Prudence vs. anxiety. Germ precautions as covid risks decline.

[Drama Llama]

I currently have a sinus infection, with all the classic sinus infection symptoms -- facial pain, post nasal drip, mild fever.  I went to the doctor who tested me for covid (rapid was negative, PCR is still out) and gave me antibiotics. The doctor said that between the fact that I'm vaccinated; the fact that my symptoms are classic sinus infection, the fact that I don't go anywhere,  and my negative rapid test, I should assume that I do not have covid.  He said the sinus infection is clearly bacterial, and thus non contagious, but that it's possible that it was triggered by a cold and I could still be carrying cold germs for up to two weeks.  However, I also have issues with stress related reflux and vomiting which can cause congestion as a symptom, and it could also be related to that.  But to be safe I could take "whatever precautions you'd take for a cold". Which makes me wonder -- what would those precautions be?  

Three years ago, I had two kids in school.  DH and I were both working full time in positions with lots of interaction with people, and my then 87 year old grandfather in law was watching my kids after school.  If I'd had a sinus infection, possibly triggered by a cold, I might have stayed home for a day or two when the pain was bad, but then I would have gone back.  At school, I would have washed my hands extra, and asked one of my paras to the direct care tasks that seemed riskiest like helping kids wipe their noses, but otherwise I would have done my job at usual.  At home, I would have washed my hands extra, and maybe served my kids some oranges.  I probably would have avoided hugging my GFIL, and sat him at the other end of the table.  But that would have been it.  It wouldn't have crossed my mind to keep my kids from school, or DH from work, or tell my GFIL not to come because I might possibly have a cold.  Flu?  Stomach bug?  Strep?  Maybe I'd be more cautious, but not for a cold. 

Then I spent a little more than two years being terrified of germs, first because of my immunosuppressed kid with lung disease, and then because of covid and GFIL.  

Yesterday, I took my kids to the pharmacy with me to pick up fast food, and the antibiotics via drive thru, after I knew my rapid test was negative.  I wore a mask, opened all the windows in the van, and made them wear masks and sit in the back.   I worried that I might infect the pharmacy tech, or the fast food worker.  After that, the kids wanted to watch a hockey game, and I went and sat outside to reduce germs in the house.  We're living in the same house with GFIL, who is now 90, and I've made very sure that neither I nor the kids have been in a room with him.  I also tried to get him to leave to stay with a different grandson, but GFIL told me I was nuts.  Today my kids, who do not have cold symptoms, walked to the pool (private pool we rent from the neighbors, so no other people) with their uncle, and I'm sitting here worrying that they aren't staying apart from their uncle in the water, which could theoretically infect him, leading him to infect GFIL.  

Meanwhile, my husband, who has exactly zero symptoms, is supposed to go with his pregnant sister on Monday for the inspection walk through on her new build house, and I'm wondering if we should cancel so he doesn't get her sick, or if I should just tell him to wear an N95 and use hand sanitizer a lot.   I'm also fretting about whether I should let my 10 year old go to outdoor masked soccer practice tonight, or let him play in his outdoor masked games this weekend.  

OK, so that was TLDR, but the big idea is that I've lost my mind.  I clearly have no idea what makes sense precaution wise.  My system has been on alert for germs for so long that I have forgotten how to relax.  At the same time, I think that maybe some of what we've learned from covid makes sense (e.g. me masking around a 90 year old if I have a cold, or choosing outdoor activities for the kids when they have symptoms), and that I should be more cautious than pre-covid because I know that having a cold is anxiety provoking for people right now.  But I have no idea where the line is. 

What would other people do?  What are reasonable precautions to take if you're symptomatic, but are confident you don't have covid?  Are other people struggling with this?

Edited May 20, 2021 by BaseballandHockey

[Catwoman]

 I wish I knew what to tell you to do, but all I can do is tell you that you are not alone. I have become a paranoid, germaphobic lunatic since a Covid started, and it is exhausting to live this way —- yet I am still worried that if I drop my guard, something terrible will happen. 

 So I have no advice for you, but as someone who is also over-thinking every little thing, I can offer lots of hugs and commiseration.

 

[prairiewindmomma]

Wear a mask, and stay at home. If you have a fever, you shouldn’t be out and about.
 

