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Original poster

Being tested today

27 replies

mylittlesandwich · 29/07/2020 08:08

I've woken up with a cough and a sore throat so I've booked us in for a drive through test. Pretty nervous about the whole thing. I've heard the tests are very uncomfortable. I'm also panicked that I might have it because I'm fat and that seems to mean I'll be on deaths door. I've also been in restaurants and even had my nails done so I feel guilty that I may have exposed people.

Has anyone been tested and wouldn't mind sharing their experience?

OP posts:
anothermansmother · 29/07/2020 08:16

I went about a month ago now. Cough ( due to asthma) and temperatures raised in the evenings, but gp said get the test. You do the swans yourself if it's a drive thru one. Really easy in and out within 10 mins. Mine was negative, the results were back within 24 hours.

Original poster
mylittlesandwich · 29/07/2020 08:21

I'm assuming if you test negative even with symptoms you just go back to normal life?

OP posts:
cliffdiver · 29/07/2020 08:22

I was tested 5 weeks ago, due to an elevated temperature.

You swan your throat first, it does make you gag, I did it in 2 goes, but you have to be really careful not to tough anything but your tonsils with the swab.

The nose one was fine, a little uncomfortable.

I got my positive result within 24 hours.

DH and DDs got their negative results within 32 hours.

Besides the slight fever, I felt very very tired and a little achy. I coughed for half a morning 2 days after my positive. No other symptoms, but I do have reduced hearing in one ear (ENT consultant thinks that may be due to COVID).

Good luck Thanks

cliffdiver · 29/07/2020 08:24

I'm assuming if you test negative even with symptoms you just go back to normal life?

No! ShockShock

You have to isolate for 7 days from the onset of your symptoms.

Everyone else in your household has to isolate for 14 days (or 7 days from when (if) they get symptoms).

CodenameVillanelle · 29/07/2020 08:25

@cliffdiver

I'm assuming if you test negative even with symptoms you just go back to normal life?

No! ShockShock

You have to isolate for 7 days from the onset of your symptoms.

Everyone else in your household has to isolate for 14 days (or 7 days from when (if) they get symptoms).

No you don't! The whole point of testing is so people don't have to isolate unnecessarily What do you think they are testing for!?!
Littlebelina · 29/07/2020 08:27

You don't have to self isolate with a negative result

www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing-and-tracing/what-your-test-result-means/

camelsandcaramel · 29/07/2020 08:28

We only have the option of having the nose test done where we live. I'm dreading it, heard horror stories.

Can anyone put me at ease?

RaininSummer · 29/07/2020 08:29

When I went I was given the choice of self administration of test or them doing it. I opted for them to do the swabs as thought I may mess up as I knew it would make me gag. It wasn't pleasant but not awful.

cliffdiver · 29/07/2020 08:29

Apologies - I read negative as positive HmmConfused

RaininSummer · 29/07/2020 08:31

Camel, the nose swab is just a bit uncomfortable as they rotate the swab just a little longer than is nice so it twinges a little. Made my eyes water but no long lasting discomfort.

Original poster
mylittlesandwich · 29/07/2020 08:32

@cliffdiver haha, we'll definitely continue to isolate if we test positive!

OP posts:
TorysSuckRevokeArticle50 · 29/07/2020 08:34

We had door to door testers over the weekend doing everyone on the street, it was fine. None of it hurts, the throat swab does make you gag a little as it has to touch tonsils, but it's only for a few seconds. The nose swab was fine. Got results back in less than 24 hrs, negative for our household.

Flagsfiend · 29/07/2020 08:40

The information says if you test negative and you feel well then you can go back to normal. It does suggest if you have a temperature you should stay home so as not to spread whatever is causing it (but your household don't need to).

louloubelx · 29/07/2020 08:58

I had one Sunday afternoon and had negative result back by 10am next day. As the others have said the throat one is a bit uncomfortable but over in seconds. You do it yourself. Good luck I’m sure you’ll be fine

TildaTurnip · 29/07/2020 09:13

A few Sundays ago, I went to one and my young child and I both did a test. As you can’t leave the car, it took contortionist skills to do his. I definitely accidentally touched his tongue (really was quite horrible for him tbh) and each swab took about 5 goes but the swab was still fine and the result was negative. Did the tests at 11 and got text results by the evening on the same day.

Original poster
mylittlesandwich · 29/07/2020 11:25

Thanks everyone. It wasn't pleasant but it wasn't awful. Little bit of gagging and a lot of sneezing. Hopefully my results are back quickly. DS is too young for testing so it was just me and DH which wasn't too bad.

OP posts:
lifeafter50 · 29/07/2020 13:22

Numpty question probably but his do you know where your tonsils are? Have no acquaintance with mine 😀
Am waiting to see if I still gave symptoms tomorrow. Isolating because even if (almost certainly) it isn't CV, I don't want to pass cold symptoms on to other ex and give the same dilemma.

Lily2020 · 29/07/2020 13:29

Me & my 2 year old went to drive through yesterday 10am, someone did the swabs for us, honestly nowhere near as bad/painful as people have been making out! - still waiting on results

TestWorries · 29/07/2020 13:29

@TorysSuckRevokeArticle50 I've not heard of whole streets being tested - do you live in a high CV level area? Is it OK to refuse the test, it's not compulsory is it?

Sorry to bombard you with questions but this is a worry of mine.

TestWorries · 29/07/2020 13:31

And before I get jumped on, I am only worried about the throat swab, I would be fine with nostril swab. I started a different thread about this but the door to door thing has alarmed me a little.

lifesalongsong · 29/07/2020 13:34

[quote TestWorries]@TorysSuckRevokeArticle50 I've not heard of whole streets being tested - do you live in a high CV level area? Is it OK to refuse the test, it's not compulsory is it?

Sorry to bombard you with questions but this is a worry of mine.

[/quote]
This has been on the news, certainly I've heard about it for Leicester and possibly Blackburn. I think it's a good idea to identify hot spot areas.

Isotope456 · 29/07/2020 13:34

I was tested a bit more than a month ago at a drive-in centre. I thought the staff were really helpful. I did the test myself in the car and then handed it in at the end. The test itself wasn't pleasant - throat and then nose swab - but it was fine. I got a negative result back in just over 24 hours by text and email.

TorysSuckRevokeArticle50 · 29/07/2020 13:43

@TestWorries yes in Leicester so they are systematically going round every street in the lockdown area. It's voluntary, the testers knock and offer a test pack, then you do the test yourself and they double back along the street to collect completed tests.

Register online with the barcode you get in the kit and then you get a text message with your result.

TestWorries · 29/07/2020 16:12

Thank you, that does seem like a very good idea. (I'm very pro testing just worried about the throat swab for myself). I wonder what the take up is. I shall have a look into it, I've never seen it mentioned on our news but we are out of the area.

Original poster
mylittlesandwich · 29/07/2020 20:45

I've had my results already. Negative. Thank goodness.

OP posts:
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