I got it!

mommyandme (m&m)

I have Covid!  I’m very upset and feeling quite dumpy. I’m afraid I have already exposed my 85 yr old mom with late stage 7 Alzheimer’s and my newborn grandson who’s only 5 days old. 

Fortunately a friend came by to help me today and will hopefully come back tomorrow. The service we use pulled out.  I am my mom’s hands on caregiver. I’m wearing a very severe mask while helping mom along with putting a mask on her. I’m washing my hands, wearing gloves and wiping everything down.  I can’t stand the unknowns. What if this is my mother’s undoing?!

My fatigue alone makes it difficult to change mom among other things. She has no idea what I’m saying when I mention that I’m ill.  

Im beside myself with worry and am so uncomfortable physically too. I guess the unknowns will be known soon,  I’m so scared. 

Thanks for reading. 

ladyzetta

Dear M&M

Iam so sorry you're not feeling well. You're in my prayers and you being the strong person that you are this will pass. I bet your friend comes back to help you as much as she can. Maybe your doctor can recommend someone to come help you for a little while. Do your best to stay warm and get as much rest as you can. Hugs Zetta 

Ed1937

I'm so sorry. Being a caregiver with covid has to be just about undoable. Sending prayers your way so things get better quickly.

Quilting brings calm

It’s all over the place again.  It’s in my parent’s AL, but my parents haven’t gotten it.    My spouse had it, but I tested negative as did our son who had been  home for Thanksgiving   and left the Friday before my spouse tested positive( the Monday after Thanksgiving).  Spouse had the cough and the loss of taste and smell.   Neither myself or our son had any symptoms.  Several Facebook friends have it.  No idea where my spouse got it as he hadn’t been near the AL.  

Hopefully your grand baby’s mom had been vaccinated and passed some protection to the baby.  All you can do for your mom is your best.   Try to rest when she does.   

easy23

 Covid doesn't always infect those living with you, so think positive!

FWIW my sister- in-law's 96 yo father just survived covid. 

I hope you feel better soon! Sorry you're going thru this.

sunnydove

I'm so sorry you're sick. And I understand how you're feeling. But if you weren't caring for your mom she would probably be in a home and already have caught it or even been lost to it. You can't blame yourself. 

Are you up to date on your vaccinations? My best friend's husband has had 2 organ transplants and is on immunosuppressive meds. After over 2 years of being so careful and taking all precautions, they all recently got covid. They all experiences typical flu-like symptoms but all pulled through fine. If it's still early enough you should try to get the paxlovid shot and if your mom gets sice, she should get it asap. But try not to worry so much as the vaccines and treatments have come so far and are very effective.

Sending you love and hope you feel better soon! 

​fesk

m&m, I am hoping the best for you and you are all in my prayers. Try to take care of yourself.

mommyandme (m&m)

Thank you, all of you kind and caring people! I feel pretty bad, a lot of it is my fear of infecting others. My friend that is willing to come here all day to help is actually on oxygen. I’m so afraid yet I need her help desperately. I’m kind of emotional to say the least.  I thought today I should put mom in respite while I recover, then I thought she’d probably just get it there. 

Thank you for the positive reminders and prayers.  Will deal with tomorrow, tomorrow. 

Joydean

So sorry you are having to go through this! Please get some rest and try not to let your fear get the best of you. You are a very strong lady and have been through so many difficult times. Prayers for you and your family! 

GothicGremlin

Yes, take care m&m. I hope you start to feel better soon.

And you know - you've been doing your best, and that's all you can do.

Sending positive thoughts your way!

MN Chickadee

I’m sorry you are going through this. 

We know now that filtering our air is really essential to prevent spread. Whether through HVAC systems, ventilation through opening windows, air purifiers, quality masks. This is true for  covid but also increasing evidence this is true for all kinds of illnesses like colds and flu. Whatever you can do helps. A quality air purifier really does help - you will be surprised at the visible gunk it collects in its first line filter let alone the invisible stuff. But at the end of the day no matter what happens you are doing your best. None of it is your fault. You have done nothing but your best in providing your mom good care.  It may all turn out “fine” (what does that even mean with dementia??) but if not you’ll face it as it comes. Wishing you a good nights sleep. 

