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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To assume my cough is because I have a cold

293 replies

Redsquirrel34 · 20/09/2020 08:55

So since Thursday I've been absolutely full of cold. Streaming nose, felt a bit rough. No temp and no cough until today. I've woken and feel alot better in myself but can feel the phlegm at the back of my throat and it's making me cough! Not horrendously, just a short cough. I've been awake an hour and coughed 3 times. The cold was caught from my nieces, who passed it onto my daughter, then to me. And now my husband and son are all extremely snotty too.
Isn't this the reason why there's no tests? Because technically I have a cough I should get tested but common sense says it's a cold. I just feel it's stupid to attempt to test in these circumstances. If I had a cough out of nowhere or a temp it would be different. Aibu to put the cough down to a cold?

OP posts:
GlitteryUnicornSparkles · 20/09/2020 15:29

I have a cold (no cough), I’ve had a test and been told I have covid. Cold symptoms can be symptoms of covid. I suggest you get tested.

Leafbeans · 20/09/2020 15:31

@Runssometimes well yes, he had a temp so of course you were right to get him tested. If someone has a cold without any of the 3 symptoms then no.

Leafbeans · 20/09/2020 15:32

@GlitteryUnicornSparkles can you tell the government to get sufficient tests in place then please.

Instantchange · 20/09/2020 15:37

I've name changed for this

I had positive result Friday.

Mines was a tickly cough like I was trying to clear my throat. Was not what my understanding of a 'persistent' cough was at all.

Very mild. Throat clearing cough once every few hours maybe? Absolutely no 'episodes' of coughing.

And the worst headache that I couldn't shift. Also please be aware that gastro upset is a less know symptom but that came on for me before the cough. Again, not really bad. I didn't link it until after.
Also a bit of mind fog

24 hrs after my first symptoms, and all my symptoms were gone aside from loss of appetite and needing to clear my throat of phlegm about 3 times today. No actual coughing.

I had spoken to someone who had also tested positive (I hadn't been in contact with them though) and if they hadn't described the headache and 'being spaced out' to me I would have absolutely not thought I had COVID. And would have brushed it off. They also had zero of the classic symptoms.

If you can't get a test you should isolate.

PurpleDaisies · 20/09/2020 15:38

[quote Leafbeans]@GlitteryUnicornSparkles can you tell the government to get sufficient tests in place then please.[/quote]
We all want that.

The situation now is utterly shit and it’s entirely due to the government’s total incompetence.

Nonetheless, if you have one of the three key symptoms you need to get a test (which I appreciate is a nightmare) or your whole household stays home.

Leafbeans · 20/09/2020 15:43

Nonetheless, if you have one of the three key symptoms you need to get a test (which I appreciate is a nightmare) or your whole household stays home

I absolutely agree, but the poster said cold symptoms which doesn't always include any of the 3. There will be some people where covid presents differently and it is 'lucky' they had a test so they knew, but people with just a cold and without any of the 3 shouldn't be testing. I had a cold, and stayed home and as a household isolated just in case, but that's a privelledged position to be in to be able to.

KittyMcKitty · 20/09/2020 15:43

I genuinely don’t understand all the people declaring they can self diagnose between a cold and COVID.

I’ve had COVID (confirmed by test) - my symptoms were classic cold symptoms- snotty, achey, sore throat - no cough, v slight temp. Did have change to taste but not till FOUR days after positive test (same with every other person I know who’s tested positive). I genuinely thought test would be negative.

I know a number of people who’ve tested positive only one had any of the symptoms as described by the govt.

I am sure there’s 1000’s of people walking around at the moment who are positive.

Leafbeans · 20/09/2020 15:45

I am sure there’s 1000’s of people walking around at the moment who are positive.

Well yes there will be, but as people shouldn't be testing without any of the 3 symptoms, most cannot afford to have time off or take their children out of school just in case. Why did they all have tests?

perfumeistooexpensive · 20/09/2020 15:45

I've got a continuous cough. It stops me from sleeping. I cough so much and so often that my ribs hurt. I don't have a cold. I feel crap. Went on line last night and booked a test for this morning which was six miles away. I'm sure it will be negative. I can't believe I actually have Covid.

cricketmum84 · 20/09/2020 15:55

Do actually since posting earlier I've made a big pan of chilli that I've been told is over salted and too spicy yet it still tastes bland to me so I'm a bit more concerned now after that.

I've managed to order a test as the closest drive through was a 60 mile round trip. We haven't been anywhere this weekend and my cough only started Friday so will all be self isolating until I get results back. Me and DH are both working from home anyway so it's just DD we need to keep off school and hopefully only for a few days until I gets negative result!

GlitteryUnicornSparkles · 20/09/2020 16:20

@Instantchange. Yes the splitting headache is my worst symptom, I still have it.

My symptoms were sore throat that developed into a snotty/runny nose and cracking headache (no temp, no cough could smell/taste fine). My son developed the same symptoms a couple of days after me. He had a couple of days off school then felt fine but had developed a minor cough so school said he needed a negative test to return as a cough of any kind no matter how mild is a symptom, I’d been going into work because ‘I’d bet my life on it its just a cold’ but when school said he needed a test work sent me home and asked me to get tested too as a precaution. It took 2 days to book and get a test. I lost my sense of taste the day before the test 6 days after symptom onset and seemed to return a bit by the following day (test day), I put this down to being so bunged up. My result was positive but my son with the same symptoms and a cough is negative. I’m no longer snotty as of yesterday and my sore throat has gone but I still have this awful headache and now I can breath its apparent my smell is definitely lacking but thats only become apparent post test.

