This might get ugly. (Covid related)

[Carrie12345]

My sister let me know our mom is sick. Waiting on PCR results. It’s not surprising she wouldn’t tell me herself, because I have poor ability to keep my thoughts to myself, and boy does she hate that.

She’s in her late 60s with some of the typical health issues of people in their late 60s. Nothing extraordinary, but enough to be worrisome.  And my stepdad recently got the clear-of-cancer news after 2 years and 2 rounds of treatment, plus he has other serious health issues. 

So my sister is definitely (and likely accurately) going to be blaming our other sister. Sister #2 spent Christmas there. Masked, at least while they were FaceTiming me. SHE had gone out of state to attend a work holiday party not long before. And her dd is in school.  Mom hasn’t spent any significant time indoors with anyone else, though she did quickly pop into 2 stores and has been in an office a few times alone. Other people rotate in and out of the office alone, too. Technically anything is possible. Logically, I’d put money on the Florida traveler. And sister #1 will likely make a thing of it.

Which, honestly, I probably would, too. Except, sister #1 actually had Mom babysit for a few hours not long before my niece got Covid and gave it to her brother and parents.  So the VERY SAME POTENTIAL was there.  The only difference was luck.

I dislike sister #2 and we’re basically estranged, so I’m almost always on sister #1s side in family matters. And she is going to hate it when my poor ability to keep my thoughts to myself kicks in.

This isn’t actually a call for advice, though I don’t care when people offer it anyway, lol.  This is me just rambling as I struggle with the knowledge that my mom may have Covid.

 

[KSera]

I’m sorry. Is she vaccinated at least?

[Carrie12345]

1 minute ago, KSera said:

I’m sorry. Is she vaccinated at least?

Yes! And boosted, thank goodness.  She currently has cold symptoms, but no fever.  (Sister #1 also had cold symptoms without fever through her course.)

[prairiewindmomma]

Similar situation here. Relative showed up to extended family gathering knowing he had been exposed pretty thoroughly but was asymptomatic and “feeling fine”. He knowingly chose not to test. We didn’t attend because we know how casual they all are about covid. Everyone has gone oddly radio silent which makes me wonder. Last time it happened it was because they were sick. 

Honestly, I don’t know if I will ever be able to safely see my extended family again. I will get heckled if I wear a mask. I won’t be safe if I don’t. 
 

These kinds of situations make you sit back and evaluate, iykwim. It’s super hard to watch people make sets of choices that are literally difficult to live with and for me to keep my mouth shut. I have, but it’s hard. *Hugs* 

[Catwoman]

Hopefully, neither of your parents will get very sick, and there won’t be any cause for fireworks within the family over whose fault it was.

[desertflower]

ugh.  So sorry.  I have a hard time keeping my mouth shut too. 

[Hilltopmom]

Ugh, this is all so hard and like playing roulette.

We cancelled on attending a wedding last night & even though we are in a state requiring masks, the photos posted today show not a mask in sight!!! These people are my co workers- fellow teachers. Oof.

Fingers crossed your mom is ok.

[Catwoman]

9 minutes ago, Hilltopmom said:

Ugh, this is all so hard and like playing roulette.

We cancelled on attending a wedding last night & even though we are in a state requiring masks, the photos posted today show not a mask in sight!!! These people are my co workers- fellow teachers. Oof.

Fingers crossed your mom is ok.

I’m so glad you stayed home!

[Ottakee]

Sorry about family messes.

Omicron seems to be highly contagious, way more than others so even great precautions might be enough.

Just glad she is vaxed and boostered.

[marbel]

Ugh, I'm sorry. FWIW, I am 65, vaxed and boosted, just over the border of obese, and when my whole family got it I had the mildest case and was over it quickest.

[lmrich]

Sorry about that... it seems like I have heard this same scenario already several times this year. You did not ask for any advice but don't let the worry and stress impact your health. 

[Kanin]

58 minutes ago, Hilltopmom said:

We cancelled on attending a wedding last night & even though we are in a state requiring masks, the photos posted today show not a mask in sight!!! These people are my co workers- fellow teachers. Oof.

 

Ugh. That stinks! I found out before break that one of my coworkers is unvaccinated... I was sure she was. 

[Carrie12345]

1 hour ago, Hilltopmom said:

Ugh, this is all so hard and like playing roulette.

We cancelled on attending a wedding last night & even though we are in a state requiring masks, the photos posted today show not a mask in sight!!! These people are my co workers- fellow teachers. Oof.

Fingers crossed your mom is ok.

I can’t even with the whole non-masking thing at this point.  Over the summer with super low cases while vaccinated?  I kind of understood that. Now? This is what my own area looks like, and my family members are missing out on valuable training courses because no one will reschedule OR wear masks.  Sigh.

