Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Highly contagious

137 replies

Everyotherweekend · 13/04/2018 06:27

Off sick, been to dr now waiting to find out if I have highly contagious illness. DSC was dropped off with us this morning. I have had to spend the day avoiding them - As they aren't immune, DH is. DH needs to go out tonight, leaving me to feed DC and put them to bed. AIBU to ask them to go back to their mums until I know? We are always flexible when she needs help etc.

OP posts:
TheletterZ · 13/04/2018 07:59

Go to bed! You have untreated whooping cough and a broken rib and might be pregnant!

Tell you DH to sort it out himself, he has had plenty of time to figure something out. Call in a friend or relative who can help or cancel, but that is not your problem.

(Don't agree with return to mum, it isn't her problem either, children should just be dumped back to resident parent as if they are an inconvenience. )

swingofthings · 13/04/2018 08:07

So mum should change her plans whatever they are because dad can't be bothered. Then dad wonder why mum is frustrated and not cooperative!

How old is the child?

Qwertytypewriter · 13/04/2018 08:08

Won't give me anti b's as might be pregnant
A) of course they give antibiotics to pregnant women - if they get an infection, do you think they just step back and don't treat it?
B) if antibiotics have been considered and rejected due to possible pregnancy, this is not for whooping cough, which is a virus so they wouldn't help. So do you have something else which the DCs could catch as well OP?
C) you have cracked ribs from coughing, whooping cough, and bloods being checked for something else, when you think you're pregnant - why on earth would it be OK for you DH to go out for the evening and leave you in that state, aside from looking after DCs?

And then you said:
I'm tempted to lick him to see if I can pass it on to him!
But you started by saying he was immune...
This whole tale really doesn't add up Hmm.

LIZS · 13/04/2018 08:09

Are they not immunised? 10 year olds can put themselves to bed surely?

dementedpixie · 13/04/2018 08:11

Whooping cough is a bacterial infection not viral and antibiotics can be prescribed for it

JustVent · 13/04/2018 08:11

For dinner order them pizza. And stay in bed.
How old are they?

Sorry to hear your unwell, you must feel like crap and worried about the pregnancy to boot. You don’t need people on here giving you a hard time.

Penfold007 · 13/04/2018 08:12

As you have already developed the cough you have been contagious for some time. Your unvaccinated stepchildren have already been exposed as has your H as the vaccine wears off (presuming he ever had it). Neither parent seems bothered but they do expect you to provide child. At least you now know how life will be once your baby is here.

Everyotherweekend · 13/04/2018 08:13

@Qwertytypewriter
Dr's exact words were, normally we would prescribe and treat it as if you have whooping cough. But we can't because that specific antibiotic can cause complications if you are pregnant. So we will send you for bloods to see if your pregnant, X-rays and swabs for whoop. I wasn't in any state to argue. Actively trying to convince, period not due til next week so bloods more accurate than urine sample.
The licking comment was off the cuff because I was pissed off with DH. He was vaccinated recently. As far as I am aware he can't catch it.

OP posts:
Mary1935 · 13/04/2018 08:15

Hi unless I've missed it - you have answered why the children can't go back to there mothers?

Dobby1sAFreeElf · 13/04/2018 08:15

Tell your dh in no uncertain terms that if the DC are staying they are his responsibility alone right now. Then curl up in bed and try to recover Flowers

dementedpixie · 13/04/2018 08:15

Has the child/ children been vaccinated at all against whooping cough (it is in the UK vaccination schedule)?

BarbarianMum · 13/04/2018 08:15

Antibiotics are only effective for whooping cough in the early stages of the infection ie before the coughing really gets going. Sounds like the OP is passed this point. The positive is that she will also be passed the point of maximum infectiousness (I may have made that word up).

dementedpixie · 13/04/2018 08:16

Because the mother said it was up the child and the child wants to stay

Charley50 · 13/04/2018 08:16

Oh gawd. Just go to bed and tell him to sort his own kids out before he goes out.

JustVent · 13/04/2018 08:16

You shouldn’t have had to explain. It’s clear enough that bloods were for the pregnancy and swab was for the infection.

The thing is, if you are pregnant this is a vital stage of cells dividing and really complex and it can do so easily go wrong let alone adding harsh antibiotics into the mix. It sounds like your Gp made the right call.

GnotherGnu · 13/04/2018 08:16

Oh and DH has just asked .... what am I doing about dinner for DSC as he is too busy to sort

I hope you told him to make himself less busy and feed his children himself.

dementedpixie · 13/04/2018 08:17

Its contagious for a while after the coughing starts:

A person with whooping cough is infectious from about six days after they were infected– when they just have cold-like symptoms– until three weeks after the coughing bouts start.

unfortunateevents · 13/04/2018 08:20

DH sorts dinner (too busy? .... well, they're not going to eat then are they? - or you order pizza). Two ten year olds don't need to be put to bed, I'm sure they are capable of brushing their teeth and getting into bed, not your problem if they go unwashed one night or are tired tomorrow. You go to bed.

TTCnamechange · 13/04/2018 08:23

What are you hoping / expecting will happen? DH to take DSC back to his mum's? Or DH to stay home?
It sounds like none of that will happen and you're stuck with dsc now OP.
Tell DH he can bring a takeaway home for the dsc or give them beans on toast or a tin of soup or something equally simple to sort in a few mins.

As for a late Friday night, tell them to read a book or let them watch a film in their room or something.

Good luck!

TTCnamechange · 13/04/2018 08:26

Not that any of this is ok by the way. Your dh should be sorting them out and taking the day to look after his dc if necessary and leaving you in the evening if absolutely unavoidable.

My suggestions are just for coping with your situation.

IWannaSeeHowItEnds · 13/04/2018 08:26

Tell you dh that charity begins at home!
You'd better hope you aren't pg because your h is going to be zero help to you if this thread is anything to go by!

Bumpitybumper · 13/04/2018 08:27

TTCnamechange erm why should she accept she's stuck looking after her DP's kids when she is ill and highly contagious? He isn't the boss and doesn't get to demand what happens. HE is the parent and has to sort out alternative childcare for his kids otherwise he can't go to his event. Simple!

Marriedwithchildren5 · 13/04/2018 08:27

Surely oh arranges takeaway. You go to bed. Sorted!

TheFirstMrsDV · 13/04/2018 08:36

Surely they are vaccinated?
Sorry if I missed that.

Poor OP. You must be feeling bloody awful.

Choklitdoknut · 13/04/2018 08:37

"Might be pregnant" if you are less than 4 weeks the doctors would just give antbiotics anyway

If you were more than 4 weeks you could do a test....and they would still give antbiotics even if you were.

Whats the relevance of pregnancy??