To not lft test my son in this situation.

[Rockbottom2910]

Ds is 11, autistic and testing is traumatic for him. There's been an outbreak in his class and daily lft's have been suggested. I don't know if I can do it. He doesn't have symptoms. Obviously if he had symptoms I would test him (with huge difficulty).

He actually had covid in the middle of December so a month ago so technically doesn't have to routinely test for 90 days. Dd has done lfts this week after having covid last month too which are thankfully negative.

I know you can have covid and be asymptomatic but aibu to not test him unless he and symptoms?

He is going through a major anxiety spell after having covid and other things going on, he's been late for school all week as refusing to go . Testing him is going to trigger him even more so.

It must be really difficult in this situation OP. Personally I would keep a keen eye out for any symptoms, but I wouldn't be keen to put him through the trauma of testing unless I really had to. It's a difficult balance between playing your part, but also what is manageable for your son, and as his mum, you know that best. People are going to be in this situation many times over before things ease I think. You won't be the only one with this dilemma. All the best to you.

I think every one who can test, should test, in order to protect those, like your son, who find testing traumatic.

Don’t pit hun through it

My sons autistic and weirdly LIKES the test 😂

But my other son is really anxious and phobic about them and it takes well over an hour...full on panic attacks - we’ve tried everything

We are all vv cautious and the three of us test all the time so recently we’ve started to let no4 off the hook. Will only test if he’s symptomatic in future

I think if he hadn't had covid so recently I would have to attempt testing but because he has I'm just keeping an eye on symptoms..it's a real difficult situation and when he goes to secondary in September it's going to be really hard if regular lft testing is still happening.

Plus I really can't test him on my own. School have requested testing before school but dp is leaves at 5am. I couldn't manage on my own.. it would have to be in the evening but his anxiety is already sky high in the evenings 😪

@PinchOfVom

Don’t pit hun through it

My sons autistic and weirdly LIKES the test 😂

But my other son is really anxious and phobic about them and it takes well over an hour...full on panic attacks - we’ve tried everything

We are all vv cautious and the three of us test all the time so recently we’ve started to let no4 off the hook. Will only test if he’s symptomatic in future

Thank you. It's so hard. DS has been watching videos of tests and he's petrified of it going up Too far - try and reassure him it doesn't. We got his positive last month of just doing a very quick swipe just inside his nose!

The newer nose only kits are much easier to deal with- and don't need to go anyway near as far up the nose as the old ones. My daughter (6) tested positive by doing these herself and she hardly put it up at all. We counted 6 swirls each side and emphasised it touching the inside all the way around rather than too far up. It might not be perfect but better than nothing and picked up an otherwise symptomless case.

Not easy if he is fearful of them, and I don't think I would force him in your situation. If he doesn't want to it/ have it done, it quickly becomes traumatic for both of you. You can only do what you can do!

In your shoes, I wouldn't test him. I would keep a very close eye on him and I would test everyone else in the family.

I wouldn’t test before the 90 days unless new symptoms.

Sorry if this is obvious but could you encourage him to do it himself. If he is afraid of it going up too far, it's better if he has total control. I would give him a swab and say this is just for practice. Just let him hold it and build gently from there. If that's a non starter, then I think the cons outweigh the pros.

I really wouldn’t do further testing unless he has new symptoms.