PCR and multiple LFRs all negative but feeling terrible

[ineedtocalmdown]

DS has awful cough, cold, fatigue generally feeling rubbish snd over the last few days has been getting no better
He started feeling ill on Monday with high temp and cough so did PCR on Tuesday which came back negative. Since then has done daily LFTs and all are negative. Does anyone know if you can test too soon ? He had massive symptoms when he tested so I’m sure if he had it it must have shown up as viral load would surely be high ?on PCR I have always assumed you would only get a false negative if there wasn’t enough virus in your body amd you weren’t showing symptoms.

I did my first PCR of the entire pandemic on Thurs last week. Didn't have the classic Covid symptoms but had what are apparently the common symptoms for delta + two vaccines. It came back negative, which is great, but I still feel like shit today! Been exhausted, aching limbs, headache I cannot shift with anything, genuinely feel awful.

I was so surprised the PCR came back negative but it has been a reminder that Other Illnesses Exist!

He's probably got a chest infection, poor kid. DD had one this week and has only just started feeling better today. Plenty of rest and fluids.

Other viruses exist with similar symptoms so it’s probably something other than Covid.

Same boat. Anything for a sore throat and terrible cough apart from the usual meds?

Thanks everyone that’s what I thought as surely if you’ve got loads of symptoms if it was positive it would show up on a PCR when after just 2 days you surely can’t test too soon if the symptoms are there ? He went to out of hours GP today who have given him antibiotics but he was told to leave the building as symptoms too similar to COVID. I’m a worrier and my anxiety is sky high now before today I was just worried about him getting better now I’m back to worrying about him having covid, my anxiety is on over drive. We do seem to have forgotten there’s other bugs out there

Day 4 of symptoms showed positive for me. Prev 3 days negative despite feeling worse those days

@Rhica was that shoeing negative on PCR with symptoms ? He’s been testing daily with lfts since negative PCR and all of them showing negative

My DD has been the same - 2x PCRs and daily neg lat flows. We have the added paranoia of actually having covid in the house with older DD testing positive and isolating in her room since.

I also spoke to a doc yesterday as the night before had been horrendous with a barking cough that had irritated her throat so much it burned.

Dr said you can only work with the info you have - negative tests - and that kids get coughs and colds all the time. She said the symptoms I'd been describing had come up numerous times this week and all on children DDs age. She was far more compassionate than your dr seems to have been!

If you think back to last year when the test system was totally overwhelmed cos the kids had gone back to school and the September cold had raged through them all. Probably same thing.

Hi OP, I am in the same situation. DS (11) has the most horrendous cough, never seen him have anything like it before. It wasn't too bad last week so got PCR on Saturday which has come back negative but this weekend it has been horrendous. Poor kid has barely slept. Am sure coughing into a mask at school hasn't helped.

Although both DP and I have also been floored with an awful cold and in bed for 2 days each - but we didn't have a cough. Also negative PCRs. It's too similar timing for DS not to have caught what we have but his cough is just AWFUL.

Will keep him off school - but is it worth getting another PCR test done? I read that lateral flows shouldn't be done if you have symptoms (we have some in the house).

On advice of out of hours GP doing another PCR today. He said of lateral flows are positive they are usually correct but negative ones are only right about 50% of the time which is worrying. I’m confident it is just chest infection but pcr will give peace of mind.

Ds and all his friends have been really ill after going to Reading festival. They’ve all had pcr tests and are all negative.

there is a horrible cough and cold doing the rounds. I have picked it up from my adult kids (they had negative PCRs and negative LFTs)

don't forget, most people haven't really had coughs and colds since the start of 2020 so the minute everyone starts mixing, normal colds and flus are bound to go around!

@Kiduknot yes my DS was at Reading too and all his friends have this terrible cough as well and most tested negative on Pcr. We just did another test as GP suggested

Ive had 3x terrible colds this year. Hacking cough needing steroids twice, fever, chills, really poorly. Always negative for covid, multiple PCR tests have confirmed.

Other respiratory illnesses can be really shit. I’ve had some awful colds & flu like viruses in the past. I’m sure everyone else has too. Why have people forgotten this?! 🤦🏼‍♀️

Keep testing.

My symptoms have remained basically the same but negative test on day 2 of feeling crap is now a positive on day 4.

We have all come back as negative pcrs so I feel reassured that it is a chest infection and hopefully now the antibiotics will work
Thanks for the reassurance everyone