Martin Robbins

My 91 year-old mother had COVID but was asymptomatic.  It was only discovered during a hospital visit for tests.  They gave her remdesivir.  They isolated her for 10 days, during which time the care she received was poor here in Pittsburgh, PA.  She could not walk when discharged, but could walk well when admitted.  She lost more than 20 lbs.  She was dehydrated and terribly constipated.  Her perineum was bright red.  She looked awful.  She never needed oxygen and was completely asymptomatic throughout the hospital stay.

Fortunately, my mother survived the hospital stay.

I came down with COVID the day my mom went to the hospital.  Mine was not asymptomatic.  I was over it, though, by the time she was discharged.

I have read recently that asymptomatic COVID should not be treated.

FloydSnax

M&M

I know exactly what you're going thru. When this whole thing started, my 90-year-old mom qualified as someone who would surly die if she contracted Covid. So, I took her care even more seriously than before because I wouldn't let it happen on my watch, right? For almost two years I fought to keep her safe. I made sure she had the first Vax plus two Boosts while I got neither. As long as she was covered and couldn't get sick is all I cared about. Then everything relaxed and the very first time I went out with my friends to a rock show where no one had masks on (it was actually the first time I went out without one in two years) and POW! Of course. And I got it pretty bad. So, there I was. Where you are now. How could I possibly care for my mom if I'm sick? Is she going to get sick? How can she not? I'm dying over here. Should I go to a hotel for a week. She can't even feed herself. The guilt started to really build. How could I have gone so long to get her sick now? And by me, of all people. I brought it to the attention of her Primary Physician, and she told me that with her 3 shots she should be fine. And she was. I was a mess for like 10 or 11 days and she had a little cough for 1. I pray you have the same outcome. 

ninalu

m&m,
I'm so sorry you're sick! I'm sending you strong recovery wishes and hoping that you'll allow the help when you need it. Totally normal (in my book) to be emotional when not feeling well and caring / worrying for others. I hope this passes quickly. {{{}}}

Warm thoughts your way - to all of you.

Elshack

I feel for you. My DH who is in Memory care and is 92 yrs old got Covid in October. He also had a slight case of pnemonia but was in the hospital only 3 days. I pray that the strain you have is the milder form of Omicron. My DH lost his appetite for a week or 2 but is now back to his pre Covid state.

I got Covid in Sept. and was put on Paxlovid for 5 days. I was very tired but it felt like I had a cold. Try not to worry althoughI know it is very difficult for you to take care of your mom when you are so sick. Praying that you begin to feel better. My 89 yr old sister got it last week and she is feeling much better now so don't give up hope that you and your mom will improve.

May flowers

M&M I am so sorry to hear this! I hope you feel better soon.

 DH and I had Covid in September and we did our best not to infect my FIL but he ended up with it anyway. We thought that would be the end of him. It was pretty mild for us, for him he had a fever for two days, and required O2 (hospice provided) antibiotics and steroids for a cough. But all in all he was back to baseline in a week.

mommyandme (m&m)

Unfortunately mom tested positive and seems to be a bit down. i still feel like crap and am going to go in cause of chest pain and coughing up bloody phlegm. darn*. 

Hoping palliative will call back soon so they can assess mom. wish hospice was still on board. maybe they’ll have to come back cause of this awful thing. there’s the dichotomy again. gross. 

Thank you all again! 

CatsWithHandsAreTrouble

Sorry to hear you've both got it now. Good luck with getting hospice again! Maybe the covid will move their assessment in the favorable outcome.

mommyandme (m&m)

I now have the dilemma of getting mom into the hospital for assessment for the antiviral covid meds. Even though we got off hospice I didn’t think my mindset had changed from comfort care… maybe I feel responsible for her current situation so comfort care is out the window?  Will I feel better putting her through the hospital nightmare to try to get some help and the outcome could be the same. 

I can’t get anyone here to at least listen to her lungs from palliative or Home Health care.  Pretty disappointed with that palliative service right now. No virtual appts available from her PCP or urgent care, seriously!!  So I sit here awake in the early morning partly from my own illness but more than that…thinking of my next move. I guess I’m going to call for another hospice evaluation just to make her comfortable. She smiles when I’m able to come in the room, even pinks up, and in the hospital I don’t think I can even be there for her. If hospice won’t come in I guess I’ll have to get her to the hospital for comfort measures at least, if that’s comfort. What do you all think?  Am I thinking this through correctly?  I’ll start a new thread if many won’t see this since this thread could be getting stale. Thanks again!! 

easy23

If you can't get a hold of the PCP, do you have a 24 hour nurse hotline through your mother's medical insurance? I have used them a couple of times and found them to be helpful with advice.