...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

I had a cold around October. Wasn't Covid. Had headache, achey legs in November. Was Covid. Fingers crossed for you.

I’ve got a cough and runny nose.
Had a PCR which was negative.

Sometimes it is just a cold.

Of course it is possible that it’s just a cold. But asking other people if they’ve ‘just got a cold’ isn’t going to tell you if you have Covid or not. Only a PCR test will do that. I read recently in the news that roughly half of all colds could be Omicron.

The number of people I’ve spoken to lately who have said they feel like shit and they have sore throats etc - I ask if they’ve tested and their response has been ‘no need, it isn’t Covid’

Terrible cold. All lft negative. Only just gone.

I've had a slight cold all week, slightly worse today.
PCR and lateral flow negative.

It's apparently 50/50 at the moment!

Lady I work with had a cold. Negative LFT for a week. PCR test positive.

I've got a really horrible cold too - with negative PCR and LFTs

I had a typical sneezy cold last week. Lots of negative LFTs and a negative pcr. Colds are still out there

Yes. Massive headache last Monday night hot cold shivers. Sneezing runny nose even though my nose was blocked
Weird wobbly unsteady walk
Two LFT clear. Pcr negative

So just a nasty cold

Yep. Many many many LFs negative.
PCR negative.
Been triple jabbed as well so makes sense this is the flu as I haven't had my flu jab yet, and it is horrendous. Cough, fever, shivers, diarrhoea, bunged up, sore throat.... all in time for xmas.

@ChristmasFluff

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.

This is a really important point. It should be obvious to everyone but unfortunately isn't.

I keep hearing this 50/50 point being made. It's nonsensical unless everyone with any kind of cold symptom was taking a PCR, which I'm fairly sure they aren't. Does it mean 50% of pcrs are positive? I agree that it's a pointless q on here.. DS and I have coughs, sore throat. Negative tests all round. As far as visitors etc go, I'm telling them the status quo and they can choose whether to be in our presence. Most of te CV or CEV people I know are very much erring on the side of getting on with life now and seeing people.

My husband has had a horrendous cold for about 6 weeks now (toddler in nursery brings everything home!) and has had 3 negative PCRs and numerous negative LFRs during that period - so there are definitely other things about.

I’ve been on holiday (2x 8hr flights!) and was certain my day 2 pcr was coming back positive - I’ve got a cold, a slight dry cough and I feel very tired and run down. It was negative though, as were the numerous LFT I’ve done since. Must be an actual cold (remember them?!) and my booster must be doing a good job.

Apparently colds come on more gradually. I've got one done a lft and negative
Will test tomorrow because we're visiting friends

We've all been ill almost non-stop with various things since toddler started nursery in August. None of them have been covid. Think maybe cos our immune systems are on constant high alert

Well apparently omicron is now the new cold? Half people who have a cold will have omicron...

Started getting some cold symptoms on Friday, negative lateral flow Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Went for a PCR on Sunday because I got a cough, still negative lateral flow Monday. PCR results came back inconclusive, still negative lateral flow Tuesday, went for a new PCR Tuesday, lateral flow shows up positive on Wednesday. PCR comes back positive on Wednesday. The joys!!!

DH and I did LFT Thursday evening as both had cold. Friday AM DH did another as temp through night and positive. All been for PCR yesterday waiting for result but my LFT yesterday negative. Just decided to do another LFT this afternoon and showing positive. Result seem to change quite quickly for us. DH isolating since finding out. I woke up bit sore tickle throat and blocked nose, but not actually blocked. Feel fine otherwise

Cold a few weeks ago, negative lft's and pcr. Runny nose and sneezing, no temp, no new cough.

Yup. Me and DCs have some virus (negative for COVID). Head colds with coughs.

DH is positive for COVID. No symptoms other than a very sore lower back.

DS1 gave me his stinking cold for Christmas (lots of testing for all of us, all negative) it's just a lot of snot and a thick head. But add in lack of sleep from a house full of relatives, a drunk snoring husband last night, long term disability and the general Christmas chaos and stress I feel knackered and have had enough.
I'm having a cup of tea and a Chill hoping for a second wind.

DD had a cold yesterday, did 4 lfts - all negative. We all did an lft this morning prior to meeting with family in the afternoon - hers is positive 😥

Ds had a cold at the start of the week and passed it onto me. He had Covid in November. LFTs negative all week.

My DC have had colds more or less permanently since Sept. No end of PCR testing due to worry covid will slip through and no positives yet. I'm baffled considering some of their close contacts