Warning to anyone going for a test

[ohfucketty]

So, I took my ds on Wed for a Covid test as he had a sore throat and a weird rash.

Went to a walk-in site - was a marquee set up in a car park with a long queue. Everyone wearing masks, queue moving v slowly. When got inside the marquee, there were cubicles made with plastic curtains and everyone was given the equipment and sent off to a cubicle to do the tests ourselves. I got one too as they offered, although I'd had no symptoms.

Took ds over 10 goes to do the test, as he kept gagging on the throat one and touching it on other bits of his mouth, so we were in there about 15 mins at least, obviously not wearing masks while doing the tests.

We got negative results within 24 hours, BUT, this morning, 5 days after going for the test, I have now woken up with aching lungs, like nothing I've ever had. :(

Am now worried I caught Covid AT THE TEST CENTRE, despite using copious hand sanitiser and wearing a mask outside, as once inside the marquee, I was then standing in a small enclosed space where presumably hundreds of other potential Covid sufferers had also been standing recently, quite possibly coughing away without their masks on (as you can't do a test and keep your mask on).

As it was a marquee, it didn't feel like being in an enclosed space, but of course it was. Feel such an idiot, if I've actually caught Covid by going for a test.

So my warning is, if you do go for a test, I'd try to go for a drive through test, where I guess you do it in your own car (?) as this might be safer.

And if you do do a walk-in test, only take your mask off for the absolute minimum time, and change clothes/shower when you get back. :(

I can't face going for another test to find out if this is actually Covid - apart from anything else, don't feel up to standing in the cold for another hour. :( And would have to share a car with my dh, as I don't drive, and wouldn't want to risk giving it to him.

Oh, and just to add, to add to the shitness, I am 99% sure I had Covid back in March, as dh had all the classic symptoms and still has the long-tail form, with some shortness of breath/lung pain 6 months on, while I got way then with just losing my sense of smell/taste for a few weeks. (Neither of us got tested then, as at that point, you could only get tested if you turned blue.) I therefore assumed, that if I did get it again, I'd be OK. Bugger.

So don't assume that if you've had it before, you'll be fine. Obviously this may not be Covid. But buggered if I know what else it is, just random lung pain.

I hope you are better soon, OP, that's not good.
We're lucky our dc are 16 + and refusing the test, as are we.
Having a test makes no difference anyway, you catch it or you don't.

@MrsHuntGeneNotJeremyObviously

OPs some had symptoms that are seen in children. Why wouldn't she test? Not least because nurseries/schools exclude for 14 days unless you get s negative test. The problem is with government fucking up the testing system, not with people using it!

This. It doesn’t make sense to cast blame on the OP for governmental failure.

OP dont assume you had it before unless you have had an antibody test. DD and her husband were very unwell in March (inc loss of sense of smell, taste). They did an antibody test in July which came back negative. What they had was likely good old fashioned flu - proper flu, knocks you for six not a bad cold.

Don’t you think if there was a real problem with people catching it at test centres, it would be widely known about, worldwide?

Aren’t they following the scientific advice about ensuring this doesn’t happen as it is fair to assume they have properly risk assessed it.

If you don’t drive, why did you take him for the test and not just your husband?

You had a test when there was little chance you had it but now you think you’ve got it, you’re not going to bother?

Safe to say, people just not understanding this whole thing is why we are still in this mess.

@StatisticalSense

So you took him for a test despite him not having the required symptoms and have now developed different symptoms that are also not cause for a Covid test and are only not getting tested because it is too inconvenient? People like you are exactly why the testing situation is in a mess.

This.

Engage the other brain cell, OP. Please.

@AldiAisleofCrap

Is it? Is that on the NHS list of symptoms that require a test? the Zoe app is asking people to test if they have a rash.

Not always.

Thanks for this op, sounds extremely stupid to set up a test system like this.

Gnome, they probably had covid.

But the anti bodies were diminished. They go after 3 months in many people which is why herd immunity its rubbished.

