House guest(s)

[bracelets1]

Hello- I am very new to this site - but so far am loving it - this is also my first post/question. I am newly diagnosed mbc - I am in my second round of letrozole and Ibrance and luckily doing well on these meds thus far. My question is, for any out there that still have college age children at home - do you allow your child to have a friend come visit at your home? My son has friends who are coming home for the summer and I am just trying to figure out if I should allow him to have any visitors- of course, limited to one or two at a time and of course if they are feeling well and will be washing hands, etc. when entering our home. Thanks in advance for any feedback

[Hidden]

Hmmmm....great question. I think it comes down largely to whether or not everyone is fully vaxxed/boosted? Plus, sometimes when I visit/stay with friends (all vaxxed, of course), I bring the instant result covid tests? I find that everyone understands and is happy to comply....Is this an option?

I'll admit to sometimes being overly confident re: covid and am a tiny bit reckless? Assuming that since I'm vaxxed, etc., will get a mild case and would be first in line for those post-dx treatments now available? But then I snap back into reality (! a place I generally don't enjoy visiting!) and say, y'know what, this s!hit is *real*....Working hard always to stay alive with cancer, why take a chance on something else due to...inertia?

My two-cents!

[bracelets1 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you LynnFish - I agree with everything you said and "if they are vaccinated" was definitely a requirement to visit in my home. And LOL - I like forgetting reality too, even for a few short moments! Blessings!

[mariootsi in reply to Hidden]

I agree

[Aprilfoolz1]

I agree with Lynn, I would make sure they were Covid vaccinated . I have hosted young adults over the past year have so far stayed Covid free (also ask them to wear a mask if traveling on planes )

[bracelets1]

Thank you so much for your response - the vaccination would definitely be required to visit indoors. I just want my children to still "live" and enjoy their home, but also keep my safety in mind My onc says - live your life - just be smart about it Blessings!

[Aprilfoolz1]

Exactly ! We want to spend time with family and friends and not have them afraid they will make us sick.

[Beryl71]

I think I'd want them to be well and vaccinated and not lots together given that youngsters often mix with a wide range of people. Also will depend on how much space you have. I had results of my blood test yesterday for my bone treatment and the nurse clearly flagged up that the low aspects made me vulnerable to infection. Take care and have a lovely time. X

[Rubyjude]

Would it be possible for them to take a Lateral Flow Test just before they come? We take a test before we go to visit/stay with friends and ask them to do the same if coming to us. It's not necessarily a solution but might help if added to the other precautions. As Covid is airborne, you should think about ventilation in your home as well. It sounds like you have a healthy balanced approach, so good luck!

[Kdiet]

Yes I do allow. But we eat outside as a group and no one is allowed in the MBR; these are just Covid precautions.

[Gibby21]

Yes my sons girlfriend stays and he has other friends that stay, I’m fully Vaccinated and so is my family and I think I’m trying to keep his life as normal as possible thru my MBC I think he deserves to have that normalcy to his life. The only caveat I put to that is that they’re healthy when come here.

[DDIL1]

I love my kids and grandkids kids and enjoy being with them, but they do come with exposure- so I do ask for a COVID test, I know they are vaccinated but they can still get COVID. Then everyone is welcome.

[PJBinMI]

Welcome! There's alot of the wisdom of experience here, that's for sure. The pandemic sure complicates things and adds a whole other layer of concern for our health. My husband and I are fully vaccinated and boosted and so are two of our 3 daughters. so the unvsxxed daughter and her twelve year old daughtermdon,'t come into our house. I have one daughter and husband has two, all adults when I was diagnosed 18 years ago, with bone mets from the get go. I invited each of our daughters to come with me to an appt with my onc and my daughter was the only one who tookme up on that. I've been open an d direct with them and my brother and close friends. Maybe it would be helpful to talk with you kids about your concerns soon so they have time to digest yourconcerns. I want to add that it's a good sign that treatment is working for you! Many of us with E + mbc do really well for a long long time!

[Discocat]

Hello! WELCOME !! I think your right to be cautious…but at the same time we want to try to live something resembling a normal life. I did catch Covid ….even though 3x vaxed at the time…pretty sure I caught it at the supermarket. I had been super careful and do most of my shopping online….but fussy cats only eat certain brands not available online….hence the shop. My mistake was it was also right at the end of the three weeks of Ibrance, so my WBC was obviously low. Luckily I had a very light bout of Covid …and since my week off was coming up anyway I missed very little time off meds.My point is you can catch it anywhere…if your not careful so keep a mental check of where you are in the treatment cycle….I now avoid crowds etc that last week.

We have a large box of home tests and we do one before visiting friends, which has become the norm for everyone I know. The irritating thing I’ve found however is how people with small kids often forget to mention if they are sick in the house at the time your visiting….young kids get sick ALL the time so I know it becomes easy to ignore a sniffle….but do you have to go shopping with them that day that their off school??(another irritation).

My best friend invited us to dinner recently and forgot to mention her seven year old daughter had a cough…until she’s sat at table with us coughing everywhere with sticky licked fingers in all the food too!🤪 yup I caught it.

So be careful….but live too!

Love Zoe xx

[bracelets1 in reply to Discocat]

I also have a 5 year old granddaughter (they just moved back home to our city) and my daughter will not be getting her vaxed, but that will not stop me from being around her- unless of course if she is sick or has any "sick-like" symptoms, then my daughter not bring her into our home. And your right, it comes down to sensibility- we went to dinner last night, indoors, but at a very early hour -very few customers in the restaurant- and I took my mask off only to eat. (It is also beginning to get so warm here, that outdoor dining will not be a choice soon unfortunately)- At this time, where I live, the COVID numbers are low and haven't ramped up again like some areas of the country are beginning to. I am vaxed 2x's - and I have had it twice over the last 2 years- for now my onc said we will just watch the numbers to decide on whether to get the other vaccinations.

Thanks for your input- I am so impressed with this site and the support, experience, knowledge and encouragement that everyone is eager to provide. What a GREAT place to have access to!

Blessings!

[Hidden]

Hi thereMy son is 15 and at school, so mixes on a daily basis with hundreds of smelly teenagers and then comes home. He tries to be careful as much as he can. Now the rules are relaxing again to no masks, andI told him I feel as safe as I can be and that he should live his life without having to worry about me.

If I were in your situation I would enjoy having them all around. Yes, take precautions with tests, open windows, use separate toilets/bathrooms or wipe down in between visits (if you feel that will help),but most of all embrace them all having fun and living.

Clare

[bracelets1]

Thanks BellaE - I made the decision to allow his friends (limited to 2 at a time) in our home. That is one thing I didn't want from the beginning of my diagnoses was for anyone, especially my children, to be inconvenienced (as little as possible, anyway). Our home is large and well ventilated - and I am taking all common precautions. You are so right, "embrace them all having fun and living" - As we should "live" too!! Blessings to you!!!!