Lots of people saying they have covid - are they testing or self diagnosing?

[NeedAHoliday2021]

I went to test dh yesterday but we only had one left and the liquid solution was missing. It doesn’t really matter as it’s either covid or flu - either way he’s bed bound.

I’m nhs and so had lots of tests initially but now we’re told not to test so reading here how many people are saying they have covid (and friends on Fb) have actually tested? It’s not a criticism, just curious if people are moving to self diagnosing without tests like with flu.

You can buy them.

I test. Bought some.

I am.not taking any notice about being told not to.test. I.test regularly,as do my friends before we meet.as we all know just because we are told not to test it doesnt mean it's gone.

I had it recently and tested.

I've been ill with this flu thing for two weeks now, real flu symptoms plus spent a day vomiting. It's brutal but no, I haven't Covid tested as can't see that knowing whether it is Covid would make any difference. Feels different, worse, than when I did have Covid last year.
Hope your DH is better very soon but this virus is brutal. I've still got so much to do for Christmas - still got gifts to buy......hoping i'll feel well enough tomorrow to go into town and get the rest, then I'll be wrapping Xmas eve night which I've had to do before. Utterly depressing!

Testing. Lots of people I know buy tests and check.

i have it at the moment, confirmed by testing. I’m still testing periodically because my dad is severely immunocompromised and was unable to get the last booster

buying tests and testing

From the amount of photos of positive test strips I've seen on FB recently I'd say most are testing. None of us have been ill recently but have been doing a lot of socialising and went to a big, crowded event yesterday so we are all going to test on Christmas morning before visiting grandparents.

I had a really nasty bug recently - tested negative twice.
It was a lot worse than covid, which I had just after last Christmas.

I had an email from our service manager late last night, addressed to all staff. The news had come from high (ok, head office in Petersfield).
We are back to testing before each shift ☹️

If you are patient facing NHS you can still get free tests. My workplace ask us not to test regularly but to check if we have symptoms.

@greensnail we’ve been told no testing just don’t come in if ill (too much staff sickness).

I don't know anyone who has tested at all since the start of the year, but Mumsnet seems to be a parallel universe full of paranoid people who just keep on testing. Or maybe they just like the drama!

@NeedAHoliday2021

Surely if you want to test you can. They are probably saying that because they aren't providing covid tests & they don't want people off work. So just go and buy a test? They're cheap enough.

I had it for the first time two weeks ago. Tested as DH has a few due to work.
I’ve never known so many people have it at one time.

Exactly the same here.

We've all had this bug going round. When I took DD to OOH the other night they didn't ask if it could be or anything either.

Also, when we were in hospital a couple of weeks ago, no masks were required. So Mumsnet strikes me as very weird about it all.

I've had it recently and tested but only because I still have some LFTs left over from when they were free and I was curious.

Like others have said, it doesn't make much of a difference. If it had been flu or something else I wouldn't have been able to test and would just have judged how well I was and how appropriate it was to socialise based on my symptoms - but now have artibuary self isolation advice/guidelines to consider as do my family. Seems unnecessary.

Once tests I have are gone, I won't buy any more. I was once very, very paranoid & strict about it all but now at third Christmas in a row even having to discuss it and I'm just over it now tbh.

We had flu three weeks ago. Didn’t test as we were completely laid up in bed and it wouldn’t have mattered.

Last week we all started coming down with just a heavy cold but with a weird headache. I tested as it was a strange symptom and we had meet ups with vulnerable people and meals out planned.

It was Covid and I’m glad I was aware as I’d have ruined a lot of christmases passing it on as it was only a cold for me but could have been worse for others.

I do have a few tests left but I don’t intend to buy more. It’s going to be endemic for some time yet as the virus continues to mutate, vaccinations will hopefully continue and in theory I guess we just have to hope it eventually goes away?

I work in a casre home at the weekend and we are testing, 3 staff off with Covid over the last week. Work has been handing out boxes of tests. I wouldn't pay for atest tbh.

Testing as I care for DM who is vulnerable. Was positive last week.

we’ve bought some. They are not very expensive in Home bargains .

Husband spent £22 on 10 tests recently which reaaaaaaally made me grind my teeth. But we are testing because it’s Christmas and we do not want to pass covid onto vulnerable family members. It’s the right thing to do.

I didn’t test, fell ill about 3 Dec, I isolated totally for a week away from family and slept in another room. They dropped food and drink to me. I was very unwell and whatever it was I didn’t want to give it to any of them. We have always dealt with illness like this. Only difference was children when small would be cuddled but they were still looked after in their own rooms to minimise spreading risk.