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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not bother testing?

28 replies

Haraebo · 22/02/2023 10:44

FWIW, this is not saying I'm NOT going to test; I just have no idea what to do.

I'm currently on holiday with a group of 7 friends. We are staying in a very(!) small lodge in the Highlands.

I woke up with a cold on Saturday, so I took a Covid test before I set off for the holiday. Negative.

Spent Sunday in bed feeling fluey, but was ok by Monday. Still coughing and sniffling but I feel fine. I cannot smell or taste a thing. Nothing.

Given that we have already been in a very confined space together for nearly 4 days, would you take another Covid test at this point? I haven't told anyone my suspicions (purely because it's only occured to me that it could be Covid, having tested negative on Saturday).

OP posts:
Bloopsie · 22/02/2023 10:46

What difference will the test make, treatment is no different.

I have never done a covid test really dont see why people waste time on them

Original poster
Haraebo · 22/02/2023 10:49

Bloopsie · 22/02/2023 10:46

What difference will the test make, treatment is no different.

I have never done a covid test really dont see why people waste time on them

Well, I mean ordinarily I would isolate but there is no way to do that here.

OP posts:
VirginiaQ · 22/02/2023 11:34

Bloopsie · 22/02/2023 10:46

What difference will the test make, treatment is no different.

I have never done a covid test really dont see why people waste time on them

Oddly the other day I got an email from NHS stating that I was in a specific group of people who may need treatment if they got covid due to previous medical history. It told me I must test and if positive would be offered immediate treatment.

Thought it was odd because I haven't been considered vulnerable throughout the whole of covid. Turns out it's because I take post cancer hormone therapy. I have certainly stopped testing and have never tested positive for covid.

So in brief unless told otherwise I really wouldn't test. There is no point.

Bloopsie · 22/02/2023 11:36

Haraebo · 22/02/2023 10:49

Well, I mean ordinarily I would isolate but there is no way to do that here.

Show quote history

Just do what you normally do when you have a viral, get rest,wash hands,avoid public spaces etc- the other 7 might or might not have been infected,the virus will run its course. Just had a cold too that wasnt too much on cough and runny nose but headache and loss of taste and smell, 3rd week and just now starting to smell and taste some things.

DrinkFeckArseBrick · 22/02/2023 11:38

The thing is there is no treatment but your friends may change their behaviour if they know they likely have covid. For example if I had been very exposed to someone with symptoms, my work would prefer that I didn't come in, I wouldnt visit elderly parents etc.

By not saying anything testing, you are taking away people's choice on how they react

I'd at least mention it that you did a test and it was negative but now you've lost your sense of taste and smell

Pippa12 · 22/02/2023 11:44

I think it’s sensible to tell those your with your suspicions. Like you say it unlikely they’ll change their behaviour now but when you go home they maybe more conscious of who they visit etc.

For example, I’m an intensive care nurse, I would be testing more often to protect my patients. And for the record, it’s not gone away!

Bloopsie · 22/02/2023 11:47

Pippa12 · 22/02/2023 11:44

I think it’s sensible to tell those your with your suspicions. Like you say it unlikely they’ll change their behaviour now but when you go home they maybe more conscious of who they visit etc.

For example, I’m an intensive care nurse, I would be testing more often to protect my patients. And for the record, it’s not gone away!

Can I ask why is covid,in your opinion,any more dangerous than any of the flu strains? Surely if you know you have a viral illness you need to approach them all the same,i imagine in your case cant go to work etc?

Pippa12 · 22/02/2023 11:51

How do you know I don’t approach them all the same? But covid can be present and you can remain asymptomatic, seen as there is a test you can utilise you’d be daft not to test?

Pippa12 · 22/02/2023 11:54

Excuse my prickly response on reflection. We had a truly awful time in the height of the pandemic. I’ve witnessed countless times how aggressive this particular virus can be, sometime to the ones you least expect.

amicissimma · 22/02/2023 11:55

"I woke up with a cold on Saturday ... set off for the holiday"

So you were happy to give everybody your cold. Why would it make a difference if it were Covid? Most people will not be very badly affected by a cold or Covid, some can be made very ill by either, or complications of the infection.

MeinKraft · 22/02/2023 11:56

Best to test and then your mates can give any vulnerable people the swerve for a few days if needed.

