Not sure what to do, my husband tested positive for Covid this morning. As yet I feel fine, he is self isolating in the bedroom now but what am I supposed to do? Should I try and get a test, should I let my CLL nurse know, although what anyone can do I don't know. I am thinking its just a waiting game for 10 days.
Just to say we both have been (very strictly) isolating for the past few weeks, only going out in the evening for a walk around the block and washing down with bleach everything that comes to the door and even so....this!
Any advice helpful, thanks.
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jendur
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Hi sorry to hear your husband has Covid. In your position I would contact my CLL specialist for advice and inform my GP. They should be able to advise where to get a test and how to protect yourself.Good luck.
This is so hard to hear when you have been so careful. I would certainly update your medical team. Also try and equip yourself with some PPE and try get hold how some medical grade masks (FFP2) for you and your husband to wear if near each other. Open your homes windows regularly. Try and put some methods of barrier control in place such as, food being left outside bedroom, maybe even getting some disposable plates etc. Be incredibly careful with cleaning anything your partner has used. If you can sleep in separate rooms, etc, that would help. If you have any pets for them not to come in to contact with your husband. And most importantly try and really take care of yourself.
This is taken from the Gov. uk website in regards to those who have tested positive and are self isolating.
"Stay as far away from other members of your household as possible, especially if they are clinically extremely vulnerable. Wherever possible, avoid using shared spaces such as kitchens and other living areas while others are present and take your meals back to your room to eat. Wear a face covering or a surgical mask when spending time in shared areas inside your home."
Wishing you all the best and please reach out for all the support you need
For want of a better way to say this, your dog is a "surface"! I only allow my cats out in my garden, on a lead and when I did have visitors in my garden back last summer, I insisted that if that wanted to interact with my cats, could they wear masks and disinfect their hands.
This is so unlucky, like you we have been walking and cleaning everything coming into the house,l hope you both cope ok and fingers crossed you don't succumb to it,its so worrying, l wouldn't know what to do either xx😪🙏what part of the country do you live, anyone know how likely it is to catch covid from delivery like shopping and post?
So sorry this has happened. Yes contact your nurse and GP.It’s on the government website where and how to get tested. I am on the Kings covid joe app and the two times I was worried they send out a kit.
Do you have an Oximeter ? If not suggest getting one with next day delivery.
I recall asking this question to my NP Specialist. She said the first thing is to separate. I know often easier said then done. Do you have an oximeter to measure oxygen? It would be helpful to get two. One for him and one for you.
Thanks for your responses, I have a oximeter and maybe I'll get another one. Doing all the separation stuff but keep thinking "stable door-horse bolted" ! I haven't got in touch with my CLL nurse at Addenbrooks yet so will do if I can get through. Funny enough I took a home test on the 14th because a friend had it, the test was negative and now they won't send me another one so soon after.
You say that you were tested because your friend had it. Were you in close contact with your friend? Was your husband and did he get tested too?
Sorry for prying but I’m trying to connect the dots if possible. Tests are accurate 4 days after exposure.
Please separate, wear masks, gloves and wipe everything down with sanitizer. I’m sending you out a prayer for both of you.
Should you test positive, ask your doctor where you can get the monoclonal antibody infusion. If available to you, it needs to be done as soon as you test positive and as an outpatient. Ask your specialist.
HI Jeff, my husband went for a walk on New Years day with our friend who then 10 days later rang to say he had covid, I didn't see the friend. Husband and I then had test about 11th and came back negative on 14th. He felt unwell Tuesday 19th got tested Wednesday, result today positive. Is the monoclonal antibody infusion something the GP would know about, authorise?
Were they wearing masks when walking together? Just trying to figure out how he could have gotten sick. No need for test. If u get sick then u know u got it. 🙏💕
Factors: - amount of exposure (how many viral particles arrive in your lungs); - virus variant [most recent may be very short]; - age, ie. immune acuity .. thus CLLers may also be infected long before symptoms.. more commonly arrive in hospital asymptomatic..
— we need to monitor our SpO2, as this might be the first sign of trouble, and quickly be urgent.
Incubation varies from 2-24, even up to 27 days has been shown.
Average? This might well be under 10 days.. but.. CLLers are mostly uncommon / not average:
- we are all being very careful, so our exposure is likely to be low
- we are immune compromised, and typically older, so our immune response may be slow
Take care all.
Avoid ventilated air from the room of the infected causing infected air to enter the rest of the house.. consider wind direction.
I think I read recently, around Christmas, that trials in monoclonal antibodies were starting. I don't think it's a treatment as yet generally available in the UK.
