Should I order a test?

[AlexandPea]

I’m so sorry if this has been done ad nauseam but would really welcome advice.

I have a temperature of 37.7, feel absolutely exhausted - can hardly get out of bed, and had a slight cough yesterday (but not today). Also pain in legs and back.

Taste and smell ok.

Has anyone else with these symptoms tested positive for Covid? I don’t want to order test unnecessary when resources are so stretched.

TIA.

Definitely order one! You can have Covid and not even have any symptoms, the fact that you do is a very valid reason for getting a test.

I think I would. I felt like that yesterday, no fever or persistent cough (just the odd tickle) just achy and exhausted. I'm much better today and feel normal but I've been asked to test by the ZOE app. I'm going for the research benefits for ZOE and because I'm planning to see my parents for the first time on Monday, so I'd hate to infect them.

Yes, OP you absolutely should get tested ASAP.

Not directed at you specifically OP but I'm not sure why this message doesn't seem to be getting through. There are an absolute abundance of tests now. DS1 came home from nursery with a temperature last week, called 119 and got a drive through test an hour later, had the results (negative) an hour after that. If I had anything even approaching symptoms I'd be straight out for a test!

11 hours after that I should say!

Thanks all, I’ve ordered a test.

@Sunshinegirl82 absolutely agree, the government /NHS anyone in authority need to advertising who can get a test MUCH more widely and frequently than at present! Not everyone has the benefit of asking Mumsnet!

@AlexandPea

I’m so sorry if this has been done ad nauseam but would really welcome advice.

I have a temperature of 37.7, feel absolutely exhausted - can hardly get out of bed, and had a slight cough yesterday (but not today). Also pain in legs and back.

Taste and smell ok.

Has anyone else with these symptoms tested positive for Covid? I don’t want to order test unnecessary when resources are so stretched.

TIA.

Resources are NOT stretched. Everywhere you look they are telling you to get a test if you have any of the symptoms. This has been the message for weeks now. It is on TV, in papers, all over social media, on posters in shops and high streets. You really have to be trying very hard to miss all that and still not understand that If you have any of the symptoms, temperature, cough or loss of taste and smell you get a test. Why is it so difficult ?

I was coming to say yes. I dawdled ordering mine and it was late etc. I had a negative but I think it was too late, I had similar symptoms apart from the cough, I was poorly for weeks and weeks. Convinced I had it as was like nothing else I’ve ever had.

You should be tested.
It looks like you may have the blood form, rather than purely respiratory form.
If so, you can end up with very low blood oxygen and blood clots, which are dangerous. Please be seen by a doctor.

@Lweji I'm not saying OP shouldn't get tested but oh my gosh, what an unnecessarily alarmist post! If you request a test you don't get 'seen by a doctor' - in fact going to the GP/hospital with covid symptoms unless you've been admitted is highly irresponsible and not advised.

[quote QuimJongUn]@Lweji I'm not saying OP shouldn't get tested but oh my gosh, what an unnecessarily alarmist post! If you request a test you don't get 'seen by a doctor' - in fact going to the GP/hospital with covid symptoms unless you've been admitted is highly irresponsible and not advised.[/quote]
This!

There isn't definitely two "forms" of the disease. And the vast majority of people only have very mild symptoms.

Get a test, testing is the way out of this. I had a test (volunteer - no symptoms) on Tuesday. Was able to book and complete test within 30mins, results 15 hours later 3pm to 6am. Only three cars at test centre. The infrastructure is there, we need to use it.

[quote QuimJongUn]@Lweji I'm not saying OP shouldn't get tested but oh my gosh, what an unnecessarily alarmist post! If you request a test you don't get 'seen by a doctor' - in fact going to the GP/hospital with covid symptoms unless you've been admitted is highly irresponsible and not advised.[/quote]
I based my advice on knowledgw about the disease itself.
If the OP is feeling very tired, it's likely she has low blood oxygen and that the virus is affecting her circulatory system rather than just the lungs or airways.
If it's affecting her blood, she's at risk of multiple organ failure, blood clots and basically not getting enough oxygen to essential organs.
Not kidding, or trying to alarm you, but at this time, with the described symptoms, I don't consider what the OP described as mild and would think she needs treatment sooner rather than later.
But I'm not a medical doctor, just a Doctor in a biomedical field, and i haven't seen or done any tests on the OP. Hence the recommendation that she is seen by a doctor. Preferably one who can run proper tests to ensure the OP doesn't become a more serious case.

I didn't say the OP should just show up at the doctor's.
She should ring for advice and asked to be seen, preferably ring a health advice line, not just go through a receptionist.

In fact, doing a test and getting the result helps the OP fuck all.
Proper medical advice, and evaluation of your condition, is what you should be getting.

The countries with the lowest mortality rates aren't waiting for patients to be blue lighted to hospital to see them.

@Lweji

Thank fuck you're not a medical Dr with that level of hysteria.

And your qualifications are?

Since when recommending that a sick person is seen by a doctor to evaluate their condition, or gets proper medical advice, is hysteria? Have people gone completely mad?

Lol. 20 years in the NHS.

No fever, felt tired (but posted on several MN threads) cough for one day which resolved..pains in legs and back = could be something or nothing and the something could be a thousand things.

In CV times, yes get a test of course.

But what OP described, nothing indicates the bollocks you said and it's out of order you posting it:

"The OP is feeling very tired, it's likely she has low blood oxygen and that the virus is affecting her circulatory system rather than just the lungs or airways.

If it's affecting her blood, she's at risk of multiple organ failure, blood clots and basically not getting enough oxygen to essential organs.

Not kidding, or trying to alarm you, but at this time, with the described symptoms, I don't consider what the OP described as mild and would think she needs treatment sooner rather than later"

What the OP posted is absolutely mild and also vague. Could be CV so get tested but want to be seen by a medic based on a temp below 38, feeling tired and some pains 2 days ago?

And if you could take a break from your scaremongering hysteria, you'd have seen that the OP posted about feeling a bit off and wondering if she should get a test 2 days ago, ordered one and posted yesterday to say she just bought a new bike from Halfords

I still stand by my advice for anyone presenting as the OP ("absolutely exhausted").
Better to be seen by a doctor to properly evaluate their condition, particularly anyone reporting tiredness that isn't explained by a fever.
Many people recover, some need further treatment.

I'm not usually in the habit of checking people's posting history, so I didn't. Well done.

In this case, the truth is that the OP could easily have gone the other way, as some have. Notably, the PM.

Aw, you're funny

And I stand by my view that you're a hysteric and giving shit advice which is actually really damaging.

And that it's good you're not a medic. If you were and I knew you, i'd report you to the GMC for telling someone who's feeling a bit rough that they need to seek medical help as at risk of blood clots and organ failure - based on absolutely nothing.

If you were an actual medic, you'd know that being 'exhausted' or 'tired all the time' (though OP was reporting a short spell of a day or two) is reported by millions of people every year. And often, it is just that, being tired and sometimes, its a sign of something else. Very rarely, if persistent, it's a sign of something sinister.

In CV times, get a test is correct but you felt that wasn't enough and the OP MUST be seen. It's incorrect advice and frightens people unnecessarily and puts unecessary pressure on the NHS if people followed your 'advice'.

If you were an actual Dr you'd have known that the vague and short lived 'symptoms' given by the OP are extremely common without and with CV and given they're atypical symptoms of CV and community transmission rates are very low, your leap that it MUST be CV but also a RARE presentation, requiring medical assessment and intervention was bollocks and scaremongering but no, don't admit you were wrong.

And the PM had very typical CV symptoms. Fever and a persistent cough. OP didn't post those symptoms at all.