Isolating from other family members

[MintyCedric]

I'm genuinely fairly positive in denial now I've had both my jabs, but I'm going back to work in a secondary school in September after a sabbatical, and DD is off to sixth form.

I'm imagining the likelihood of one or both of us having to at least self-isolate at some point is pretty high.

If you've had to try and isolate away from other family members, how have you managed the logistics?

I have a small study upstairs with a fridge, coffee maker and microwave which helps but bathroom/wc are shared.

It's only me and DD so shouldn't be too challenging but would be grateful for any tips from people who've experienced it.

Just come out of this situation today!
Me and DS (18) DS tested positive and we’ve both had to self isolate in the same house…he’s been incredibly grown up about the whole thing, wore a mask whenever he had to come downstairs, I’ve left his meals at the door and he’s bagged up his washing and done it himself. We’ve spent a huge amount of time in the garden sat very far apart, I can’t imagine what we would have done if the weather was bad! If the situation occurs you’ll definitely be able to deal with it, the worse bit was not being able to fuss around him while he was unwell!

...the worse bit was not being able to fuss around him while he was unwell!

That's definitely something I'm dreading. DD is nearly 17 and very self sufficient but you still want to take care of then.

How's your son doing now?

my dds 17. When she was positive we were all unvaccinated. We didn't isolate away from her but she did spend alot of time in her bedroom because she was unwell.

He’s much better, a couple of days with flu like symptoms was the worse of it. Very frustrating for him but dealt with it really well and the time flew by, good luck with everything 😊

sweet lord, i despair.
these are your family members and you're treating each other like lepers.
People are mad. Just mad

@thenakedmolerat

sweet lord, i despair. these are your family members and you're treating each other like lepers. People are mad. Just mad

Not quite, just protecting each other, as you do when it’s a loved one ✌🏻💫

My husband and two children have Covid. I’m negative. I’m not isolating from them. I just didn’t think it was realistic.

One of my children tested positive. She's 10 and it wasn't practical to self-isolate so we haven't. Luckily the weather's been good so she has been able to be outside in the garden a lot of the time and we've kept the house well ventilated.

We left DH in the house alone while we hired an Airbnb. It was the only way to keep us safe.

@thenakedmolerat

sweet lord, i despair. these are your family members and you're treating each other like lepers. People are mad. Just mad

I also have sole responsibility for an 82 year old widowed mum with heart problems...no other family support, so whilst I don't relish the thought of having to isolate away from my DD or vice versa, I have other factors to consider.

Dd (11) stays in her room, I take her meals and drinks in to her, noone else goes in, she loves the fact that we're now not telling her to come out of her room. Open window, which she hates due to insects coming in, fan on, she has a pack of disinfectant wipes which she uses to wipe everything she touches in the bathroom which is next to her bedroom and wears a mask when she leaves her room, what more can you do realistically when you're a family living at home together?

My adult son has had 3 isolation periods after close contact at his work. He stayed in his room all the time, he virtually does this anyway. I left food and drinks outside room. We only have one bathroom, so I cleaned it after he used it. I don’t know what we would do if he tested positive. My husband had a heart operation last year and was told be had to be very careful and wasn’t allowed out last summer at all. We don’t have any close relatives and have a dog, so our options are limited.

dd is in her room, if i was positive i dont think i could bear to stay in my room

My husband had a heart operation last year and was told be had to be very careful and wasn’t allowed out last summer at all. We don’t have any close relatives and have a dog, so our options are limited.

Hope he's doing OK now.

I've spent all but 2 of the last 18 months largely working from home or on sabbatical as was helping with nursing my dad who was on end of care.

That incessant fear that you'll either pick it up and pass it on or not be able to look after them is just awful isn't it?

17 year old has just had it. Luckily not too ill, with mostly just throat issues and a bit of a temperature. She tested negative despite symptoms for a few days, but once we knew what it was, she kept herself to her room, away from the rest of us. She has been using a separate bathroom and we take her food to her. She wears a mask to walk through the house to the garden. She's been happily working (online) and FaceTiming friends in her room all week and none of the rest of us have caught it ☺️

i am trying to persuade dd to wear a mask to walk through the house to the garden, she has been asking me for vit D tabs but i think the main problem is cabin fever!

Dd, ds2 and I isolated upstairs away from dh and ds1.
Dh and ds1 didn't test positive luckily as dh is cv. They made us meals and left them outside the bedroom door.

@thenakedmolerat - there's nothing to despair about. For us and many others it could be the difference between the life and death of a loved family member. 10 days isolating in a safe environment but still being at home with your cv loved one or possibly never seeing them again because you infected them and they died? It's a no brainer for us. Ok, lots of cv/cev catch it and live but you won't know that unless you get it, it's a risk we as a family aren't willing to take.