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.

Ditto here - had an awful bug a few weeks ago with one of the worst coughs I’ve ever had. Still have a tight chest with phlegm in the mornings three weeks on. Done loads of LFT and a PCR, all negative. Think it must have been a chest infection!

The last flu type bug I had, my cleaner also had. She was really quite ill and ended up with a trip to A&E because of her breathing and was given an inhaler. She is in her late 20s with no health issues. Again, negative PCR.
Then a few weeks later, she contracted actual Covid (confirmed PCR test) and was nowhere near as ill!

@ChatterMonkey when I had Covid-19 last year my O2 was around 95%. My usual reading is 98/99/100%. I did feel a bit breathless and it took about 3 weeks to pass. Fingers x"ed he recovers ASAP.

Checked the levels again and still sitting at 95. But i suppose that makes sense, he is unwell and is short of breath. Its actually qiite reassuring to have a number to follow, helps have a bit of control over the situation.

I’m glad that you are feeling a little more reassured by the oxometer. At least it’s another way to monitor him.

How are you both feeling this morning? Has the PCR result came back?

PCR result has come back negative so think we can rule out covid. Tbh i think its just a bad chest infection.

Do is feeling a bit better today, but is goinf to try and get a GP appointment tomorrow to get them to listen to his chest and see if antibiotics will help.

Negative PCR makes it a bit easier for me as i dont have to worry about needing to self isolate. We work for the same company and we are busy atm, so its better that they are only one employee down, rather than the 2 of us.

There are lots of other things going round too I think.

Dd is coughing, cold like symptoms. 3 LFTs and a PCR are all negative. May be partially be hayfever/allergy for her, and maybe a summer cold alongside it.

Having a nasty cold can also affect breathing, especially if it goes to your chest.