Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not wait for PCR Result?

288 replies

Lividlavidacoco · 19/12/2021 06:10

DS and I both had colds this week and because he was coughing and had a slight temp (37.9) we both needed PCR’s. For clarity though, we are very confident the tests will be negative, we’ve both had stuffy noses and sore throats so it’s just a cold.

We went to a drive through test centre at 9am on Thursday, it’s now Sunday and we still don’t have our results. It’s been a nightmare because we had lovely Christmassy plans this weekend we’ve had to miss and we’re all gutted.

Firstly, is there somewhere we can contact to check the status of our tests?

Secondly, the dog desperately needs a walk. WIBU to take the dog out tonight at midnight when no one else will be up in the field?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
CurlyhairedAssassin · 19/12/2021 11:41

[quote JinglingHellsBells]@CurlyhairedAssassin Sorry but I have to disagree with you.

The NHS website is behind the times with most medical information. (I write on health and would never look at their site for info.)

Not just Covid. They won't update it for many reasons (mainly red tape and lack of IT proficiency) but not because of any herd immunity theory that you believe in.

I still feel I was right to correct a poster for leaving mis-information simply because there is a HUGE amount out there online about how Omicron shows as a cold and the 'classic' symptoms do not apply.[/quote]
I know what you’re saying about the NHS. I tend to do my own research. But It’s the government testing page I referred to and linked to, not the NHS advice on testing. The government IS updating guidance overnight if necessary, as has been seen on the 14th about contacts only having to do daily lateral flows now and not get a PCR. That one resulted in a lot of eye rolling and shoulder shrugging in my school I can tell you. Already seeing the disastrous results of that in my school with spread from household contacts now. Hmm

Anyway…point is that it’s clear that the government are patently refusing to change the advice about the 3 original symptoms when you go to the “book a PCR test” page. It’s unclear as to why they aren’t updating when, as you say, so much of the research, which obviously they have access to, points to other symptoms being more prevalent now.

Florabelle · 19/12/2021 11:41

@Crackingowlsanctuary

4 in our house have tested positive right now and none of us have had a cough or high temp. Only 1 a change in taste. 3 of us have stuffy noses, slight sore throats (more like scratchy) and just feel a bit off. I’ve had slightly achy hips too. Our youngest (11yo) was sick a couple of times on the day we got her positive result but has been fine since then. It’s been v mild for us and none of us are suffering with it.

Only 1 of us tested positive on a lat flow before a pcr. The rest of us have been for pcrs since because of that close contact and that was before we had symptoms. Our lat flows were only positive after the pcrs had confirmed it.

Just saying it does seem like most people are getting common cold symptoms now… walking the dog is fine if there is no one around though. I would go late at night if I had to but one of us is still negative in this house so he will walk the dog for now.

I’m isolating with positive PCR just now and the achy hips was my least favourite symptom! Maybe it’s a thing…
user1471447863 · 19/12/2021 11:42

@itsgoodtobehome

I went for a PCR test on Friday and then just went about my normal business while I waited for the result (it was negative). I didn't even know you were supposed to stay in while you waited. I'd carry on until you know one way or another.
@itsgoodtobehome can you explain your thought process for us please? It's quite interesting. Clearly you thought there was a possibility you had the disease you were being tested for, thus why being tested. And you obviously know that should you have it you would be contagious and likely to spread it to others and for this reason would need to isolate for 10 days. Yet while suspecting you may have it and thus be contagious you thought it would be fine to go about your normal day? Rather than isolate and avoid spreading it? Why would you do this or think this was OK?
mumda · 19/12/2021 11:46

I've recently downloaded the Zoe app and add in state of health every day. The list of symptoms they're interested in is very wide.

I feel for the OP having to re-test. What a load of shite.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 19/12/2021 11:49

I deleted the Zoe app as I have pretty much every symptom going as part of my daily life. I have a persistent cough, pretty much permanent stuffy runny nose and get bad headaches. It would be sending me for a PCR every day. I actually dread the NHS adding cold symptoms to the list as I can't PCR every time my nose is blocked!

CurlyhairedAssassin · 19/12/2021 11:49

How after all this time do people not know that the test booking website isn't some kind of magical lie detector?

