To think I may have Covid despite testing negative . Anyone else think the same?

[Cranklanky]

Had symptoms on and off since Monday - mild congestion first , headache in the morning, then seemingly improvement. But sore throat on Wednesday followed by runny nose. Slight achy shoulders and back of neck. Very slight cough yesterday. Testing negative, but this doesn’t really feel quite like a typical cold for me. Historically, if I have a cold , normally my nasal secretions would be a lot thicker and coloured by now! (Sorry if too much information! ) I have read that the tests aren’t picking up this new variant, but they seem to be giving positives to other people I know.

I tested positive yesterday for the first time. Big fat line straight away. I have asthma too so feel awful.

Weird aches and pains, the worst headache ever, the shivers and loss of taste.

Positive this morning too.

DH and DC are negative thankfully.

Paracetamol and hot drinks are helping.

Definitely an achy back of the neck.

4 of us in the house have Covid at the mo,m. In between the first and second testing positive, my 11yo was lethargic, had a headache, sore throat. Nothing. We kept him out of school a few days because he could barely stand but also not to spread Covid (if we’re honest as there’s a LOT of gps at our school). Then next person tested positive and there was too big a gap in between my first son having it for him not to have had it. Hope you feel better soon op

So bizarre that people want COVID. Just bizarre.

I don’t think it’s so much that people want Covid but it’s useful to know if it is or not. For instance, with my employer Covid doesn’t count towards annual sick days but colds and flu do. And I get certain long Covid symptoms that are much reduced if I can preempt them.

You know there's more than one strain of Covid and you can come down with it again a few weeks later?

Not now but 3 weeks ago I'm sure I had covid, never had it before but felt different to a bad cold virus and I lost my sense of taste for 2 weeks. Still don't feel right. DH tested positive in the summer with similar but none of the rest of us ever got a positive test.

Where are people getting the throat swab tests from?

@WhateverMate er yes, I do know . But I’m only thinking of the next few days , not weeks / months. I will have 3 householders returning this week , 2 of whom will have been on long haul flights.

If you are using older tests they are rubbish at picking up current variants

@PickAChew My tests are from quite some time ago , they expire in a few weeks , hence my frequent use. I haven’t tested myself for about 18 months , since the last time I had Covid. And I’ve had viruses in between. This one feels more Covid like .

@potatoheads that’s interesting but I know of quite a few who have currently tested positive this time , on older tests.

I felt the need to test as I have asthma plus I was due to see a family member today who has a parent going through chemo.

The headache and change in taste didn't feel right.

I don't see how it really matters, it's autumn and the time for all kinds of bugs.

Loads of people I know are under the weather at the moment but we don't have the luxury of putting life on hold just incase it's covid.

If people feel horrific they take the time to rest otherwise it's business as usual because it just has to be.

again, why does it matter if it's covid?

If you have any kind of bug, you shouldn't see them at all! Someone going through chemo does not need ANY bug!

Are they?

I've just Googled this and all I'm reading is the opposite?

Why does it matter? You're ill - who cares what the name of it is? just get better.