viral load is an important feature of severity of illness, so open as many windows as you can bear and lots of protection in the house and then hopefully if any of you do catch it you will get a low viral load and be less badly affected. Have you got someone in real life who can do schedules check ins on you by text, so could call for help if you don’t answer?