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Original poster

How do I look after an isolating teen?

107 replies

Mommybunny · 03/08/2021 09:18

DS16 has tested positive, the rest of the family (DH, DD14 and I) are all negative (so far). DH and I are both fully vaxxed. No major health issues with any of us. DS is feeling “a bit shit” in his words but so far nothing to really worry about.

DS has his own room and bathroom (though not en suite) and our house is big enough to really maintain isolation but I’m not sure how best to look after him to make sure he’s ok without exposing the rest of the family. All my instincts as a mother to touch his forehead or take his temperature and keep constant track of his symptoms, or even just to give him a reassuring cuddle, are being challenged! He took an LFT yesterday morning which was positive which is when he started isolating (the PCR confirmed it this morning). He’s been having meals separate from us (his appetite so far is holding up well!) and I’ve been leaving drinks outside his door and he’s been told to wear a mask when he leaves the room for his toilet. But can I go into him at all if we’re both masked?

DD and DH and I will continue to take LFTs. If she comes down with it, should we continue the isolation, with DH and I fully vaccinated?

Any tips from anyone about how to get through this next 10 days would be much appreciated.

OP posts:
Frazzled2207 · 03/08/2021 10:44

However there is also the argument that as she is self isolating anyway now might be the best time for your daughter to catch it.
I’m not recommending that she tries to infect herself but I suspect covid will be will be all over schools this winter. So if she catches it now she probably won’t have to isolate herself again.

tactum · 03/08/2021 10:44

My DD has it atm, day 5 for us. We are absolutely isolating her from us - food drops at the door, no cuddles, meeting outside for a cuppa. I've been quite surprised by how poorly she has been. She is in no way traumatised by this, doesn't think we are cruel and is fully on board. Can't believe what some are saying.

TAmumto3 · 03/08/2021 10:45

DS1 felt ill and tested positive on the 2nd day of our uk holiday. As we had spent 6 hours in the car together and the same home again there seemed no point in him isolating. DS2 had symptoms by the time we got home and tested positive, double vaccinated DH tested positive with no symptoms but went on to be quite ill. Dd (one vaccine) tested positive on day 6. I am also double vaccinated and have very mild symptoms (just a cold and scratchy throat) but haven’t tested as can’t face any more calls from track and trace - will complete self isolation obviously.
It is going to be over 2 weeks from beginning to end by the time we all get out. I am a tiny bit relieved - I think it was inevitable that it will rip through secondary schools in September and we can all return knowing that we have had it or have had it and the vaccination.

Madcats · 03/08/2021 10:47

We are in a similar situation (except double jabbed DH started first). I had a hunch the rest of us were all on borrowed time as we'd been in a family room overnight a couple of days before DH started sneezing and feeling rough.

After day 5, when DD caught it too, we're all back to eating and watching TV together.

I sent DH to sit outside when it wasn't raining and originally ran about with trays of food and drinks. He was happy enough with his study, TV and bedroom as well. Just about every window in the house was open (it's blooming cold). We had antibacterial spray for the bathroom and kitchen, washed hands and binned tissues.

If I didn't know we had Covid, we really would think we'd all caught one of those really annoying Autumn colds, coupled with an allergy.

AbsolutelyPatsy · 03/08/2021 10:50

to most it is minor symptoms.
food outside the room
supply of paracetamols and fluid
step up the hygiene

budgun · 03/08/2021 10:51

My 18 and 20 year olds have both had isolation as close contacts and they stayed in their rooms without question. I never told them to, they just decided this was the most sensible approach. We delivered food and FaceTime/messaged etc but for the most part they were both happy to have the break from work/life in general and just got on with it.

Smartiepants79 · 03/08/2021 10:53

I don’t know how ‘highly likely’ it is that you’ll automatically catch it. Especially if vaccinated. I know of several families ( mine included) where only one member of the family ever tested positive.
Just use your common sense. Limit close interactions especially if he’s not that poorly but don’t let him get lonely. Feed him separately and clean bathroom after him. Don’t share food and drink etc.
That’s the best you can do.
If it’s decent weather you could all sit together in garden if you’ve got one.

Saidtoomuch · 03/08/2021 10:54

Yes, I would just carry on as normal. I’d never isolate someone in the family. You’re vaxxed so unlikely to be ill if you get it
absolutely not true , everyone who has been double vaxxed and got it have been really quite poorly for a week or two.
Who is everyone and what's your definition of really quite poorly? My otherwise healthy double vaxxed dh just had bad cold symptoms for a couple of weeks, but that isn't "really quite poorly".

JaninaDuszejko · 03/08/2021 11:18

everyone who has been double vaxxed and got it have been really quite poorly for a week or two

This is not true. I know several people who are double vaxxed who got it and all have either been symptomless or had mild symptoms, no worse than a normal cold.

When DD got a positive LFT (routine testing, no symptoms) we had the whole family PCRed and half of us were positive and the other half weren't. We didn't isolate at all but it was when it was warm so the house was well ventilated. DS got it within a week, I never got it (think I had it lst March). None of us had severe symptoms. It's an extreme measure to isolate someone in a household where the middle aged adults are vaccinated.