I would let everyone else do the things they already have planned.

 

Edited May 20, 2021 by prairiewindmomma

[Farrar]

I would mask in that situation. It's polite. Even as we recognize that masking is not necessary in some situations now, we need to be normalizing masking. It's not political. Anyone who is super snotty for any reason should be masking in mixed public, indoor spaces for the comfort of others, IMHO.

In practical terms, I don't think your dh needs to mask. He has no symptoms, is vaxxed, and you've been told you don't have Covid. The only reason you need to mask is that you're visibly symptomatic and also, honestly, blowing snot everywhere is just germy, even if it is caused by bacteria and not a virus. Plus, the risk that you do have Covid is higher because you have some symptoms. You probably don't, but just... add one more layer of caution.

In terms of processing... we are all there. This has been traumatic. We're all weird now. I'd say just try your best.

 

 

[Drama Llama]

6 minutes ago, Farrar said:

I would mask in that situation.

When you say "in that situation" do you mean in my house? 

I'm still masking everywhere that's not my house anyway, except that I've taken off my mask to eat food at a table that's at least 6 feet away from people outside in a relative's backyard, and to get my covid tests.  Other than urgent care, I'm not really going anywhere inside. 

 

[Katy]

Hugs.  I would assume it’s reflux and not mask. I seriously doubt it was a cold you never had symptoms for. It’s the symptoms that lead to the bacterial infection.  Everyone in danger is vaccinated. 

Then I would do what I could to relax.  If someone else can watch the kids I’d drink too much alcohol and lay out in the sun.  A good dose of sunlight, alcohol, & vitamin D will do you some good.   

If that’s not possible because you’re responsible with skin care or some such, put on sunscreen, grab a bottle of water, and go for a walk somewhere with trees and water, where you can see sun sparkling on the water, feel the wind in your hair, and walk until you’re tired. Sit down, enjoy being outside, cry if you want, and when you’re done return home. 

If you want you can take extra vitamin D and get takeout curry for supper. They have options for all the kinds of eaters you feed, and all those spices can clear out your sinuses and reduce inflammation. 

After supper find a fiction book to escape into.  Maybe take a hot bath to induce a fever, bundle up and go to bed early. I bet you’ll feel much better in a day or two. 

[ktgrok]

Ok, so...are you worried about getting kids sick, or about them getting sick and it then requiring quarantine and it disrupting things? 

Normally, in the before times, I'd say it is prudent and compassionate to stay home as much as possible when possibly contagious with anything. But I certainly wouldn't keep myself outside my own house, etc. 

Now, however, I can see how a small cold in a kid can be a huge PIA due to them having to quarantine. That might make me more cautious. 

But really, by the time it goes from cold to sinus infection it usually isn't contagious anymore. And you haven't been anywhere to pick up a cold. 

[Drama Llama]

1 minute ago, ktgrok said:

Ok, so...are you worried about getting kids sick, or about them getting sick and it then requiring quarantine and it disrupting things? 

Normally, in the before times, I'd say it is prudent and compassionate to stay home as much as possible when possibly contagious with anything. But I certainly wouldn't keep myself outside my own house, etc. 

Now, however, I can see how a small cold in a kid can be a huge PIA due to them having to quarantine. That might make me more cautious. 

But really, by the time it goes from cold to sinus infection it usually isn't contagious anymore. And you haven't been anywhere to pick up a cold. 

I'm worried about them getting sick and giving it to their GFIL and he gets pneumonia and then we can't visit him in the hospital due to covid restrictions.  Or DS10 giving it to a soccer coach who then fails a covid screening and needs to take leave at work.   Or giving it to their pregnant aunt, who already is getting to the point in her pregnancy where sleeping is hard and probably doesn't want to wake up more often due to cold symptoms.  

I'm not actually worried about kids having the cold.  My kids have previously had colds.  It was not traumatic.  

Other than their pediatrician for physicals, and church a few times (their brother's vigil and funeral, and DS13's confirmation), my kids have not been indoors anywhere but a family member's house since March 2020.  So, there isn't that much to disrupt with a quarantine.  

