To think I have covid with a negative test?

[Redhot24]

1 week ago my colleague has a positive lateral flow test (later followed by positive pcr). As a matter of precaution, i isolated from my family and as an nhs worker, got a pcr done which was negative. Don’t know if this is at all related but thought I’d add anyways.

1 week on (and after being out and about this week), I’ve come on with an awful sore throat, feverish feeling (not an actual fever but feeling boiling hot in bed at night, then chills), slight cough, sneezing and lots of snotty tissues. Have also had an awful headache all day long, can barely move about and feeling really bunged up.
The reason I feel I may have covid, is because I can’t taste a single thing and this doesn’t usually happen when I have a cold.

I’ve taken multiple lateral flows which are all negative, but I am worried as my family is hosting this year in our home (hosting tomorrow though I’m unwell isn’t a major concern for me, my family can handle the workload and I’ll do the easy stuff).

I’ve let all my guests know of how I am feeling but all are insistent on still coming as they think I’ve just got a cold.

What would you think??

Sorry but me and my family have had all of
those symptoms you mention and have confirmed Covid

Pcr, sorry OP! also I’ve deffo lost my smell and taste with virus’s before but covid loss was very different for me. Literally zero, nothing there, slightly burning in my sinuses.

I never actually got a positive lateral flow. I got a positive pcr - as my taste and smell disappeared and I didn't want to meet the vulnerable relatives I was due to meet on the off chance. Not sure I trust them at all!

I believe I had covid in March 2020 before you could easily get tested (positive antibody test 2 months later). The lack of sense of smell and taste was not at all like when I’ve had a cold. With a cold I get fleeting smells/tastes eg after blowing my nose, but with (suspected) covid it was complete. My poor daughter kept sitting in dirty nappies for who knows how long as I had no idea she’d pooed. I literally could not smell or taste a single thing.

Anyways. If you have a change to your sense of smell you need a PCR not a LFT. I know a couple of people who tested negative on LF even after a positive PCR. You really ought to cancel; I suppose if someone else can cook perhaps you can hide in your bedroom all day and at least everyone else can have a nice time and you won’t feel you ruined everyone’s xmas? Not really advisable mind.