My DS and I both had sore throats in the summer. The zoe app invited us for a test. At that time there wasnt an issue with booking tests and my biggest complaint was that the most obvious entrance to the test centre carpark was closed with no clear instructions how to approach it from a different way (the town is full if one way streets)
It was a drive through, we were told to only open the window the tiniest bit to let them give us the test but there were very clear instructions on what yo do and how to test a child/or diy.

15:10Devlesko

I hope you are better soon, OP, that's not good.
We're lucky our dc are 16 + and refusing the test, as are we.
Having a test makes no difference anyway, you catch it or you don't.

I'm not quite sure where to start with this

@ClarencesMum

Why did you take him for a test? He had no sym8.

And neither do you.

You sound like a total hypochondriac and it's no wonder people that need one can't get a test. Give your head a wobble.

👏🏼

Sore throat and rash are not the usual symptoms in adults - though they do occur. However they are commonly reported covid symptoms in children.

From Zoe/King's College London - childres' symptoms, reported by people whose kids have tested positive

@StatisticalSense

So you took him for a test despite him not having the required symptoms and have now developed different symptoms that are also not cause for a Covid test and are only not getting tested because it is too inconvenient? People like you are exactly why the testing situation is in a mess.

Rash can be a symptom in kids

@candycane222
Doesn't matter for the purposes of testing. The eligibility criteria is quite clear. Just like you don't get approved for a mortgage on the basis that you think you can afford the repayments you don't get a corona test unless you have one of the 3 eligible symptoms.

OP it could be that you haven't caught it again, but your immune system has attacked your body at being exposed to a germ. This is what I was told by a covid clinician. So in theory, I've suffered 5 times since March but only had it once and very unlikely that I shed the virus each time (I tested negative last time). Its a rubbish situation but you'll kniw from your husband being a long hauler that you can have periods of good then it hits you again. I hope you get better soon.

For anyone saying that a rash isn't a symptom, it was mentioned on the news a few weeks ago that it is. In fact, it was mentioned a few months ago that it is.

Well I’m really surprised you had to do the test yourself. That’s mad!

covid.joinzoe.com/post/skin-rash-covid

Bearing in mind a loss of smell and taste wasn't an official symptom for some time I don't blame you for testing with a sore throat and rash.

Just a thought, OP, but could it be a flare up of the likely Covid you had back in March, due to standing in the cold and the stress? Perhaps it's that, rather than a new infection? Either way, get well soon!

I think you ought to have called your GP first OP for a phone consultation. Sore throat and a rash may be symptoms in children BUT they are not on the list, so you would have had to lie to get the test.

You now all need to isolate at home for 14 days. Are you?

I got one too as they offered, although I'd had no symptoms.

so is this another reason why they are running out of tests because the NHS staff are making up their own rules?

And you did your own swab and your son's? Really?

Why was that?

And if your son had tested positive, what was the benefit of knowing? Surely you could have used your common sense and kept him at home until his symptoms - whatever they were - had passed. You have rather brought this on yourself.

Is this for real?! Your son had a sore throat and rash and you took him for a COVID test?!! Of course it’s a risk that you may catch it at a test centre, even the drive through.

OP do you possibly have some kind of health anxiety?

For context, my whole family have had a cold which went away and for one of my children it’s come back with a blocked nose and fairly persistent cough...there’s a small chance that she has caught COVID on top of the cold as there have been a couple of cases at her school but in a different year group although there are sibling connections to this year. She’ll probably stay off school tomorrow but my others will probably go in as they’re in crucial years and don’t have symptoms. If I could get a test for the one who’s coughing I would. I’ll again try for a test tomorrow.

Why on Earth are you selfishly taking your son for a COVID test without any actual symptoms, putting both his and your own health at risk in the process 🤷🏻‍♀️

I find the walk-in situation really confusing because it defeats the point of staying at home if you have symptoms?!

I don’t have a car, so if I do show symptoms at some point I will have to order one. Me going for miles (likely from what I’ve been told around here) on public transport would be insane. And if you have to do the test yourself anyway.....I don’t see the point I. Going out. Except for speed of test of course. The system is mad.

Come on 2021 I’m putting my Hope in you! Hope you’re ok OP it sounds nasty

Sore throat and rash are symptoms in children.

Bloody hell. The stupidity and down right cruelty of some people on here.