Negative but all the symptoms!

[AmIReallyThough]

Hi all, had anyone else had similar and maybe gone on to test positive later?

I started with a mild cough on Sunday. Became what I would call a can’t ignore it, definitely got a cough, on Monday so booked a test. Earliest in my area was Tuesday first thing. In this time also had diarrhoea and a headache but no fever. Had test and then on Tuesday evening and Wednesday felt dreadful. Sore throat, awful headache, coughing a lot. Fever appeared and has been getting worse (38.9 last night).

This morning I have had a negative result.

Of course I’m over the moon it’s negative but am kind of dubious given the symptoms and scared to all now to about our lives as normal just in case (we’ve all been isolating of course). I don’t feel well enough so won’t be going anywhere anyway but others in the family need to if they can.

It’s just so strange. Has anyone had anything similar and ended up testing positive later?

Could be cold, could be flu.

My first test was negative. Four days later I had a positive.

Personally, I'd isolate for a few days and test again. If you are still negative then you are probably in the clear.

@Aquamarine1029 that’s interesting! Presumably you had had symptoms before the first test? It could be flu yes. It really doesn’t feel like a cold (no runny or blocked nose and the fever doesn’t point to a cold). I just don’t want the family to be out and about (and DSS really needs to go home to his mum as they’ve had a bereavement) if they could be spreading covid around.

Really hard to know

Assume the test is correct and send DSS home and book another one, if that is positive isolate after that

Normal flu is around every winter so could easily be that, but maybe test again to be sure?

Don't just send DSS home. Tell his mum whats happened and let her decide. My friend never had a positive result (2 x negative) a few days after her negative result her mum became ill with symptoms and tested positive. They both worked from home so unlikely that her mum picked it up elsewhere

Tricky. They don’t seem to be cast iron symptoms which definitely point to Covid rather flu, but otoh there’s a high false negative rate on testing, and there’s much more Covid around than flu at the mo. The maths would suggest Covid.

Test again.

That’s the thing it’s really not the only virus doing the rounds, it could easily be a cold or flu.

But it really couldnt "as easily" be flu. There's very little flu around and lots of coronavirus. Far better the OP tests once more to be certain.

Yes my friend and her husband had two negative tests and later went on to test positive. She had a colleague in work (she's front line NHS) who'd had same symptoms but negative test so had convinced herself it was normal flu. Thankfully they'd been isolating anyway from first symptoms

I had all the classic symptoms but was negative. My brothers family had all the classic symptoms some were positive some were negative. The negative ones did another test 5 days later and were positive. So maybe do another test in a few days.

There have been reports that the U.K. strain is more likely to result in a false negative.

There are various links to follow. The FDA one has a lot of jargon.

www.straitstimes.com/world/united-states/covid-19-variants-including-uk-strain-may-lead-to-false-negative-results-with

@Porcupineintherough

But it really couldnt "as easily" be flu. There's very little flu around and lots of coronavirus. Far better the OP tests once more to be certain.

I didn’t say “as easily” I said “ easily” and it could.

False negatives exist, so do other bugs. If you are sick then you are sick, regardless of what the test result says.

Someone I know had the same thing. Her family came down with the same symptoms and tested positive.

Did your negative test advise staying at home for 48 hours?

I’m in the same position, my OH tested positive and has been quite ill. We live in a small flat and I can’t distance from him very well. When we both started noticing symptoms we got tested, I tested negative and he had to take another test a few days later as his got lost/didn’t work. His second test was positive. I have the same symptoms as you but no fever, for me they’re very mild and come and go, aside from a constant tickly throat. I had another test yesterday so waiting to see the results of that. May well be flu or something else but it just feels very unlikely given that OH has it.

I've been watching that Hospital document on BBC and there was a Dr on there exposed at work, had symptoms but two negative tests, was hospitalised and isolated and then tested positive.

@tanith The message says to stay at home until no fever for 48 hours. I do have a fever still so will be staying home (feel too ill to go anywhere anyway!)

It’s more the others really. I think I’ll book another test if no improvement in a day or so and let stepson’s mum know the situation (she does anyway, just not the result yet) abs see what she’s like to do.

Definitely test again.

I got COVID from work. Not at all surprised when DH gets typical symptoms (fever, headache, muscle ache, fatigue) but his test was negative.

A week later (having not gone out or even hardly left his bed) got tested again and was positive.

I would act as though you have got it and test again.

My mum tested has been ill for two weeks with symptoms she did two home tests and tested negative. At hospital had a quick test- negative. Got tested again and she tested positive. So who knows.

I’d wait a few days and test again. Maybe get them to do the test for you too

I came back with a negative test today and was certain it was going to be positive. Feel to rough go out anyway and even then I’m furloughed and homeschooling so no plans to go out really.
If I hadn’t had a fever I would be less worried that it’s a false negative.

A friend though she had covid and did a home test. They test for flu at the same time. Her results came back negative for covid but positive for flu. If yours are just negative you need to wait a few days and retest. They would have told you if you had flu so your symptoms are probably covid with a false negative. This or not enough virus at the time of the test.