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.

During the past 2 months I've had flu and Covid within 3 weeks of each other. I tested daily throughout the bout of flu but all negative. Covid was picked up on test immediately. I was vigourous with testing because friend I see daily was undergoing chemo. Testing is no longer free (I had a stockpile from my job) and can work out costly so I think some people are assuming Covid to be on the safe side. Conversly others are down playing their illness because they cannot afford to miss work. In my case the symptoms were pretty much identical and both met the description of Covid. Only difference with Covid was that I had a high temperature overnight when it kicked in which is very unusual for me. I didn't have this first time I had Covid and no other member of the household caught it.

I expect that the above senario is going to repeat itself most winters from now on. I will keep a couple of tests in the meds box along with the paracetamol, plasters etc and act in same way as I would any other illness.

I had it last week, we still have boxes of tests left over at work so could use one of those.

Too soon! One of those for initial result then manager advised I took another few to test on day 5 and later if needed.

We still have a few tests left. I assume people who say they have Covid have tested. I think we have used about five tests each this year.

So do you really not know anybody who has had covid this year?

I had it a few weeks back...was feeling grotty and running a temperature so tested, had some LFTs still from when they were free. I haven't been testing otherwise.

Got covid around 2 weeks ago and tested, ordered some tests off superdrug as the sumptoms started

To be honest I think this is all that's needed. If you have caught a nasty bug (and there seem to be plenty about) you should do what you can not to pass it on to other people. What difference does it make if it's Covid or flu?

I believe that they are monitoring the prevalence of Covid by analysing sewage. This is how they detected the re-emergence of polio recently.

I keep a box of tests in the bathroom cupboard. Felt a bit off colour earlier in the week so did a test because I'm supposed to be seeing a 90 year family member for Christmas. It was covid. Felt like a mild cold.

Flu is quite self limiting because you usually feel so bad you can’t get out of bed. With covid though there’s a bigger risk of giving it to elderly parents. And it IS far more dangerous than a normal cold for the vulnerable. So yes, we tested when we had symptoms but felt well enough to carry on. And when it was positive we avoided meeting anybody.

We are testing. Vulnerable son just came out of hospital last month following pneumonia and sepsis. Husband tested positive for covid last week. Seems sensible to try to protect loved ones, if you can.

Each to their own.

No testing here, just be sensible and stay away from vulnerable people if you are ill with anything not just Covid.

@SilverGlitterBaubles that’s where I am with it. I wouldn’t visit someone if we had flu, noro/sickness or chicken pox etc. 1 in 7 people carry flu without knowing but the vaccine at least does stop that unlike the covid vaccine.

It doesn't really matter, the symptoms for the flu bug and Covid are similar, they certainly have been in my family. I would probably say family members with with flu have more severe symptoms than Covid.

Find it offensive to be told those of us who choose to test are paranoid and like the drama. Uncalled for

I have COVID and yes, I tested. Dh and dc had a cold last week and didn’t test, but I suspect probably COVID too. As I got sick about 3 days after them.

I might not have tested but we’re seeing family for Christmas, one of whom is CEV. Family still coming as they can stay home after if needed, but CEV relative rescheduling until we’re better.

I don’t test because it’s a waste of money and it doesn’t really matter whether it’s that or not anymore. I just guess it is because we all have flu jabs so unlikely to be that and a cold doesn’t tend to be as serious.

thats Because we spent two years of not being around other peoples germs
it’s like when you send DC to nursery for the first time.

what if you knew catching Covid damages the immune system and makes you more susceptible to other viruses, bacterial & fungal infections?

www.nature.com/articles/s41590-021-01113-x?fbclid=IwAR1n0xbOGKbspMes4jiBeXyMiL_WULBCsWQnpaHDgwkU7T5f2A7vv6cgGBE

We had loads that dd1 brought home from school and test whenever anyone has a sniffle. Dd1 had covid about a fortnight ago. Dp also had the flu and tested and was negative . To some extent it doesn’t really make a difference as we are more likely to stay home if we’re sick anyway but I just like to know if it’s covid

We tested. I tested one of the kids as they had unusual symptoms and are never ill, then the rest of us had it so seemed obvious to check. Not sure what's dramatic about it? My employer still requests we stay off for 5 days

Personally I wouldn't test. If we're ill I can't see what difference it makes if it's flu/a heavy cold/Covid. Presumably people don't want to pass any of these on to elderly relatives.

I know lots of people with colds right now. I also know a few people who have specified they have tested positive for Covid.

We still have a load of tests. DH made DD do one the other day. As far as we know neither DD nor DH has had Covid. I think he kind of wants to be able to say he has it rather than just a cold so he's much more inclined to test.

I'm not routinely testing but had cold symptoms and a sore throat recently, so tested and it was covid. If it was just a cold I may have continued my normal activities but as I knew it was covid I isolated. Wouldn't have wanted to pass it to my elderly parents or anyone else vulnerable

We test whenever we have symptoms, I've just had Covid again and despite having all vaccinations and boosters it felt like flu.

What confuses me is that we were always told that lateral flow tests, which is what I assume people are using, we're for if you were WITHOUT symptoms (if you had symptoms you got a PCR). But now people are using lateral floes to check when they do have symptoms. Is that right? I thought the whole reason for this original advice was that lat flows were not accurate if you had symptoms? The nhs website looks like they've changed their advice too but why would this be?

I work in a Hospice, and free testing kits are available all the time.
The advice is to test if we have symptoms. Four of my colleagues are currently off after a positive test result.
I'm feeling lousy, with similar symptoms to them, but my daily results have been negative.