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Original poster

Horrible head cold... With cough

30 replies

Ffsffsffsffsffs · 10/10/2020 10:14

Last 24 hours I've been incubating what I'm hoping is my annual horrible head cold (that'll leave me with weeks of sinusitis) but I also have a hacking chesty productive cough.

Thoughts on testing vipers?

OP posts:
AvoidingRealHumans · 10/10/2020 10:19

You have a cough so you need to test, even if you're sure it's your usual cold.

DartmoorChef · 10/10/2020 10:21

Sounds like a normal common cold. Covid cough is usually dry according to the list of symptoms.

Marmaladecake · 10/10/2020 10:21

A coronavirus cough is dry not chesty isn't it?

Bmidreams · 10/10/2020 10:22

You have a new cough. I'd test.

Lemoncordial · 10/10/2020 10:22

I wouldn't test for an obvious cold.

Original poster
Ffsffsffsffsffs · 10/10/2020 10:51

@Lemoncordial

I wouldn't test for an obvious cold.
The snot is literally running out of my nostrils, used a whole toilet roll overnight, my bedroom looks like a teenage boy's Envy
OP posts:
AvoidingRealHumans · 10/10/2020 11:18

Well a "friend" was very sure she had a cold last week and had children round to celebrate her sons birthday, unfortunately for her and them she actually had covid.
I say "friend" as I'm not sure I want to be friends with someone so reckless.
If you have a cough you need to get tested, it's a massive pain in the arse and I was in your position a few weeks back but it needs to be done.
Hope you feel better soon

LetsGoFlyAKiteee · 10/10/2020 11:25

My friend at work thought she had a head cold..no cough but got a test and tested positive. Someone else had a headache the week before and also went onto test postive too. I've known 4 people to have it and all started with a major headache.
I'd test in case especially with a cough.

Original poster
Ffsffsffsffsffs · 10/10/2020 11:46

Would it change anyone's advice if I said I'd had a test on Wednesday (part of a research group, no symptoms) which came back negative last night?

OP posts:
GunsAndShips · 10/10/2020 11:48

My DD had classic head cold symptoms with horrible sinus pain, earache and congestion. No cough.

She tested positive on Tuesday.

Original poster
Ffsffsffsffsffs · 12/10/2020 20:52

So I managed to get a test first thing Sunday, negative result came through this afternoon. No need to self isolate but not sure I'll be going to work tomorrow as I'm still coughing my guts up and feel like shit. Kids can go to school though, yay!

OP posts:
Brighterthansunflowers · 12/10/2020 23:01

It’s really really really simple. You have a new continuous cough so you need to isolate and test.

Yes it’s unlikely to be covid but you won’t know without a test, the rules don’t specify a dry cough

Brighterthansunflowers · 12/10/2020 23:01

So sorry OP! I somehow missed your last update! I’m really glad your test was negative and I hope you feel better soon!

justasking111 · 12/10/2020 23:05

We all had that cold last month, you have my sympathy. Glad test was negative.

bengalcat · 12/10/2020 23:07

Test

bengalcat · 12/10/2020 23:08

Ah missed your negative test - well done for having a test

Torvean32 · 12/10/2020 23:11

It needs to be a new continuous cough. Thats an episode that lasts an hour and 3 episodes in 24 hours.

ThatDamnScientist · 12/10/2020 23:14

@Lemoncordial

I wouldn't test for an obvious cold.
Anecdotal I know, but a parent has just done this a and bloody closed a year group bubble in primary school.

If you cough, you test!

Torvean32 · 12/10/2020 23:16

@Brighterthansunflowers

It’s really really really simple. You have a new continuous cough so you need to isolate and test.

Yes it’s unlikely to be covid but you won’t know without a test, the rules don’t specify a dry cough

You're wrong. Suddenly having a cough is not enough. Nor is coughing a few times. Its an hour long episode or 3 of these episodes in 24 hours.

Ppl not understanding this are wasting tests.

a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual) quote from nhs

Northernsoullover · 12/10/2020 23:18

I know someone (personally but I guess you only have my word for that) who went around his business for 10 days with a cold. He decided to get tested when two of his close contacts tested positive for Covid-19. He was positive. You did the right thing testing and its good news that its negative.

bobbiester · 13/10/2020 07:41

The fact you had a negative test (for another reason) last week before you were ill is irrelevant.

You have a cough now. Not then. So you should get a test.

EggysMom · 13/10/2020 07:52

I think it's useful to fifferentuste between a cough and simply clearing your throat from post-nasal drip... Hence the description of the cough. Otherwise everybody with a normal seasonal cold will need a test...

WankPuffins · 13/10/2020 07:53

But it’s a continuous cough as others have said.

I’ve had covid and Christ, the cough is something else. You can’t stop it, it doesn’t stop. I thought I’d cough up a kidney at one point and actually cracked a rib.

Also, hasn’t it been proved that some corona viruses that cause colds, not covid, test positive too? I might be talking out my arse and I don’t have time to dig out articles but I had some sent to me in a work capacity (hcp, have a colleague who isn’t involved in testing or covid but who is v interested in it), in which some researchers say that the percentage of false positives is high because of that. So all the “he said he had a cold but actually tested positive” could just have been a cold but a false negative.

Not looking for an argument by the way, I just find it interesting.

WankPuffins · 13/10/2020 07:55

*false positive. Sorry. Been up all night with a snotty baby (who I’m sure does just have a cold).

fluffiphlox · 13/10/2020 07:59

I’ve heard of a couple of people getting colds. Surely if people are protecting themselves against Covid, then they’re protecting themselves against other bugs too. How are your hygiene measures in general?