Cough without the covid...

[dumbledory]

Lighthearted one, really.

So I started with a sporadic tickly cough on Thursday, which then developed into a nasty barking cough on Friday night. PCR tested yesterday and the negative result came back this morning.

So my question is, how am I meant to avoid public judgement when I inevitably cough on my way/whilst at work?

Feel like I need a t-shirt that says, "It's not what it sounds like!"

I need to get one for my dad - he has COPD and it's a bloody nightmare taking him anywhere in public, you can feel the stares whenever he coughs 🤦🏻‍♀️

We've got the same thing going on here with dd2. I'm emailing her school with the negative test result in the morning, so they know we've taken the cough seriously and not just assumed she's ok. But she's 11, and can avoid public places other than school very easily. I suspect that's not the case with you.

Maybe make yourself an "I tested covid negative" badge to wear?

Aw @whatabalbag I truly feel for your dad and others like him with long term conditions that cause them to cough.

I've only experienced it over the last couple of days, but can only imagine what it's like 24/7.

Think overall, people have forgotten that there are more than one reason a person could be coughing.

My children both have a cough after a cold, negative covid tests. People will just have to deal with it, not every cough is covid, I’ve done what is required. Tbh though I’m used to being treated with contempt for taking small children out in public, cough or no.

@MsAwesomeDragon

Good idea, emailing the school your DD's test results.

You're right in that I have to be "seen" a bit more. I work in early years and can already see the looks on parent's faces when I inevitably have to send their children home with the cough that is clearly doing the rounds in my setting. Not to mention my colleagues...I know one in particular will be avoiding me like the plague, even with proof of a negative test...

Perhaps a badge isn't a bad idea!

@RocheLobe

Ah yes, because little children shouldn't be afforded the same simple pleasures as everyone else...like fresh air, exercise and a change of scenery. I'm certain that some people forget that they were young once.

Could start a whole different thread on that one...

I cough with hay fever and it's been awful recently as the pollen count has been Sky high. I'm past caring what other people think now!

We've been coughing like mad, my son bought a particularly delightful cough home from school. We've all had the shots, fever, chills and dry tickly coughs. All covid negative. But three weeks on we still have the now productive coughs which although improving are still lingering. We were on holiday last week and I ensured I took our negative test results with us for fear of otherwise being thrown out!

I cough because of allergies/hayfever. If I am anywhere for a while I say at the beginning that I am struggling with hayfever and might cough, eg, getting my hair cut. If somewhere like a shop I cough into my elbow and apologise.

I do regular LF tests and for me this is normal during hayfever season.

Just go out and get on with it. Don’t worry about people being concerned with your cough. It’s none of their business anyway

Ive had a cough for over 2 months now, tested negative several times. It's clearly getting worse but I know if I call the Dr they'll demand yet another PCR test before they talk to me, which means us all stuck home for 2 days while we wait for the results. So instead I'm just trying to ignore it...

I have a cough much of the year. I explain ahead of time in settings where it feels appropriate and don't do anything different otherwise. I have not had anyone give me trouble over it.

If it's a nasty cough that you think is infectious (i.e. you are pretty sure it is not hay fever etc) then call in sick. People don't want to get ill, covid or not.

@CakesOfVersailles

If it's a nasty cough that you think is infectious (i.e. you are pretty sure it is not hay fever etc) then call in sick. People don't want to get ill, covid or not.

The cold that developed into my children’s coughs passed a week and half ago. My employer isn’t going to be happy about me taking time off for a non-covid cough. I wfh so it’s not like my colleagues are at risk of getting it. It’s been going round nursery so it’s clearly some sort of bug, but not covid, and I’m afraid working culture hasn’t changed as much as people might have hoped.

Reverse the strategy of coughing to cover a fart.

@Judystilldreamsofhorses

I cough because of allergies/hayfever. If I am anywhere for a while I say at the beginning that I am struggling with hayfever and might cough, eg, getting my hair cut. If somewhere like a shop I cough into my elbow and apologise.

I do regular LF tests and for me this is normal during hayfever season.

I'm the same. I feel like I have to explain myself all the time.

I have allergies that causes post nasal drip, but not sure what yet as it's all year round. Also have a deviated septum that makes the post nasal drip worse as it blocks my nose. This all makes me cough as I constantly have something stuck in my throat

I've had the cough for years and years but haven't done anything about it until this last year, because I now keep getting dirty looks and judgement when out. Just waiting for my next appointment with ENT following a CT scan and blood tests.

@Cornettoninja

OP I’m in the same boat. Unsympathetic employer (non-nhs hospital). We don’t get sick pay (only statutory after three unpaid waiting days) and you’re basically expected to turn up. But my cough sounds NASTY.

@PinkSparklyPussyCat

I cough with hay fever and it's been awful recently as the pollen count has been Sky high. I'm past caring what other people think now!

Same here. I couldn't care less what people think and i'm certainly not wearing a bloody badge!

Neither am I! Places I go to regularly like the hairdressers know about my cough as I'm a regular but anywhere else I don't say anything.

It doesn't help that the pollen count has been evil recently!

We’ve had this all winter. My daughter has cough dominant asthma & good god. I desperately wanted a badge saying ‘ITS NOT COVID’ for her 😂 I’m immune to it now. She coughs a lot, she’s fine, she’s not ill. We do regular tests (PCR) if I feel her cough is unusual or has got worse. Give me all the dirty looks you want, I’m not punishing her for having asthma. We will be in nursery, softplay, the shops, the swimming pool ..

My 3 year old DC has had a cough for the past 5 weeks, negative covid test & doctor is currently prescribing things for, the looks we have had when I take him into shops is ridiculous!! Ashamed to say I’ve stopped taking him out as much until we get it under control

I have been giving my children antihistamine to avoid these coughs. Maybe you could try that ?

It is totally ridiculous we can't cough in public now without the possibility of judgement ☹

I'm taking 2 or 3 antihistamines a day. It's taking the edge off it but the bloody cough is still there!

I was just wondering about this. My 12 yo DS has a nasty, wet cough. PCR test negative but I know he'll get treated like a leper at school, by the other kids if not the staff (I will send in the negative email). To the pp who said I'd you have a cough you should stay home anyway, he's perfectly OK in himself, has missed enough school this year and the kids I teach have equally missed enough teaching time so I'd rather not be off again. We can't function in a world where everyone stays home for the slightest thing.