All the symptoms but a negative test?

[ChatterMonkey]

Dp is currently pretty unwell. Started on Thursday with a cough and sore throat, did a LFT which was negative. He stayed in the house all day anyway, was still not any better in the evening so went for a PCR test which came back negative.

Cough has got a lot worse, and he is now pretty breathless, very achey all over, can barely talk without triggering a coughing fit and ending up very out of breath.

I cant tell if hes out of breath on its own, or if its triggered by the coughing, but when hes sleeping his breathing is very shallow.

Since thursday hes been having regular doses of either lemsip or night nurse, along with some cough medicine. No improvements at all, if anything the breathlessness is getting worse.

I knownthere are other bugs out there, but how can the test be negative when it appears to be so close to covid symptoms?

Potential issue with the test is that when dp did the throat swab, he gagged and brought up a big chunk of mucus all over it/the booth. Person watching didnt think this was an issue (and he had to continue with the same swab for the nose swab 🤢) would this have affected the accuracy of the result?

Weve booked another test for later, where i think they can do the swab for you if you want so hopefuly work a bit better.

I'd have said that would have affected the test!!

Whilst you're out getting the second test pick up an O2 finger monitor at least that way you can keep an eye on his oxygen levels.

Hope he is better soon.

There is loads of various winter bugs going around really. It could be Covid or it could be something else. Covid symptoms are very similar to numerous other bugs doing the rounds at the moment.

It’s good that you are doing another test though, sometimes it can take a while to get a positive.

www.argos.co.uk/product/9404748

Ive ordered an oxometer on amazon prime so should arrive by 10pm today. Will be quite reassuring to see the numbers i think. My biggest stress just now is when does shortness of breath need some extra help.

Couldnt believe it when dp told me that they had been so unbothered about the fact that he had basically vomitted/brought up a load of mucus on the test, when the instructions say you're not even allowed to touch the side of the cheek.

Its also the uncertainty of what im meant to do. With a negative test i have to go out to work which involves different site visits so not the most distanced and cant be done from home. But with a positive test i would also have to self isolate. It feels wrong that it seems so like covid but im still mixing with other people.

Have you tested yourself with a LFT?

My Ds had a covid test in hospital and they said it’s actually good to gag on the swab as it releases more particles than just a dry tonsil swab.

Yes i did a LFT on the day where started showing symptoms. Ive had covid previously and have had 2 doses of the vaccine.

Was strange when i had covid, dp was unwell as well, but my pcr came back positive amd his was negative. Which we were surprised about at the time as it seemed strange one of us would get it and not pass to the other. But at that time neither of us had any breathing issues. Thats a scary symptom to monitor.

Other worrying thing is when i look to see when covid peak symptoms are, everything i see is saying that days 5-10 are the danger days, which is exactly the stage dp is about to enter, showing no improvement at all sinve the symptoms started. So im worried about something needing escalating which would then be harder to do with a negative test rather than a positive.

@yellow85 but surely gagging that then brings up a load of mucus/phlegm/bile would affect the test? I understand a dry gag might help but surely not if something is brought up.

You want it to read at the very very least 92%, ideally 94%+ from what I've read. My DS has covid and has a dry cough. I'm getting him to test his sats twice a day he is 97/98%.

There are some nasty viruses that go around - even pre Covid. A lot of people I know seem to be getting knocked for six by genereal viruses, presumably because our limited exposure to bugs over the last year has dented our immune systems. You've tested multiple times with a negative result - leave it at that. It could be a chest infection?

Completely anecdotal, but I also know people who have had Covid and not passed it on to others in their household.

Pre covid this would have been symptomatic of many things which are still about. If the tests are negative and you feel fine then you’ll just have to get on with it. Not everything is covid. He clearly isn’t going anywhere as he doesn’t feel well,

Friends’ DS17 had all the symptoms, quite ill at home. She tested the family and his test came back negative, her DD’s returned positive.

I’ve just done a (negative ) LFT test and watched the video. It says blow your nose first to avoid getting mucus on the swab as this can affect the test.

Cant register the result as website is down, but hey,

what would you have thought it was pre-covid? A bad cold? Flu?

All pre covid bugs are still around and with the same symptoms.

If it wasnt for the shortness of breath i would say a bad cold/flu. But thats not a symptom ive ever had with either.

Done another PCR test which was done by a member of staff at the testing place more successfully than the last one so will see what that says.

Otherwise it could be a chest infection which may need antibiotics to shift so will need to try and get a GP appointment. Which i imagine will be difficult with covid symptoms.

NHS advice for the oximeter is 93/94 call 111, under 92 call 999. I’m keeping a close eye on mine and found that on an NHS leaflet. They don’t want it to get too low before treatment

Had it three weeks ago, exact same symptoms, even lost taste and smell. PCR negative. Still have cough!

I think a ruined test would come back inconclusive wouldnt it?? Not negative.

It's likely he just has a bad cold that's sitting on his chest. Maybe a chest infection if hes coughing io mucus as well.

Keep an eye out - could be Pneumonia, which has been on the rise in recent years. With several negative Covid tests (assuming the latest comes back negative), I'm sure a GP would prescribe antbiotocs for a chest infection or get DH in to listen to his chest in case of pneumonia.

I think a ruined test would come back inconclusive wouldnt it?? Not negative.

Yes, it would.

Myself, Ds and Dh had a virus last week that sounds very much like your husbands and it wasn't Covid. We all tested every day for a week as we were convinced it was.

There are, unfortunately, other shitty viruses out there.

Since March last year, I have had three illnesses that were all scarily similar to Covid (never usually get flu) all three times I got negative PCRs - I can’t quite believe that none of those illnesses were Covid!

@VanGoSunflowers

Since March last year, I have had three illnesses that were all scarily similar to Covid (never usually get flu) all three times I got negative PCRs - I can’t quite believe that none of those illnesses were Covid!

I am the exact same. We get everything but have not had Covid. Its been in My daughters class twice and im shocked we havent had it.

I had exactly the same symptoms about a month ago. Two negative PCR tests and LFTs 2x per week all remained negative. I needed antibiotics for the chest infection and they helped clear it, but I had a cough for ages afterwards and am still noticeably short of breath on occasion.

Sounds like your husband just has a different, also rubbish, virus. Hope he feels better soon.

So oxometer has arrived and his reading is showing at around 95-96 which i think is on the lower end of normal? Mine was 99 for comparison.

So will monitor that and just ride out whatever virus this is!