Not sure if DH had Covid?

[ImaginingDragons]

I was wondering if anyone has had a similar experience? My DH first started to feel unwell in early Feb - woke up one night dripping in sweat - but had routine LFT and temp taken at work next day, all clear. He then went on to develop a dry, tickly cough and has not felt well ever since, but has continued to pass temp and LFT (albeit with a 2 week gap at half-term) He is now feeling very unwell - tired all the time, muscle-aches, headache, thirst, foggy brain. I encouraged him to have a PCR test yesterday which came back negative.

He is convinced it is not Covid as he has been tested frequently, and has agreed to go to the doctor in a few days if no improvement, but I'm not sure if he may have had it and just shown a negative result? Also, if someone is not taking time to fully rest and recover after having the virus, can symptoms become worse over time? I'm worried that it might be something else.

He's had numerous negative tests.

He doesnt have covid.

Regular colds and illnesses still exist........I know, amazing right!

If he’s had lots of negative tests and it’s been going since Feb he needs to speak to his GP. There are all manner of things it could be so it’s time to get some tests etc.

He should have had a pcr after the temp lateral flow are for asymptomatic.
And or for the cough!!

Lft are only 50% accurate.

Anyway does sound like he possibly had it. With the thirst could it be diabetes?

He wouldnt test positive by pcr now.
The lft do NOT rule out covid!

Lateral flow tests aren’t very reliable especially if you have symptoms
A PCR test at the time would’ve been better but after a short while it would also not detect the virus
He needs an antibody test and a trip to the GP to see if there are any other underlying causes.

@SpnBaby1967

He's had numerous negative tests.

He doesnt have covid.

Regular colds and illnesses still exist........I know, amazing right!

Thank you, that is what he thought, probably not worth wasting the GPs time

Regular colds wouldn't last 6 weeks in general, he needs to see a GP his symptoms could be all manner of things but you say he is now feeling very unwell so of course he needs to go.

LFT aren’t for people with symptoms as they miss about 40 percent of positive cases they are designed to find asymptomatic cases that would otherwise be missed. Everyone with symptoms must get a more sensitive PCR test. He very possibility did have Covid but needed a PCR at the time. It worries me that people with symptoms are relying upon LFT. I hope he feels better soon and anyone reading this please spread the word that LFT are not for people with symptoms and that a negative LFT doesn’t mean you don’t have the virus.

Lfts are useless... You can't rule it out. He should have had a PCR test. If it's within 90 days he may show positive on a PCR test still.

I don’t understand why everyone says LFT are not reliable? Possibly not if have symptoms like in this case but otherwise I thought they were reliable?

With symptoms lasting that long I think it’s perfectly reasonable to see the GP.

His thirst could be a sign of diabetes.

If he had symptoms he shouldn’t have been using the LFT and shouldn’t have gone to work. PCR is more reliable, but you can still have false negatives (best I’ve seen is testing positive on the 4th go in someone who had barn door obvious covid). He may have had covid and now have a bacterial superinfection. He may have had something else all along. He should probably speak to a doctor.

@Dailywalk

I don’t understand why everyone says LFT are not reliable? Possibly not if have symptoms like in this case but otherwise I thought they were reliable?

Specificity relates to the number of false positives. Sensitivity is the measure how good a test is at correctly identifying a positive case and the LFTs are shockingly bad - it's about as accurate on that count as flipping a coin.

He may still have Covid. I know someone who was very ill for 8 weeks but didn't fit the standard profile as he had no cough or respiratory symptoms. All his tests have come back negative, but in the end his GP has confirmed that he did have Covid.

A GP cannot confirm someone has COVID @CrunchyCarrot - you can only confirm by an actual positive test or an antibody test. A GP can highly suspect an illness but they cannot be 100% sure something is without physical proof.

If multiple PCR tests came back negative, he probably didn’t have it. On the small chance he had several false negatives, an antibody test would be more conclusive.

I actually wonder too if I had covid.

No one in the house has been sick. We've all had several negative tests over the last few weeks/months. No family we met up with ( either when permitted or as part of a support bubble ) has been sick. Yet according to MN I had some bizarre symptom I'd never heard of u til I read on here Yet the only time I.was ill with what sounds like covid symptoms was December 2019. It ripped through us all at work and family caught it to. But at that point it wasn't a thing.

Given the negative tests and the length if symptoms I'd say its with a gp visit. It's easy to forget stuff besides covid exists

@HolmeH

A GP cannot confirm someone has COVID *@CrunchyCarrot* - you can only confirm by an actual positive test or an antibody test. A GP can highly suspect an illness but they cannot be 100% sure something is without physical proof.

If multiple PCR tests came back negative, he probably didn’t have it. On the small chance he had several false negatives, an antibody test would be more conclusive.

Well I'm sorry to disagree but a GP did confirm it. I know what you're saying, re evidence of a positive PCR test (how would you have that if you have no respiratory symptoms?) or a positive antibody test (you may not have that if you don't make antibodies - it happens), but based on symptoms, there was no other reasonable explanation, considering his partner had confirmed Covid and they'd been in contact with someone who then had to self-isolate the day after they'd seen them. Sometimes you just have to go with the symptoms rather than lab tests, even if that's not the norm these days.

Thank you, that is what he thought, probably not worth wasting the GPs time
He has felt unwell since February so of course he should go to the GP. All other illnesses didn't disappear with Covid. It could be something far more serious than Covid that needs treatment. Just because you dont have Covid doesn't mean you can't see the GP for other things!

@Dailywalk

I don’t understand why everyone says LFT are not reliable? Possibly not if have symptoms like in this case but otherwise I thought they were reliable?

I took an LFT an hour before I had a PCR after losing my sense of smell (thought I might as well as I had some at home). LFT was negative but PCR positive. I've had very mild symptoms so think there just wasn't enough viral load to show on the LFT.

OP, I think the horse has bolted a little bit in terms of whether or not he had Covid, if he had it the PCR may not pick it up now anyway. Either way, he's been ill for quite a while and should contact the GP for tests.

A relative of mine died due to undiagnosed Diabetes, he needs to see his GP.

These could be symptoms of diabetes op, I would definitely get him checked out for this. My sister had all these symptoms before she was diagnosed.

Either he is ill enough to need to see the GP or he isn’t. Whether it is COVID or night is neither here nor there