I now strongly believe that the ‘common cold going around’ may actually be more than just a common cold in many cases.

KittyMcKitty · 20/09/2020 16:30

@GlitteryUnicornSparkles totally agree - you’re symptoms sound very like mine.

If people carry on refusing to isolate then then things will onl get worse. Yes it’s not nice isolating and causes all sorts of problems- we were in isolation for 3+ weeks - but you just have to do it!

chunkyrun · 20/09/2020 17:12

Self isolating is so frustrating. Kids are always picking up colds ext. he's missing out on nursery, weathers lovely and we're stuck in. Monday I'm missing uni. Had to cancel orders and several shifts are on hold until we get results back. I can see why people are choosing not to test and hope for the best. I work with a very vulnerable group and just can't take any risks

Torvean32 · 20/09/2020 17:20

@Redsquirrel34

I was expecting to get flamed! Not a dry cough no. It's tickly and I can definitely feel it's because of the mucus. I honestly feel scared to go out and cough in public as people will be horrified! I've done the symptom checker on 111 online and because I've put yes to a cough it says get a test!
You only need tested if younhave a continuous cough . Thats a cough that lasts an hour or 3 coughing episodes in 24 hours.

Heres what a Covid cough is like.

www.quora.com/What-is-the-rudest-thing-a-store-owner-has-done-to-you-that-you-paid-back-tenfold

Mippi · 20/09/2020 17:30

@Torvean32 I really don’t think there is a definitive “Covid cough”.
People with Covid get all kinds of different coughs.

MJMG2015 · 20/09/2020 17:46

@Satlie2019

Hi, I know it is a horrendous time for eveyone at the moment, but just to be clear if you have any one of the three main symptoms of COVID you do have to self isolate, even if you do have a a cold too (it is obviously possible to have both a cold and COVID at the same time). However, a slight cough occasionally probably does not meet the definition of a constant cough (to check see www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/symptoms/). Hope you can get a test if you need one (I heard new tests are often released at 8pm so good to try booking one then but also to try throughout the as they release slots when they have them), and I hope you and your family are well.
In what capacity are you posting?
Scantilydoesit · 20/09/2020 18:05

Recap : Dd2 came home with a sore throat Thursday. Started coughing Friday and got a temperature of 38.2 She was coughing quite a lot for 2 days so booked in for a test at 4.pm yesterday.

We got the results back today at 3pm. I'm very impressed with the speed at which we got a test and how quickly the results came back.
Thankfully, I can go to my appointment at the hospital tomorrow now as she's negative!

Clearly there is a lot going around at the moment besides Covid but it's put my mind at rest. If she hadn't had the cough or temp, I wouldn't have gone.

AllWashedOut · 20/09/2020 20:08

@GlitteryUnicornSparkles and other posters.

Did you know people have covid with NO SYMPTOMS whatsoever? I suggest every person in the country test every single day just to be sure they don't have covid.

Mippi · 20/09/2020 20:10

I think Boris has already suggested that @AllWashedOut

pollymere · 21/09/2020 17:28

Apparently sneezing isn't a covid symptom so if you sneeze it's a cold or flu. Hope you feel better soon x

wildchild554 · 21/09/2020 17:35

We had to do a home test for school despite the fact I knew it would be a common cold as teacher said he'd been snotty in school. Was a fight to get the test done, battered and bruised from it, won't be attempting it on him again and as suspected it came back unclear. I'm in the high risk category so it was still playing on my mind a bit just in case, but finally get to leave the house tommorrow after 14 days isolating :D If any school age children start coughing you may be requested to get a test for them depends on the school from what I'm reading on here.

LisaD76 · 21/09/2020 17:37

No you are being sensible to put it down to a cold..... part of the reason tests are scarce is because there are people who are getting tested really unnecessarily

Fluff1980 · 21/09/2020 17:57

I got tested Friday as a cold developed into a Cough. Yes I was sure it was cold related BUT the governments only bloomin guidelines list a cough as a reason to get tested so I did. It was negative, got results in 36 hours but I'm glad I did, I'd have felt awful if I hadn't been and I was merrily spreading it about.

user1472151176 · 21/09/2020 18:37

The problem of the tests isn't totally bad planning. Each test taken has to be analysed by someone in a lab - there are only so many lab technicians. Equipment is also needed and this is also limited. These lab technicians also have their normal day to day work to complete. We can all keep blaming the government for everything or we can start to take some responsibility for our own actions. If members of the public decide to take tests because they're about to go on holiday and want to see a negative result to 'make sure' before they go then those people also need to take some responsibility for their actions. There has been a lot of confusion over what we can and cant do but we all know someone (or a few people) who have bent the rules to suit them. We all have our part to play in controlling this pandemic.

wonderstuff · 21/09/2020 18:40

DS was coughing monday night - DH, DD and DS had a cold, I'm sure it is a cold, but we have tested because it fits the criteria of more than 3 coughing episodes - woke him up half a dozen times. Finally got a test on Thursday and still waiting for a result!
DD was also very tired and off her food - who knows?
I'm cheesed off that it's taking so long to get a result. We're all fine now and desperate to get back to school.