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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think if your Covid test is negative, but you have ALL the symptoms

156 replies

HighFlierNowWaiting · 29/09/2022 15:30

...then it is quite likely you aren't doing the test thoroughly enough?

To get an accurate result, you need to test BOTH the throat and nose, throat firmly enough so you gag, and nose enough so you sneeze. You have to do each spot for at least ten seconds - that's quite a long time!

I see on here, and hear from others that despite sore throats, coughs, sneezes, joint and muscle pain, bad headaches, fever, chills, and tiredness like they have NEVER experienced before, Covid tests return negative results.

It then transpires they are doing a quick nostril wipe round and that's it!

Now obviously there are bugs around. Maybe people are more susceptible to coughs and colds after a couple of years of reduced exposure, but Covid prevalence is increasing again. If you feel dreadful - please take a test and do it properly.

For those that say 'it doesn't matter, Covid's just like a cold now' - that may be true for some. But not everyone. You may be unlucky and get very ill, or have a mild dose but end up disabled with Long Covid. Or you may pass it to someone vulnerable who could end up in hospital.

For that reason, you should still take Covid very seriously, and DO THE TEST PROPERLY.

And I'm sorry if people don't like this message, want to believe it's all over, are bored, or think I am fear-mongering. I would love Covid to no longer be an issue, but believe me, it still is.

Thank you for your attention!

OP posts:
ChickinMarango · 29/09/2022 15:49

I tested my baby when she had a cold and the rest of us were testing positive. She was four months old, it was a nose only one and I inserted just in the nose. She hardly had any symptoms and there was a big, fat red line!

LovinglifeAF · 29/09/2022 15:50

YABU and patronising

I have done loads of tests when I had symptoms and thought I must have it, carried out as per the instructions and not a hint of a line.

whereas back in June I had mild symptoms and tested to just rule it out as I was sure it couldn’t be, basically tickled the inside of one of my nostrils with the stick for a couple of seconds, popped up with a strong line right away even before the control went up.

IME if you have Covid the tests will show as positive even if you aren’t mega thorough.

ApolloandDaphne · 29/09/2022 15:52

We have read your post. What we are saying is that you don't have to be super rigorous about your testing method because if you actually have Covid it is going to show a positive even if you just give a cursory swipe round your nostrils.

LovinglifeAF · 29/09/2022 15:52

And I’ve got what is clearly a flu type thing now, Covid tests negative, and far far more poorly than when I had Covid. I’d prefer Covid again if I’m honest.

DiaryofWimpyMumm · 29/09/2022 15:52

I do covid tests for research and have never gagged or sneezed but they've all came back with a result. Negative thankfully

user1745 · 29/09/2022 15:53

I think it doesn't matter because if you have all the symptoms of Covid you should probably try to reduce your social contact whether it's Covid or not.

Covid is no longer a uniquely terrible virus. The fatality rate is similar to flu, it can be dangerous to some people and deeply unpleasant to most others, so if you have flu-like symptoms, please try not to spread them. Even if you have a negative Covid test.

lickenchugget · 29/09/2022 15:53

My point is, if you are heavily symptomatic but testing negative, then test again, PROPERLY.

Why do you think you know more about how to use the test, than the manufacturers of the test? How do you know people haven’t done it PROPERLY.

As PP have said; the symptoms are the same as normal strains of flu, why would anyone continue to assume it’s covid even if the test was negative? This is obsessive.

gamerchick · 29/09/2022 15:53

Well OP, if I ever catch it, I'll give you a shout and you can pay the wages I'll not get if I'm off work. Wins all round...

LovinglifeAF · 29/09/2022 15:55

user1745 · 29/09/2022 15:53

I think it doesn't matter because if you have all the symptoms of Covid you should probably try to reduce your social contact whether it's Covid or not.

Covid is no longer a uniquely terrible virus. The fatality rate is similar to flu, it can be dangerous to some people and deeply unpleasant to most others, so if you have flu-like symptoms, please try not to spread them. Even if you have a negative Covid test.

Well exactly

I’ve felt like shit and been in my pyjamas at home since Saturday with Not Covid.

