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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Do we now have to self isolate with cold symptoms?

169 replies

Coconut49 · 26/05/2021 22:00

DH has a cold and slight cough. I thought I’d get him a lateral flow test just to double check not Covid despite no other symptoms and seems just like a cold (runny nose etc.). Went to pharmacy to get LF test - told assistant scenario and she nearly had an apoplectic fit. Apparently DH would be classed as symptomatic and we should all be isolating and get PCR test. She shouted at me saying ‘you should not even be here, you should be isolating!’. I tried to explain DH was just trying to ‘do the right thing’ and double check. But she was having none of it and banished me from the pharmacy. AIBU to think the assistant was over-reacting? Do we have to self-isolate for cold symptoms now? In the end I got some tests from a different pharmacy and DH tested negative. TBH I don’t think I will bother in the future after that reaction as we have had both vaccines now.

OP posts:
TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 27/05/2021 06:54

@Imnothereforthedrama

I’m sorry op I can’t believe 12 months on you don’t know that a cough isn’t a symptom. Get him to book a pcr test and if it’s negative then it’s a cold what’s the issue? Why all the but it’s a cold etc and going out and about a quick google would of told you this . don’t go into shops / pharmacists etc . I bet the poor woman was bloody sick of it it ,
I’m sorry op I can’t believe 12 months on you don’t know that a cough isn’t a symptom.

I thought the whole point of this thread was for everyone to point out that they can't believe that the OP didn't know that a cough IS a symptom. I can't believe after twelve months that you still think it isn't!

AlwaysLatte · 27/05/2021 06:56

YABU. The symptoms that made him take a test at home are the same symptoms that should have kept him there!

AlwaysLatte · 27/05/2021 06:57

Oh sorry just seen it was you that got the test not him.

ComfyBed · 27/05/2021 06:57

@AlwaysLatte that’s just not true!

Thehawki · 27/05/2021 06:58

My uncle had a cold at Christmas, my aunt then went to my nans house and sat inside for 15 minutes. My parents turn up and ask why she is in there, she leaves. Uncle had COVID, he gave it to my cousins and one ended up in hospital. Had my aunt stayed there any longer I am certain she would have caught it, we were very lucky. He didn’t even have a cough OP.

BiniorellaSun · 27/05/2021 07:02

I’ve just had Covid (double vaccinated) and it was a cold. Cough and loss of smell were quite late symptoms about 5 days after positive and I never had a temp over 37.8.
If you’re vaccinated and you get cold symptoms you should test. If it’s not a cough/ temp/ loss of taste you don’t have to self isolate. Just say when booking the test that the ZOE symptom study asked you to test.

Original poster
Coconut49 · 27/05/2021 07:06

Well just woken up and read all of the responses. Thank you - very interesting. I would just like to point out that of course I know that a CONTINUOUS cough is a symptom of Covid. He hasn’t got a continuous cough. Or a fever or loss of taste or smell. Hence does not qualify for PCR test but I thought it would be a responsible thing to do to get a lateral flow test as the government are encouraging everyone to test regularly anyway. He has had two vaccines so the likelihood of having Covid are very low - there is also now evidence that transmission in fully vaccinated people is very low. For those who want my DH to get a PCR test - do you want him to lie about symptoms? Sneezing and runny nose and infrequent cough are not on the list!!

OP posts:
SandysMam · 27/05/2021 07:09

I had Covid. Cold symptoms here with a very occasional cough. I am not being goady, I just can’t believe people don’t realise it doesn’t always fit the definition.

SandysMam · 27/05/2021 07:10

Who cares if he lies about his symptoms? Better safe than sorry!

RuggerHug · 27/05/2021 07:11

You have heard about asymptomatic people and people who didn't feel that bad having it? And variants. It was worth testing but phoning to check so they could send you a test.

ComfyBed · 27/05/2021 07:11

@Coconut49 , agree totally but most people will not read your OP accurately or understand your dilemma. It’s not always clear cut, folks!

