Recent negative PCR, now developed new covid symptoms

[HereWeGoAgain24]

What would you do?

I tested negative for covid on a PCR on Saturday, I mainly had cold & flu symptoms and work asked me to get a test (I work in health) to be safe.

Since then I have developed an awful cough, I cough so much I feel as though I'll never catch my breath again and my throat feels like it's been cut with razor blades. It brings up a yellowish mucous.

Should I isolate again now that I've developed new covid symptoms or should I just carry on as normal since my PCR was negative, albeit before the new covid symptoms?

Get another test. Surely a no brainer? Hope you feel better soon!

@Schulte

Get another test. Surely a no brainer? Hope you feel better soon!

That's what I was thinking, isolate and get another test perhaps.

Another test

Surely you should isolate (go off sick) with those symptoms regardless?

@Northernsoullover

Surely you should isolate (go off sick) with those symptoms regardless?

This. Whether it is Covid or not,isn't it best to stay home for a few days anyway with those symptoms?

You dont sound well enough to work atm anyway and, personally, I would test again. Probably just a nasty cold but I've known quite a few people test negative then positively a few days later.

Bringing up yellow mucus and coughing sounds much more like bronchitis than covid.
I wouldn’t say three days after a negative pcr with a progression of the same illness you really needed another test but there’s plenty of capacity now so you could do one anyway. Stay home and look after yourself. GP if you need them.

Ive been off work sick since Saturday (first symptoms started Friday) so hesitant to take longer off, I'm not even sure if I can self-cert this long? But regardless I want to do the right thing.

A colleague had a member of her household recently test positive (PCR) but all other colleagues have had negative LFT (including me) however I'm pretty sure they seem useless?

Our manager is on annual leave this week but he had similar symptoms to this and also had a negative PCR. I'm hopeful it's just a nasty cold or chest infection of some sort.

You can self certify for a week.

If you were my colleague I'd hope you'd get another test before returning to works I'd also hope you'd wait til you felt better regardless of test results as it sounds nasty and potentially contagious if others around you have similar

Managed to get a telephone appointment with my GP today, hopefully they can give me some advice on where to go from here. I'll update the thread.

Thanks to everyone for taking the time to respond so far x

All my colds all my life have followed the same pattern
Start with a sore throat and end with a cough
I'd say it's just the progression of your original illness
By all means get tested again but you're not well enough to go to work anyway

I think it's more likely the test was a false negative vs you having an exposure then increasingly worse symptoms but not have covid. Just retest and get a proper PCR test.

Bringing up yellow mucus and coughing sounds much more like bronchitis than covid.

Yes. I have the same cough, 10 days in now following a heavy cold. Pretty sure my neighbours think I have covid. Same pattern as always though for me, had a very similar cold at Christmas followed by bronchitis as I always do with the cold. Tested negative every time.

GP reckons it could be false negative but no need for a second test

@HandsSpaceArse

Another test

what's your issue?

Just go get a test - why wouldn’t you? There is no shortage & results are back in 24 hours. If that’s negative, then you can be fairly certain you just have another nasty bug, possibly a chest infection if you are coughing up yellow/green mucous!

Do the test & if it is negative, don’t be fobbed off my your GP. Chest infections need checking out face to face or if they aren’t willing, a course of just in case antibiotics!

Tests here are taking 2 days turn around in my local area at the moment.

Didn't quite sit right with me anyways especially due to the possible exposure and the new covid symptoms so I spoke to a lovely 111 nurse who advised me to isolate and book another PCR test.

@Nofriend

Have you booked one now? Hope you’re feeling better soon.

Thank you. Yes got one booked for tonight.