OhYouBadBadKitten · 29/09/2022 15:56

Even with a really thorough LFT swabbing, it can still take a few days to test positive sometimes.

Hbh17 · 29/09/2022 15:56

In the UK (apart from in a very few jobs) there is no requirement to take a test so if people are still doing them then they are fools. Covid is not a big deal, so let's just stop all the testing nonsense.

BeyondMyWits · 29/09/2022 15:56

I have all the symptoms and am testing as it says to in the booklet... properly, in other words. Still negative.

(NOWHERE does it say you have to make yourself gag or sneeze)

MargaretThursday · 29/09/2022 15:56

On that basis I definitely had covid in 2007. I had all the symptoms including change of taste and loss of smell.

Many people I know wondered if they were doing the test right-until they got a positive test. It's more likely they're testing fine and either getting a false negative or it isn't covid than they're not testing properly.

KassandraOfSparta · 29/09/2022 15:57

No. That is a load of nonsense.

All three of my kids have had the back to school bugs with coughs, sore throat, headache, snotty. It's not Covid. It's a fecking cold, which was fairly common before the world went nuts in 2020.

(And yes, we've tested). Colds won't cease to exist any more than Covid will cease to exist.

SlashBeef · 29/09/2022 15:58

Surprised people are testing tbh.

GG1986 · 29/09/2022 15:59

I had symptoms for 5 days, tested everyday and eventually got a positive. Same happened to a few other people I know.

KassandraOfSparta · 29/09/2022 15:59

Oh and with your lecturing "For that reason, you should still take Covid very seriously, and DO THE TEST PROPERLY."

That is more bollocks. Nobody "should" be testing. Testing is not a legal requirement and costs money. People might CHOOSE to take a test, but that's up to them.

Tuilpmouse · 29/09/2022 15:59

YABU. Anyone would think colds and flu didn't exist before March 2020 based on your logic!

Scianel · 29/09/2022 16:03

For those that don't think Covid is still problematic, it reflects poorly on you that you have become bored so quickly of a serious health issue. I hope that neither you nor your friends and family suffer any adverse effects from your disinterest

We had what felt like an eternity of shaming, badgering, and endless accusations of "selfishness". I'm seriously immune to guilt-trip attemps now.

I genuinely don't give a shit about covid any more. I'm so bored of it that if by some irony it kills me, at least I'd never have to bloody hear about it again.

Enjoy the tanked global economy, though. There's a cause for worry.

YellowTreeHouse · 29/09/2022 16:06

For those that don't think Covid is still problematic, it reflects poorly on you that you have become bored so quickly of a serious health issue. I hope that neither you nor your friends and family suffer any adverse effects from your disinterest.

Oh honey, nobody gives a shit anymore. Quite frankly, your attempts to make others feel bad at not living in fear are pathetic and laughable.

ThatGirlInACountrySong · 29/09/2022 16:06

No idea how/where to obtain a test anymore let alone stress over being 'thorough'!!

Hersetta427 · 29/09/2022 16:07

Or you just have a cold or flu.

Don't be so condecending.

idontthinksodou · 29/09/2022 16:07

In my experience you do not have to perform the test quite as rigorously as you say.

The instructions with some of the tests we had (from when they were free) only required the swab to be taken from the nostrils. I performed one on my 3 month old baby (at the suggestion of the GP) and got a positive and certainly didn't push it so far up that he sneezed!

There are also other viruses doing the rounds that have similar symptoms

User123456713 · 29/09/2022 16:07

For those that don't think Covid is still problematic, it reflects poorly on you that you have become bored so quickly of a serious health issue. I hope that neither you nor your friends and family suffer any adverse effects from your disinterest

LFT's are about 75% no matter how well you do the test and baring in mind there are now almost no preventative measures, even in hospitals, i'm not sure testing or not, will make any difference to anyone.

If your ill, stay away from people, regardless of test results.

PigglePuggle · 29/09/2022 16:08

Both times I’ve had Covid, it’s taken a few days for it to show up on a test. Both times I’ve had it, I just knew it was Covid so I kept testing, twice a day, doing the tests properly and thoroughly, but it still took a few days for me to get a positive, and even when I did finally get a positive it was faint and got darker each day afterwards.