Yes, the responsible and intelligent people ARE lying about it to get a test. But personally I don’t believe that it’s a good thing to encourage people to lie about their health to get a test. You then get idiots going in the other direction and playing down (ie lying about) their symptoms. I see it all the time- parents sending kids into school coughing “oh they’ve only coughed a few times/it’s the cold weather/it’s asthma/it’s just a cold.” If you’re school staff trying to manage cases all the nonsensical online government guidance makes our job so much harder, because parents become argumentative about what the government guidelines say.

But then again, if the government itself is full of incompetent liars, they can’t complain when the public follow their example.

ohreallynotreally · 19/12/2021 11:51

Definitely walk the dog!!

Skiptheheartsandflowers · 19/12/2021 11:56

Ah, that's a bugger, OP.

Won't all these people who have done a few days of lateral flows that have been negative, but then got a positive PCR, have been out and about in their infectious period anyway? So then isolating is a bit late in any case?

Skiptheheartsandflowers · 19/12/2021 11:58

if the government itself is full of incompetent liars, they can’t complain when the public follow their example.

Well, quite.

Crackingowlsanctuary · 19/12/2021 12:04

Yes it is annoying @Florabelle! I read in the past couple of days that a symptom linked to omnicron is lower back ache and it felt kind of like that… lower back/hips… had it so mild so far though, I wouldn’t have thought much of it pre-pandemic times

Florrieboo · 19/12/2021 12:09

Not a lot of omicron where I live but reading the symptoms here is an eye opener. I have a pain in my lower back and feel tired, better get booking I guess.

IcedAbstinente · 19/12/2021 12:09

Oh that is a complete joke OP.

Good luck to you all, Thanks

PigeonLittle · 19/12/2021 12:10

Ah what a nuisance. Good luck with the new test.

SwishSwishBisch · 19/12/2021 12:16

What a pain in the arse (and hips!) OP. Definitely walk the dog, that is something you can control pretty carefully in terms of crossing paths with other people so I would have no qualms about that at all.

Summersdreaming · 19/12/2021 12:32

In your shoes I would do an lft and crack on.

LizzieW1969 · 19/12/2021 12:35

My DD2 (9) has just completed her quarantine after going down with Covid (not Omicron). We gave her a lateral flow test immediately and it was negative and her symptoms seemed very mild. But the school asked for a PCR test, as she did briefly have a slight cough.

The following 2 nights, she was in agony with earache and the following morning she had a positive result from the PCR test. I can only suppose that we did the lateral flow test too soon.

LizzieW1969 · 19/12/2021 12:36

I’m sorry that you’ve had this, OP, what an appalling cock up. I hope your DS recovers quickly.

Crackingowlsanctuary · 19/12/2021 12:38

Can’t believe I called it “omnicron”. And I was just laughing at a tweet a few days ago that said people who say ‘omnicron’ are the same people that say ‘mataland’… doh! 🤦‍♀️

100problems · 19/12/2021 12:58

I and DS have Covid.

Streaming noses
Bunged up sinus heads
Tickly coughs
Achy bodies

If Covid didn't exist I would have said we had nasty colds and tried to run it off.

Original poster
Lividlavidacoco · 19/12/2021 13:12

I’ve had my re-test. I was able to book one immediately 20 mins from home so that was a good thing.

I’m annoyed about missing the event today, but instead we’re having a pj day, watching Christmas films and I’m doing test- triple cooked roast potatoes we’ll scarf in a bit.

It’s not terrible, we’ll be out of isolation in time for Christmas either way. I just keep having to remind myself that this would be a lot worse for a lot of people. We’re fine.

OP posts:
jassixa · 19/12/2021 13:16

Thank you for being responsible OP when so few are right now Flowers

DumplingsAndStew · 19/12/2021 13:30

They lost both you and your son's tests? Shock

Dartsplayer · 19/12/2021 13:43

My goddaughter is, waiting for her DS's results. She rang 119 after 48 hours to be told that she needed to ring back after 72 hours

justasking111 · 19/12/2021 13:54

Friends paid coming back from USA test results unclear so they've had to redo. These are private tests in England North Wales doesn't have an approved center

BoredZelda · 19/12/2021 14:14

Madness

Also, not policy or procedure.

Swipe left for the next trending thread