Would you take a PCR test for this?

[jendifer]

Woke up Tuesday with a blocked up nose. It developed in to a lot of sneezing and runny nose. Took an LFT - negative.
Didn’t sleep much Tuesday night and felt rotten Wednesday - cold, tired, achey and still sneezing a lot. Temperature, smell/taste all normal. Took an LFT - negative.
Woke up in the night coughing a little, but that is often something that happens when I have a cold. Negative LFT this morning.

It feels like a cold, BUT I’m meant to be at a festival over the weekend and away with work next week. Would you take a PCR because of this or just trust that it is a cold? I’m double jabbed and haven’t heard from anyone I’ve seen that they’ve tested positive.
DH has been tired and sneezey but again, LFTs all negative for him.

Yes! I currently have covid and it’s just like a bad cold. My dad had gotten covid twice while being double jabbed.

If I were at home, possibly not. Going out mixing with others, yes I would.

Yes I would - simply because so many people say it's just like a cold, and plenty of them had several negative LFTs before testing positive on PCR. Get it done today and you should get result tomorrow.

Yes I probably would as everyone I know whose had COVID recently says it feels like having a cold.

Infact I did get a pcr recently with similar symptoms to yours)I was due to see elderly PIL too) and it was negative.

Thanks- that was my thinking. It was the lack of the main symptoms which made me wonder if it was the right thing to do!

Yes, I would. The top 5 symptoms for the double jabbed are headache, runny nose, sneezing, sore throat and anosmia.

covid.joinzoe.com/post/new-top-5-covid-symptoms

I did last week. I had an awful cold, none of the 'three' symptoms but I felt utterly rotten and I knew I was supposed to be seeing people at the weekend. Two LFTs negative but thought it could easily be delta so I checked.

Was negative, so just a grotty cold, and it did pass in 4-5 days like a normal cold does.

Yes, please take a PCR (and thank you for considering it). It’s the right thing to do for the people that you will be mixing with.

Definitely take the PCR. Why wouldn't you?

Like you I had a stinker of a cold a few weeks ago, which lead to the loss of smell and taste. LFTs repeatedly came up negative. Like you I was planning on going away with friends for the weekend so after 3 days I went for a PCR, just as a reassurance. Within 24 hours that also came back negative so I was reassured that if I went away I wouldn't infect anyone with CoVid.

In the end I didn't go away as I still felt absolutely awful but it was good to have peace of mind.

Yes. I just recovered from Covid and sneezing/blocked nose was one of my main symptoms. Lateral flows are shit, every single one I took was negative but my PCR was positive. Hopefully you just have a cold but it's much better to get a PCR to make sure.

I’ve got Covid at the moment and it is nothing like a cold. No temp no cough no snot.
DD and DH have got classic cold symptoms have done many tests of both types - all negative. DMIL has the same thing. We think there’s a cold going round.
Poor DH feels miles worse than me but still has to go to work while I’m sitting at home feeling ok!
So what I’m saying is hopefully you just have a cold as they’re still out there!

Yes. My daughter just recovered after having covid for the second time, fully vaccinated. Her symptoms were exactly like yours and she tested negative twice before the third was positive.

These are the symptoms of the delta variant, so yes, I would.

My ds 18 just got a blocked / runny nose in the last hr and has done a lvt which is negative, makes you paranoid as can we have pcr everytime we have a sniffle
Currently no other symptom so may see how he is tomorrow and if symptom free just allergies playing up
Myself and dh have work, ds is home tomorrow anyway
Who would take a pcr for just a slight runny nose ? And would you keep all other family members home until test result
Could be doing this a lot in winter

Never know what to do for the best.

I would

It can't hurt to PCR but are you secretly questioning the need to PCR because you know theres a slim chance it could be covid and potentially ruin your plans if positive?

@ChickpeaCrunch what would take a pcr for a slight runny nose ? Or op symptoms

@Wellbythebloodyhell no, more that it feels a waste of so many tests! When booking the PCR it’s all “only book if you really need to” and it’s hard to get weigh up if I really need it or not. We won’t go to the festival at this stage unless it’s negative and I feel better as even if it’s not Covid it’s unfair to give everyone a really rubbish cold too!

@jendifer thats the thing if everyone starts going for pcr's then will we be waiting ages for results or even to get one
My ds has literally just developed a blocked nose so made him do a lvt
Will see how he is tomorrow before we decide on pcr as may be allergie , but we are all working out of the house so don't want to pass anything on

DH had covid a few weeks ago with just those symptoms and a negative LFT, best to test if you're going to be mixing with lots of people

@GeordieRacer what symptoms did your dh have and how did they start ?

OP's symptoms sorry.

If you test too early with PCR it might not catch it? Or does it?

@worriedatthemoment, blocked runny nose and hayfever symptoms followed by what seemed like a heavy cold, fluey achy and tired. The loss of smell didn't kick in until about day 4.