[ktgrok]

Ok...so I'd bet you are not contagious. But, I'd probably have people be careful around GFIL. And if any kids show symptoms, then keep them home. But I don't think you need to keep them home and away from people if they have no symptoms, and your doctor thinks your infection is bacterial. 

[kbutton]

1 hour ago, BaseballandHockey said:

Three years ago, I had two kids in school.  DH and I were both working full time in positions with lots of interaction with people, and my then 87 year old grandfather in law was watching my kids after school.  If I'd had a sinus infection, possibly triggered by a cold, I might have stayed home for a day or two when the pain was bad, but then I would have gone back.  At school, I would have washed my hands extra, and asked one of my paras to the direct care tasks that seemed riskiest like helping kids wipe their noses, but otherwise I would have done my job at usual.  At home, I would have washed my hands extra, and maybe served my kids some oranges.  I probably would have avoided hugging my GFIL, and sat him at the other end of the table.  But that would have been it.  It wouldn't have crossed my mind to keep my kids from school, or DH from work, or tell my GFIL not to come because I might possibly have a cold.  Flu?  Stomach bug?  Strep?  Maybe I'd be more cautious, but not for a cold. 

I think these are reasonable precautions if you know this is a sinus infection. I would add staying home for a fever. Our family rule (and the rule for most schools) is 24 hours fever-free. Virus fevers tend to come and go, so that is why 24 hours is recommended. I can see that maybe becoming 48 hours at some point if there is any thought of it being Covid.

If you are on antibiotics, you shouldn't be contagious after the first 24 hours or so.

While we're waiting for normal, I think masking should be normalized and considered, but the degree to which we do that should be somewhat flexible. Asking allergic people to mask for months at a time seems nuts and potentially cost-prohibitive or difficult if they are snotty. 

I am also a firm believer in people taking meds to control symptoms if they can (but not masking fever for the purposes of work/school--that's different). I can no longer take sudafed, but when my allergies were at their worst, it really kept the snot under control. Without it, I was walking around with kleenex stuffed into my nose all day. That would saturate multiple masks per day. My nose would be running all day (and it looked like water most of the time--no color, no thickness--it was watery).

49 minutes ago, Farrar said:

We're all weird now. I'd say just try your best.

Yes.

28 minutes ago, ktgrok said:

But really, by the time it goes from cold to sinus infection it usually isn't contagious anymore. 

Agreed. And there are specific guidelines for things like strep. We don't have to treat every single illness like it's all the same level of concern. Suspicion of flu also warrants more precautions. 

13 minutes ago, ktgrok said:

Ok...so I'd bet you are not contagious. But, I'd probably have people be careful around GFIL. And if any kids show symptoms, then keep them home. But I don't think you need to keep them home and away from people if they have no symptoms, and your doctor thinks your infection is bacterial. 

Care around the elderly or people known to have compromised immunity is always courteous.

[Farrar]

1 hour ago, BaseballandHockey said:

When you say "in that situation" do you mean in my house? 

I'm still masking everywhere that's not my house anyway, except that I've taken off my mask to eat food at a table that's at least 6 feet away from people outside in a relative's backyard, and to get my covid tests.  Other than urgent care, I'm not really going anywhere inside. 

 

No, I meant when you talked about going to the pharmacy and so forth. Like, if I had to run errands as you did, I wouldn't freak out, but I would mask, just like you did. I thought other than essentially being overly worried, you did all the right things.

[Terabith]

Yeah, I think your germ anxiety is understandable but sitting outside while your kids watch hockey indoors is, frankly, nuts.  

I would let kids be around family members except GFIL and pregnant SIL.  I'd let youngest go to masked soccer practice outdoors.  Odds are high you don't even have a cold.  You yourself staying home or masking if you have to go through pharmacy drive through is reasonable.  Not sending your kids to play indoors with high risk family members is prudent, but you aren't doing that right now anyway.  

I'd let SIL decide on whether or not she wants your husband on the house walk through.  

I think it's important to be cautious and considerate with germs in the current environment, but I think you've slipped over the edge into borderline OCD type worrying.  

No offense intended.  It's clearly a result of the fact that you care so much for people.

