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Original poster

Am I doing them wrong

26 replies

swabadvice · 20/03/2022 02:20

Currently up with ds7, sure he has Covid. Started complaining of not feeling well today, didn't have much energy all day, come this evening had a temp of 38.8. He's had a few hours sleep but awake again now with a nasty chesty cough and saying his throat really hurts.
I did a lateral flow this morning which came back negative. I'm worried I'm not doing it right though. I can't put the swab very far up his nose as he is autistic and freaks out about the test as it is so it's hard to do. Am I right in rubbing the swab around the entire inside of his nostril in a circle? Or do I need to be going higher up?
These are just the nose swab tests.
Half his class are off with Covid atm so I'm pretty certain it's that

OP posts:
Vapeyvapevape · 20/03/2022 02:26

I'd wouldn't put him through testing again, just assume it is covid . Hope he gets better soon xx

Original poster
swabadvice · 20/03/2022 04:41

@Vapeyvapevape thanks. Just worried about school though as not sure if they'll want proof of a postive test for being off

OP posts:
DropYourSword · 20/03/2022 05:13

[quote swabadvice]@Vapeyvapevape thanks. Just worried about school though as not sure if they'll want proof of a postive test for being off [/quote]
Just talk then you chucked out the test!

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DropYourSword · 20/03/2022 05:13

Tell them * even

TheTeenageYears · 20/03/2022 05:22

There was quite a lot of info around xmas time saying it took longer to get a positive using just the nose than nose and throat. With symptoms you can still get a PCR can't you? If so I would do that. It's still better to know if it's covid or not.

Original poster
swabadvice · 20/03/2022 07:01

I'm going to try him again this morning, we've managed to dodge it for two years never had a hint of a postive even after being exposed so I'm doubting if I'm doing them right lol
His temp keeps spiking back up, I know there is other bugs but it's the sudden nasty cough that's come along with it

OP posts:
TerrifiedandWorried · 20/03/2022 07:03

You can swab the throat too with those tests

Original poster
swabadvice · 20/03/2022 07:09

We do have throat ones too but that's even worse for him, even though it'll probably be more accurate won't it

OP posts:
Coulddowithanap · 20/03/2022 07:10

Have you asked him to wiggle the stick up his nose himself? My son won't let me near him with the test stick so he's done that bit himself after blowing his nose.

elliesmummy19 · 20/03/2022 07:14

I wouldn't worry too much. We've just had Covid, my two year old had it first. I literally just swabbed the snot coming out of her nose (TMI?) really quickly for like a couple of seconds and she got a very bold positive.

MintMe · 20/03/2022 07:29

What @elliesmummy19 said! I worried I wouldn't get a proper result from DS as he would l my do it to himself. Came up straight away.

MintMe · 20/03/2022 07:30
  • would only
Spudlet · 20/03/2022 07:33

Sympathies, DS is autistic and we had the same issue. With us, I dug out a lot of cotton wool buds that someone had bought for us ages ago and got him to practice putting them into his nose and waggling them around, so he was in control. When it came to doing a real test, he didn’t seem to go all that far up but we did get a positive result so I do wonder if you have to be quite as far in as I thought.

Good luck, and whatever it is I hope your DS feels better soon.

Spudlet · 20/03/2022 07:35

Oh and just to add - DS never got a single symptom, we were only testing because it was going around his school. And we didn’t catch it, despite him being right in our faces and taking no precautions. So his viral load would have been low, I’d have thought, but the test still came back positive.

singlepringlenotbychoice · 20/03/2022 07:37

Unfortunately the nasal swabs aren't as accurate as the ones that also incorporate the throat and can take longer to indicate a positive result.

It's difficult with sensory issues to force the test, I'd try booking a PCR and just keep on with the nasal swabs in the meantime and try your best to be as thorough as possible.

I spent a lot of time testing when I was positive because I was very bored and found if I didn't blow my nose first I got an even stronger positive indicator that appear quicker, than if I followed the proper instructions.

Original poster
swabadvice · 20/03/2022 07:46

Thanks everyone. Managed to do a Throat and nose swab and it came back postive straight away. Barely touched his tonsil or nose, so goes to show if you've got it technique doesn't really matter !
I'm clear atm.
Am I right in thinking we don't have to do follow up pcr tests anymore ??

OP posts:
Spudlet · 20/03/2022 07:49

That’s right, thank goodness! At least when you get one now you don’t have to go through it all again.

singlepringlenotbychoice · 20/03/2022 07:56

It's my understanding that positive lateral flows are sufficient and PCRs don't need to be done. I know colleagues who didn't have a PCR and my nephew didn't either. I did go for a PCR only because I had absolutely no symptoms and a very strong positive LFT so hoped it was a mistake. it wasn't and I felt unwell pretty quickly following the positive test

I hope you manage to avoid catching it OP

thunderonlyhappenswhenits · 20/03/2022 10:07

So do I still need to report the lft ? I have no idea anymore as stopped following it all!

I've got a sudden cold come on myself now, I've had a headache for the past two days but I'm also 11 weeks pregnant so chalked it down to hormones but maybe it was the start of it

thunderonlyhappenswhenits · 20/03/2022 10:08

Sorry it's op btw

HalloHello · 20/03/2022 10:09

When my 4 year old tested positive, we barely got it in her nostril before she freaked out and it still came up almost immediately!

Theunamedcat · 20/03/2022 10:11

Yes report your lft

No to follow up pcr

thunderonlyhappenswhenits · 20/03/2022 16:17

Did anyone else feel dizzy with covid ? Ds keeps saying he feels like he's going up and down, I'm taking that as he means he's dizzy

Theunamedcat · 20/03/2022 17:02

@thunderonlyhappenswhenits

Did anyone else feel dizzy with covid ? Ds keeps saying he feels like he's going up and down, I'm taking that as he means he's dizzy
Yes absolutely it was my sinus getting blocked up

My sis ended up with vertigo after they literally just handed her the meds for it because it's been so common

Kinko · 20/03/2022 17:13

@thunderonlyhappenswhenits

Did anyone else feel dizzy with covid ? Ds keeps saying he feels like he's going up and down, I'm taking that as he means he's dizzy
Yeah it's not too uncommon with a viral infection. He probably has some inflammation in his nose and throat that's causing inflammation in his ear leading to labyrinthitis. Ear, nose and throat is all connected. Keep an eye on it but it should settles as he starts to feel better and the inflammation goes down.