Feeling so scared

[Freakingoutlots]

Hi all

I had covid March 2020, wasn’t too bad but 1-2 months later I suffered histamine intolerance symptoms/mcas which caused a whole load of frightening symptoms. I had every blood test going, plus heart, chest and even a head mri scan-all came back okay.
I’ve suffered on and off since but have been very very slowly getting better somewhat.
Not this weekend, the weekend before, we went away for the first time in two years, just an hours drive but good to have a change of scenery. There were lots of people around, we had a great time but felt exhausted. I put it down to doing too much. Last Friday I started to feel like my hay fever had gone nuts, sneezing lots, but by the evening runny nose that wouldn’t stop and sore throat, aching etc, I was in bed all day, bit better yesterday, still not 100% today but able to do tasks around the house. I still have headache, runny nose stopped Sunday, now I’m getting a cough 😬
Toddler Dd has a cough too the last couple of days, was sneezing last week. Dp feels exhausted and ill too.
I’m terrified we’ve contracted the delta variant, after being so ill before I can’t go through it again. I keep reading about symptoms worsening days 5-8 if it’s bad, that’s tomorrow onwards.
I have a test from the chemist, not sure how reliable those are? I’m doing it after Dd wakes from her nap.
Not been vaccinated yet (in a foreign country and have to wait a week or two) also worried to be vaccinated after my awful reactions to things now since being ill the first time.
I haven’t been that anxious, but suddenly my anxiety has gone sky high 🥲

@Freakingoutlots

Still doesn’t make sense 🤷🏻‍♀️If the results aren’t accurate and don’t mean anything, why even bother with them Sorry but I’m confused

It’s not that the results don’t mean anything, it’s just that they’re not as accurate as PCRs. They will still catch some positive cases but they will miss more than PCR miss. If they show positive it is very likely to be a real positive, but the negatives aren’t as reliable.

Basically neither type of test is 100% accurate or 100% immediate. So you have to trade accuracy off against speed/ease of use.

So in the UK, when we’re testing hundreds of thousands of schoolkids without any symptoms regularly, it’s better to have the speed/ease and lose some accuracy - so LFD. When you have one person with symptoms, it’s better to have the accuracy even though it means it will take longer - so PCR.

@Freakingoutlots - no test is 100% accurate. At what point would you personally leap to the conclusion that a lower accuracy rate renders something completely inaccurate and pointless? LFT tests are less sensitive than PCR tests, as in they pick up considerably fewer of the positive cases, but they do not have a high rate of false positives, so are not completely inaccurate and pointless, they are just considerably less good at finding all the positive cases. They are better than someone never bothering to test at all regardless, but less good than someone with symptoms relying on them instead of a more accurate PCR.

Oh, and a confirmatory PCR can also identify the rare instances of LFT false positives, as you don’t want to isolate unnecessarily any more than you would want to spread covid because you didn’t want to get a pcr test.

OP If you have symptoms you need a PCR test not a lateral flow test.
Also avoiding doing a test because you don't want to /can't have Covid isn't going to change the outcome. Either way you're better off knowing so you can get appropriate treatment

You sound as though you have Covid. I knew I had Covid, felt awful & every symptom in the book. Took 3 tests, all negative. Fourth test on day 14 of being symptomatic tested positive. Stay at home until you feel well.

@HopelesslyOptimistic Yes I am staying at home that’s no problem, how can you know it sounds like covid though, for sure?

@catfunk But what treatment 🤷🏻‍♀️If you test positive, what treatment do they give you? They gave nothing the first time around and haven’t really been able to the last 16 months when I’ve still been ill, aside from anti histamines

@Howshouldibehave I didn't know Boris was securing tests for other countries apart from ours? OP isn't in the U.K. so I don't think her situation is anything to do with him.

[quote mog27]@Howshouldibehave I didn't know Boris was securing tests for other countries apart from ours? OP isn't in the U.K. so I don't think her situation is anything to do with him. [/quote]
I was just talking about why we were using lateral flow tests in this country. I have no idea what sort of tests the OP’s country have-they didn’t say.

@Howshouldibehave Sorry, I assume it’s a lateral flow test one?
I basically had to do it myself at home with the tester up my nose, mix the solution, then wait 15 minutes to see the result, like a pregnancy test, but much worse. It was just under €3, I’m in Portugal btw

@HumpHumpWhale Would it make any difference getting a couple more of the same tests?
I’m isolating anyway now, it’s no problem as I’m with my Dd at home normally anyway and dp is working from home. The more formal tests are pricey here and this week is a bit tight, that’s why I hoped the other test would ease my mind a bit.
I’m just scared what the next few days hold if I am in fact positive, I don’t want to be that ill again.

I can't believe they charge you for tests. Why would anyone take one if they have to pay?!

@Chocolatebuttercream That’s what I’m confused about 🤷🏻‍♀️When I look up the ‘Proper’ tests, they’re all priced from €50 upwards

[quote Freakingoutlots]@HopelesslyOptimistic Yes I am staying at home that’s no problem, how can you know it sounds like covid though, for sure?[/quote]
One of my symptoms was excessive sneezing. That came at the start & the coughing at the end. Chronic headaches, aching.....we are all different, but, I found Covid like no other illness I've had. You just know! Ask yourself, have you felt like this before, if answer is no, keep testing.

I've been ill with something all week - 2 negative LF and a negative PCR (just to be safe).

Its a cold - a fucker of a cold with a fucker of a cough, but it is just a cold.

Not everything is covid - other illnesses are available.

I read something last week saying normal winter bugs are at high levels just now due to the winter lockdown.

@Usual2usual What have your symptoms been?

[quote Freakingoutlots]@Chocolatebuttercream That’s what I’m confused about 🤷🏻‍♀️When I look up the ‘Proper’ tests, they’re all priced from €50 upwards[/quote]
If you have to pay for tests it's no wonder that the UK have more cases than other places...

@poshme I’m most likely wrong 🤷🏻‍♀️ never tested before and tried to stay away from it all. I just know that all the stations I’ve seen it at the doctors etc, it says to pay, perhaps is just the private ones

There's an interesting article on the BBC website by Andrew Marr who developed Covid despite having had 2 vaccinations-

www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-57628287

He says he started with excessive sneezing and thought it was a summer cold. Did 2 Lateral Flow Tests which were both negative and then did a PCR which was positive. He did feel very ill but it didn't affect his breathing.

I found it interesting because I've also had excessive sneezing and a streaming nose the last 2 days. But as others have said - it could just be a cold!

Symptoms - runny nose, sore throat, painful sinuses and ears and a painful cought

I have stomach cramps & diareah, can that be from a normal cold/flu