COVID19 - How it's affecting you

Last night we spoke to the inlaws.  MIL has been very ill with a cough for some time now.  FIL has it now.  MIL answered the phone hacking a lung up and looked like death.  She was insisting it's not "the virus".  I laid into her to hang up and call 111 as regardless - she needed medical attention.  She called her GP instead today. 

GP has said they sound like they have it (duh) and to self-isolate.  MIL is 76, and has Non-Hodgins Lymphoma (caner in her blood and bone marrow).  FIL is younger at 71.  Aunt-in-law lives with them as well.  I feel SO helpless.  On the one hand, MIL has been like this for a good 10 days... so maybe she is properly battling through it successfully.  On the other hand, she's of "that" generation that insists they are fine and that the NHS should not waste their time with them.

What are we supposed to do?!?  Should we try to push for a test?  Any point?  I don't want the GP to be exposed, you know?  UGH.   I really want to know if they are genuinely self-managing or if they *do* need extra help.  I have no idea how we are supposed to do that from our home.  <sigh>  I'm feeling very scared and very helpless.

I welcome any advice.

Oh no. Sounds like they do have it. 

How is your husbands relationship with his parents? Would they listen to him?

Last night we spoke to the inlaws.  MIL has been very ill with a cough for some time now.  FIL has it now.  MIL answered the phone hacking a lung up and looked like death.  She was insisting it's not "the virus".  I laid into her to hang up and call 111 as regardless - she needed medical attention.  She called her GP instead today. 

GP has said they sound like they have it (duh) and to self-isolate.  MIL is 76, and has Non-Hodgins Lymphoma (caner in her blood and bone marrow).  FIL is younger at 71.  Aunt-in-law lives with them as well.  I feel SO helpless.  On the one hand, MIL has been like this for a good 10 days... so maybe she is properly battling through it successfully.  On the other hand, she's of "that" generation that insists they are fine and that the NHS should not waste their time with them.

What are we supposed to do?!?  Should we try to push for a test?  Any point?  I don't want the GP to be exposed, you know?  UGH.   I really want to know if they are genuinely self-managing or if they *do* need extra help.  I have no idea how we are supposed to do that from our home.  <sigh>  I'm feeling very scared and very helpless.

I welcome any advice.

I'm so sorry, you must be so worried.  Maybe you could have them take their temperatures? I know it's not definitive but it might give you some sort of an indication of how sick they are.
Is there any sort of healthcare power of attorney in place? If so, I'd try to speak with the GP practice.. maybe even if there is not you could have a hypothetical conversation...or call 111 yourself.
No mention was made of antibiotics or of a home visit in view of MIL's diagnosis?
I've seen reports of people suddenly talking a turn for the worse. Can aunt be relied upon to call for help immediately should this happen in the meantime?

Sorry, more questions than answers... 

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/advice-for-people-at-high-risk/

Last night we spoke to the inlaws.  MIL has been very ill with a cough for some time now.  FIL has it now.  MIL answered the phone hacking a lung up and looked like death.  She was insisting it's not "the virus".  I laid into her to hang up and call 111 as regardless - she needed medical attention.  She called her GP instead today. 

GP has said they sound like they have it (duh) and to self-isolate.  MIL is 76, and has Non-Hodgins Lymphoma (caner in her blood and bone marrow).  FIL is younger at 71.  Aunt-in-law lives with them as well.  I feel SO helpless.  On the one hand, MIL has been like this for a good 10 days... so maybe she is properly battling through it successfully.  On the other hand, she's of "that" generation that insists they are fine and that the NHS should not waste their time with them.

What are we supposed to do?!?  Should we try to push for a test?  Any point?  I don't want the GP to be exposed, you know?  UGH.   I really want to know if they are genuinely self-managing or if they *do* need extra help.  I have no idea how we are supposed to do that from our home.  <sigh>  I'm feeling very scared and very helpless.

I welcome any advice.

So sorry, KFDancer . I don’t have any advice to give unfortunately, but I hope they can get any help/treatment that they need.


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Latest update for me:

Spent most of this morning trying to find out what time the flight from the UK was due in on Wednesday and checking that my replacement was booked onto the flight... managed to get a flight schedule and confirmed that he was booked on it.

Then I went to the weekly briefing where we were told that everyone arriving will now go through a 14-day isolation... so I let my colleague in the office know and suggested he contacted my replacement to check he was okay with that, since this is his first overseas tour.

My colleague emailed around with the information, only to have my replacement email him back to say that his tour was cancelled last week and he’s no longer coming to Ascension... but no one told us!

So, looks like I will be staying here longer after all .

Current plan is for me to leave in early-mid June instead of late April.


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Latest update for me:

Spent most of this morning trying to find out what time the flight from the UK was due in on Wednesday and checking that my replacement was booked onto the flight... managed to get a flight schedule and confirmed that he was booked on it.

Then I went to the weekly briefing where we were told that everyone arriving will now go through a 14-day isolation... so I let my colleague in the office know and suggested he contacted my replacement to check he was okay with that, since this is his first overseas tour.

My colleague emailed around with the information, only to have my replacement email him back to say that his tour was cancelled last week and he’s no longer coming to Ascension... but no one told us!

So, looks like I will be staying here longer after all .

Current plan is for me to leave in early-mid June instead of late April.

I hope you're ok with that?

