Positive lateral flow

[girlofthenorth]

I had a positive lateral flow test today , I'm a HCP ..I am freaking out a bit and need someone to bring me down. I don't feel too bad and only did the test as I felt a bit hot and had a strange cough that wasn't my asthma . Feel a bit like I have a cold .Now waiting for a test at the local hub . Scared it will get worse and that I may have passed to DF :( please has anyone got any words of positivity ? I don't even care that it's Christmas , I just want us all to be well .

Do you live with DF? If so, try and stay in separate rooms and keep things separate as much as possible until you get your PCR. The lateral flow tests are quite unreliable so possibly not positive.

Thank you @nomorename I didn't know if that was the case with lateral flow . DF lives alone and I've seen him 3 times this week , once this morning when I was feeling ok ...

Try not to worry, I know it's hard. DSIS husband and son had it and she didn't contract. Wishing you both health

Unfortunately the lateral.flow tests are more than 99% accurate for positives. They have a lot of false negatives though. I'm afraid you can expect to test positive. Anecdotally I don't know of anyone who tested positive on lateral flow but negative on PCR.

Oh @Cookerhood I was afraid of that .

Yes unfortunately false positives are pretty rare, it's the false negatives that lateral flow tests can be pretty bad for.
@girlofthenorth try not to stress. How you feel now could be the worse that it gets, and I hope it is.
Get well soon

Just read this post and didn’t want to leave you, how are you feeling?

My young daughters both currently have it so I’m waiting for the symptoms to start for me and DH. I’ve been doing lots of reading on here and there’s so many good stories, I also know people locally who have had it and they’ve all been mild and short lived. Remember we only hear about the bad ones. I only tested my DD on a hunch, most parents would’ve just carried on sending her in, I think half the countries walking around with this and most don’t have a clue.

Take it easy and rest up x it’ll pass soon x

Keep reminding yourself that most people don't pass the virus on to anyone, even people they live with so your dad will probably not catch it. Plus most people of working age have a mild disease so you will almost certainly be fine.

@Cookerhood

Unfortunately the lateral.flow tests are more than 99% accurate for positives. They have a lot of false negatives though. I'm afraid you can expect to test positive. Anecdotally I don't know of anyone who tested positive on lateral flow but negative on PCR.

I don't know why they're confirming a test with a low false positive rate using a test with a high false negative rate. Makes zero sense to me.

@Jenny4235

Just read this post and didn’t want to leave you, how are you feeling?

My young daughters both currently have it so I’m waiting for the symptoms to start for me and DH. I’ve been doing lots of reading on here and there’s so many good stories, I also know people locally who have had it and they’ve all been mild and short lived. Remember we only hear about the bad ones. I only tested my DD on a hunch, most parents would’ve just carried on sending her in, I think half the countries walking around with this and most don’t have a clue.

Take it easy and rest up x it’ll pass soon x

I think you are right! . Thanks for stopping by - I definitely have bad health anxiety which makes things worse. My nose is stuffy today and more of a cough I hope your DDs are ok? How old are they? Mine are older- they have gone to hibernate till this is over. Read on my trust site we have had two negative tests post LF @QueenStromba @Cookerhood but don't know details.

Oh my health anxiety is terrible don’t worry! It’s always been a huge problem for me, I am really scared of developing symptoms. My DDs are 4 and 7. I can’t see how I’m going to dodge this as my DD (4) sneezed into my mouth in the car after the test. I would’ve worn a mask but I honestly didn’t think in a million years she’d be positive it was just a requirement to get her back to school, her symptoms are so unbelievably mild!

We are on a similar timeline so feel free to PM me and keep in touch so I know you’re doing okay. My nose is totally blocked today and I have a tickle in my throat with hot flushes so I can feel it in me now. I’m just feeling very angry with the whole thing considering how careful we’ve been the past 9 months, somehow that’s actually helping me cope ! 😂

I have to laugh at us all walking around in our masks and visors with our little hand washes and barriers at the doors... if I don’t I just won’t stop crying!

Take care and keep me posted xx ride it out not long and you will be fine 😘 xx

My DS had a positive lateral flow test this week. He's just got the result of his confirmatory test which is negative. I was very surprised but delighted!

@Jenny4235 how are you feeling ? Are you getting a test ?

I started steroids for my chest last night and I can feel them working but do feel a little breathless today , but that could easily be my anxiety too !
I think that cleaning up the dog poo from the kitchen floor may have had something to do with it too, whilst the rest of the house were blissfully asleep !
How do you send a PM on MN
Wow @Brainwashed that's made me feel a whole lot better !
However another close worker is now positive so chances are high ...but keeping everything crossed .

Hi @girlofthenorth hope you are feeling well. I am in the same boat and very anxious at the moment. Hopefully your pcr test will be negative.

My sister had a positive lateral flow yesterday from a walk-in, as she'd been working in a school with lots of cases. She's stunned it's positive, she has no symptoms.

I've also been in sustained close contact with covid and highly suspect I too have it. Slightly scratchy throat and full ears. I'm not getting a test as I think it would worry me more! We're isolating anyway.
I'm trying not to 'think myself ill' and remember that many cases are mild!

it's positive. My DH also had positive lateral flow and he's tested at the local centre. Both ok atm but chesty and temp though. @ShopoholicIn hope you're ok .

@girlofthenorth.. I am sorry to hear that op. Good that you're not feeling very unwell. Hopefully this is the maximum of it for you

I have started having cough, eyeballs hurting.. N diarrhoea. So I am pretty sure it's covid.

@girlofthenorth hope you n your partner are doing ok.. my test result came back positive.

@ShopoholicIn
So sorry to hear that . We can support each other. It's rubbish isn't it ?! Feeling brighter trust day 6 but still have cough and tight band around middle like I've got a really tight bra on !
Also found this thread

To make a thread for those who have just tested positive www.mumsnet.com/Talk/coronavirus/4062331-To-make-a-thread-for-those-who-have-just-tested-positive

Hi. @girlofthenorth thanks so much for your response. It's good u Dr feeling better hopefully the chest tightness will go soon too. This is stressful.. Not knowing what is coming next. I have joined that thread, good to hear from people on same boat.

Are*

Hi @girlofthenorth just seen your thread here! So pleased to hear you’re feeling a tiny bit better today.

I’m a couple of days behind you but would be great to stay in touch and support each other through these next days.

@Jenny4235 your post has made me smile because I just relate so much. I have spent the last nine months being so ridiculously careful and cautious, hand san on everything, wiping down shopping etc. Then a family member who was convinced he had a cold coughs in my face and bam - have got ourselves some covid!

My health anxiety is through the roof but am actually going to do exactly as you suggest and not think myself ill, just treat myself as if I have a cold or flu - which is basically how it feels so far anyway xx