Confused about what counts as symptoms!

[doorornottodoor]

I’ve had a headache on and off since Monday. Now woken up feeling a bit of a chesty cough (and a soreish throat). Not persistent though. Don’t feel hot but do feel a bit unwell. Managed a 8km run yesterday so I’m not properly ill! Three negative lateral flows this week.

These aren’t official symptoms but I know delta is presenting differently.

I’m a teacher. Do I need to get a PCR? If I go on the official symptoms no but people seem to be ignoring them now. Don’t want to miss a teaching day if I can help it. (We wear backs and socially distance here just in case anyone has a go at me!)

I’ve had a headache for two days. My DS1had cold symptoms and two LFTs - negative. He felt really tired but had been working long hours had Monday off and Tuesday went in but felt unwell by afternoon but couldn’t go home as no one to cover. Felt worse Wednesday and very wheezy but is asthmatic so rang GP. GP ( phone app.)wrote prescription antibiotics and steroids and advised PCR. Thursday -positive.
We are isolating as DH went to take him the prescription and against my advise went in as he has a key.
DH tested negative.
I would advise you get a PCR. I am.

Personally, I would test for any cough that's obvious enough for me to notice it. But at the end of the day, I think it depends at this point how much you care about not missing a case of covid if you do have it. What you've got could easily be covid, but it might not be. If you want, you could get out of testing by saying your cough doesn't quite count as 'persistent' (which doesn't mean 'constant', though), but bear in mind if you do have covid you'll then be working while unwell in a way that might make it take longer for you to recover. (And you'll be passing on whatever bug you do have even if it's not covid, so more people will face your dilemma a few days down the line.)

PS I wouldn't do any more runs till you're 100% better.

My DH had similar symptoms for a couple of days and 3 negative lft's. Only took a pcr test when he developed a temperature. He was positive and passed it on to two household members.

This makes me wonder . There is covid in both the schools here but several of us have tested (lft) kids with colds and yet in the back of my mind I'm aware that lft seem so unreliable.

We’re away abroad for half term -arghhh!!

I tested positive for Covid with none of the official symptoms. LFTs really aren't very accurate. So because of that I'd get a PCR in future if I felt ill, no matter what symptoms I had.

I’ve booked a PCR test for this morning.

I think you do right, the cough is a symptom.

It isn't a persistent cough the NHS references, it is described as a 'new, continuous cough' and a description is given: A new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or three or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)

I think if you think 'I've got a cough' you get a test, but if it is 'I have coughed once or twice today' you don't.

Good luck with the test

I do feel quite tight in my chest. Fingers crossed for a negative and fingers crossed it comes back quickly! Now I need to sort out cover work for all of my classes…

I had a cough and was waiting for test results and convinced myself it couldn’t be Covid because I managed 45 minutes hard exercise on my spinning bike 🤣

It was positive.

@rozzyraspberry and were you ill with it?!

Family members here had it and main symptoms were headache and fatigue. Proper banging headache that hurt more when they moved.

My headache is not too bad. It was worse on Monday. Even paracetamol wouldn’t shift it. I’ve not been tired and I’ve been at work all week. I can’t believe I have it! Hope results come back quickly …

I had exactly thr same symptoms, my 1 year old and DH too. I did a PCR as did my DH - both negative. I've been doing lateral flows since - still negative. I still have a bit of a cough but have put it down to new term coldy cough germs.

I didn't hesitate to order a PCR though and it sounds like you might be?

I'm also a teacher.

Fingers crossed it's negative. I think if you work with lots of people then it's better to be safe than sorry.

Hi @Margo34 that’s reassuring! See above- I’ve booked a PCR test at 8am. There’s a walk in nearby.🤞

@Waxonwaxoff0 yes exactly. And I’m supposed to be seeing friends tomorrow afternoon too!

@doorornottodoor - yes it was like a bad cold.

Still struggling with running 4 weeks on - every time I go out my cough comes back for a few days so I’m now being lazy!

We have an outbreak in my school and all the pupils and staff who have tested positive have tested negative on lateral flows throughout.
I know OP has booked a test now, but for anyone else reading it's useful to know how unreliable the lfts are.

I dont know why they are still pushing the "only test if you have one of the 3 symptoms", everyone knows that it can present in countless different ways. Seems really stupid to me.
I would go get a test OP.

@doorornottodoor

My headache is not too bad. It was worse on Monday. Even paracetamol wouldn’t shift it. I’ve not been tired and I’ve been at work all week. I can’t believe I have it! Hope results come back quickly …

That's interesting comment, whatisyour hierarchy of painkillers? Paracetamol is atthe bottom for me, I'd have to be up to multiple ibuprofen per day before Used the word even iyswim. Might it be worth trying a stronger painkiller?

@AFuturisticalSound I don’t really use painkillers so no hierarchy! I’ve just never had a headache not relieved by a paracetamol before.

I really think the ‘main symptoms’ have shifted with the new variant(s)
I only had sudden fatigue, that was it - did a PCR to rule it out as was about to stay with a vulnerable person, and it was positive!

Been doing LFT twice a week (last one day before sudden fatigue)

I am convinced that so many people are walking around with it unawares, but because the main symptoms aren’t there- they don’t really consider it