But anxious waiting

[Bagadverts]

First I know that many key workers have gone through this many times through the whole pandemic and worse, not just recently and I am not special. Also in previous months I would have been required to isolate.

A colleague and close contact is waiting for PCR test after positive LFT.
Legally I won’t have to isolate as full vaccination but I will minimise contacts and expected to wfh. I plan to just go out for walks and maybe to buy the paper/more food (walking and using self serve check out).

Then of course there is the risk I might actually get COVID.
I feel lonely with this hence posting here. Live alone.

Title should be Bit not But

I've known quite a few people who've had contact recently and no I one has caught it. My DH was the same as you though and tried to be careful, he didn't want to risk passing it on. Only thing I would say is make sure you have a few essentials in just in case. Hope you're ok.

Yes I knew about positive LFT yesterday so have a good stock. We were only together about an hour and she did not have symptoms, it’s the waiting.

Remind myself I wouldn’t have it any other way though - going into work and getting out has been so good for me physically and mentally.

Colleague was positive. I’m fine but T&T say I should have a PCR, no symptoms though. I suspect I’ll do it wrong so hope it’s not void. I’m not that dexterous anyway. I had one done to me (by a doctor) and I know I won’t be able to make it hurt like that to be accurate or useful. I expect I’m not the only one though.

@Bagadverts

Colleague was positive. I’m fine but T&T say I should have a PCR, no symptoms though. I suspect I’ll do it wrong so hope it’s not void. I’m not that dexterous anyway. I had one done to me (by a doctor) and I know I won’t be able to make it hurt like that to be accurate or useful. I expect I’m not the only one though.

Guidance now is PCR on day 5.

I need a season ticket at the moment (I'm a teacher) it's bonkers and there seems to be no way of knowing who will get it and who won't

I live outside the UK so different rules but son was sent home from school today as a classmate has tested positive. He's delighted to have time at home and tested negative on a lateral flow, but none of us will be going out this weekend until he can get a PCR.

I'm pregnant so slightly worried about catching it if he does end up testing positive, so I really sympathise with your worries. I am not at all dexterous but I have managed to self administer tests ok. I found them much better than ones health professionals administered for me, and I followed the instructions to the letter. I don't think how much it hurts determines the accuracy.

Not sure if this is an option in the UK, but I much prefer the nasal only samples rather than the nose and throat ones.

@badalmond we have nasal ones that are called lateral flow with results in about 15 minutes. I think all the NHS PCR tests are nasal/throat.

There are spit tests but I only came across them for travellers and then they were expensive.

Again I understand lots of people don’t have the luxury of my worry as can’t wfh.

I was planning on mostly staying home, wfh and going out for a walk and essentials for 10 days.
I’m hybrid three days in the office and two at home. I can wfh with no problem except one potential meeting, which is sometimes face to face. Im in an office with others and I travel on public transport or taxi.

Work are expecting me to go in after a negative COVID PCR (that T&T have told me to have, I have no symptoms) which would be taken on day 4. This does follow the law in England.

Covid can show after that. I feel I may put my colleagues and people on bus at risk when I don’t have to, including people that must to go out to work.

Am I just being silly and too anxious?

You don’t sound silly at all, just a normal person who wants to do the right thing for yourself and others. It is only advise to get a PCR done due to close contact, but I think you are right to wait a couple of days before getting one, that way you can be pretty confident if it comes back negative, then you will be ok to go into work. Alternatively order a home test and send it off Tuesday and you’ll probably get result by Friday, that will give you more days to WFH.

Already ordered as when I rang 119 told me to do immediately. Has at least taken an extra day as I can’t go to an in person site, waiting in for delivery (great to excuse for an extra lie in, dressed though for when postman comes.)

Handhold please - just got an email saying that I should return the test when I did it yesterday. Posted it in a designated by x but hadn’t got the NHS sticker - only one I can walk to yesterday to get there on time as it was delivered at 1pm.

I know this is ridiculous but I’m anxious.

Bump - I’m not usually too anxious I just want this sorted.

Are you worried because you got an email saying to return the test, when you've already posted it? It's just a standard email that is sent automatically when a home test has been sent out - nothing worry about.

If you kept a note of the Royal Mail tracking number on your test box, you can track it on their website.

@Bagadverts

Colleague was positive. I’m fine but T&T say I should have a PCR, no symptoms though. I suspect I’ll do it wrong so hope it’s not void. I’m not that dexterous anyway. I had one done to me (by a doctor) and I know I won’t be able to make it hurt like that to be accurate or useful. I expect I’m not the only one though.

They make doing it sound a lot more difficult than it actually is. If you sit down and use a hand-mirror to see what you are doing in your throat it really helps, I think mostly because it gives you something to think about apart from "urgh this is making me gag" -- seeing something takes away the concentration from feeling it, or some such thing.

It doesn't have to hurt! I don't hurt myself when I do a swab, and the one that was positive didn't hurt me at all.

Am I just being silly and too anxious?

No, you are being sensible and caring about other people when you don't want to risk passing on an infection to a lot of random strangers on a bus! I wish more people were thinking the way you are.

I didn’t keep the tracking number unfortunately.

@AskingQuestionsAllTheTime indeed - it wasn’t easy to swab but folding the box was worse

@Bagadverts

Already ordered as when I rang 119 told me to do immediately. Has at least taken an extra day as I can’t go to an in person site, waiting in for delivery (great to excuse for an extra lie in, dressed though for when postman comes.)

It’ll be fine as long as you’ve done the test to the best of your ability, you sound conscientious!

I quoted your post as I can’t believe you get dressed just to take a delivery from the postman!

@MrsFezziwig I’m a creature of habit, I lie in but then once I shower and dress. Most surprising to some of my relatives when they visit and enjoy breakfast in night things (with dressing gown). I don’t mind that at all, it would be nice to be a bit more relaxed.

Should be once up.

Coming to update that my test was negative. Very relieved and best wishes for all still waiting or dealing with a positive result.

Great news OP!

Good news.

I am very glad for you!