Question about viral load, unavoidable contact and practical issues!

[Mykittensmittens]

DD (13) has Covid and is feeling grotty. Only day 2 technically so she may be worse before better.

I really don’t want it and so far I am negative LFT but awaiting PCR result. I’m jittery as I had non-Covid pneumonia not long ago and I have lung scarring. Viruses tend to go to my chest easily and I take a long time to get well.

I read a very eloquent post on here yesterday about how the vaccine actually works and viral load. I can’t find it at the min but anyway it got me thinking.

I want to change her bedding. She’ll help but she is feeling rough and I’ll have to do a bit too. I intend to wear a mask and then change clothes/wash hands. I was going to send her into the garden for some air then open her windows, take the bedding and wipe some stuff down.

Does that sound okay or should I make her do the lot herself?

As a mum I want to make sure she’s comfy and clean, and she’s quite teary and fed up today. She’s also on day 2 of a horrible period. Poor kid is getting it from all directions so I thought a nice clean bed, hot shower, clean pyjamas etc would feel good.

But want to minimise risks.

Do you think you could get her to take the dirty stuff off herself and place it in the washing machine, then open the window? You could then take the precautions described above after the room has aired to make up the bed with clean bedding?

Good luck, hope she feels better soon.

If she's up to doing what "MyCat" suggested that would be a good approach. If she's really not up to it, ask her to open her window say 30mins before (and have other windows open off landing/nearest room). Also if she can manage a mask beforehand, as well as you wearing one.

OP, I totally understand why you're nervous by the way. I've had pneumonia twice, I was really ill with it and took about six weeks to get over each time. Not sure if it'll help, but I'd try and ensure you eat really healthy for a few days.

Either get her to do it herself (the stripping part) or air the room for 30 mins and wear mask and gloves.
I am 52 and have had it for about a week, I have very mild asthma and it’s affected my chest quite badly (double vaccinated) do take precautions. I hope your DD feels better soon

@ifonly4 you’re on my wavelength. I’ve upped my vitamin d (which I’m low on anyway and now the days are getting shorter it’s only sensible). I’m taking a good immune support vitamin, drinking loads of water and was so tired last night I got 9 hours sleep without waking up once. Helps that DH isn’t in the same bed!! Tesco delivery later and I’ve packed it with healthy stuff. And I’m trying to thinking positive, viral killing thoughts

If I come back as PCR negative today the next 8 days will be really stressful trying to avoid it, but it’s better than having it. But I don’t want to do that at the expense of DD. She’s quite a ‘young’ 13 and is teary and missing cuddles and goodnight hugs.

I’ll see how she is when she surfaces properly. It’s such a battle between wanting to make her feel better as a mum and keeping ‘safe’ myself.

I think if she can't change the sheets herself-and I doubt she feels like it-leave it for now. Kids tend to feel better faster so a few extra days won't hurt. It isn't worth the risk.

OP I have scaring on my lungs from pneumonia and dreaded catching covid. I currently have covid and I am OK (no cough thank god). I'm tired and can't smell anything, but otherwise OK. In our house of 4 only 2 of us have it and we are now 13 days into having covid in the house. Windows open all the time and me and DS wearing masks outside our rooms. Fingers crossed for you.

Mykittensmittens I understand you're totally torn. The problem is no one knows how it's going to affect them - my BIL who has asthma was fine, it was his family who were all quite ill.

I know you don't want to risk it, but I'd say the longer you can go without (possibly) catching it, the better. If you go down with it and you feel the same/worse than your DD then you might feel up to doing the basics for her - ie bed changing, food, drinks.

Our son put the sheets in a bin bag and we left it out in the sun for a while. Then used a face mask and put it in the wash. We didn’t clean the sheets on day 2 however. I can imagine having a shower and crawly skin might not be too pleasant. My ds 13 is out of isolation now but our girls have it and isolating till Saturday. DH and I keep doing our lateral flow tests to see if we’ve caught it. We’ve had it in the house for 2’weeks now and keep hoping we won’t get it. We have using face masks in communal areas and all sleep in our own bed. We have kept windows open where we can and kids have had dinner in rooms or garden. I al also disinfecting handles where possible. Good luck with avoiding it. We are double vaxxed so this may be helping us also.

She will need to take it off. Bag it. Then you leave the room to settle for 30 minutes - 1 hour. This allows the partials to drop.

Particles*

Thanks. The bedding was already on a week when the chaos broke out with the positive LFT on Sunday so it’s a bit grim. She’s airing her room now then stripping the bed herself, taking it to the machine without wafting, shaking or dropping and then closing the door. She’s then going outside to sit for a bit. I’ll leave the room closed and airing with windows open.

I’m working in my PJs so after a bit (as long as she’ll tolerate sitting outside basically) I’ll mask up with a disposable, gloves, go in and put clean bedding on. I’ll then remove my stuff and go straight in the shower myself and let her go back in.

Hopefully then I won’t need to repeat for another week and by then who knows.

Best of luck OP x

I also understand you can get bags that you can put bedding and then bag dissolves in washing machine. We stayed at a cottage last year and they had them.