FoxInSocksSatOnBlocks · 22/02/2023 12:04

Why would you treat it any differently than a cold or flu? If you were happy to give everyone your cold what’s the problem?

Craftybodger · 22/02/2023 12:10

I think you would be selfish not to test again. At least the group you are with can then make an informed decision as to how to proceed.

ShimmeringShirts · 22/02/2023 12:17

For all those saying test again - where are you getting your tests? The drop in testing facilities have all been shut, boots no longer sell the LFT and there doesn’t seem to be any way to book a covid test in my area anymore, you can’t even order the LFT from the government as far as I can see now. So how is everyone still getting their hands on tests?

FoxInSocksSatOnBlocks · 22/02/2023 12:47

@ShimmeringShirts I’ve noticed a lot of supermarkets sell them (though I don’t think they should - totally pointless things).

Mariposista · 22/02/2023 13:06

Bloopsie · 22/02/2023 10:46

What difference will the test make, treatment is no different.

I have never done a covid test really dont see why people waste time on them

This is spades.
If it were a bacterial infection and you needed the name of the infection to prescribe the right treatment, then yes it would be important. But as it's a virus, it will just work its way out of your system in time, no treatment required. Knowing the name of the illness won't make you better any quicker.

shinynewapple22 · 22/02/2023 13:09

I would ask your friends whether they want you to test or not .

We were on holiday a couple of weeks back and my son (adult) came down with a very snotty cold . Ordinarily I would have advised him to test and popped a couple round for him - but given that he had taken time from work and flown over to join us I wasn't prepared to make him sit in his room alone so figured I would rather not know.

UpToMyElbowsInDiapers · 22/02/2023 13:11

DrinkFeckArseBrick · 22/02/2023 11:38

The thing is there is no treatment but your friends may change their behaviour if they know they likely have covid. For example if I had been very exposed to someone with symptoms, my work would prefer that I didn't come in, I wouldnt visit elderly parents etc.

By not saying anything testing, you are taking away people's choice on how they react

I'd at least mention it that you did a test and it was negative but now you've lost your sense of taste and smell

100%

I would take a very grim view on a friend not telling me I had been exposed to a possible case of COVID. My DM is a primary carer to my aunt, who is undergoing treatment for lung cancer. My aunt has been told that COVID (or a cold or flu) could well be fatal to her at this stage. My DM and I are being very careful not to see each other if I or my DCs are unwell.

You never know what is happening in people’s wider circles. Please don’t bury information.

shinynewapple22 · 22/02/2023 13:11

ShimmeringShirts · 22/02/2023 12:17

For all those saying test again - where are you getting your tests? The drop in testing facilities have all been shut, boots no longer sell the LFT and there doesn’t seem to be any way to book a covid test in my area anymore, you can’t even order the LFT from the government as far as I can see now. So how is everyone still getting their hands on tests?

I order them from Amazon and always keep a couple in stock .

mrsbyers · 22/02/2023 13:12

You should absolutely test , they might go on to infect an elderly or CEV family member so it’s the responsible thing to do

Pieandchips1234456 · 22/02/2023 13:14

I didn't even know people were still testing. Think I've done one since the pandemic started.

Original poster
Haraebo · 22/02/2023 13:27

Thanks for the replies.

It wasn't a case of 'being happy to share my cold'. I felt absolutely fine, just had a runny nose. It wasn't until Saturday night that I started feeling very rough.

In any case, I am afraid that I wouldn't have been missing my long-awaited holiday for that sake of passing on a cold. If I had tested positive, that would have been a different story.

OP posts:
CrapBucket · 22/02/2023 13:33

Well your friends all know that you have some sort of bug, so you could let them know that you tested negative a few days ago but if they want you to retest, you will. If I was your friend I would tell you not to bother. But that way if anyone needs to know for an important reason, they have the option.

ShellsPebbles · 22/02/2023 13:36

I was very cautious and a regular tester at the height of the pandemic. But now, no I wouldn’t test. I accept if people have cold-like symptoms it could be covid. If they are going to catch what you have they will catch it now anyway. There’s no point in testing again. The only exception to that would be if they will need to be around extremely vulnerable people straight after your holiday.

Original poster
Haraebo · 22/02/2023 13:42

I'm going to clean the house now, while they are out and then let them know when they get back. I suspect that I will have already passed it on so if they are going to get symptoms, we will know in the next couple of days.

To not bother testing?
OP posts:
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