AIBU to not know when to do LFTs now.

[bumblingthrough]

AIBU to not know when to do LFTs now. I should preface with I have anxiety and OCD and I worry a lot about accidentally passing Covid onto someone vulnerable.

I have 2 children, one at school and one at nursery. I mainly work from home, visit the office very occasionally. My husband commutes 3 times a week.

From when LFTs first became available until April 22, we were testing twice a week and coinciding the timing so that we tested just before seeing family or friends, especially older relatives.

Now I don’t know what is expected. I know what the guidance says but I want to gauge what the average person does. Generally we are testing now if any of us have any symptoms, if I go into the office, if we are seeing older family members or socialising with a group of friends inside. But not the default regularity of twice a week i.e. sometimes I might not need to test for a week-10 days.
I feel that maybe isn’t sustainable in the long run, not just financially (although I can and would pay for tests if I thought it was the right thing to do), but also environmentally and when does it end if we are to ‘live with Covid’?

So please can I ask what others do now?

We only test when there are symptoms, but a couple of times minimum - the time I did get Covid, it didn’t show up till day 2, despite me feeling really rough. When I was positive, I isolated as much as I could in the house - spare room etc. and didn’t go out, then started testing again daily on day 5 up till day 8, to see if I could get an early release, but was still testing positive, so did the full 10 days in the end! Rest of the family didn’t have symptoms, but tested anyway a few days after I was positive.

Before I meet with clients in my office.

If I had symptoms I'd test.

I woke up with a sore throat and feeling feverish last Wednesday morning and tested positive. I've cancelled all face to face work and have been at home since. I'm feeling a lot better now but as a precaution have no plans to see anyone before Wednesday at least.

There is no evidence that the OP needs "help for her anxiety".

I do if I have symptoms or if I know I've been exposed to it. Otherwise no not unless I'm seeing my niece who is vulnerable.

I only test if I feel unwell now.

Only if I have symptoms at present. Dd1 has to test weekly as she has a part time job in a care home.

Not testing now at all.

I'm coming down with a cold at the moment and I don't plan to test if it stays like this.

That said, we're meeting our friends newborn on Sunday and I might rest before seeing them.

Never, even with symptoms.

@ilovesooty

Being overly anxious about giving covid to people would suggest otherwise.

I wouldnt say it was particularly normal to worry about it a lot/all the time

I don't bother anymore.

I gave birth 6 weeks ago and I was being very cautious before going into hospital, and DH and I were testing regularly then. This was just because if either of us did have covid it would have implications for visiting, DH staying in etc.

Now baby is here and healthy, I'd only test if I had symptoms or if I was going to visit someone extremely vulnerable.

No don't bother. Haven't since having Covid in winter 2021. If I get symptoms will test myself. Btw, I have an outpatient appointment in June. Does anyone know if a negative lateral flow test is expected prior to attendance? Tia

That's your assessment.

In any case, she asked what others were doing, not for people to make assessments of her need for professional help.

I only test if I have symptoms. Last time I tested it was actual covid and I used almost all my tests checking to see when I was negative…day 14 ffs!

You don’t need to test at all any more. You’ve already wasted a ridiculous amount of plastic by testing twice weekly for no reason considering you wfh.

If you have symptoms and you’re planning a visit to someone vulnerable you could test reasonably, but in that situation you’d probably be better of just cancelling the visit.

Never.
There are a million other viruses you could pass onto vulnerable people which would be far more harmful? Do you test for anything else? At least they've presumably been vaccinated against Covid.

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to comment. This is helpful.

For what it's worth, I am getting professional help, thank you.

And yes I have had all 3 vaccinations.

Of course it's not actually possible to test for most other illness, but I absolutely take your point.

We've stopped testing (even though we still have some leftover LFTs).

@CherryRipe1 I ve never been asked for a negative for any hospital appointments I've been to and I've had several during the pandemic, your hospital might be different though.

LOL hilarious gaslighting.

We're in a pandemic. There is a very real risk to lots of people from covid that hasn't disappeared just because the government has decided it's time to move on.

@pixie5121

Oh stop being ridiculous

Gas lighting my arse.

Loads of things are a risk to loads of people.

The op is getting help for their anxiety.

This is a good thing. Being overly anxious about relatively low risk things is not.

We recently got back from a few days abroad. We didn't test when meeting some friends 3 days later but we did test before seeing DP's parents 4 days later because they're older and we're happy to have a way to minimise risk to them.

I'd also test if I was showing symptoms or had been around someone who tested positive, but neither scenario has happened in a while.

I test if I feel ill or I'm visiting someone vulnerable. Otherwise, no.

@pixie5121 @ilovesooty the OP started by saying she has anxiety and OCD so I hardly think @Topgub was asking an unreasonable question....