To think you don't need a bloody PCR test for everything?!

[JuneDr]

I went for a meal on Saturday night and last night/yesterday afternoon started with the tell tale food poisoning signs.

I was up last night vomitting and could feel how green I looked! Still feel off this morning but a little better. I have told work I won't be in today because of this.

They have said I should get a PCR before returning to the office.

WHY?! I have absolutely no cough, no fever, no change in taste or smell, no cold symptoms of any kind. I have been sick after eating a meal out and already feel a little better.

Is this ridiculous or just me? Do we just have to have a test now every time we feel slightly unwell no matter what it is?

@Laiste

Posters saying my dog's vet's Auntie was sick/had a sore toe/had buzzing in her ears/an itchy head/woke up suddenly knowing how to speak Spanish ect, ect .... and took a test and it was POSITIVE! [shock ...

it doesn't mean the thing that triggered them to go and get a test is A New Undiscovered Covid Symptom.

It just means they had covid when they went for a test. That's all.

I think that’s unfair. Vomiting has been recognised by a number of authorities and studies as a COVID symptom.

www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html

www.healthline.com/health/coronavirus-diarrhea#gastrointestinal-symptoms

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7568482/

These are just the first 3 that come up.

I swear some people take LFT and PCR's just for something to do...

My daughter was vomiting and I had diarrhea and head ache, we've both tested positive on a PCR

@MelvinThePenguin and i wouldn't argue with a scientific study.

I'm simply saying that we're all swirling around wondering what the hell might be a symptom (new variant ect) when at the end of the day it could be anything or, literally, nothing at the moment.

My DD has been off school so often in recently. I'm quite thankful that only twice has the school requested we take her for a 'proper' PCR test. Both times were neg. I'm convinced she had it with zero symptoms about 4 months ago and gave it to me. I felt 'achey', nothing more, and got a poss. PCR test! It's all guesswork at the end of the day.

@CupcakesAndCastles

Track and trace advised me that vomiting was becoming a more common symptom.

Could that because it's prime season for the "winter vomiting bug"...?

Do most adults get ill that often? I’ve had one cold and one stomach bug in about 5 years. My partner and other adults i know maybe get a cold a year, the odd chest infection or sore throat. Kids obviously seem to get more bugs but I don’t know many adults who get ill very often so therefore they wouldn’t need to test often at all.

You're lucky then. As I said upthread I get frequent headaches, nausea and upset stomachs. I'm on my second cold in the last couple of months (and yes, I did have a PCR for both). A few years ago I was ill with something or other every month for about 4 months.

My employer emailed me this morning advising me to get a PCR test. I have just tried to book and found that I will have to lie to get one because I have no symptoms.

Of course you need to do a PCR! It’s such an easy thing to do why would you not?

Time? The nearest place I can get a test is an hours drive away according to Google. I’m going to use up virtually an entire afternoon.

@valnevavaxx

Sorry realise OP has now booked one, but all the people on here outraged about taking one full stop- why?

Because many won't get paid if isolating while waiting on pcr results.

Locally there has been delays in results so 3-4 days isolating while waiting on results. Many cannot afford that.

For anyone saying you need to lie to get a test, that’s not necessarily true.

Download the ZOE Covid-19 app and enter your symptoms. If you’ve entered something that is scientifically recognised as a potential Covid symptom, you’ll be invited to test.

Then when you go to book a PCR, you say no you’ve not got symptoms. You can then select ZOE asking you to test as a reason.

It was my only symptom? So no I don’t believe so, I think it’s a symptom coming more to the forefront the same way smell and taste wasn’t officially recognised at the beginning

@CupcakesAndCastles

Track and trace advised me that vomiting was becoming a more common symptom.

Test and trace don't even know whether you need to isolate most of the time so I'd take anything they say with a pinch of salt.

But it was my only symptom and I tested positive? So maybe it is becoming more recognised as a symptom?

@CupcakesAndCastles

But it was my only symptom and I tested positive? So maybe it is becoming more recognised as a symptom?

It was my daughter's only symptom aswell.

I got one done the other day. I was in and out in 10 minutes. Honestly, you'd be glad of them if it stopped a colleague infecting you at work and running your family's Christmas, etc. You have symptoms; you think you know what it is - but the point of the test is to make sure. Christ on a bike, just have a test and give over.

I would be tempted to email and say that I am well, available for work, and not displaying symptoms of covid, so I will be in tomorrow/ whenever, and see if there's a response.

@AffableApple

I got one done the other day. I was in and out in 10 minutes. Honestly, you'd be glad of them if it stopped a colleague infecting you at work and running your family's Christmas, etc. You have symptoms; you think you know what it is - but the point of the test is to make sure. Christ on a bike, just have a test and give over.

But surely you understand that a lot of people can't afford to keep isolating?

You may have been in and out within 10 minutes but it's not just that is it? If the waiting for the results. Mine at the weekend was 25 hours, DH's was 44 hours 2 weeks ago. You make it sound as though all it takes is 10 minutes of your time but it doesn't.

Haven’t read the whole thread but one of the consequences of people going for PCR tests when they have no symptoms or no positive LFT is that not only are PCR appointments in short supply but the testing labs are overwhelmed so results take longer. So for example my relative who works on an oncology ward can’t go to work right now because their test result has not come back. The NHS is stretched enough without staff having to stay home like this.

@AffableApple

I got one done the other day. I was in and out in 10 minutes. Honestly, you'd be glad of them if it stopped a colleague infecting you at work and running your family's Christmas, etc. You have symptoms; you think you know what it is - but the point of the test is to make sure. Christ on a bike, just have a test and give over.

It's really not that simple though.

Yes the test doesn't take much time, if you can get an appointment local to you.

But you then need to isolate until the results are through and for many, their employers are just not sympathetic and will put pressure to come in. Also it's fine if you can work from home while you wait for the results, so don't lose wages but again many don't have that luxury and will actually lose wages.

If you live paycheque to paycheque then losing a few days of pay makes a big difference.

This is crazy!
Everyone saying you need to is utterly bonkers! You don’t have the official symptoms to be allowed to even get a test so no don’t do it!

YANBU and bloody good luck getting hold of PCR tests anyway. My town has sold out!

@LittleRoundRobin

YANBU and bloody good luck getting hold of PCR tests anyway. My town has sold out!

That’s lateral flows you mean!

We have too.. none online, none in pharmacies.. what can we do?!

I've ordered LF tests today with no problem.