[AngelaR]

3 hours ago, Catwoman said:I have become a paranoid, germaphobic lunatic since a Covid started, and it is exhausting to live this way —- yet I am still worried that if I drop my guard, something terrible will happen. 

As someone who has dealt with OCD for most of my adult life, this has been my everyday experience for the last 5 years…the exhaustion from anxiety over getting “contaminated” by whatever random thing is currently freaking me out (bedbugs, pinworms, lice, COVID)…Actually, the pandemic has made me feel more normal bc now, “everyone” is freaking out over being contaminated and taking extra steps to avoid contamination—I’m not the only one!  Watching the pandemic play out in real time has also helped with my other germaphobic issues…things like calculating the risk of contamination, safe activities etc. Watching the scientists deal with this has helped me not freak out over my other germ issues, bc I actually think about the percentage chance that “something bad” will happen if I do x, y, or z. I’ve also learned that MY OCD really isn’t about germs…it’s actually about being so totally stressed out about entirely unrelated things.  And believing a two-fold falsehood:  1) you tend to overestimate the likelihood that your greatest fear will occur while 2) underestimating your ability to cope with said fear. Realizing that was a way of thinking for me and others like me who suffer from OCD was very…empowering, actually.  And yes, it’s exhausting.    And to the OP, I hope you are able to reduce some of the stress that might be contributing to the very valid fears of living during a pandemic. 

Edited May 20, 2021 by AngelaR
Wording

[Catwoman]

Just now, AngelaR said:

As someone who has dealt with OCD for most of my adult life, this has been my everyday experience for the last 5 years…the exhaustion from anxiety over getting “contaminated” by whatever random thing is currently freaking me out (bedbugs, pinworms, lice, COVID)…Actually, the pandemic has made me feel more normal bc now, “everyone” is freaking out over being contaminated and taking extra steps to avoid contamination—I’m not the only one!  Watching the pandemic play out in real time has also helped with my other germaphobic issues…things like calculating the risk of contamination, safe activities etc. Watching the scientists deal with this has helped me not freak out over my other germ issues, bc I actually think about the percentage chance that “something bad” will happen if I do x, y, or z. I’ve also learned that MY OCD really isn’t about germs…it’s actually about being so totally stressed out about entirely unrelated things.  And believing a two-fold falsehood:  1) you tend to overestimate the likelihood that your greatest fear will occur while 2) underestimating your ability to cope with said fear. Realizing that was a way of thinking for me and others like me who suffer from OCD was very…empowering, actually.  And yes, it’s exhausting.    I hope you are able to reduce some of the stress that might be contributing to the very valid fears of living during a pandemic. 

Thank you, Angela!!! That makes so much sense!

[SKL]

It's not crazy to not want your GFIL to catch a cold.  I would keep the kids and yourself away from him until you're fairly sure the kids won't get symptoms.

As for the uncle, I would tell him the sitch and let him decide.  It's probably fine.

Things still are different even if you're vaccinated, because everyone is extra suspicious about just about all symptoms.  As a result of hyper-vigilence, my kids aren't allowed to go to school if they have certain symptoms, however mild.  And seeing sniffles etc makes people nervous.  So, if it isn't too hard to do, I suggest you just stay home and away from people while you have questionable symptoms.

I wouldn't worry about masked kid activities if the kids are symptom free - unless you come to a conclusion later that it is in fact a communicable illness.

Before Covid, I still remember many threads on here where people were super annoyed with parents who let their kids breathe on others while there were symptomatic illnesses at home.  So I don't think it's crazy to be concerned about that either.  I do think it's OK to weigh the risk and act rationally, communicating as appropriate.  Your 10yo probably isn't sick because whatever you have probably isn't catchy.  Your 10yo isn't going to cough or spit on people at soccer.  You might want to ask him to wash hands more, but otherwise I think you should let him go play.

[Ausmumof3]

Without getting specific to your situation this is what we do.  We haven’t been in COVID lockdown for quite a while so maybe it’s helpful to have perspective from the other side?

Fever - sick person goes nowhere unless a doctors visit is required.  Well people in the house that don’t work go nowhere except to buy necessities.

