...to ask if anyone's just got a plain old cold at the moment - Hoping this isn't bloody Covid!

[Collection33]

Hi MN
Cold symptoms brewing since last night.
I'm with relatives a few hours Saar from home. Have been so careful, limiting contact with others, LFT every day inc today.
I have what could be described as a 'stinking cold' - have had multiple paracetamols, lemon/ginger teas/loads of water. No cough...
Elderly family members coming tomorrow & Boxing Day - terrified I'll test positive in the morn. Anyone else just suffering with a 'normal cold' - I'm hoping it's that!
Triple jabbed xx

My partner had those symptoms and unfortunately for us, it was covid 🤦🏼‍♀️ He didn’t do that many lateral flows though so by the time he did one he’d had the cold for days and it showed up a second line within seconds. Have heard other people say a very faint line appeared initially then over 2ish days a second line appeared instantly.

Thought I had a cold - multiple negative LFTs

Had negative PCR 30th Nov

Positive PCR 15th December
LFT still negative

Hope it's just a cold!

I have a sore throat, loss of appetite and a chesty cough. It’s not Covid. So just a gross cold

DH and DS have a cold just now. Multiple negative lfts. DM had a cold too: negative PCR and LFT. So yeah, colds are doing the rounds too

All full of colds, multiple neg LFTs.

I'm just getting over a cold op so you're not alone, I've got long lasting effects from covid which having a cold really exacerbated, but I'm swabbed 3 times a week and all tests negative. Keep swabbing if you're worried, but hopefully they stay negative and you can have a good Christmas!

DS2 (14)had a fever and sore throat for a couple of days - now starting to feel better. He's also had 3 negative LFT and an negative PCR so we are pretty sure it is just a cold

We all have colds in my house, kids have it mildly and me and dh are rotten with it. We have had negative pcrs and we all had actual covid 6 weeks ago so knew it would be unlikely we'd caught it again so quickly.

My adult DD has come home with what seems to be just a cold. No positive LFTs.

I think they reckon about half of 'colds' at the moment are covid - but that means half aren't.

I had a cold a couple of weeks ago, LFT everyday, negative, tbh it did feel just like a normal cold, no headache or sore throat, just a runny nose and sneezing

@Atmywitsend29

I'm just getting over a cold op so you're not alone, I've got long lasting effects from covid which having a cold really exacerbated, but I'm swabbed 3 times a week and all tests negative. Keep swabbing if you're worried, but hopefully they stay negative and you can have a good Christmas!

I'm the same. Recently had Delta and the fatigue lasted for weeks. Now have a stinking cold, not Covid but am absolutely floored by it and the Covid fatigue has come rushing back as a result. Am currently unsure I will make it to Christmas dinner and am awake feeling ill and sorry for myself!

My ds and I have had a cold with negative lateral flow and pcrs. He’s not vaccinated and I’m boostered. It’s not always covid but obviously could be. Fingers crossed it’s negative for you.

Shitty horrible cold here too, haven't had a good night sleep in days because of the constant coughing, congested throat and sneezing, I've had an hours sleep so far tonight and dug out my sons inhaler to help, negative pcrs/lfts just an absolute stinker cold/flu, i just want some sleep now.

Fingers crossed for you.

Yep, horrible cold all round here! Negative PCRs and LFTs

Yes. My daughter keeps bringing them home from nursery. I have an awful stinking cold and so do my 3 year old and my 7 month old. Negative lfts - we are all just full of snot so none of us are sleeping ☹️

This is day 8 for us all now so relatives are happy to have us visit them I'm not sure we can be bothered. Even my 3 year old just wants to curl up on the sofa during the day. Hopefully we all feel better soon.

Yes, cold/sinus infection since beginning of the week! PCR test and 10 days of LFT have all been negative. Read somewhere that if you are unwell currently it’s more likely to be covid than a cold at present so thought I was done for but pleased to say I’m a medical mystery

LFT should not be relied on if you have symptoms. You need to isolate and take a PCR. This is exactly how the virus is going to spread this Christmas. Hope you feel better soon Op.

Agree with PP. You need a PCR if you have symptoms. Check ZOE for a list of symptoms and you need to let your elderly relatives know. There is a bad cold going round but there is also covid and we can't diagnose you over the internet.

Since Wednesday I've had cold/sinus pain. LFT tests were negative so I could go to work but felt so rough on Thursday I booked a PCR test and isolated for peace of mind. I received my negative result by text 10 mins ago.

This cold has knocked me for six - I dread to think what covid could do. I am triple jabbed and always wear masks.

Our nanny has a stinker of a cold. We sent her home from work this week, partly because she looked ill and probably shouldn't have come in, and partly because whatever it was we didn't want it for Christmas! Multiple negative lfts and she is waiting on a pcr. Almost certainly just a cold but a bad one.

Yeah, cos it's not like elderly relatives could contract a stinking cold and die, is it?

This is what bugs me about this whole thing - people making a HUGE deal about covid, and not giving a shit about anything else that could kill people. Clinically vulnerable people can die from complications of colds - and because of better hygiene and precautions since covid, the residents where I used to work are healthier than they have ever been - and no deaths. We normally have many hospital admissions and at least one death per year due to 'colds'.

Keeping your germs away from vulnerable people is the best thing you could do, whatever particular name you attach to those germs.

I had a runny nose and it was covid! Was double jabbed at the time

I’ve had an absolutely awful cold since Monday. Four LFTs and one PCR later and it’s not Covid. DD2 came down with it yesterday and DH has woken up with it this morning.
Loads of vitamin C and cold and flu tablets have got me through and kept me functioning.
Feel better soon.

We’ve all had colds for about the past 5 weeks (18 month old DD in nursery). Almost daily LFT’s and numerous PCR tests later, all negative, not a sniff of covid

I didn't have a cough at all with Covid. Symptoms of a stinking cold.