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Original poster

Covid test before minor hospital procedure.

42 replies

Kakey1294129 · 23/07/2021 14:21

Hi all. I've been given a last minute hospital app to have my wisdom tooth out next week - - great. I've waited 2 years for this.

Anyway, been told I'll have to do a covid test 3 days which is totally fine and pretty much stay home between covid test and going in. Which isn't really a huge problem. But they do men's totally isolate?

It's not a huge problem. I've got a shop coming a few days before anyway! I'm off work currently and my school holidays for the kids.

Dp works long hours. Dc (both have sen) will go stir crazy if they have to stay in for 3 days.

So I'm thinking of not totally staying home. I won't be going anywhere busy or crowded - don't anyway.

But maybe some walks around the village or to the park - I live in a quiet village and there's never anyone at the park or early morning trips to the beach!

3 days in sounds terrible. I appreciate if I actually had covid I'd have to isolate for 10 days but 3 days when everyone is fine sounds hell!

I'm only having a local anaesthetic to have just the one tooth out!

OP posts:
BewareOfTheAgapanthus · 23/07/2021 14:24

Very unlikely to catch it outside, especially on the beach as it is usually quite breezy.

Darbs76 · 23/07/2021 14:25

3 days isn’t that bad. I’d personally do it when it involves a hospital / medical appointment

Original poster
Kakey1294129 · 23/07/2021 14:29

I will do it if needed. It's just hard with two with sen! I'll be fine but it's the kids! Thing is we could stay in and dp could bring it in from work... not fool proof!

OP posts:
tommmanndjjerrry · 23/07/2021 14:38

Nope sod that. No chance would I be staying cooped up in the house with two kids never mind with SEN to consider.

I wouldn't go anywhere busy. I'd stick to walks and outdoor places that aren't crowded. But no, I wouldn't be staying in.

Original poster
Kakey1294129 · 23/07/2021 14:40

@tommmanndjjerrry

Nope sod that. No chance would I be staying cooped up in the house with two kids never mind with SEN to consider.

I wouldn't go anywhere busy. I'd stick to walks and outdoor places that aren't crowded. But no, I wouldn't be staying in.

Thanks. We don't go anywhere crowded anyway. We won't meet up with anyone. Just do our own thing which we usually do Anyway. I'm getting a shop delivered Monday so I won't have to go shopping!
OP posts:
OldTinHat · 23/07/2021 14:46

If it makes you feel better, I have a procedure in September (also have to have a hospital covid test before). As my procedure involves a steroid I have to isolate two weeks before and two weeks after. A whole month of being stuck indoors and I live alone so no company. Bah.

FawnFrenchieMum · 23/07/2021 14:49

I was told the whole household has to isolate between me & DD having the test and going into the hospital, they said three days initially but in the end it was less than 48 hours. Test at 14.15 Sunday, admitted at 07.00 Tuesday.

Scarby9 · 23/07/2021 15:05

Check with the hospital and please do what they ask.
Other people's opinions are irrelevant here, as are other people's experiences. I know four people who had ops over the last year, in three different hospitsls - all the requirements were different.

One was 10 days full household isolation, one only 3 days, and the other two, only the person having the op had to isolate - but they did have to isolate.

Isolation does not mean going out and about.

Please check and do what they ask. You have waited this long for this op - do everything you can to help it go smoothly.

Original poster
Kakey1294129 · 23/07/2021 15:52

@FawnFrenchieMum

I was told the whole household has to isolate between me & DD having the test and going into the hospital, they said three days initially but in the end it was less than 48 hours. Test at 14.15 Sunday, admitted at 07.00 Tuesday.
No way? There's no chance dp's work would allow this! They haven't told me this so far so hopefully it won't. We cannot afford him to have 3 days off work! Plus the day of the procedure itself so 4 in total! I'll Probably bs in and out the hospital within half an hour as well...

Is pre hospital swabs done by yourself or by nhs staff?

OP posts:
mnistooaddictive · 23/07/2021 15:56

The whole household should isolate between your test and your admission. It’s to protect other patients who are potentially vulnerable and healthcare staff. The staff having to isolate could mean other surgery having to be cancelled and other people’s wait being longer.

Original poster
Kakey1294129 · 23/07/2021 16:01

@mnistooaddictive

The whole household should isolate between your test and your admission. It’s to protect other patients who are potentially vulnerable and healthcare staff. The staff having to isolate could mean other surgery having to be cancelled and other people’s wait being longer.
Well I'll have to cancel my surgery then. Dp cannot get that time off last minute.... with a few days to spare 😒 I have been told it's only me so far though!
OP posts:
bestbefore · 23/07/2021 16:01

I had wisdom teeth out not so long ago and just me had to isolate.

Original poster
Kakey1294129 · 23/07/2021 16:06

@bestbefore

I had wisdom teeth out not so long ago and just me had to isolate.
Thank you. I am baffled. I haven't spoken to the testing people who sort it out only bookings clerk. She only said me. She knew that Dp would be working because I had t ring him and see if he can get said day off which he could say we went ahead to book. She didn't mention he'd have to isolate too! Just said me!
OP posts:
Motorina · 23/07/2021 16:10

I came down with covid 5 days after doing day case AGPs on patients who were meant to isolate. As did a colleague working in the same theatre. I’m still ill. We wear less PPE because those patients have self isolated as instructed to keep us and the other patients safe. That lets us see more patients on a list.