Thick runny nose cold.  We stay home unless we need to buy necessities.

trail end of a cold we go out but avoid lower immune systems friends and relatives.

gastro.  No one goes anywhere for at least three days after unless we urgently need hydralite and crackers.  
 

Within the home the acute phase sick person stays in their room and I open all the windows.  We try to disinfect surfaces a bit more.  The sick person comes out when the acute phase is over but doesn’t do any food prep until really well.

[kbutton]

1 hour ago, Ausmumof3 said:

Fever - sick person goes nowhere unless a doctors visit is required.  Well people in the house that don’t work go nowhere except to buy necessities.

gastro.  No one goes anywhere for at least three days after unless we urgently need hydralite and crackers.  

For anyone to answer...how common is it for people to have an illness run through the whole family? That's only happened here once, and that was a super catchy stomach bug. It only happened once. Even when the kids were little, snotty, and in everyone's face with sloppy kisses and fingers that had been in their mouths, I still got only the occasional cold. 

It's very rare for more than one person in our home to get sick with something. Same for my FOO. I don't remember any time at all when I was a kid that something went through the whole household.

In college, my roommate and I didn't tend to make each other sick either. I also know a few families that are always "that family" that shares germs and makes other people sick (some are related to me, lol!).

I am starting to wonder if our family is very unusual. 

[Drama Llama]

7 hours ago, Katy said:

Hugs.  I would assume it’s reflux and not mask. I seriously doubt it was a cold you never had symptoms for. It’s the symptoms that lead to the bacterial infection.  Everyone in danger is vaccinated. 

Then I would do what I could to relax.  If someone else can watch the kids I’d drink too much alcohol and lay out in the sun.  A good dose of sunlight, alcohol, & vitamin D will do you some good.   

I have this thing called work.  But that does sound nice.  

7 hours ago, Katy said:

If that’s not possible because you’re responsible with skin care or some such, put on sunscreen, grab a bottle of water, and go for a walk somewhere with trees and water, where you can see sun sparkling on the water, feel the wind in your hair, and walk until you’re tired. Sit down, enjoy being outside, cry if you want, and when you’re done return home. 

If you want you can take extra vitamin D and get takeout curry for supper. They have options for all the kinds of eaters you feed, and all those spices can clear out your sinuses and reduce inflammation. 

I think I'm going to get some ma po tofu and hot and sour soup tomorrow.  I like that better than curry. 

7 hours ago, Katy said:

After supper find a fiction book to escape into.  Maybe take a hot bath to induce a fever, bundle up and go to bed early. I bet you’ll feel much better in a day or two. 

 

[Moonhawk]

24 minutes ago, kbutton said:

For anyone to answer...how common is it for people to have an illness run through the whole family? That's only happened here once, and that was a super catchy stomach bug. It only happened once. Even when the kids were little, snotty, and in everyone's face with sloppy kisses and fingers that had been in their mouths, I still got only the occasional cold. 

It's very rare for more than one person in our home to get sick with something. Same for my FOO. I don't remember any time at all when I was a kid that something went through the whole household.

In college, my roommate and I didn't tend to make each other sick either. I also know a few families that are always "that family" that shares germs and makes other people sick (some are related to me, lol!).

I am starting to wonder if our family is very unusual. 

Us! Every sickness that comes in the house stays in the house until we have all caught it. Sometimes with the exception of DH, but he will hermit himself, take all the vitamins, treat us like lepers, lol. But if one kid shows symptoms more than just a tummy ache for longer than 12 hours, I do a heavy grocery trip, get 6 boxes of tissues and prepare for it. If we're "lucky", everyone gets it at the same time and not daisy-chaining out for a month. (And we do have high nutrient standards and hygiene, my kids are just expert sharers I guess, lol. Also, close quarters.)

I think that's why I get so irritated when I see other families out and about with a sick kid saying "oh it's just a runny nose" or whatever, because I know it's going to wipe us out if we get it.

[Drama Llama]

34 minutes ago, kbutton said:

For anyone to answer...how common is it for people to have an illness run through the whole family? That's only happened here once, and that was a super catchy stomach bug. It only happened once. Even when the kids were little, snotty, and in everyone's face with sloppy kisses and fingers that had been in their mouths, I still got only the occasional cold. 

