Vaccinated and testing negative even if you have COVID

[Skippingabeat]

I need some advice because I'm not sure if I have COVID or not. My symptoms started on Thursday, sore throat, low grade fever and cough. I did the rapid antigen test on Saturday which came back negative.

My ex-H started developing symptoms (fever, dizziness and weird smell). He did the rapid antigen test today and came back positive.

My son developed a low grade fever (38.5) yesterday, along with fatigue and a bit of cough and maybe congestion and sore throat. My other son developed same symptoms today. They're both non-verbal so I'm not sure about the sore throat and congestion but they seem to be struggling to swallow and are breathing through the mouth.

Their rapid antigen tests today came back positive. I did PCR test today and it came back negative. I'm the only one vaccinated (double vaccinated since March).

Could I also be having it but testing negative? It's just so weird that we all got sick in the same few days, and the boys move between households everyday (50/50 custody) and they share a bedroom with me, but still I'm testing negative.

Has anyone had that they tested negative when they showed symptoms and their household tested positive?

It's possible for the test to be incorrect. Can you just isolate anyway and presume you have it?

Op it depends on how well you did the test and also the your viral load.
Dd had it and two lat flows negative and today very barely notice line, positive.

Pcr positive.

So I bet if you did pcr evry day one day it would be positive. Hope your all OK, we've avoided it for so long it suddenly feels scary to actually have it

It's possible for the test to be incorrect. Can you just isolate anyway and presume you have it?
It's also possible to just have a cold. Why would she isolate when it's not necessary?

We are in this situation at the moment - both children have had positive PCR tests and are not well. Both adults double vaccinated - one, me, felt a bit off for a couple of days (low energy, tired) but am fine now. Negative PCR. Husband feels properly ill and has done for four days now. Two negative PCRs. He's got a headache, sore throat, and fatigue mainly.

I have done a bit of reading and it is indeed possible for people to repeatedly test negative and then be positive for antibodies later. In this case it's hard to know what's going on, up to and including psychosomatic illness.

Surely it can’t be psychosomatic illness if they go on to test positive for antibodies?

I mean in my husband's case, sorry - that was badly worded.

Thank you all so much for your replies and sorry I haven't replied earlier as I'm in the US and was asleep (and now awake at 2am).

I'm trying to isolate as much as I can. I'm allowed to work from home so haven't gone to the office since I started having symptoms last weekend.

I'll do the antigen test again in a week, or earlier if my symptoms get worse. PCR tests are costly even with insurance.

I thought I'll give an update. So Friday and Saturday I was doing very well, as if I was over my cold. Sunday I woke up with fever and headache. My test on Monday came back negative but yesterday I lost my smell. Today's test just came back positive.

My guess is I had a common cold and just I was getting over it, I caught Covid. I'm now feeling better actually, no fever or headache or chills. A bit of a cough from my cold that is getting better everyday. Still no smell. Hopefully I'll keep doing well. Need to keep isolating for another 10 days now.

Feel better soon @Skippingabeat.

Update from me too - husband (who had two negative PCRs) went on to have a third negative PCR and now, a week later, has had a positive lateral flow. This is after being unwell for two weeks. Can't get my head round it, except to think that perhaps somehow the vaccine suppressed it enough that it wasn't detectable, or that he didn't have a viral load in his nose and throat until now.