I would second everything that it has been said, particularly by fapumpkin and just add the following: depending how your husband is (will be) feeling (does he have fever?) cook and prepare (hot) meals that can be reheated as necessary - he will need this (even if he loses his appetite and has fever) to help his body recover and you will also need this if you catch it. Ventilate the room and wear a mask and ensure there is plenty of water (and paracetamol if there is fever involved) available. As you are vulnerable it is important that you eat and sleep well, in a different room. I was in the same situation back in March and from experience, my partner and I found the biggest challenge to be the food, water and medicine because neither of us had the strength to do anything. Fortunately she recovered after only a few days (without fever) but it took me 7 weeks to recover. I got the virus first and she started with her symptoms after 3-4 days. Good luck and keep us posted how you get on if you can. Lastly, one of the most important things (especially if it is prolonged) is to keep mentally strong, this virus can be sneaky - one feels slightly better one day and then it gets worse the next day. When your husband feels better he must continue eating and drinking well and taking vitamins.
Monoclonal antibodies if you can for him, ASAP. Plus the isolation methods. Give him a pile of pillowcases, have him change pillowcase daily. Give him a pile of sheets, have him place a fresh sheet on bed daily to lie on/sweat & breathe on as long as he has the energy (its probably too hard to fully change sheets & he may need to conserve energy). Also a large plastic garbage bag for the dirty linens...do you have an area outside you can place these things to "air out/expose to sunlight" before attempting to wash? Give him soapy water(dish soap) in a spray bottle, have him spray handles & other hard surfaces he touches to deactivate any virus to prevent self re-infection. If you have the $, look for an air sanitizer/air purifier on Amazon to get shipped to house to put in his room. Lowering the viral load any way you can is likely to decrease the severity of illness, and preventing self re-infection can be the difference between short course vs longer course of respiratory viral infections. I have personal experience from last year that these types of things help common cold virus infections, so it should also apply to other respiratory infections like Covid. Hubby got well several weeks before his sister & dad did, after I asked him to drive back as soon as he was able, even though he was still sick. I did all those "prevent self reinfection" things, they didn't.
When I had Covid in November, as soon as I *thought* I could be sick, I moved upstairs in our house. Positive test 3 days later. For the next two weeks, I lived upstairs. My CLL husband prepared all of our meals, then would leave the room. I would put on a mask, wash my hands thoroughly, come down and get my food, then go back up to eat. I only came down to get essentials I needed out of my bedroom when he was in his office with the door closed, and I followed the same mask up, wash hands procedure. I also wiped down any cabinet handles, dishwasher handle refrigerator handles, etc. with disinfecting wipes after I made my very quick trips downstairs. We also communicated by phone so that yelling down the stairs didn’t spread germs. If by chance we were ever in the same room, we were both masked, and never longer than a few minutes. My doctor said I could re-emerge after 10 days, however, I was still sneezing and blowing my nose a great deal, so isolated until I felt like I was no longer spewing germs. Even so, I slept upstairs for another week, and we wore masks around each other for a few more days. Luckily, he never got it. It made it much easier that we have a bedroom abd bathroom upstairs, plus a bonus room with TV, so I didn’t feel so confined by 4 walls in one room.
As it turns out, we were both exposed by an electrician we needed to come work in our house. He got sick the days after he was there. We don’t know why I got sick, but my husband did not. Although we asked him to wear a mask, he did not always have it on correctly and obviously, neither did I. Lesson learned...
FWIW everyone, coronaviruses are inactivated by soaps. So if you don't want to use disinfectants, or can't get them at the store, soapy water will work, dish soap is fine. I do a double wipe, once to clean, and instead of rinsing with plain water, I spray or wipe fresh soapy water on surfaces & just leave it. Disinfectants & bleach give me a headache.
Thanks for asking, we have been isolating in different parts of the house and I leave meals on a tray outside his bedroom. He's not feeling too bad, occasionally a bit shaky and heart rate seems to fluctuate sometimes but on the whole ok. We're both a bit down and I've been actively avoiding news and the internet so apologies for not posting sooner. His ten days are up on Saturday so very much hoping to step outside over the weekend (just in the garden). I have been wondering if I should still isolate myself from him after Saturday? I've had no symptoms as yet but could he still be shedding? Heard nothing about the vaccination yet.Only two days to go...fingers crossed !!
Good to hear you are managing and are well. I can imagine you must have a high level of cabin fever so sometime outside (hopefully the weather will be pleasant!) would be good. Maybe try and get some advice from someone medical about whether your husband could still be “shedding” virus after 10 days ? Possibly take the changing of your “covid barriers” slowly? Wise thing to avoid the news at the moment! l use “bored panda” as my escape from bad news!
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