It's very rare for more than one person in our home to get sick with something. Same for my FOO. I don't remember any time at all when I was a kid that something went through the whole household.

In college, my roommate and I didn't tend to make each other sick either. I also know a few families that are always "that family" that shares germs and makes other people sick (some are related to me, lol!).

I am starting to wonder if our family is very unusual. 

DH and I both work in fields where we have had a lot of exposure.  I mean, I get drooled on regularly at work. I got sick as a dog my first years teaching, and now I don't.  When DS13 was in school, he'd bring home all sorts of things, and I wouldn't get them.  His first couple years of preschool he brought home everything.  I think he almost never went 5 days in a row, and by the time he was in Kindergarten it had started to get better.  DS10, on the other hand, has some kind of guardian angel.  He just doesn't get things.  Maybe because his brother brought them all home when he was tiny?  I dunno.  Like the other day I was thinking I should teach him to swallow pills, because it's a useful skill, and I don't think I can remember the last time he took medication.  Maybe like liquid tylenol for teething?  I don't remember.  

 

[Ausmumof3]

41 minutes ago, kbutton said:

For anyone to answer...how common is it for people to have an illness run through the whole family? That's only happened here once, and that was a super catchy stomach bug. It only happened once. Even when the kids were little, snotty, and in everyone's face with sloppy kisses and fingers that had been in their mouths, I still got only the occasional cold. 

It's very rare for more than one person in our home to get sick with something. Same for my FOO. I don't remember any time at all when I was a kid that something went through the whole household.

In college, my roommate and I didn't tend to make each other sick either. I also know a few families that are always "that family" that shares germs and makes other people sick (some are related to me, lol!).

I am starting to wonder if our family is very unusual. 

It’s been reasonably common for us while the kids were little particularly with gastro.  Hence why we stay home so long if we get it.  Been caught before where we went out after two days then another kid went down with it.  It’s got better now the kids are older and able to get food for themselves.  
 

And we are all pretty thorough hand washers etc.  our house doesn’t have great airflow.  

[Drama Llama]

4 hours ago, AngelaR said:

As someone who has dealt with OCD for most of my adult life, this has been my everyday experience for the last 5 years…the exhaustion from anxiety over getting “contaminated” by whatever random thing is currently freaking me out (bedbugs, pinworms, lice, COVID)…Actually, the pandemic has made me feel more normal bc now, “everyone” is freaking out over being contaminated and taking extra steps to avoid contamination—I’m not the only one!  Watching the pandemic play out in real time has also helped with my other germaphobic issues…things like calculating the risk of contamination, safe activities etc. Watching the scientists deal with this has helped me not freak out over my other germ issues, bc I actually think about the percentage chance that “something bad” will happen if I do x, y, or z. I’ve also learned that MY OCD really isn’t about germs…it’s actually about being so totally stressed out about entirely unrelated things.  And believing a two-fold falsehood:  1) you tend to overestimate the likelihood that your greatest fear will occur while 2) underestimating your ability to cope with said fear. Realizing that was a way of thinking for me and others like me who suffer from OCD was very…empowering, actually.  And yes, it’s exhausting.    And to the OP, I hope you are able to reduce some of the stress that might be contributing to the very valid fears of living during a pandemic. 

Thanks, this is helpful.  I don't think I have OCD, but definitely some kind of anxiety thing.

It's definitely stress and grief impacting my judgment, but I think the only cure for that is time.  I actually am a lot better than I was, I just have a long way to go.  

[Drama Llama]

5 minutes ago, Ausmumof3 said:

It’s been reasonably common for us while the kids were little particularly with gastro.  Hence why we stay home so long if we get it.  Been caught before where we went out after two days then another kid went down with it.  It’s got better now the kids are older and able to get food for themselves.  
 

And we are all pretty thorough hand washers etc.  our house doesn’t have great airflow.  

I feel like gastro is different.  It's not really a thing we get.  Both my middle son and I have had gastro issues, but in that case the trigger has been crystal clear, so I never worried about contagion.  

[Ausmumof3]

Just now, BaseballandHockey said:

I feel like gastro is different.  It's not really a thing we get.  Both my middle son and I have had gastro issues, but in that case the trigger has been crystal clear, so I never worried about contagion.  

