Do we need to test AGAIN?!

[AnaisNun]

Sorry this is long... not sure how to be more concise!

Have had a lingering cold for nearly 2 weeks. Tested (PCR) 11 days ago when felt particularly coldy (though no covid symptoms) - negative. Have also been lateral flow testing 2x weekly- also negative.

Throughout the two weeks have had slightly sore throat, congestion etc.
Was well enough to get covid vaccinated on Friday night.

On Saturday felt fine- just the underlying cold symptoms.
On Sunday felt like I’d been hit by a truck - body aches, tired, felt couldn’t regulate body temp etc (though no actual fever).

Yesterday morning woke up with a fully congested face, lots of horridness when blew nose and then had full blown “cold” symptoms again all day. DS also complaining he felt like he had a cold too when he first woke up, but said he felt totally fine after breakfast, so off he went to nursery.

This morning I’ve woken up with that upper upper chest/lower throat heaviness you get when a cold has moved to your throat, upper airways, and had to cough a few times to clear mucus- but it’s been a forced cough IYSWIM.

DS says his throat “feels like it did yesterday before breakfast”. No temp, only his usual morning asthma cough (always phlegm/rattly first thing in the morning), and no loss taste or smell.
Do we need to stay at home and test AGAIN?
I feel like this is a continuation of the same illness we tested for 10 days ago, and we don’t have covid symptoms as such - but I have needed to cough to clear my throat where I didn’t before, so arguably it could become a persistent cough over the course of the day (although I’ve been awake 45 mins and that feeling is receding now I’m up and about).

I’m so worried about all the time DS is having off nursery- we’ve had to isolate and test 7 or 8 times since Christmas for various asthma exacerbations/coughs etc. I’m also horribly busy at work, and if I don’t need to keep DS at home I really really shouldn’t.

First time all pandemic I’ve been unsure what the right thing to do is?!

My inclination is to see how I (and DS) feel in an hour (colds always feel worse first thing, and the throat/chest congestion might just be from lying down) -in fact I’m starting to feeling much brighter already - but is that right? Should I just be automatically testing? Again?

Should say- when I say “forced cough” I can “choose” between coughing and deeply clearing my throat if I want to- forcing a cough just feels more vigorously “clearing”!

I'm no expert but I think if it was me I wouldn't test unless I actually developed covid symptoms I.e. if I suddenly developed a continuous cough. Not just the thought that I might develop that cough, if they makes sense.

Sounds rotten though, I hope you feel better soon!

Thanks @sittingonacornflake - I’m really really grim of face:nose. I think it’s actually a particularly gross sinus infection but I’m in the middle of gluten challenge/celiac testing so I think that, plus the vaccination and my immune system is just totally

Have you had another lateral test ? Take one of those first .

@islockdownoveryet

Testing twice a week at home- latest was yesterday- and all negative.

To be honest now I’m out of bed (and have used half a loo roll blowing my nose for half an hour) I feel totally different.

Think am going to proceed as all fine... bloody sick of this palaver every time someone sneezes though...

Then I wouldn’t unless a temperature. You can get false negative I believe but if you keep testing and they are negative it should be fine . I know what you mean though you get paranoid. My dd and dh both had it but me & dc fine but every little sniffle or sneeze you panic .

We actually had covid (we / my GP thinks) early in the first wave (pre testing)- I think I’d know if we had it again, it was a a unique illness. But just... constantly on edge about it- would be devastated if we caused a nursery outbreak, when they’ve been clear the whole way through (we’d be unlucky if we did we’re uniformly at home, at the park or at nursery !)

My household is full of cold. Son got symptoms last week and tested negative, partner got symptoms a few days later and tested negative and now I have symptoms. I cant see the point in me having a test when the other two people in my household have tested negative and I've obviously caught their cold but I'm starting to feel guilty so probably will test. Just means isolating for the result...again!

@IDontWantToAdultToday my dh tested negative when he started to feel unwell so assumed it was a cold, a few days later tested positive so maybe test again .

