Negative PCR but feel like I have symptoms

[HopefullyNotInfected]

Aargh

Teen ds is confirmed positive, I have had daily negative LFTs and yesterday a negative PCR. Am double vaccinated.

I have a mild intermittent headache, very occasional cough and slightly scratchy throat. Apparently these are typical Delta symptoms but presumably could also be a cold? I haven’t lost taste or smell and don’t have a fever.

Please tell me I’m just symptom spotting...

You're just symptom spotting. All other illnesses still exist

Other bugs are still available. The whole of my family have had a terrible cold this past 2 weeks 2 pcrs and numerous lfts are all negative.

Definitely symptom spotting.

I tested positive a few days ago.

Constant thumping headache, high temp, can't taste or smell among lots of other things.

Hope you stay negative

So many people are reporting Covid symptoms but negative PCRs. It’s really really weird. Yes I know other bugs exist but too much of a coincidence in my view

Other illnesses exist but the false negative for PCRs is significant, it can be higher than 60% depending on the what stage of infection you are at
www.gavi.org/vaccineswork/false-negative-how-long-does-it-take-coronavirus-become-detectable-pcr

I don't think it's a coincidence, I think we reduced social contact significantly for over a year and now people are meeting up again they are catching things (including things that aren't covid).

Realistically the symptoms of all respiratory viruses will be fairly similar (cough, sore throat, snotty, headache, achy, mild temp etc) so stands to reason there is a fair bit of overlap with covid.

Hope you stay well OP!

You may been infected but your immune system is doing what it is supposed to do and preventing the virus from taking hold. The symptoms you describe are the general symptoms of a body effectively fighting infection. It’s how immunity works. Your body has stopped the virus replicating so there aren’t enough to give a positive test.

I had 2x neg LFts but I just didnt feel right.
No temperature whatsoever. Just generally unwell. 3rd day LFT was positive.
The only differences was my PCR was then positive.
I knew something wasnt right from the start.

This was last week.
I still feel rubbish.
Everyone else at home has been fine.

This is us! Dd had positive lateral flow on Monday, I had same symptoms but negative lateral flow, both went for PCR on Tuesday, Dd positive, mine negative.
Wednesday Dh and Ds both positive lateral flow, mine still negative.
This morning I have a positive lateral flow.
We all started with headache and cough at a similar time.

I’d re-test. Most people don’t lose their taste / smell until 5/6 days plus into it.

Thank you, those stats on false negatives are alarming.
Ds had 3 days of negative LFTs followed by a positive, which was then confirmed by PCR, so I’ll probably keep doing LFTs and maybe do a postal test (I have a spare one) if I’m not feeling great tomorrow

What would you have thought it was, if you had these symptoms in August 2019? It's probably that...

I would have thought I was a bit run down, perhaps developing a cold, but no more.
I feel ok today, a very slightly scratchy throat but I bet I was snoring last night! I’ll do an LFT later just in case

Given you are living with a COVID positive person I can totally see why you’re questioning the negative PCR. Maybe keep LF testing, it might be exactly what @Angrymum22 explains and your immune system has taken over.

My friend had 3 pcrs this week. Feeling awful and known contact with a positive case. First two were negative but third positive.
I know people seem keen to suggest it might be another virus but you are living with a positive case so if it looks like a duck....

It sounds similar to a friend of mine. Similar symptoms and also a negative PCR test followed by a positive PCR test a while later. Just take care and keep testing. That’s all you can do.