I’d been nowhere else to catch it, because we’re working ridiculous hours due to staff shortages.

It looks like a patient came in with covid. That’s knocked out two clinicians so far. Dozens of patients have been cancelled. Those treated later in the same theatre have been put at risk.

Please, do what the hospital has asked. The rules are there for a reason.

Vanillaradio · 23/07/2021 16:11

Dh is having an operation in September and has has been told he has to isolate from the covid test which will be between 48hrs and 72 before the op and he'll have to attend the hospital to take the test. Nothing about the rest of the household (I'll be wfh anyway but it'll be ds's first week back at school so he's not going to be isolating) Dh has been told that that means full on self isolation so no leaving the house at all.

MrsPsmalls · 23/07/2021 16:13

Yes it is the whole household otherwise whats the point? But I was also given the option of isolating separately from them so in a seperate bedroom, no visitors food left outside the door etc. We did this as dh a paramedic and it wouldn't have been fair for him to take the time off work. Obs your dc would have to stay elsewhere tho. I also had a lateral flow test on the day of the procedure. Surely you should try and have the procedure if at all possibly as these measures are going to be around for ages.

Original poster
Kakey1294129 · 23/07/2021 16:27

I've just tried ringing the people who rang me to book app but you can't get through to them but then rang the department I'm going to directly (it's actually totally separate to hospital) and I have to isolate (which is fine) but they wouldn't expect Dp to isolate at the last minute as it's not feasible. So I'm praying for good weather next week so the kids can have the pool out to keep them entertained...

OP posts:
FawnFrenchieMum · 23/07/2021 16:30

The staff did the testing on DD&I but I think she asked if I would prefer her or me to do it. We were swabbed again on the morning of the surgery as well.

JenniferAllisonPhillipaSue · 23/07/2021 16:30

DH went for a pre-operative assessment for surgery yesterday. He was told that, after his Covid test, he'd have to self-isolate; no mention at all of the other household members having to isolate too.

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 23/07/2021 16:30

Now, l don’t get this. I’ve had 2 similar procedures at the same hospital. One to isolate for 3 days and one for 10.

When l queried the 10 one they said just social distance. I really don’t understand.

You are allowed to go to work if you can’t work from home, as is your partner and kids can go to school.

Original poster
Kakey1294129 · 23/07/2021 17:13

Thanks all. Sorry if I sound ott or confused. I've waited so long for this app. Yet it's come in the school holidays very last minute - I guess that's a good thing with the isolation thing. If we were given more notice Dp could isolate too but his work would never allow it in these circumstances. Thankfully his job is low risk. He doesn't work with the public, small workplace, all socially distanced etc. Not fool proof I know!

OP posts:
CookPassBabtridge · 23/07/2021 17:36

My little one just had his front teeth out today at hospital. Me and him had to have covid test on Tuesday and then whole house isolate until the surgery, itherwise what's the point? DP could have brought it in during those 3 days and I'd have taken it to ward.
But then I don't get why all of us didn't have a covid test then 🤔

Original poster
Kakey1294129 · 23/07/2021 18:11

@CookPassBabtridge

My little one just had his front teeth out today at hospital. Me and him had to have covid test on Tuesday and then whole house isolate until the surgery, itherwise what's the point? DP could have brought it in during those 3 days and I'd have taken it to ward. But then I don't get why all of us didn't have a covid test then 🤔
I've spoken to someone and they say they can't expect Dp to isolate at such short notice yet they are only filling up the appointments last minute rather than in advance. . So I guess it's a risk. I think every hospital has their own rules!

I've had other apps recently which didn't specify anything - just turn up on time! No tests or anything.

OP posts:
Fleek · 23/07/2021 19:37

I know it's a pain but please isolate properly. There are thousands of others who have done so in the last year for surgeries, me included. No, it's not remotely easy but it's not just about you necessarily. If you are unlucky and you get the virus and take it into hospital, a nurse tending to you could then pass it to someone who is much more vulnerable than you. I think the chances of that are low given you only want to walk outside and staff are vaccinated, but there is still a risk.

I have had 2 major surgeries in the pandemic, I spent hundreds isolating in an Airbnb before hand to keep myself and others safe and it was grim. The second time I was double jabbed and there was a quiet track I could have walked along with a very low risk of seeing anyone but ultimately I could have fallen and sprained my ankle and then I'd have had to interact with someone. Equally I could have come across someone else who needed help in some way. With how the health service and waiting lists how they are, you are honestly lucky to have a date. Do your bit to keep yourself virus free. It's tough with your children but it's the responsible thing to do.

BungleandGeorge · 23/07/2021 20:10

It may be just a wisdom tooth removal but if you’re having it done in hospital it must be a more complex removal and is very likely to be aerosol generating, and thus high risk for spreading covid. You need to follow the instructions given to the letter