Test or not to test?

[Ohdoleavemealone]

I didn't think it would be this hard! I thought it would be obvious but apparently not.

DH has said he cannot taste a packet of crisps and his beer. But he can taste the sweet chilli sauce and siracha sauce. No other symptoms.

I'm leaning towards testing but he hasn't actually left the house for 2 weeks other than the corner shop so it would be unlucky for him to be symptomatic when it will have come from me or the kids!

Would you test just to be sure. Wait another day (and obviously stay home)?

I would say no, if he's not lost his sense of taste and smell.
Can he smell other things, Eg coffee, vanilla?

We will try a few more things in the morning but he says his smell is fine. Just taste.

I know that at the Scottish briefings they emphasise a loss or a change in taste or smell, so worth testing I'd say.

I am currently positive with Covid and my taste 'changed' before both my sense of taste and smell disappeared entirely. I'd get tested 100%

Get a test. Why wouldn’t you?

Official advice is to get a test for loss of or change to sense of smell or taste, so quite obviously your DH meets the criteria and should get tested!

@WhoseThatGirl

Get a test. Why wouldn’t you?

Because DH has severe anxiety and his mind often plays tricks on him.

Last time we isolated it was because DH claimed DD had been "coughing all night". I hadn't heard her once and she didn't cough at all the next day or night. We had already told employers the next day so had committed to isolation by the time DH admitted that she had coughed a little at around midnight and he had panicked and got himself worked up.

He did similar in August and so is now questioning himself, wondering if it is a trick of the mind as he can still taste some things and has his smell intact.

One test for a possible symptom is not a waste of a test. Get it done. If its positive then you know if its negative then no harm done. Its the people going out for family outings to get tests when only one of them have symptoms that is a waste.

@Forgetmenot157 Yes, DH did this last time too. Ordered everyone a test because one of us had symptoms.

@Ohdoleavemealone Were you able to wfh whilst self isolating or did you receive ssp?

I worked from home.

That's lucky, I've got a friend who is £700 down this month after having to self isolate, I can see why some people are not getting tested to be honest.

@userxx so can I. Especially as DH is not sure (but has ordered a test) and it will take until Monday to get tested. That is almost 3 days after symptoms to get tested and another 3-4 before the results come back. You have done a weeks isolation before finding out if you have it. If you, like my husband, aren't convinced you have it, then you are likely to say sod it, and go to work.

As it happens, I am on annual leave this week as the kids are off so I just need to rethink our plans to keep us busy at home and no harm done. Just a very boring half term for the kids.