Head cold

[LuckyMcDucky]

So annoying; I've come down with a dreadful cold over the weekend. No main symptoms of Covid and I have had one AZ jab in March, so think it's unlikely to be Covid.

But I have loads of things booked this week (not today), from hair appointment to yoga class (non refundable and £££).

Am I going to get glared at if I blow my nose or speak with a stuffed up voice? Do I have to cancel?? I realise that I haven't had a cold for ages, which is why I need to ask. I do get allergies at this time of year, which could be exacerbating it, but I'm way more bunged up than usual.

Fucks sake . My yoga class {wails}. Yes, I know, very trivial problem before anyone says, but I was so looking forward to this week and getting back to fitness and hair done.

If I were you, I would book a PCR test (they’re coming back quickly now and lots of supply) and it should come back negative, then if anyone gives you “a look” you can say not covid, got a negative test.
Although you don’t have a main symptom, I’m not sure they have updated/know what the main symptoms are amongst vaccinated people, so it may be worth a test just for convenience

Thanks, I'll look into that.

There is a PCR centre, walking distance from my house and they are accepting walk-ins! That's lucky.

Glad I asked, thank you

Brilliant! You’ll also get a text message with your (hopefully negative) result, so you can show your hairdresser if you want to avoid any speculation 😊

You absolutely must get a PCR test.
I currently have Covid and it has been just like having a cold. I am vaccinated too.
I haven’t had a temperature over 37.8. My smell went for 3 days but is now back, that went 4 days after my positive test. I do have a cough but that was a later symptom too.
It started with scratchy throat, runny nose and sneezing.

Ah sorry to hear that Alfaix! I'm very snotty, but not especially sneezy and can smell fine, but could be unusual symptoms due to vaccination.

Will get dressed and trot to test centre.

Ah bollocks it says the PCR is only for people who have the main symptoms... The walk in one is only lateral flow.

Do I do lateral flow or say I have one of the main symptoms (which I don't), or will they test me anyway? Have to book online so it will ask me I think.

Does anyone know which one I do?

Latarel flow says symptom free (which I'm not? Although don't have the main ones so maybe that's the same thing?), PCR needs to be booked and says three main symptoms, (which I don't have)!

@Alfaix, How did you get a PCR test please with sneezing and runny nose? Did they just test you anyway?

Personally I'd cancel. I would not like it if someone came to a class I was in with a cold especially with symptoms. Because you can catch a cold, and who wants to catch a cold honestly???

with a cold especially with symptoms

Sorry, symptoms of a cold or Covid?

I was hoping the cold might have cleared up by the time I have classes you see, as they're later in the week. But if it was Covid obviously I wouldn't be able to go regardless!

I wouldn't risk spreading a cold at the hairdresser, they've been closed so long that seems really mean. You should be able to move the yoga class too, speak to the teacher and explain, they won't want your cold either.

LFT just in case as you don't have the classic symptoms and stay home / outside for a few days until it clears.

Just say you have a cough or a temporary fever for the PCR, there's lots of supply.

I’ve got a stinker of a cold. I’m still going out and about but less than usual because I don’t quite feel up to it.
I’ve got my PCR result in case I get looked at (I actually do have a cough though).

I’d register for a PCR, we have such a limited list of symptoms to test for. My household was tested over the weekend and our results were back within 12 hours. I’d maybe wait on some of the stuff you’ve got planned, as a standard cold is so much more disruptive for people at the moment than it usually would be. Like you though I just want to get back to doing normal stuff without all the disruption and for a cold or cough to be just that again. Hope you feel better soon.

Thanks, if it comes back quickly enough, (and negative), I'd still be able to make some of it, assuming my cold clears up by then.

I guess I could clear my throat a bit and call it a persistent cough. Just took my temp and it's normal, so can't lie about that really! Ok, I'll book and say cough? Feels a bit dishonest, but if there's lots of supply them maybe ok.

When you book, I would just say you have one of the main symptoms. Honestly, they don't care. If you're on the Zoe app, it recommends getting tested for other symptoms anyway.

And when I took my DC last week, I only booked a test for them, but when I went in, they asked if I wanted one too, I said I didn't have symptoms and they were like 'one in three people don't have symptoms', so got one anyway (I thought it might help my DC have theirs!). It was really quiet, there was only one other person being tested.

The other perfectly legitimate way of getting a PCR without lying is to input your symptoms into the ZOE app. If you have a cold but not classic Covid symptoms they ask you to have a PCR anyway. Being sent because of the ZOE app is a valid reason to get one and is on the drop down menu when booking.

My local hospital trust have been saying since the peak in January that anyone with any 'cold or flu like' symptoms should be getting a PCR test as there is plenty of testing capacity. Just say you have a main symptom when you book it.

Booked and not too far away. Will report back in case anyone has similar

I actually had a faint positive lateral flow so got a PCR to check and then my symptoms started after that.
Just say ZOE asked you to test.

I had a head cold last week - negative lateral flow but booked a PCR just to be sure - also negative.

Our local authority asked everyone who was presenting cold symptoms to book a test a while back - there’s an option when you book to tick “I don’t have symptoms” and then you pick “my local authority has asked me to get a test”.

As others have said, if you were doing the ZOE study they would ask you to test with cold symptoms anyway

I'd cancel to be honest. Not because I thought I had covid, but because it's absolutely miserable to have to wear a facemask when you have a streaming cold. I learned that the hard way last winter!

So sad that this is what we have to worry about. But I think you're right to be worried about it and to want to do your best to avoid problems and worries from those around you. But it just sucks. I would probably cancel. I wouldn't want to give everyone else my cold in any case. Also, you should rest when you have a cold. It's just better for you long term.

Lots of people seem to experience covid as a cold. Ds started with a cough just over a week ago. Negative test. Now I have a bloody cough. Allergies and asthma too. Hope you feel better soon.