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Original poster

Has anyone tested negative with cold symptoms?

38 replies

yarncakes · 23/08/2020 23:11

I'm an allergy sufferer usually but unfortunately I think I've got a cold as this is typical cold symptoms I had always suffered with when DS went nursery and every week he was coming back with a cold and passing it onto me!

My symptoms came on suddenly this morning. I got a blocked nose, very runny and watery when I blow it, constantly sneezing (every time I sniff, it irritates my sinuses and then I get sneezing fit 10x in a row), both eyes are watery and sore and itchy (this stirred me towards allergy but pollen is low, dust mites are under control). Two of my family members are also getting stuffy noses now :( so I got tested as I'm the one who is an essential worker and I'm expecting results back any time now. Has anyone got a neg and turned out it was a stinking cold? I don't have a fever or a cough (touch wood). I can also smell and taste things so I've got absolutely no symptoms on the COVID list. I had a fever and a mild cough couple of months ago and test came back neg then Confused

OP posts:
Toontown · 23/08/2020 23:13

Yes we've had several negative test results over the last few months despite having. Some of the symptoms.

balloonsintrees · 23/08/2020 23:14

Yep. Negative result yesterday.
Primarily tested for DH tho who has had a constant cough for 8 months. With a negative test for him, hopefully the GP will finally be willing to see him and he can get it treated!!

PurpleDaisies · 23/08/2020 23:15

Yes. Same as you. I had a mild cough as well so I had to self isolate and get a test.

shellysheridan · 23/08/2020 23:16

Yep. Whole family had a cold we think ds caught at nursery. Runny noses, sore throats and a bit of a cough. All tested negative

SavageBeauty73 · 23/08/2020 23:16

I had a negative test and I was convinced it was actually severe hay fever.

Inastatus · 23/08/2020 23:17

I think the current odds are that you are highly likely to test negative.

premiumshoes · 23/08/2020 23:18

My symptoms came on suddenly this morning. I got a blocked nose, very runny and watery when I blow it, constantly sneezing (every time I sniff, it irritates my sinuses and then I get sneezing fit 10x in a row), both eyes are watery and sore and itchy (this stirred me towards allergy but pollen is low, dust mites are under control).

None of the 3 key symptoms that decide you need a test.

AriettyHomily · 23/08/2020 23:18

You don't need to test for your symptoms.

Original poster
yarncakes · 24/08/2020 06:43

I didn't think I need to test, I did any way as I have to every week at work but should I self isolate as I have to go into town today and I'm worried I'm going to start coughing as I've got post nasal drip.. Very nice :( quite stressed out already.

OP posts:
HarveySchlumpfenburger · 24/08/2020 06:52

@AriettyHomily

You don't need to test for your symptoms.
Depending on what sort of essential worker the OP is that’s difficult to say. If she works in healthcare, for example, the criteria are likely to be much wider and more in line with elsewhere.

We’ve had plenty of people with cold symptoms who’ve tested negative, OP. Hopefully yours will be too.

KitKatastrophe · 24/08/2020 07:14

@Inastatus

I think the current odds are that you are highly likely to test negative.
Yes. The current rate of positive tests is about 0.6 to 0.7. Meaning 6 or 7 out of every 1000 test comes back positive.

There will be some false negatives but at this rate of infections, false positives are actually more likely.

Bol87 · 24/08/2020 07:19

Yep me. Twice. I only tested as I had a cough both times. I’m just getting over yet another stinking cold (never had so many summer colds.. my daughter moved to a new nursery after lockdown & is catching every cold under the sun!).. I’ve not tested this time as I’ve not got the main symptoms & my GP said Corona does not present as a really snotty cold at all. A runny nose, sometimes. But not a full on green snot fest! 😷

Original poster
yarncakes · 24/08/2020 07:27

I work in healthcare they definitely don't favour anyone coming in with cold symptoms. Touch wood I am feeling less bunged up but let's see how the day pans out. I'm sure it will be negative but I just worry because of my family. Even though I know it isn't my fault and I didn't deliberately mean to infect anyone but that's just my anxiety playing up.

OP posts:
KateF · 24/08/2020 07:33

I had a cold with a cough so work insisted I have a test. It was negative, as I knew it would be!

premiumshoes · 24/08/2020 08:17

*Depending on what sort of essential worker the OP is that’s difficult to say.
*
Not really, the 3 key symptoms that decide whether you need a test or not are not up for debate. They are what we are being told we need to refer to.

If she works in healthcare, for example, the criteria are likely to be much wider and more in line with elsewhere.

Are they? Do you have any evidence of this? It's an interesting point but 'more likely' forms quite make it true.

premiumshoes · 24/08/2020 08:18

*doesn't make it true

HarveySchlumpfenburger · 24/08/2020 08:27

I work in the NHS and I know what our criteria are for not being in work and getting a test.

Essentially - fever, cough, loss of taste/smell, muscle pains, any signs of upper or lower respiratory tract infections.

It’s much closer to the criteria for testing outside the UK.

Original poster
yarncakes · 24/08/2020 10:39

Test results come back negative

OP posts:
Inmyownlittlecorner · 24/08/2020 18:26

Yes. Me, my 2 DCs, my sister & her DC have all got varying degrees of sore throat, blocked/runny noses, sinus pain, temp between 37.5-38, coughs & intermittent loss of taste/smell.
We’ve actually had 2 tests as we all started to feel better then a couple of days later coughs started, but all the tests have been negative.

Original poster
yarncakes · 24/08/2020 18:49

That's how colds end for me. I get a persistent cough got 2 to 3 weeks, no matter what. That is what I'm dreading and I know I will have to test when it begins.

OP posts:
lifesalongsong · 24/08/2020 18:59

I know you've got your result now but over 99% of all tests come back negative so pretty much anyone who has any symptoms doesn't have covid but all tests are unique events, your result doesn't depend on anyone else's. Everyone who thinks they need a test should have one and just wait and see what the result is.

Kezziethecat · 24/08/2020 19:01

Both children and I had bad colds last week. They both had temperatures so I did get us tested and all negative.

Fatted · 24/08/2020 19:03

I know two people who had pneumonia. They both ended io in hospital with all of the covid symptoms - temperature and cough. Neither had Covid but did have another virus.

Covid is not the only thing out there.

bristolone · 24/08/2020 19:20

Family member had two negative tests after 8 weeks of sore throat and cough. Ended up in hospital with breathing problems. Hospital tested and was positive.
Not sure how reliable self administered tests are.

HarveySchlumpfenburger · 24/08/2020 19:54

I don’t think it’s just who does the test. IIRC the false negative rate was still an issue in China when they were only being done by HCPs.

I’ve got a family member who works in ICU and they’ve had plenty of patients who’ve tested negative multiple times even though they obviously have COVID and it isn’t until you incubate them and get a sample from lower down the respiratory tract that you get a positive.

In the OPs case I’d treat negative as being negative though.

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