AIBU to say if you have a cough get a test

[ShouldWeChangeTheBulb]

I’m getting increasing pissed off with people online and IRL about not getting tested because ‘it’s just a cold’ or it’s ‘obviously not Covid’. FWIW I don’t get annoyed if someone visits family even though their not supposed to in their area. I think it’s inhuman not to have social contact so I can understand that but for god sake if you actually have symptoms lockdown straight away and get tested. I know it’s a pain in the arse but not wanting to do something is not a good reason for not doing it.
For context we are currently locked down as DS has it (he caught if from his teacher). When I tell people his symptoms I’ve lost count of how many people say ‘my dd has those symptoms but she had a runny nose last week so it’s just a cold’. You cannot tell if it’s Covid or not, the symptoms can be the same as any other illness.

You only need one of the three main symptoms to test

It's not as easy as you make out @ShouldWeChangeTheBulb. I recently tried to get a test for a family member and at first there was none then it wanted him to go to a site almost 100miles away. He can't drive and obviously public transport would be a bad idea.

That’s a rubbish situation. I know of several people who have had to re-fresh for hours to get a local test.
Without a test then the only other option is to lockdown for 10 days.

We can’t win either way op, and Matt Hancock has made it that way. Firstly we’re told to test for all these symptoms, then people do it and he starts telling everyone they are wasting tests. Dd had an awful cough (caught at school) so we tested, we were told by so many people, including teachers and someone in a clinical role in the nhs that there was no need because she didn’t have a temp and she had a runny nose. I feel the goal posts keep changing. Surely the whole point of testing is to isolate those people with mild symptoms that wouldn’t know for sure? Ergo there will (hopefully) be lots of ‘wasted’ tests.

This thread has really shocked me. No wonder we are in with the situation we are in when there are so many people finding any excuse not to count their cough as new and persistent.

^ this

Op you are right. You really are. My friend also had a positive test with a mild cough and sore throat. His ds had a cold so they assume je had it to but got tested as they should.

If he hadn't been tested his children would have been continuing to mix with him and go to school. It's likely they'd have caught it but he isolated at home. It's also likely they'd have passed it to someone at school and their bubbles would have been closed.

People on this thread are clueless.

And yes you can't always get a test but if you can't you need to self isolate.

@Dinocan- It’s annoying that you were given contradictory information. It really doesn’t help does it.

@Feelingconfused2020
Thanks I feel like I’m going mad on here.

Having a cold Like symptoms doesn’t mean it’s not Covid.

True. I'm ill at the minute and have been on and off for a couple of weeks. Cough? Yes, very mild. Temeprature? No. Loss of sell or taste? No.

I do NOT have Covid-19. You can try and convince me otherwise but I'd save your breath. I have a cold. It's going round work. Whenever anything's going round, I get it. However, every time I'm ill - and I mean EVERY SINGLE TIME - I present with exacty the same symptoms: mild cough, headache, can't concentrate, feel shit. I don't sneeze or get a runny nose.

I've been aroud long enough to know myself and can see no good reason to get tested for Covid-19, measles, mumps, malaria or anything else.

smell

@bossyrossy

We have all had colds and coughs and, as adults, should know the symptoms. Too many people are rushing to be tested when they should be asking themselves the question “Have I felt like this before?” In most cases the answer will be yes, it’s a common cold or cough. If however you feel lousy, have a temperature and a dry cough and have lost your sense of smell and taste, then get a test.

This is incredible. Why are you saying this? On what basis have you decided that if you have a cough but have felt like this before it’s not Covid?

The guidance is if you have ANY ONE of the three main symptoms you should self isolate and, if you can, get a test.

@LadyFlumpalot

I'm not going to test every time I start coughing. I had bronchitis three years ago. It's left me with, well, a sensitive cough reflex. I have coughing fits when:

I go into warm places.
I go into cold places.
I go to places with dry air (air conditioning or heating.)
I eat ice cream.
I drink hot drinks.
I eat chocolate (not sure why on that one!)
I smell strong smells (bleach, spicy curry, smoke)

Basically I have coughing fits most days all year round, but far more prevalently in the winter. It's simply not feasible for me to isolate or get a test every day. I've spoken to my GP and he's told me to ignore the cough and only test with one of the other symptoms.

I have decided to WFH as much as I can however and not go to many public places if I can help it.

me too on the chocolate front (as well as the other things you listed)! I cough daily several times a day all year round!

@NiceLegsShameAboutTheFace
I’m not saying you definitely have it. I am saying you don’t know if you have it or not. You can not ‘feel’ if you have Covid. You need to lockdown and try to get a test because you have a new continuous cough. Those are the guidelines.

@clarcats
You don’t have a ‘new’ cough then.

[quote ShouldWeChangeTheBulb]@Feelingconfused2020
Thanks I feel like I’m going mad on here.[/quote]
Me too OP. I hope this thread isn’t a representative sample of the public or we’re stuffed.

I’m going to pour myself a large .

There are people who have had a temperature but because they also have a runny nose and headache etc are just assuming it's a cold, and not getting tested. Some are medical people whose workplace have told them they don't need to.

I do wonder how many positives could be getting missed this way and if this is in fact the way the virus is spreading, rather than assuming it's just down to children mixing at school, or irresponsible young people socialising in pubs.

Especially because it's a new virus and surely can mutate to a slightly different form.

It's really difficult. Ideally we would all get tested easily and quickly with any of the symptoms. But in practice, people ARE assuming it's just a cold, and it probably is. But, WHAT IF....?

COVID CAN PRESENT WITH THE EXACT SAME SYMPTOMS AS A COLD

If you have a cold with a regular, new cough you should get tested.

People on this thread are clueless.

Happy to be considered clueless: much preferable to being vaguely hysterical every time I cough.

I cough all the time, it’s a side effect of some medication I take daily.

If you met me and told me to get a test just because I had a cough I would tell you to do one.

Earlier in the year I was coughing and had hay fever. I know my own body - you don’t

I am sticking to NHS guidelines.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/symptoms/

I'm currently trying to book a test. Nearest walk in to me (wheel thru as in a wheelchair) is 7 miles away. Not sure how I'm expected to get there without using public transport. I suppose 7 miles is nearer than some get offered. Just have to keep refreshing and hope a nearer one comes up.

You need to lockdown and try to get a test because you have a new continuous cough. Those are the guidelines

Well, that's not happening. I think you're interpreting the guidelines too literally.

@Threeisnotacrowd it’s not ‘new’ if you always cough. You do not need to test.

@Threeisnotacrowd

I cough all the time, it’s a side effect of some medication I take daily.

If you met me and told me to get a test just because I had a cough I would tell you to do one.

Earlier in the year I was coughing and had hay fever. I know my own body - you don’t

Then you don’t have a new continuous cough, do you? So no need to self isolate, and no need to test.

I know my own body - you don’t

@Threeisnotacrowd Spot on