Have symptoms, regular exposure, but continued negative PCRs

[mindutopia]

Sorry I didn't really know how to title this post to get at the question I'm trying to ask. But Dh and dd both currently have COVID. Dh got it from an employee, symptoms started about 5 days after close contact, I developed symptoms a day later. Dh positive on LFT and me negative. We all went for PCR tests, only dh positive and the kids and I all negative. I continued to have symptoms, the same horrible heavy cold, headache, fatigue, chest tightness (but no cough, I'm asthmatic, so have a bit of a cough anyway, but not the same constant dry cough dh has).

Dd developed symptoms a couple days later, positive on LFT, we went for another round of PCR tests on Monday. Dd obviously positive and ds and I still negative. Ds has had no symptoms, but I continue to be symptomatic. Dh and dd have classic COVID symptoms, fever, dry cough, change in taste and smell, headache, and also nasal congestion. Mine are not quite the same, but do have heavy congestion, headache, fatigue, body aches. It's hard to explain, but it's a strange cold. It's not like a normal cold. My mouth and throat and nose very dry, but then also lots of mucus and I'm just drained. It's still going on a week later, which is unusual for me.

We have generally been self-isolating from the start. I pulled dd and ds out of school/nursery when dh tested positive as didn't want to risk infecting anyone else. We have not isolated from each other at home at all. I do go out to the shops as needed as my daily LFTs and two PCRs are negative, but trying to be really cautious.

My question is, is there any chance this could be COVID and there is some explanation for why my tests are not coming up positive? Is this an immune reaction to COVID exposure (double vaxxed and recently had my booster)? Obviously there are other viruses going around, but I truly haven't been anywhere in the week before I developed symptoms (wfh) except socially distanced school runs, so can't imagine where I would have gotten a cold. I've been following all guidance, but just can't quite shake that I may be spreading this around if I think I don't really have COVID, but it turns out I do.

I'm in nearly the same situation. Eldest ds got a positive with mild symptoms. Had been a close contact of someone else. The day after his positive(so he had already been symptomatic for 2 days) I woke up with stronger version of his symptoms - feeling really cold unable to get warm, scratchy throat, headache, tight chest. I also had a weird metallic taste. I've tested negative on lateral flows and 3 x pcrs tests throughout. Other 2 members of the household have not had any symptoms or positive tests. We are on day 9 of isolation now both extremely tired and wiped out, I've still got a weird taste thing going on. I'm questioning the likelihood of having a virus with the same symptoms at the same time as my son was positive for covid....

I could of wrote this last Sunday the 5th I woke up with a scratchy dry throat and blocked nose then on Monday night dp said he felt very tired. Tuesday came he got sent home from work after his boss tested him and it was a blaring positive. I tested and I was negative. Tuesday evening we go for a pcr he's positive I'm negative. I'm tested daily on lt flow and I'm negative he's still positive in these 9 days I've had headache blocked nose dry cough then flemmy I'm asthmatic to. But even tho I have asthma I never get a cough so it's new. Today day 9 still have headache and feeling off. Double vaxxed with AZ last one October. I generally think I had covid a day before my partner I've just ordered an antibody test to tell me if I've had it was 20 pound xx

You both sound like me. I’ve just been diagnosed with pneumonia.
On my 4th week of feeling like I have a severe cold.
3 negative PCR tests.
Aches and coughing.
Stuffy nose went after 2 weeks.
Awful fatigue and my ankles and elbows really ache.
Finally contacted the dr this morning who diagnosed pneumonia.

I've had similar. Dp caught covid 10 days ago after exposure at work. I had a bad cough, shivers and aches all last week and all negative tests - 3 pcrs and multiple lft's. This Sunday I got a positive lft and confirmed with pcr but that point I had new symptoms - head cold symptoms. Have spoken to a doctor (they rang me once I got positive result and I am somewhat vulnerable) who said in his opinion I probably had it last week but the tests weren't picking it up based on symptoms but I'm not so sure myself. I would say I had something else last week we since sundays positive test I've had bad head cold symptoms which I didn't have last week. Who knows 🤷‍♀️ I think I've had two viruses one after another!

I think some people just don't catch it and nobody knows why. Like the people during the plague who never became ill even though most of their village died. You probably have a different illness/virus.

Very similar here.

DD tested positive with Covid, I had a negative PCR at the same time as hers. Didn’t keep my distance from her (she is 6). Didn’t really go anywhere else as had to stay home with DD.

Came down with symptoms about a week later (sore throat, shivers, headache, night sweats) and thought oh here we go, I’ve obviously caught it from DD. Off for another PCR - negative!

Two possible theories

• I happened to catch a different virus. Seems unlikely given I was barely going anywhere, but possible I guess.

• It was covid and for some reason I didn’t test positive on PCRs, even with symptoms

Bizarre either way

This is me.
DH got covid last tuesday (confirmed with pcr).
I started to feel crap by the saturday and did lfts every day. Pcr last week came back negative.
Finally, this morning a positive lft, doing pcr later.
I thought I just had a cold and have been merrily out and about doing all my Christmas shopping, going to school shows, confident that my vast amounts of testing has been keeping everyone safe.
I really don't understand it.

This article is interesting - PCRs aren’t infallible and a lot relies on the timing of the test:

www.gavi.org/vaccineswork/false-negative-how-long-does-it-take-coronavirus-become-detectable-pcr

Hope you feel better soon!

Yes I read that article, it’s interesting!

A lot of the people on this thread (including me) are saying they took a PCR soon after onset of their symptoms- which is when they are most reliable according to the article?

Although even then, it says 20% were missed even at that point.

Basically there is no totally reliable test even if taken at the optimal time…

I'm doing my antibody test tomrrow so will come back to tell u if it's positive then I no my ltr flow test and pcr was wrong 🤦‍♀️