[Farrar]

If sister #2 is also vaccinated - especially if she's boosted - then I think you really have to let it go and encourage #1 to do the same if she starts the blame game. In the days before Christmas, a lot of people didn't realized the numbers were about to go this absolutely crazy. Vaccinated people didn't know omicron was about to be everywhere and that their previous protections were about to be worth a lot less so the risks were riskier. If sister #2 was even masking... I mean, she and your mom did everything right - they took a risk, but it was a reasonable one that many people were taking. The rules of the game changed on them. And yeah, ideally, they would have been paying attention to numbers, tested beforehand, etc. But... what good is blame going to do at this point? Especially if you're already estranged from sister #2. 

[Kassia]

I'm sorry about the stress and aggravation.  Hope your mom is okay.

[Carrie12345]

1 minute ago, Farrar said:

If sister #2 is also vaccinated - especially if she's boosted - then I think you really have to let it go and encourage #1 to do the same if she starts the blame game. In the days before Christmas, a lot of people didn't realized the numbers were about to go this absolutely crazy. Vaccinated people didn't know omicron was about to be everywhere and that their previous protections were about to be worth a lot less so the risks were riskier. If sister #2 was even masking... I mean, she and your mom did everything right - they took a risk, but it was a reasonable one that many people were taking. The rules of the game changed on them. And yeah, ideally, they would have been paying attention to numbers, tested beforehand, etc. But... what good is blame going to do at this point? Especially if you're already estranged from sister #2. 

It’s kind of funny (not really) because sister #2 swears her doctor told her not to get boosted. I *think she got the first shot, if not the second, and she did have covid many months ago.
But MEANWHILE, sister #1 did not get her eligible child vaccinated.  She, herself, is vaxxed and boosted, but her daughter has anxiety about the vaccine. She gets other vaccines, but not this one. While in in-person school. With a sibling who isn’t old enough to be vaccinated.  So, big picture, she isn’t any better having Mom over to babysit!!!

So I get to be the one listening to #1 complain and blame when it actually isn’t fair of her to do so.  😛 

[Hilltopmom]

42 minutes ago, Carrie12345 said:

I can’t even with the whole non-masking thing at this point.  Over the summer with super low cases while vaccinated?  I kind of understood that. Now? This is what my own area looks like, and my family members are missing out on valuable training courses because no one will reschedule OR wear masks.  Sigh.

Yeah.. I’m not looking forward to returning to work this week with all the wedding goers.

[Carrie12345]

Mom’s PCR test from Friday or Thursday (not sure which) came back negative, but her home test was positive today.

I’ll be calling her tomorrow to see how she’s doing. I doubt she really wants me to, but I’ll be on my best behavior.

Meanwhile, my nephew is still having some residual effects from his infection, even though he was the least symptomatic in his household.  Sigh.

[mommyoffive]

I am hoping your mom has an easy case.  

Sending good thoughts to your nephew.

[Ting Tang]

I'm very sorry.  I know it must feel so scary. My dad is in his 60s, hospitalized/in rehab back and forth due to complications from cancer.  He was Covid positive today and said he took some cough medicine.  I wonder if I should be asking if he can get antivirals?  Maybe if your mom is diagnosed, she could get those?  I am not too familiar with their safety, but at least we have a new tool.  Honestly, even the most careful of the careful are getting it.  It is hard not to judge, of course, and I think some people have enjoyed carefree lives at the expense and stress of others.  Adults can do better.  

[Catwoman]

24 minutes ago, KrisTom said:

I'm very sorry.  I know it must feel so scary. My dad is in his 60s, hospitalized/in rehab back and forth due to complications from cancer.  He was Covid positive today and said he took some cough medicine.  I wonder if I should be asking if he can get antivirals?  Maybe if your mom is diagnosed, she could get those?  I am not too familiar with their safety, but at least we have a new tool.  Honestly, even the most careful of the careful are getting it.  It is hard not to judge, of course, and I think some people have enjoyed carefree lives at the expense and stress of others.  Adults can do better.  

I would absolutely try to get him started on antivirals ASAP!

Praying that he gets a very mild case of Covid.

[Ting Tang]

1 hour ago, Catwoman said:

I would absolutely try to get him started on antivirals ASAP!

Praying that he gets a very mild case of Covid.

Thank you so much! I will contact him in the morning with the suggestion.  

[Carrie12345]

Good news, so far, which I’ll add to the Omicron thread - 

My mom sounds to be doing really well, as far as, yk, having Covid! Sore throat, a bit of a cough. Well enough to be working from home, and glad to have a spare bedroom and second bathroom. Yesterday was Day 5 of symptoms for her.

800 miles away, *I* have now had a sore throat for more than 24 hours. 😑 
I’m trying to hold off on home testing since so many people are testing negative before positive and I only have 1 test left on hand. And I have to find a local PCR location. This bites.

[Catwoman]

I'm so glad to hear that your mom is doing so well, but it's awful that you are feeling sick now! 😞 

I hope whatever you have stays mild and that you will start feeling much better very soon!!!!

Edited January 5, 2022 by Catwoman