CoffeeCakey · 27/05/2021 07:12

If you've explained you are getting a test just in case it's covid of course you'll get that reaction. If there's any doubt in your mind don't go round potentially infecting people.

ItsSnowJokes · 27/05/2021 07:12

My daughter currently has the same symptoms as your husband. Runny nose, cough etc....... I still took her for a pcr test to be on the safe side. I was 99% certain it was a cold but in these times you have to be careful. Nursery wouldn't take her without a negative test (rightly so) as she did have a slight cough.

Do the right thing and go for a pcr test. Lft's are not for people with symptoms. It is spelt out very clearly on the instructions.

ChocOrange1 · 27/05/2021 07:20

I think your mistake was telling the pharmacist that you were getting the LFT to check it wasn't covid.

You either thought it was covid, do you get a PCR, or you don't think its covid, so don't need to do a test at all. The LFTs are designed for regular asymptomatic testing, not to check just in case your cold is actually covid. I think that's there the pharmacist was confused.

BiniorellaSun · 27/05/2021 07:23

As I say if you are doing the ZOE app and you put runny nose in it will email you and tell you to test. There’s a box for this on the request for a PCR.

Original poster
Coconut49 · 27/05/2021 07:34

@BiniorellaSun - I don’t have this app

OP posts:
Original poster
Coconut49 · 27/05/2021 07:36

@ComfyBed - thank you!

OP posts:
BiniorellaSun · 27/05/2021 07:38

You don’t need it, no one will check!
However it’s a good thing to be a part of.

Twitchynose · 27/05/2021 07:38

Surely one of the most common symptoms of a cold is running a temperature? If OP says her husband has a cold we’re not being unreasonable in assuming that, which is a Covid symptom on its own, ignoring the cough issue.

BlatantlyNameChanged · 27/05/2021 07:38

Is everyone going to isolate every time they get a cold this winter?

I was in traffic yesterday and in the space of time we were sitting there were two adverts on the radio from the government. The first had two people talking about going somewhere and one was occasionally coughing and sniffling, the second person says to get tested, the first person says its just a bit of hay-fever, the voice over then says something along the lines of don't guess, get tested. The second advert a bit later on was similar format but the sniffly person says it's just a cold followed by the same voice-over about getting tested. I'm guessing this is the new campaign messaging on it.

Horst · 27/05/2021 07:39

In one year group there are over four children coughing but not enough that parents think it’s a continued cough or that school think it’s a continuous cough. That’s then without the siblings of these children in other year groups who also have the same cough runny nose.

Imagine the horror of all those half term holidays cancelled.... Wink

keeponkeepinon · 27/05/2021 08:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PurpleDaisies · 27/05/2021 08:56

@keeponkeepinon

Riddle me this (and slightly off topic but it doesn't make sense to me), if an lft cannot be used to detect covid in a symptomatic person, why should we expect it to detect it in an asymptomatic person! And furthermore, if that's the case, what's the point of lfts at all!!
People can have asymptomatic covid and still be infectious to others. People are most infections two days before they develop symptoms according the WHO. Lateral flow tests are intended to pick up these people who don’t know they’re infectious.
HalfShrunkMoreToGo · 27/05/2021 08:58

@keeponkeepinon lots are less sensitive overall, the risk of it missing a positive in an asymptomatic person is considered acceptable, but missing a positive in a symptomatic person is not acceptable.

Plus PcR results tell the scientists which strains are transmitting and allow for detection of new strains, the LFTs don't do this. That's why if someone gets a positive LfT they are then supposed to order a PCR too.

Benji13 · 27/05/2021 09:02

As someone who works on covid with public health the pharmacy was quite right. Your dh had one covid symptom - a cough- no matter how mild. He needed a pcr test and you should have all been isolating until his result.
Lateral flow tests are for people with NO symptoms. The newer strains of covid are presenting with mild cold like symptoms very frequently I’m afraid.

Hope this helps clarify. It’s confusing I know. My local authority is rolling out comms to clarify when you get a lateral flow and when you get a pcr.