Last night we spoke to the inlaws.  MIL has been very ill with a cough for some time now.  FIL has it now.  MIL answered the phone hacking a lung up and looked like death.  She was insisting it's not "the virus".  I laid into her to hang up and call 111 as regardless - she needed medical attention.  She called her GP instead today. 

GP has said they sound like they have it (duh) and to self-isolate.  MIL is 76, and has Non-Hodgins Lymphoma (caner in her blood and bone marrow).  FIL is younger at 71.  Aunt-in-law lives with them as well.  I feel SO helpless.  On the one hand, MIL has been like this for a good 10 days... so maybe she is properly battling through it successfully.  On the other hand, she's of "that" generation that insists they are fine and that the NHS should not waste their time with them.

What are we supposed to do?!?  Should we try to push for a test?  Any point?  I don't want the GP to be exposed, you know?  UGH.   I really want to know if they are genuinely self-managing or if they *do* need extra help.  I have no idea how we are supposed to do that from our home.  <sigh>  I'm feeling very scared and very helpless.

I welcome any advice.

Very sorry to hear this.

I think they should have called 111. My sister called 111 when she had Covid-like symptoms. She was told to self isolate but 5 minutes later received a call from a doctor telling her to report to a particular ward at our local hospital. When she went there she was expected and all the staff were in full hazmat suits. She was escorted to a private room with en-suite toilet. Spent several hours there where she was tested and found not to have Covid. (It was pleurisy).  I just think the 111 hotline  maybe better set up than the local GP to deal with potential Covid cases.

I hope you're ok with that?

Yep - I've been practically begging to stay, and was secretly hoping I might have to . I'd much prefer to be here than in the UK right now.

My only concern is running out of toiletries/make-up/medicines etc. as I only brought enough to last until April. I can buy basic things here, but not my usual brands. I've also just had a load of toiletries (and a new phone) delivered to my parents' house ready for when I get back, and now I'm wondering if I should ask them to post some of them out to me... except the post only arrives every 3 weeks and there's no guarantee the items will get here before June!

Last night we spoke to the inlaws.

How are things this morning KFD?

Yep - I've been practically begging to stay, and was secretly hoping I might have to . I'd much prefer to be here than in the UK right now.

My only concern is running out of toiletries/make-up/medicines etc. as I only brought enough to last until April. I can buy basic things here, but not my usual brands. I've also just had a load of toiletries (and a new phone) delivered to my parents' house ready for when I get back, and now I'm wondering if I should ask them to post some of them out to me... except the post only arrives every 3 weeks and there's no guarantee the items will get here before June!

Trust me, you aren't missing anything good here.  Everyone is at home and going out once a day to exercise while avoiding each other. 

Coworker's Dad passed away last night from Covid-19   


My husband has been given notice to go on furlough, which thank goodness that exists at the moment. But we believe he'll go on redundancy when the government pay stops.

What are we supposed to do?!?  Should we try to push for a test?  Any point?  I don't want the GP to be exposed, you know?  UGH.   I really want to know if they are genuinely self-managing or if they *do* need extra help.  I have no idea how we are supposed to do that from our home.  <sigh>  I'm feeling very scared and very helpless.

I welcome any advice.

If they are in England, then they need to phone 111 asap. Your MiL appears to be in the group the NHS has identified as high risk and your FiL has a cough too now.

Here is the link for England.
https://111.nhs.uk/covid-19/

This also has the links for those living in the other nations of the UK (Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales) and their NHS advice on who to contact if they think they have Covid-19.

Last night we spoke to the inlaws.  MIL has been very ill with a cough for some time now.  FIL has it now.  MIL answered the phone hacking a lung up and looked like death.  She was insisting it's not "the virus".  I laid into her to hang up and call 111 as regardless - she needed medical attention.  She called her GP instead today. 

GP has said they sound like they have it (duh) and to self-isolate.  MIL is 76, and has Non-Hodgins Lymphoma (caner in her blood and bone marrow).  FIL is younger at 71.  Aunt-in-law lives with them as well.  I feel SO helpless.  On the one hand, MIL has been like this for a good 10 days... so maybe she is properly battling through it successfully.  On the other hand, she's of "that" generation that insists they are fine and that the NHS should not waste their time with them.

What are we supposed to do?!?  Should we try to push for a test?  Any point?  I don't want the GP to be exposed, you know?  UGH.   I really want to know if they are genuinely self-managing or if they *do* need extra help.  I have no idea how we are supposed to do that from our home.  <sigh>  I'm feeling very scared and very helpless.

I welcome any advice.

111 is definitely set up better for covid (use the online form if you can), but there are a lot of supportive treatments that have been helping my friends. Asthma inhalers, steam, heating pads around the lungs, using a variety of positions to have gravity help clear the lungs, and a combo of antibiotics and mucolytic drugs to fight the pneumonia. If they have any tinge of blue they need to call 999 because that means their oxygen levels are depleted and they need the hospital. 111 will send someone if they think the symptoms warrant needing O2 Sats checked. One of my friends is on day 11 with double pneumonia and has been told if she's not getting better today is headed for the hospital. I hope your inlaws are able to keep fighting, and are faster to call for support if they need it.


And I'm so sorry to hear that PB. Too many good people are dying right now.

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Thanks guys.  I'll contact the aunt who lives with them and have her call 111.  I think my inlaws are too stubborn.  And I know they won't take calls from someone who isn't physically with the patient.

Any update KFDancer? Thinking of you all x