It seems that this will be a thing that is mentioned time and time again. It’s the new dreaded C-word. But unlike “the big C-word”, there are an awful lot of deniers out there.
We all know my feelings on the matter. I’m double-vaccinated plus boosted, I still don my mask, I still carry antiviral sanitiser in my bag (it’s a virus, what’s antibacterial sanitiser going to do??). We also know that I believe you have a right to go unvaccinated and maskless, and I have the right to think you’re an idiot. But hey, that’s free speech and human rights for you!
So hubs#2 caught the dreaded C-19 in October 2021. He tested positive via PCR the day we were both tested for my hospital procedure. Thanks for that husband! My procedure was delayed 4 weeks (thanks hospital in Leeds!). We think he caught it from our builders – did work for one day before three of the four tested positive. There was no contact tracing, he was not called the three times he was expecting, not even the once! Though when he called the contact tracing team the following week upon testing positive, they assured him they always contact close contacts from the previous two days. Complete BS there, IOM contact tracing team!
He had a cough, although he always has a cough in the morning so nothing was really thought of it. But this wasn’t shifting, and that should have been clue number one. Had a little bit of a head cold. Was lethargic, but this was due to being stuck in the house/garden – no walks with the dog, no walks to the shop, no pub, just nothing.
Child#1 and I both tested daily, and remained negative. Hubs#2 was relegated to sleeping on the living room sofa but only allowed in when no-one was around. He spent almost all his time in his office. I gave him his own sweeter jar, his own coffi jar, his own bread. He could only use one chopping board, sharp knife, cup, glass, knife, fork, spoon, side plate, plate & bowl. I bought him wipes and gloves, along with a supply of tissues, at-home-tests and bin bags. He was not allowed to play with the dog either. He was miserable.
On day two of him having negative tests, although still having to isolate for 10 days, he asked “can I please play with the dog now?” Not if he could spend time with his wife, or his step-child. If he could play with the dog! He did, and sat in the living room with us – still masked and on a different sofa. He was not allowed back into the bedroom. He was happier, but not happy until over.
Roll on five months… We’ve had Christmas together, we’ve had New Year together, we’re back at school and work [not hubs#2, as he is still being forced to WFH]. On one Tuesday, I get a text message of child#1 that their very close friend, my Marvel buddy, has contracted a variant of the C-word. They live in foster care, and it was that time of the month. Their foster parent isn’t the best, so I jumped all over that. I bought pain killers, I bought sweets and chocolate and Rubicon. I bought pencils and colouring in books. I got told I was loved. Just want to point out that I did it as it was the right thing to do, not for the love (although that’s nice).
On the Thursday, I awoke early in the morning. You know, as a parent, you just know when you are needed – that scream “Mummy” or they’ve snuck into your room and are staring at you, or simply climb into bed? It felt like that, but child#1 is 15 – none of that is happening any more. Not for a long time. It was weird. I have my watch on as I sleep, but I still look at my phone for the time. There is a text message. It is child#1. I read this out to hubs#2, and his response was “that’s what I had”. I then get a text in the morning saying “Two words. Two lines”. I immediately test, I need to go to work. I call school, ask them to let her other two closest friends know… “we can’t because of GDPR”. I gave permission, silly bint. And it’s not as if people aren’t going to find out anyway. I ask child#1 what they need, I get it. Then Friday morning comes along… Just as I am about to leave the house for work, I grab my phone that has been on charge and notice a text from child#1. It is not a happy message. Chest pain. Painful chest pain, mixed with anxiety. Paramedics are called. I text work whilst talking to the call handler. I know they’ll understand. It’s my baby. They have children, they know. Paramedics show up, they explain the equipment, they explain the tests. They reassure them, they reassure me. They don’t need to go in. I make sure they are fine, and head to work. Again, I ask what they need, and I get it. On day 10 for Marvel buddy and day 9 for child#1 – they finally test negative!
Symptoms for the beautifully clever one…
- Cough – persistent, still present after negative tests
- Chest Pain – bad enough for paramedics, not bad enough for hospital, lasted roughly 30 hours
- Nausea – lasted a couple of days, then constantly hungry
- Appetite Changes – nausea to begin with, then hunger for remaining days; eating larger meals than usual
- Shivering with hot flushes – lasted a day, made sleeping difficult
- Head Cold Symptoms – runny nose, slight headache
- Anxiety – suffers from anyway, but the unknown has heightened it
I have been blessed with not catching this virus. I feel like I need to write ‘so far’ at the end of that sentence. With restrictions lifted in UK and IOM, and travel being allowed once more further afield for all – with some countries never caring about your vaccination status – it seems inevitable that I will indeed catch it one day. I am careful, I always have been. I suffer from asthma, my mother-in-law suffers from COPD. I would prefer neither of us catch the damned thing. I will continue to mask up, and was grateful that I could when I had a cold and we have all now come to realise the seriousness of protecting each other from viruses (the Asian community were on to something with that, and there was me thinking it was due to smog alone!). But just because I have not caught from my teenage child nor the man I sleep next too, does not mean I will rest on my laurels. I will remain vigilant. The statistics are rising ridiculously again on this island. Goodness knows what they would be if everyone was still testing / declaring their results. I am not alone. There are three of us on my morning bus that remain masked up. It is good to know I am not the only one fighting to keep people safe.
Anyway, I just wanted people to know how the virus has affected my loved ones. It is different for everyone. My bestie has now caught the virus three times, each time with a different reaction and differing symptoms. Does that mean a different variant each time, I don’t know. I’m not an expert, I don’t claim to be. But I will take my lead from them. Stay safe out there people. Here’s hoping that the virus can be eradicated – although that would mean everyone who can would have to take the vaccination. There’s a reason measles came back people.
Mama Needs a Drink! 