BarefootHippieChick · 03/08/2021 11:28

Hopefully I can reassure you a little. Teen dd had it. Myself, dh and other dd never caught it. She's a teenager so spends a lot of time in her room anyway, but she still came out to eat with us some days, watch tv, use the kitchen etc, plus she shares a bathroom with her sister. I made sure she always used her own towels, put extra hand sanitiser in the bathroom, and more regularly cleaned toilet handles, taps, door handles, light switches etc. I know lots of people who have had covid but it hasn't gone through the whole household.

saywhatwhatnow · 03/08/2021 11:44

@Wigeon when did, if at all, your taste and smell come back?

Original poster
Mommybunny · 03/08/2021 11:46

Thanks for the reassurance. This is an incredibly stressful and emotional time and I’m trying so hard to do the right thing and keep DS and everyone else in the family safe. The last thing I need is pearl-clutchers people calling me cruel or a bad parent because I’m trying to stay strong. If my DCs were younger of course I’d be much more on top of them. But as many PPs have pointed out DS is like many teens pretty solitary anyway and he has as much food and drink brought to him as he wants and he can watch Netflix all day. Paracetamol is administered as often as he needs it. If the weather improves we certainly will eat together outside.

I have a niece and nephew who are both frontline doctors and they say he should isolate. It’s a bit shit indeed all around but I sort of feel for their sakes I need to make as good faith an effort as I can to stop the spread, even if just within our household. I don’t have a good reason (like a primary-age or autistic child) not to do so.

OP posts:
Onthebrink87 · 03/08/2021 11:50

I tested positive last April and had to isolate for 3 weeks (still having symptoms) with my 3 sons. I wore a mask when in closer proximity and took extra care when preparing their food. All were fine. Just finished another 10 days after my ds2 tested positive and shares a room with his younger brother - just made sure he kept on top of hand washing and asked them not to be getting too close and again, no one else in the house has tested positive. (Not vaccinated either due to health reasons)

MumofSpud · 03/08/2021 11:55

A bit flippant but my DD (15) would love that I wouldn't be coming into her room nagging about her 'floor drobe' / opening the window / bringing her room service etc

hellcatspangle · 03/08/2021 12:11

I think it's a case of playing it by ear - go by how he feels about it. If he's happy eating apart and playing x box/going in the garden, fine. If not, do what suits you all.

TerritorialPissings · 03/08/2021 12:20

May I ask if those who are advocating bedroom isolation / mask wearing are doing this because of the risk of longer isolation to the family? Or is it because of the perceived threat of Covid to other family members?

budgun · 03/08/2021 12:23

@TerritorialPissings

May I ask if those who are advocating bedroom isolation / mask wearing are doing this because of the risk of longer isolation to the family? Or is it because of the perceived threat of Covid to other family members?
My teens both did it (as close contact isolations) because they didn't want to risk passing covid to their vulnerable parents. The length of any isolation wasn't relevant whatsoever.
budgun · 03/08/2021 12:24

Urgh. My one teen and my 20 yo. I have yet to realise she is 20 and often refer to 'my teens' Blush

TerritorialPissings · 03/08/2021 12:25

Thank you. Yes, absolutely makes sense with vulnerable family members; that goes without saying.

I’m just wondering if this whole thing will change the future of us looking after family who have a contagious virus…

Comedycook · 03/08/2021 12:28

I think it's over cautious...if one of my DC had covid, I wouldn't try to isolate them away from the family. I'd carry on as normal. Unless you're unvaccinated and clinically vulnerable, I can't see the problem

budgun · 03/08/2021 12:31

@Comedycook

I think it's over cautious...if one of my DC had covid, I wouldn't try to isolate them away from the family. I'd carry on as normal. Unless you're unvaccinated and clinically vulnerable, I can't see the problem

Being vaccinated isn't a fool proof get out of jail free card.

I am quite happy to go about my dad to day and take the same precautions as the next person, confident that being vaccinated may help protect me. When covid/potential comes into my house though, it's nothing short of sensible for the person to isolate in order to reduce the risk to the rest of us.

Comedycook · 03/08/2021 12:32

@budgun. But unless you're elderly or clinically vulnerable the risk of being hospitalised or dying is absolutely tiny

budgun · 03/08/2021 12:39

[quote Comedycook]@budgun. But unless you're elderly or clinically vulnerable the risk of being hospitalised or dying is absolutely tiny[/quote]

It exists though. I don't think there is anything wrong with minimising even a small risk, if you know it's present.

Comedycook · 03/08/2021 12:58

The risk of a double vaccinated, non elderly, non cev adult being hospitalised is really tiny...so tiny I really couldn't be bothered to put in place all these measures in my own home.

FMSucks · 03/08/2021 13:17

Hi OP. My DS had it late last year. He was 10 so a good bit younger than your DS. I did not isolate him. I figured the whole household would have been exposed either way plus there was no way I was going to do that to him. I could see he was a bit anxious about it so certainly didn’t need his family treating him any differently. Turns out none of us got it from him. I hope your DS feels better soon.