Anyone had a private covid test?

Hi Nightingale,

I don't think it has been proved that even if you have had covid, you won't get it again. My daughter and grand daughter were both unwell with a cough back in early March just before the lockdown. The doctor actually sent the grand daughter back to school after 3 days, but of, course, no testing then.!!!!  We had actually visited them, mainly to cheer up the daughter who was stuck indoors!! (Little did we know!)

My take on it all is that I see them, but just be careful. Make sure they wash hands, etc. I've decided I don't want to spend the rest of my life not seeing them, and we don't know how long this situation will last. I am 3 years post op, so well over treatment. Are you fully recovered from treatment?

Love xxxxx 

I don't think it at all likely you get it more than once, not in tbe short term. The case in Korea where they thought a group had it twice, I looked it up and that was a, mistake.  Also talking to my consultant the other day, he said he was convinced he had had it, but had to accept when they tested him  for antibodies, they did not find them. My son  is happy for me to see the grandchildren but my d-i-l is sticking very strictly to government guidines.. After the debacle with the care homes, it seems clear PHE is going to stick to recommending social distancing for as long as possible for older citizens . Four months in quarantine /house arrest is about all I can take. 

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Hi Nightingale,

I do know your predicament. I have two daughters each with a child and initially they wanted us both to stay indoors, and one did our shopping for us. When it was allowed for you to meet outside, we did that one weekend, and went for a woodland walk and picnic. That felt  good even to do that. I think there is less risk in the open, so could you do that? Gradually my daughters seem to have relaxed a bit, and today I had one and her family round for a meal with the door open (french windows), and table opened up so we weren't on top of each other. It was lovely and the five year old seemed more than happy to be allowed back into my house, ate an enormous tea, and didn't want to leave. I just really try and follow the guidelines, but have to make sure my daughters agree with whatever we plan. I think they are scared for us, but I also can't live cooped up forever!!! I can live without visiting crowded places quite easily as long as I can see my family!!  xxx 

I have been reading this thread and its really hits the nail on the head. Its about being safe but not restricted and it all seems bazaar that you can go the pub or a meal in a restaurant but for many people they cant see people together closely at home, just seeing family and close friends is so important. The introduction of social bubbles etc I believe will help in some respects. I have friends who are shielding and their really scared of all this because of the many unknowns. Having the test for covid-19 privately or by the NHS it’s also important to get accurate results and in a timely manner but also the debate about whether you can get it again and having the not or having the antibodies to offer some protection. So much is still a big learning curve for us all as we learn to live with this and hope for a vaccine that’s distributed to us all will make our day less stressful. The important thing is common sense the worrying thing is a lot don't seem to have that when you see some of the things people have been doing all though lockdown. The best thing is to be able to get some normality and keep as safe as possible. For me i am avoiding as much contact with others, we only have one visitor coming to the house we have been blessed with some good weather and have been out in the garden or we have opened up the conservatory and so there is plenty of fresh air but under cover from the rain, we clean the areas that’s been touched as best as possible and wash towels etc. I feel happier knowing that i can reduce the risks. I am not classed as extremely vulnerable but was classed as vulnerable during all this and with my immune issues I am very careful if I need to go into town i wear my mask, use hand sanitizer and or wash my hands as often as possible because for me its not just about me it’s protecting others who maybe more vulnerable and I really worry about people who may have it and not have symptoms. Everything opening up seems so rushed and I do have concerns. We need to get the health system fully up and running again and if having these covid tests helps bring that forward for people great but it’s difficult to be confident and its ok for you and the family wanting to find a safe way to be together again, we all know how mentally this helps us, keep safe everyone 

I find myself in a strange position at the moment.   My husband and I are both over 80 so are rather vulnerable although fortunately we are both in pretty good health with no real issues.  We have been very much been keeping ourselves to ourselves so far..  We are lucky in that, although we live close to the shops etc, we have an area of woodland close by and are  able to go out for a good  walk every day.  I have had all my shopping delivered and our usual theatre visits have been replaced by TV performances and relays.   I must admit  I have seen my neighbors , all  of a similar age to ourselves , meeting their families in their gardens on a regular basis right through the lock down period, but our son refuses to come near us!

I do wonder sometimes whether we may have been infected early this year..  The theatre and things we visit are always crowded and  audiences come from all over the world,  we certainly had periods of coughing but I have read reports that tests for antibodies are notoriously unreliable and any results could be misleading.

  The virus is not going away any time soon.  At at some point we will all have to venture out more and the time has come for me.  .I have a hospital  appointment in London this week, postponed from April,  to check on an fairly unusual eye condition that may lead to loss of sight.   After all this time in the house it is quite a daunting prospect, getting on a train etc even with a face mask!    I shall definitely heave a sigh of relief when I get home and return to my hermit like existence and we will  be even more relieved after week or so if we are still well! 

I am viewing the pictures of people crowding round the pubs yesterday with great fear.  Will we really be able to avoid a second spike?

Hi  oldady,

I think you are very lucky to have had food deliveries. We managed to get one right at the beginning of lock down, but had to wait a fortnight for it. After that it was an impossibility to even get on the web site, never mind get a delivery!!  We tried our local Lidls, thinking it was small and might have less people in there. Sure enough, it was empty most times we went. Our daughter helped us out, too. We have now got a click and collect slot, so alternate that with a Lydl shop. It was a bit strange getting used to sanitising trolleys, and hands before we went in. At the beginning of July I ventured into a local chemist as I knew they sold birthday cards, and I was determined my daughter would at least have that! I felt shocked to be confronted by someone in full PPE to pay for a card, but I'll get used to it all!!

I haven't ventured onto a bus, yet, and don't intend to. I certainly have to be more desperate to go into shops these days!!!  xxx   

HI NannyAnny

At first the only place I could get any delivery was Morrisons and I had to make  sure I bought veg that kept like carrots and white cabbage.   Before Lockdown I was often trying to get early booking for concerts and theatres so once Lockdown kicked in I transferred my efforts to grocery slots!  Then I was offered  priority at Sainsburys .   I am not sure how  - perhaps they used the Electoral roll  to find the  oldies.  Now it seems quite easy - slots appear for several of the supermarkets at odd times of the day so I just keep looking.  I have never been that loyal to one shop  (although  I did grow up as a Sainsbury girl, back in the days when they patted up the butter from a big slab!) and there are things I prefer to buy at different places.   I do miss Lidl and Aldi though but I can't face queuing to get into a shop even for John L, Waitrose or Zara.  I have a feeling I will be online shopping for a long time.