It does seem to be one of those things you either get or don’t.  My dd and I seem to be particularly vulnerable for some reason which makes me crabby about people going out without leaving a decent time frame.

[Drama Llama]

2 minutes ago, Ausmumof3 said:

It does seem to be one of those things you either get or don’t.  My dd and I seem to be particularly vulnerable for some reason which makes me crabby about people going out without leaving a decent time frame.

I think if I got it, I'd assume that it was some kind of super bug and stay home a month.  But it's not our thing. 

[SKL]

12 hours ago, kbutton said:

For anyone to answer...how common is it for people to have an illness run through the whole family? That's only happened here once, and that was a super catchy stomach bug. It only happened once. Even when the kids were little, snotty, and in everyone's face with sloppy kisses and fingers that had been in their mouths, I still got only the occasional cold. 

It's very rare for more than one person in our home to get sick with something. Same for my FOO. I don't remember any time at all when I was a kid that something went through the whole household.

In college, my roommate and I didn't tend to make each other sick either. I also know a few families that are always "that family" that shares germs and makes other people sick (some are related to me, lol!).

I am starting to wonder if our family is very unusual. 

It doesn't happen here as often as one would think.  Often one of my kids won't catch what the other one has, though they are in each other's faces practically 24/7.

Personally I wouldn't be able to keep everyone home because of one person puking or feverish.  As much as we'd all love a break, the kids would be considered truant if I did that.  (Maybe not now with Covid rules, but normally.)  And there would be way too much missed school if a bug went through person by person.  Last week we had one person puking early in the week, then my kid started puking on Friday.  If someone else gets it next ... and then another person ... we'd be out of school for weeks.  Can't do it.

[Spryte]

20 hours ago, Katy said:

Hugs.  I would assume it’s reflux and not mask. I seriously doubt it was a cold you never had symptoms for. It’s the symptoms that lead to the bacterial infection.  Everyone in danger is vaccinated. 

Then I would do what I could to relax.  If someone else can watch the kids I’d drink too much alcohol and lay out in the sun.  A good dose of sunlight, alcohol, & vitamin D will do you some good.   

If that’s not possible because you’re responsible with skin care or some such, put on sunscreen, grab a bottle of water, and go for a walk somewhere with trees and water, where you can see sun sparkling on the water, feel the wind in your hair, and walk until you’re tired. Sit down, enjoy being outside, cry if you want, and when you’re done return home. 

If you want you can take extra vitamin D and get takeout curry for supper. They have options for all the kinds of eaters you feed, and all those spices can clear out your sinuses and reduce inflammation. 

After supper find a fiction book to escape into.  Maybe take a hot bath to induce a fever, bundle up and go to bed early. I bet you’ll feel much better in a day or two. 

Well, now I want to do all that, just because it’s been a tough year!

 

OP, are you feeling any better?

[Drama Llama]

49 minutes ago, Spryte said:

Well, now I want to do all that, just because it’s been a tough year!

 

OP, are you feeling any better?

Thanks for asking.

The antibiotics kicked in last night, so now I have a runny nose instead of one I can't breathe through, and less pain.  My PCR test came back negative, as expected.  So, that's progress.  I'm keeping my kids home from their cousins, where they'd usually go on Friday, and otherwise we don't have anything to do outside the home anyway today.  

I am so tired I can't see straight.  I'm a little worried I taught my students that 1 + 1 = 7 or something like that today.  

[kbutton]

Thanks for answering. It sounds like a big range from people who all get sick to selective to none. My brother was "the one" in our house that would get sick, but we'd all be fine (though my dad had flu a couple of years that no one else got). He's still that way, as is one of his three kids. Lol! His whole family, including the ones that get sick less often than he does, get sick probably about 5 times more often than we do. It's wild! 

DH has tons of exposure at work. Both my parents worked in public facing jobs, though my dad was in/out of buildings (walking mailman in a town with lots of foot traffic). 

I think diet only goes so far--lots of clean eaters get sick, and plenty of junk food people are fine too. I think that's more important for long-term health in most cases than for colds and such, though I am sure some people with tendencies to be ill would notice an improvement if they go from being junk foodies to real foodies.