Should I go into work tomorrow?!

[Toria84]

On Friday I woke up with a very dry throat, by lunch time it had progresses into a cough and I decided to do a PCR.
I did this at 3pm.

Cough got worse over night, woke up Saturday feeling awful. Blocked & runny nose, exhausted, raised temp (37.4 which for me is raised) coughing more.

My PcR results came back at 5am this morning as negative.

Felt awful this morning, cough is more of a wet cough now (sorry too much TMI)
As the days progressed I’ve felt a bit more human and we went out for a walk this evening.

I feel like I’d be able to manage work tomorrow, but I’m started to feel slightly paranoid now at people on here suggesting I could’ve tested too soon or had a false negative.

I can’t really take the day off work, I don’t get paid. In “normal” times I would be going in tomorrow and just be conscious or hand hygiene.

I’m doubting this PCR now (but only because of the replies on my last thread)

Should I really re testing with a PcR? I’ve done a lateral flow today and it’s negative.

Can I assume I’m ok to go into work, since I’ve followed the guidelines, tested and it’s negative!

I think you can go. If you were my staff I would ask you to stay home
Purely so we didn't all get it and have to PCR but you'd get paid if you were my staff.

You've done a test, it's negative. That's all you can do.

@trunumber

That’s super generous! I wouldn’t be paid at all.😥

I know my employer will expect me in too, especially because I’ve had a negative PCR..

I don’t want to pass on what I’ve got but even more so if it was Covid.
I assumed a PcR was accurate and I wouldn’t have to worry about taking another one “just Incase”

It does worry my slightly as when we returned from holiday, DC had two PCRs one positive(add arranged by travel agent) one negative(NHS)
He had zero symptoms. He still had to isolate for 10 days as instructed by test and trace.

It's negative so go to work if you feel well enough. I hope you feel better soon.

Can you wear a mask and socially distance anyway?

You could do another LTF in the morning. I was also thinking could you wear a mask at work?

@trunumber

Yes, I can.

I would take off my mask when I’m at my desk (would hate to have to wear it all day)

I would warn colleagues that they might want to keep their distance from you (eg have conversations by phone rather than face to face even if they only sit a few desks away).

@Franceadvice

I will do LFT in the morning and I will warn colleagues to keep their distance from me too.

It's a bit pointless if you have no mask on at your desk - so, filling the room with your breath for most of the day.
Is there a window that can be open?
I think you should do another pcr.

@GrandmaSteglitszch

It’s forecast to be 26° tomorrow, there will definitely be a window open.

Do another PCR for what reason? Until I’d read it on here, I’ve never known anyone do more than one PCR.

Where is the line drawn? 2nd test, 3rd test?

Ask your employer. A negative pcr should be enough otherwise why are we doing them? But I'd be paranoid too! Ask them what they think is best.

@MeredithGreyishblue

I dropped my manager text this afternoon.
She’s told it’s fine to go in as long as I’m feeling up to it.

If it weren’t for the several people on here telling me to re test I wouldn’t have even thought about it.

Me and my DD both tested positive for Covid on a Monday. DH started feeling ill on the Monday night so did a PCR on Tuesday. It came back negative. His symptoms got worse so he was doing an LF test every day and finally got a positive one on the Friday. Did a PCR and it was positive too.

Loads of summer colds going round.

Go in but do a LFT in the morning. There was viruses before covid so it still be any random bug.

There isnt much more you can realistically do in your situation. My ds had what I thought was a random bug but LFT didnt show positive until the next day. Dh is double vaxxed and his boss is very unsympathetic so following the rule changes dh went into work after his negative PCR. He only told the people he was working closely with that we had covid at home because the boss would want him in whilst also being pissed off if he spread it as a close contact. So basically sometimes you want to be careful but within the new rules you cant because of work.

You are following the rules.

Our current work policy is that people can’t come on with any illness, even if they test negative for Covid. The days of roughing it out with a cold are supposed to be over.

I would go in if I was in your shoes . You got the negative test. Only way I wouldn’t go in is if was feeling too poorly .

Do daily lft. I just had a "cold" and tested negative for 3 days despite symptoms. I was pretty certain I had it as the cold was wierd and been on a cruise where covid was rife . Day 4 tested positive. If hadn't been on the cruise I wouldnt have continued testing and said it was a cold.

Unfortunately I continued going out since had a negative test (assumed I was letting my imagination ran away with me) so now have to tell a whole load of people my non covid cold was in fact covid 😭

But hey... They say its an endemic now so we are all going to get it anyway.

@Rhica

Were you testing negative on PCR’s?

I didn't go for pcr. My symptoms didn't qualify for test. Just had achy muscles and sore throat but with bouts of hot flushes and weakness. Sort of at onset of cold stage but cold never materialised

Then day 4 I realised lost sense of smell and taste and the lft was conclusive. Went for pcr as soon as I lost these senses.

I mean daily pcr is better but who has time and not sure government would approve 😬

Ps I would go to work if I were you if they are happy and you are well enough. Going to be a skint winter if you don't go everytime you have a cold unfortunately. We can only do our best and follow the guidelines. Hope you get better soon