One Vaxxed, negative PCR but SO BLOODY ILL

[PollyPepper]

DSD (14) tested positive yesterday having spent all weekend with us, the poor mite, she just had a bit of sneezing but tested positive on LFT when she went back to her mums yesterday. 4 days with her, substantial contact, long car journeys, hugging etc.

She had her PCR earlier today and results not back but assuming it will be positive.

Me and DH did PCR and both have come back negative, which tbh I am completely shocked by. I feel rough as a dogs arse, aching all over, like my bones are on fire, sore throat, sneezing, just been violently sick. Have sick bowl and tissues by my bed.

Should I do another PCR?? I'm isolating from work (emergency services so slightly different rules), have had one jab.

God I feel like shit.

Does anyone know if any 'normal' bugs are going around that could account for it?

I also think you maybe tested too early. I had a negative result before I got a positive one

@ momiamarichman that is exactly the same as me!
I’ve tested negative 3 times.
I’ve still got a cough and my ears are still blocked like I have got off a plane. I’ve tried everything to clear them. And I am soo tired!

Hope you feel better soon @PollyPepper 💐

It can take a few days to incubate and get a positive test.

You say you're in the emergency services but only had one dose of vaccine? Was that intentional, or have you delayed due to being ill or anything?

I also think you maybe tested too early. I had a negative result before I got a positive one

Had you got symptoms at the time you tested first?

@DumplingsAndStew

It can take a few days to incubate and get a positive test.

You say you're in the emergency services but only had one dose of vaccine? Was that intentional, or have you delayed due to being ill or anything?

Police as a rule weren't given priority for vaccines, though in my area in the early days vaccine centres would often ring up police stations if they had surplus.

@pollypepper - Hope you start to feel a bit better soon

That’s my husband. Exactly the same symptoms but two negative PCRs (three days apart). Puzzled.

Same happened here OP. DH tested positive on a Friday, I had temp, sore throat headache on Sunday with neg PCR test on Monday. Went through the week feeling progressively worse still neg LF tests and another neg PCR so thinking perhaps I have another virus. Feel a bit better on Monday so do LF test just in case before return to work and positive So have I been positive all along as suspected and tests just haven't picked it up? Who knows I'm fed up of testing and shoving things up my nose.

Morning all. Well that was a fucking horrific night.
@SilverGlitterBaubles me too!
@DumplingsAndStew Police were not given priority for the vaccine so just had to get it where we can if the centres had any left over. I was on reduced hours at the time and finishing at 1PM so was never in at the end of the day when they had them. I had my second one booked for 27th August, but then was put on a knife op so couldn't just get up and pop to the centre.
Have rebooted it obviously.

Just done another LFT and negative again!!!! I just don't understand it. I've got every single symptom.

The tests only pick up about 30% of cases (lfts) and 70% (pcrs). If you've been in contact with people who have covid and now have all the symptoms then I think you should assume you have covid. There are other bugs around but you haven't spent 5 days in close contact with them!
Really hope you feel better soon

@QuarantineQueen I can't help thinking you're right. These tests are doing my head in.

Does anyone have any idea when I should do the next PCR?

Really hope you feel better soon @PollyPepper

Similar happened to ds, all his friends tested positive, he had the same symptoms, 3 lft and 2 pcr bith negative. The only difference is he didn't lose his taste or smell. Have you lost either of those?

@PollyPepper try another pcr tomorrow or Fri

Good thinking @Porcupineintherough

@ssd did he ever test positive? Water tastes a bit off I thought cos DH had got it from.the bathroom sink but apparently not....

My pcr just came back positive. Don't know if you read my last posts, @PollyPepper, but sounds similar to my experience. My sense of smell/ tastes has altered/almost gone over this last week. Chest hurts constantly too.

No he never did @PollyPepper

I honestly think the only difference with covid and a million other bugs going round is loss of taste or smell

How can you test to early if you have symptoms? Otherwise when do you test ? My work if ill ask you to test and then come back in if negative as I am sure many places do .

@Dontwant2live or maybe you had another bug as well and immune system is low so caught covid then ,

I wonder if its because round here all tests are self administered so if not done right maybe would give wrong result
All the ocr tests I have had I have had to do myself

How can you test too early if you have symptoms?

Because you have to be shedding viruses to get a positive test. That's phase 2 of a viral infection. In phase 1 the virus is spreading inside you (which is what makes you sick).

Hope you feel better soon!

@Porcupineintherough but I thought with covid we are often contagious couple days before and also many without symptoms as well

@Porcupineintherough meant couple days before symptoms show is what i have read everywhere
If its the case that it takes days after symptoms for test to show then the tests become almost pointless as with a negative test people go back to work / school etc .
Especially if mild symptoms , I had a cough and negative pcr so returned to work within a couple days as the cough subsided

@worriedatthemoment honestly I'm not sure. As you say, some people shed virus and never get sick. Some shed and get sick later. And some, it seems, get sick before they are shedding enough to test positive. I've even heard of cases where people dont test positive til they are practically being intubated and are diagnosed via chest xray instead???

I guess it's about how different people respond to viral infection?

Well there we go.