@islockdownoveryet

What made him want to do another test? To be honest partner and son have improved lots and very quickly so it does seem to be just a normal cold. Would it be likely that both of their tests were false negatives?

Arrrgghhh

This afternoon I spiked a fever and started to cough.
Still think it’s a cold but obviously can’t ignore.
DM doing emergency pick up from nursery and I’m now isolating and testing.

This is the SEVENTH time we’ve had to isolate and test this year. Feel beyond past it.

[quote IDontWantToAdultToday]@islockdownoveryet

What made him want to do another test? To be honest partner and son have improved lots and very quickly so it does seem to be just a normal cold. Would it be likely that both of their tests were false negatives?[/quote]
It was a few days later it’s the lateral test that he tested negative then it was positive sorry should of been clear . The pcr confirmed the positive test.

@islockdownoveryet

Ohhh, thanks.

Partner and son had PCR tests as soon as they had symptoms so Im crossing my fingers that the negatives are correct and were not unknowingly infecting people with covid.

@AnaisNun

Arrrgghhh

This afternoon I spiked a fever and started to cough.
Still think it’s a cold but obviously can’t ignore.
DM doing emergency pick up from nursery and I’m now isolating and testing.

This is the SEVENTH time we’ve had to isolate and test this year. Feel beyond past it.

I really hope its negative OP. Sorry your feeling so rubbish! X

Hope it is negative OP. Either way, you do not sound well - perhaps contact a GP once get a negative test? I know until get a negative result, from my own experience they will not see or treat, so now I just do a test to then say “ no, not covid, please check or rather diagnose over the phone without seeing me and get the antibiotics for said infection!!!

@AzureTwist

I’m sure it will be... I’m very very run down. Have been ill on and off for a year (since the ?covid last March) but also been eating a lot of gluten for proper celiac testing over the last 6 weeks (always been intolerant), which is making me feel awful.

But yes! You are right. Definitely popping to see the doc imminently.

Thanks for your care

@AnaisNun oh the gluten challenge may well be making you feel ill! Hope you get a diagnosis soon. I am coeliac and remember that time well. Feel so much better a few years clear of gluten!

@AzureTwist

Oh what a weird coincidence?

Yeah it’s knocked me for 6. Rosacea flares, bloating, am catching every cold/bug going, tired, weepy, upset stomach, dry skin, hair loss... all resolved when I’m off gluten (eliminated it out of curiosity), all came roaring back when I started the gluten challenge.

One week until I can blood test! So nearly there. Even if it’s negative, I suspect an intolerance- either way, I’ll never eat gluten again. This month has been dreadful.

Glad you’re better now you have a dx!

@AnaisNun

Have you had your covid test? Hows your temp today? Hope this all clears up for you soon its awful feeling so rubbish for so long.

Hows your son feeling now? X

@IDontWantToAdultToday

Hello!
Have ordered a PCR test that’s coming today & I can return this afternoon, so hopefully will have results by lunch tomorrow ...

Ofc my temp is normal and cough has gone today- think yesterday was just “the worst day” of a cold... obviously sticking to the guidance regardless.

Had a bit of a pissy message from the nursery this morning that was very terse telling me to “remember to tell us the result of your test”- I’ve probably been the most covid-conscious person I know, and tested and isolated us every time DS had an asthma flare just in case etc- which obviously they know I’ll tell them, so it rankled a little bit.

Probably oversensitive!

Oh little one is fine! I’m wfh while he makes lego rockets in front of the TV

OP don't be worrying about little one missing nursery. It really doesn't matter. I know that I start to feel uneasy when the kids aren't able to be where they should be but try to see it as extra time with mummy.

@WishingHopingThinkingPraying

Oh I know, thank you for being reassuring. I’m just in a senior and q stressful role and can’t take time off atm as were at a business critical time. Doing lots of work with budgets and contracts that I can’t break off as often as I should, and I feel bad that he’s not actually getting quality time with me- just hearing me blathering on zoom constantly.

Single parent life eh!

How are you feeling today? Hope your result is negative!!!