So scared

[erinjaye]

My fiance was exposed at work and now we are sick. We have a 3 month old baby. We can't get tested because our symptoms are too mild right now but I'm so so scared that its gna get worse and I'm so worried about our baby.

[glassgirlw]

I’m sorry you’re going through this. It has to be really hard especially with a baby. How long have you been ill? Are you guys able to rotate your rest so you can each get enough sleep? Feel free to come on here and chat. So many people are willing to talk!

[erinjaye]

Thank you. He was sick over the wknd and feels better, he's just tired and lost his sense of smell. I've been feeling off for a few days but this afternoon I started feeling a lot of sinus pressure and body aches which is how he felt. Our son seems ok for now but it's so hard because babies can't tell us. All we can do is keep taking his temperature and praying. I have terrible anxiety as is so I can't tell if I'm having trouble breathing because of the virus or because I'm panicking. Im afraid one of us is going to die.

[glassgirlw]

Well it’s good that your husband is starting to feel better. Maybe he can help fill in for you so you can get some rest? Try to remember that the majority of cases have been pretty mild - it’s a fairly low percentage overall that are severe. Odds are in your favor that you’ll just feel run down for a few days and then be on the road to recovery - if it’s even CV. Remember it’s still cold/flu season and sinus pressure and aches definitely go along with that too!

[erinjaye]

Yes for sure you're totally right. It's just really scary. Its someone he works closely with that tested positive and he also lost his sense of smell. The last possible day of exposure was about 8 days ago so we're right in that incubation period. And up until today when I started feeling bad I was kissing my baby constantly. So I feel really guilty about that also.

[glassgirlw]

Try not to focus on the guilt - you wouldn’t have had any way of knowing. And the guilt will just make you feel worse. I know it’s almost impossible but try to keep some distance where you can. Do you have a fever?

[erinjaye]

No fever yet, no. Dr. Said we should be taking all of our temperatures twice a day and call if the baby is 102. We're obviously not kissing anymore but distancing is hard. My fiance has taken over for the most part since he's feeling ok. I get a lot of separation anxiety if I'm not in the same room as the baby.

[glassgirlw]

I can’t imagine, I totally understand. I would be a mess so I definitely sympathize. I don’t have much advice other than take care of yourself and make sure to drink lots of liquids and get as much rest as you can.

[Scass]

I’m sorry you’re both ill. Hopefully yours will be similar to your boyfriends and you’ll feel better soon.
So scary with a new baby too. I always remember reading about how babies have some natural protection from you for about 6 months or so & this reassured me a lot when my daughter was a baby. If you’re breastfeeding then you’ll be giving him any antibodies that you’re making, but if not then you’re doing everything you can and that’s all you can do at the moment.
Keep in touch x

[erinjaye]

Thank you. So far I'm having breathlessness but hard to say if it's sickness or anxiety. Everything else feels like a typical cold other than my fiance losing his sense of smell. Praying this doesn't get worse and it skips the baby by some miracle.

[glassgirlw]

It has affected very, very few babies. I think I’ve only heard the media report of one in the whole US. So the odds are very good that the baby won’t get it. Just focus on nursing yourself back around and try not to stress too much, I know it’s hard!

[erinjaye]

Thank you

[fishman65]

Thinking of you erinjaye, you will come through this.

[erinjaye]

Thank you I appreciate that

[erinjaye]

I keep feeling like I'm going to forget to breathe and chest pressure. I'm able to take a deep breath but only intentionally. That's probably anxiety right? Or could that be a symptom? I'm on day 4 of feeling run down and its been almost 2 weeks since my fiance was exposed, 1 week since he started feeling under the weather.

[glassgirlw]

I would think that’s more anxiety than anything. I think if you’re truly short of breath there will be no question. Have you had a fever at all yet? The only reason I ask is that maybe you don’t have “it” but are more run down and tight chested due to the stress you’ve been under for the last couple weeks?

[erinjaye]

No fever thankfully yet! Praying you are right. Feel like I'll be able to relax about it in another week or so if no one gets super sick.

[erinjaye]

Baby felt a little warm to me tonight but I took his temperature 4 times in a row and each time the thermometer gave me a different reading. So idk.

[Scass]

Is it an ear thermometer or armpit one?

[erinjaye]

Forehead

[erinjaye]

Tried the armpit one in myself and it was reading really low

[Scass]

I don’t think you can give them ear ones when they are that little can you.

Maybe try when he’s asleep and relaxed.

[ErinKC]

I'm so sorry you're having to worry about this!

Are you breastfeeding? If so, if you're fighting off the virus you'll give antibodies of it to your baby through the breastmilk.

Also, like other have said, very few babies have gotten ill even if exposed.

As far as the temperature, I've found since becoming a mother that you absolutely know when your child has a fever. It's unmistakeable, both because they feel ill and get fussy and because the feel of their skin is very noticeably warmer, even when it's a low fever. I've always known my daughter has a fever just from touching her before I take her temp.

What state are you in? If you're really worried there may be a drive up test center near you.

[erinjaye]

Thank you for that, I keep telling myself he always feels a bit warm and he's eating and playing normally so he must be ok. I'm in California so they are only testing very sick people.

[erinjaye]

So I was doing great for awhile but now my fiance has to go back to working in the office. I'm so distressed over it as California cases are surging right now! To make matters worse I picked up smoking again out of boredom and anxiety and then last week I went to the dentist, doctor and auto shop. So now I'm wondering if I was careful enough because I have a constant heavy feeling in my chest. Could be reflux, smoking, anxiety or covid. Currently waiting on results for that garbage antibody test even though my doctor said it not very accurate. I'm trying to get her to give me a chest x ray to rule out anything scary. I'm also terrified that if I did get it when my fiance did that there's long term lung damage. Yes, I'm spiraling out of control but I'm just at a loss right now. I'm so scared of dying.