Covid 19 infectivity

[strongmouse]

Hello,

My husband is the one with CLL, but just over nine days ago I tested positive for Covid 19 (in spite of having had both vaccines and barely going out). Since then I have self-isolated at home and we have succeeded in ensuring he doesn't become infected.

Now, as self-isolation comes to an end on Wednesday and my 'flu sysmptoms have gone, I am concerned to know that I am not still infectious?

I have done a lateral flow test today which was negative (previously came back positive). Is there any way I can tell that I am safe to be near him again? I've trawled NHS guidelines and there is nothing other than the ten day self-isolation period and not having signs of a fever (high temperature). We have taken so much care this last week plus I do not wish to put him at risk, but neither do I want to live in one room forever!!

Many thanks.

[Justasheet1]

Mouse,

I wouldn’t trust your husband’s health to us; call his doctor. Also, though getting Covid after the two shot series is scary, you seemed to stay out of the hospital and your viral load stayed low enough due to the vaccine that he didn’t become infected when exposed to you before your symptoms began.

By getting the vaccine, I think that you kept him well and very well may have saved his life.

Jeff

[aloneifly in reply to Justasheet1]

It should be easy enough to go for a PCR test to confirm your Covid status?

[strongmouse in reply to aloneifly]

Yes, I have had a PCR test which was positive and why I have self-isolated.

Phoned Covid Helpline 119 today and their advice is to self-isolate for the ten days and if I have no symptoms of Coronavirus after that (including fever) then I can stop isolating. For additional check I was advised to do lateral flow test and if this is negative then I can go back to normal life. (Basically I think this is similar to advice for people visiting nursing homes). We have spoken to the Haematology Department before about Covid 19 and they knew no more than we did! Hence my asking on here.

Thanks for replying aloneifly, and Jeff.

[LeoPa]

Can you get a PCR test?

[DebDenC]

When I had Covid and was trying to keep my CLL husband from getting it, my doctor said 10 days, but at 10 days, I still felt like I could be contagious - coughing, blowing, sneezing, but no fever. I ended up self-isolating for 14 days, but masking around my husband and sleeping separately for another 3 or 4 days until I really felt like I wasn’t throwing off the virus into the air. The Department of Health told me that a PCR test would show positive for up to a month, but that I would not be contagious that long. I ended up just going with my gut feeling. It worked - my husband never caught it.

[strongmouse in reply to DebDenC]

Thanks DebDenC. Glad you and your husband are both okay. Sounds like you were being really careful and taking a sensible approach. I'm sneezing today, but that is because the pollen levels are high! (I am allergic to grass pollen ).

😀

[JigFettler Volunteer]

Well done for keeping hubby safe.Shows standards advices work.

How did you get it?

Jig

[strongmouse in reply to JigFettler]

Yes, it is good to know that the advice on self-isolating works.

Hardly been out but made a trip to pharmacy to sort out some medication for myself which they hadn't sent me! Thought I'd be in and out quickly but for various reasons it took longer. Won't be doing that again... a telephone call next time and home delivery.

[janvog]

Much may depend of which vaccination one gets. Some appear better then others.

[strongmouse in reply to janvog]

seems it may also depend on which variant is around. I take my hats off to virologists around the world who have developed vaccines and to the ongoing science community studying what is happening. We know so much more than we did a hundred years ago when the Spnish Influenza Pandemic effected the world. (One of my grandmas and her baby daughter died from it).