Has anyone else done this-isolating in own home

[Wallawallakoala]

I have tested positive, DH is still negative and we have 2 young DC also negative.

I've been self isolating in the bedroom with DH taking time off work to look after the kids for a couple of reasons:

1. I'm quite poorly with it (would still class as 'mild' symptoms, but very unsteady and weak, congestion, headache, fatigue, body aches, shivers, gastric issues and temperature). So the rest is beneficial and I'm lucky to be able to do this.

1. If DH was also to get ill we would struggle to look after both, we would obviously manage as I would if it was just me looking after them but as this is possible this is what we thought might be best.

1. DH can take DC out and about while they are testing negative which is good for them and I feel it would be selfish to make everyone ill.

My 4 year old seems to kind of understand this situation and doesn't seem bothered until she realises I cant cuddle her and this is really hard. She will be easily distracted and I have been reading her bedtime stories and facetiming her and seeing her from a distance with the window open. It's only the 2nd day / 3rd night and they are all still negative...

What would you do? Continue this way or just carry on as normal?

I know people say that COVID won't affect people severely especially younger children, but I don't know if it's worse to keep them away from me or cared for by their dad for a few more days and be able to get out and about and more or less in their normal routine?

We didn't do this. I continued cooking for everyone when I was well enough!
I know some others who did isolate and they seem to have become a bit depressed.

I know, argh I'm really torn.

My DH is pretty adamant we should stay doing what we are doing and I get it but I don't know how long this can go on for. I can't weigh up the pros and cons at the moment with my brain fog, I just feel it would be selfish to pass it on and potentially make everyone ill and not be able to go out or see family.

Not the same as older DCs but we successfully isolated from eachother. DS and I didn't catch it from DH and Dd

It's not a given that everyone else will get it. DS had it recently, didn't make him isolate, we didn't stay away from him, but the rest of us didn't catch it. All totally negative on every lateral flow and pcr we did.

I couldn't do what the OP is doing. It's not helping anyone separating families in the same house like this unless someone is CEV.

This virus getting weaker and weaker as time goes on. I've had worse cases of flu than the OP describes AND had to look after the DCs alone when DH was away at the same time (and one of them had a D&V bug too, so I was ill, one DC was ill - and yet we managed).

Rest if your want, OP, but don't deny your children their mother. If they get it, they get it. Over 99% of people were going to be fine when Covid was at its worse. Now it's much weaker, so even more people will be fine, especially with vaccinations which reduces transmission by almost 70% (assuming you're vaccinated and boostered).

@ChandosBucks I totally get what you are saying. I mean I don't think I'm totally denying them of a mother as I'm not totally cut off from them and it's also only been 2 days. And I also think if I do pass it on they will be well I'm sure, I'm just still torn.

Oh and yes of course I've had to look after the DC's when I've been ill and dh not there, that's not the main reason I'm staying away lol I'm not being a princess about this on purpose

Than the OP describes haha maybe I'm not describing very well but I am better than I was ill give you that and I'm still saying they are mild because people get it much worse, but of course I'd look after my own children despite being ill there's no issue there!

I’d carry on as you are now. You need to rest and hopefully dh won’t catch it or if he does, you will then be better.

My husband has it and is isolating in the spare room. He does come down to quickly get food but with a mask on and windows open and we both stay well away. It's day 5 now and our daughter and myself are still negative.
She's 5 and misses daddy hugs but understands why she can't go near him. She has moments where it upsets her but we want to reduce the risk of her catching it and also want to keep her in school/having her freedoms

We didn't. DH caught it first and we talked about me leaving and staying elsewhere with the DC but decided against it. Kids tested negative on a PCR on day 3 of isolation and didn't develop symptoms so not sure if they caught it or not. Annoyingly I didn't catch its until day 8 of DHs isolation so ended up isolating for ages (this was all before the isolation rules changed). The upside was that we both felt lousy at different points and so could take over with childcare when the other was unwell. Nothing major just flu type chills etc.

But seeing as you've done it for a few days now I'd carry on as you are. Kids will be fine, it's not long in the grand scheme of things.

I had it in 2020 and was very ill (eventually hospitalised), I started trying to keep to myself but the kids were very upset (despite being much older than yours) so I gave up. No one else in the house got it as far as we know. Then a DC got it in November 2021, I was advised we should isolate as they are a teen but they were unwell and upset so no chance I was doing that. DH and other DC then got it, third DC did not. Yet that third DC got it a few weeks later which was very frustrating!

So for us no, we won't isolate from our children, it just isn't right for us. But if it is what you want and its working for you, that is your choice.

Just to add, we all isolated regardless despite it not being necessary in the rules as we felt it was the right thing to do. So we were not putting anyone else at risk by not isolating in our home.

@wineandchocolateforthewin this sounds exactly the same as our set up, thank you for sharing

@LizzieSiddal yes this is my thinking, thank you x

@saywhatwhatnow yeah I think you are right, how frustrating regarding the timings of that for you

My DP tested positive and I sent him to his parents. He could isolate there away from everyone and use own bathroom etc without having to share spaces. Anyway, 2-3 days later my DS who is 2 tested positive so he came back. Then I tested positive. It's hard to escape it because you were already contagious before your symptoms. Chances are it could be harbouring in all honesty.

To add I didn't isolate away from DS of course. He's only 2 and I felt better than DP did with covid. Luckily for me very very mild. I'm on day 6 and still not negative on a LF. I can't wait to be able to go for a walk!

Yeah I definitely agree and as soon as DC or Dh test positive we will all carry on as normal but obviously isolating in our home.

I bed shared with my 8 month old. Breast fed. Was single parenting as DH was away DS shit sleeper. I tested positive. DS was totally
Fine

If it was just me and the DC there would be no question at all. I don't think DD got it the first time we had it last year either

Get yourself healthy, get rest while you can! If you can hang on for a few more days your viral load will decrease and it will be worth it if your dh and kids don't get it. I know people who have done this and been glad to not pass it on.

@user1493222657 that's such a good point regarding viral load, and generally a good idea. Thank you, it's very helpful getting everyone's input

I decided not to try and make teen DD isolate when she had it. Hers was start of December so probably Delta, and DH and I didnt get it despite not isolating.
Your choice as a family really what risks you're prepared to take.
My thinking was that i was bound to get it at some point anyway so might as well get it over with ( im triple vaxxed and have no health issues i know about so hopefully wouldnt be too ill). Had plenty of cuddles with DD but didnt catch it.

Yeah I completely agree I wouldn't make my DC isolate if she didn't want to at any age. It's interesting how it gets some and not others

Husband is currently isolating, coming to end and DS and I are still negative- it hasn't been easy though