Pcr for sen child

lollipoprainbow · 2021-12-01T12:12:33+00:00

Really fucked off!! My dd school have just called to say that there has been a positive Covid test in the class and my dd needs to be collected and taken for a Covid test ASAP. She is sen and I'm dreading doing the test she is already getting in a state. Any tips please to help. She will also to miss out on her class fab finish tomorrow which she was so excited about I'm so upset for her.

Bagelsandbrie · 01/12/2021 12:16

Could you just isolate her instead? I feel sorry for you and your dd (my son has autism and learning disabilities and attends a complex needs school so understand how difficult these things can be)!

cherrypie66 · 01/12/2021 12:18

Ask the school nurse to assist she can do it outside the school entrance

hilbil21 · 01/12/2021 12:19

My 6 year old son is autistic and we've had to do this 5 times now all at the schools request. It's awful. Take someone else with you for help as my son has hit and kicked the swabs out of my hand before now. I have been tempted to just isolate him but I don't want him missing any more education than they already have, it's a nightmare.

x2boys · 01/12/2021 14:21

We have had this twice ,my son has severe non verbal autism ,we ordered the home test ,my dh swabbed Ds ,s nose both nostrils whilst I held his arms ,It wasn't pleasent but we were quick as possible.

Floundery · 01/12/2021 14:24

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Original poster

lollipoprainbow · 01/12/2021 14:27

@Floundery yes I agree re the saliva test it would make it so much easier.

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Notonthestairs · 01/12/2021 14:27

We order a home PCR for our daughter (LD & ASD). I only swab her nose. It isn't pleasant. I try and make a joke of it (bogey jokes), do one on myself so she's not on her own and provide a Freddo bar afterwards.

Original poster

lollipoprainbow · 01/12/2021 14:30

Does the test have to be done on tonsils or just the nose ?

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Kotatsu · 01/12/2021 14:31

My DS had to have a test for the first time last week. I bought some LFTs (we're not in the UK) to let him have an idea of what's going to happen, and lets just say it was unsuccessful.

BUT when we rolled up to the drive-through test - which here is provided by the health service, not private, so it's doctors and nurses and other HCPs doing the tests - they were excellent. They took the time and explained, they were as quick and gentle as they could be, and we made it through with a minimum of tears (less than when we just tried at home with the LFT).

Is there somewhere you can take yours where a gentle professional can do it?

Notonthestairs · 01/12/2021 14:32

We only swab the nose and have never had an inconclusive result (4 PCRS over the course of this year).

Kotatsu · 01/12/2021 14:33

And yes, here at least, PCR for children is nose only

x2boys · 01/12/2021 14:33

@lollipoprainbow

Does the test have to be done on tonsils or just the nose ?

Ideally both nostril and throat ,but when I explained my son's complex needs they said it was fine to just test the nostrils .

Tricked2003 · 01/12/2021 14:38

My ds (14) LD and ASD won't let me near him for a LFT but has managed 3 PCR done at a testing centre by a nurse. Each time the staff have engaged him and been brilliant............each time it has cost me a "reward" but it was worth it.
I never thought ds would cope but he needed a hospital procedure in the summer and had to have a PCR before he could have it done so we had to try.........sometimes kids surprise you!!!

Original poster

lollipoprainbow · 01/12/2021 14:39

Thanks all you have been very reassuring ! Just hope it's a negative result so she can get back to school and I can get back to work.

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Original poster

lollipoprainbow · 01/12/2021 16:48

Back now what a horrible experience, lots of kids distressed and crying at having to do the test, it's all wrong. There must be a better way.

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Ceecee30 · 01/12/2021 17:05

Op, I don't have much advise but I completely sympathise. Ds has sen and testing is hell. Testing for close contacts is not compulsory though.

You can just do the nose. I don't have much advice but maybe a bribe? I have to reward Ds for a lot of things! Sometimes it's the only way.

Original poster

lollipoprainbow · 01/12/2021 17:14

We did just the nose, there was someone outside watching us like the gestapo!! I don't think we have done it properly so she'll have to do it again I expect. Aarrggh !!!!!

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RiskyCookie · 01/12/2021 17:16

You have my sympathy OP. My DS also has SEN and the covid test was so traumatic. We tried EVERYTHING. Nothing calmed him. He got in such a state he couldn't catch his breath and was begging us to stop.

It's shit.

everythingthelighttouches · 01/12/2021 17:34

Order home test.
Two adults.
One to pin down, one to swab nose 10 sec each nostril.

Bloody awful but then all over, better than the long, horrendous psychological torture of doing it in a porta cabin and trying to negotiate with a child who simply can’t voluntarily allow you to put that thing up their nose, try as they might.

twosticksandanapple · 01/12/2021 17:47

I have to do my DHs tests when he is asleep. A quick swab of each nostril before he fully wakes up.

Nikki078 · 01/12/2021 19:44

It's so sad to read :( I'd never force test an anxious/sen child if it means having to restraint them - they end up panicking more. Plus - if you do, the next time you'll need to test them it's going to be much worse, and there will be more tests.

My child was unable to test due to anxiety. We've tested selves so she can observe, gave swabs to look at, promised special treats after. In the end with a lot of coaxing and several attempts she tested herself. Just nose, no tonsils. Bogey jokes too :) Now it's ok - she does not like it but can do it if needed.

Flamingolingo · 01/12/2021 19:47

I get much better results from my autistic 7yo if he tests himself. We do it together, I sit opposite him and swab my own nose at the same time. It takes a little patience but he’s getting so much better at it. I wouldn’t have a hope in hell of getting near him to do it myself!!

OnceuponaRainbow18 · 01/12/2021 19:50

We’ve got some Saliva tests where they just spit into it… sooooooo much better!

x2boys · 01/12/2021 19:53

@Nikki078

It's so sad to read :( I'd never force test an anxious/sen child if it means having to restraint them - they end up panicking more. Plus - if you do, the next time you'll need to test them it's going to be much worse, and there will be more tests.

My child was unable to test due to anxiety. We've tested selves so she can observe, gave swabs to look at, promised special treats after. In the end with a lot of coaxing and several attempts she tested herself. Just nose, no tonsils. Bogey jokes too :) Now it's ok - she does not like it but can do it if needed.

That's great for you ,my son however has severe autism, he has no clue we are even in pandemic ,let alone why we need tests ,he also attends a special school and some children have profound and multiple disabilities ,and are tube fed on oxygen etc ,so when he's had a cough which happened twice last half term school require a negative PCR test before he's allowed back , otherwise he has to isolate for ten days every time ,which is not fair on him

JenniferAllisonPhillipaSue · 01/12/2021 19:58

I took our 12yo ASD/SLD son to a walk-in test centre when school asked. Fortunately it was empty so not overwhelming. The person giving instructions said that swabbing just his nose would be acceptable. He had a +ve result, but DH and I subsequently both tested -ve; I still don't understand that given that I spoonfeed him (DS obviously!) and change his nappy, so I'm in very close and frequent contact with his bodily fluids.

To be honest, the hardest part of the experience was getting DS to keep a mask on his face while I was doing all the preliminaries.