Convinced I have covid, two LFTs and one PCR came back negative

[Mrrainybow]

I feel awful.

Started off with a blocked nose, soon became chills and sinus pain. Now a chesty cough has developed and I’m losing my voice. I feel weak and tired.
I woke up in a pool of sweat last night.
I walked 2 miles today and I was ok during, but when I got home I felt so exhausted and achy, my throat is now sore too and my nose is constantly running.
I feel spaced out and fuzzy headed.

I haven’t lost my sense of smell or taste and my oxygen levels are 98%, occasionally dropping to 97%.

I honestly thought I must have covid, but apparently not. Had my negative result this morning.

@Mindymomo

They are asking people with colds and flu to isolate as if they had covid. My adult son had a really bad cold a couple of weeks ago, he felt awful and couldn’t leave his bed for 5 days. He’s since had a blood test as he rang the doctors and it’s come back that he’s low on vitamin D, so is now taking supplements.

Are they? Then they need to make this message clearer as I've not heard it, nor have about a quarter of the office i work in it.seems

I'm a few days further on than you OP, both everything smells a bit off.
Mine developed into a chest infection and I ended up with antibiotics which have helped with the chest pain and cough.

If you're a non-smoker and have normally healthy lungs 97% O2 sat is apparently on the low side - I was similar.

@Mindymomo

They are asking people with colds and flu to isolate as if they had covid. My adult son had a really bad cold a couple of weeks ago, he felt awful and couldn’t leave his bed for 5 days. He’s since had a blood test as he rang the doctors and it’s come back that he’s low on vitamin D, so is now taking supplements.

This is the thing I don't get. Surely if you have flu you should stay home anyway.

It's like coronavirus is the only thing that warrants being considerate about these days.

@Mindymomo

They are asking people with colds and flu to isolate as if they had covid. My adult son had a really bad cold a couple of weeks ago, he felt awful and couldn’t leave his bed for 5 days. He’s since had a blood test as he rang the doctors and it’s come back that he’s low on vitamin D, so is now taking supplements.

That’s fine, as long as there is provision for enhanced sick pay for those who are having to isolate with a runny nose.

Horrible cold doing the rounds at the moment, I've had it for 10 days - it lingers!

This is not meant as a criticism but if you have these symptoms , even without Covid it is very important to rest (and drink fluids).

It is very tempting to battle on, but things like ear infections can be very very nasty and can get worse really quickly.

Do hope you are managing to find the space to rest and people help you do so.

I'm a single parent, so I do know how difficult it is to do so, but you really must.

I can't afford to isolate with a cold. I'd lose my job. They are annoyed enough as it is when I have to take time off for LO's PCR tests

@ChocAuVin

I had an absolute killer of a cold about two weeks ago; could not believe that I didn’t have Covid. Temperature, cough, chills. Felt dreadful.

Even lost my sense of smell and taste very briefly.

Frequent LFTs and PCR (I didn’t trust the LFTs!) all negative. I can only conclude it was an absolute stinker of a cold!

This is exactly what I have now! I feel so run down and I've been able to muddle through colds in the past.

There are definitely a whole load of people in the South West testing negative on a PCR having had multiple positive lateral flows, my son being one of them. He started feeling unwell Thursday morning (woke a lot in the night with a headache and feeling dizzy and sick) and we tested Friday afternoon with it coming up immediately with a very strong positive. We than went for a PCR and I woke up Saturday morning to an email saying his PCR was negative. By chance, he had done a PCR for the ONS for research (we do them monthly) on Wednesday which later on Saturday came back as a possitive! I know from social media that many in his year had been getting positive lateral flows and negative PCRs and sending their children back to school - obviously causing a spread. Even though he had a negative PCR I knew he was positive really for many reasons 1. I used to work in a lateral flow COVID testing site and, like pregnancy tests, a false positive is extremely rare. We tested ourselves at the start of every shift. Not once did we test positive. Additionally certain substances can cause a positive (eg coke) but to get that (we tried) neat Coke had to be put on the testing kit and quite a lot of it over a period to produce a very faint line. Just drinking Coke before hand would not affect it. 2. I had read of many people on mumsnet with the same thing happening and also on Facebook of people saying that they had tons of positive lateral flows but had to do loads of PCRs before the test came back positive. I’m not sure what is going on. Is it a new strain that isn’t being picked up on a PCR? Are there a duff batch of PCRs? Some people have said the lateral flows are duff but my son has tested from various batches (some having been in the house a while) and clearly in his case, a second different PCR picked it in. All I know is that the lateral flow will only turn positive if it finds COVID (or whatever part of it it’s detecting) and people who get a positive lateral flow and negative PCR and then mix are causing more spread but legally they are allowed to and in fact have no excuse not to. I think there will be an issue until the government catch up and respond to what is happening.

My friend has this exact illness. Not covid. Taken her a few weeks to feel 100%. Rest up xx

I am assuming you meant that the 2 lateral flows were positive but re-reading, you might not have!

I work in a primary school in London. We've had loads of staff off with this cold virus that's doing the rounds. It definitely mimicks covid, temperature, cough, upset stomach. Everyone is testing negative on PCR. The only thing I'm finding strange is that the people who haven't had it are the ones who have had covid already (myself included) I've been coughed on multiple times in the last few weeks and nothing 🤷

I've had the same illness. It's really wiped me out. I had Covid last year and this doesn't feel the same, so I don't suspect testing is wrong for me. I expect you have the cold of doom that is going around, or possibly flu.

I've just had covid. Apart from the loss of smell and the severe fatigue afterwards it was exactly like flu.

There are hundreds of rinoviruses and influenza viruses which cause colds and flus, even some coronaviruses- you have one of them.

I find it really weird that everyone has forgotten what flu season is like.

Thanks for replies all.

Sorry if I wasn’t clear, two LFTs were negative and my PCR was negative too.

I’m thinking do I need to take another PCR?

I work in a school and my head has told me in no uncertain terms that as I’ve got a negative PCR she expects me in tomorrow, even though I’m coughing up my lungs, steaming eyes and nose.

I also have a 3 year old so no chance to rest unfortunately

I had negatives and same symptoms bar taste one

Not Covid even with a positive in house

Having to work is another thing though, not sure about that

I work in a school and my head has told me in no uncertain terms that as I’ve got a negative PCR she expects me in tomorrow, even though I’m coughing up my lungs, steaming eyes and nose

If you are too ill to work just phone in sick. The head has no ability to tell you to work when ill.

You don't need another PCR because you don't have covid. Keep doing LFTs just in case.

Wtf? You’re ill. You shouldn’t be going to work they unwell. Pre covid you wouldn’t have done!

If you're ill, you're ill. Regardless of whether it's covid or not. I hope you feel better soon.

As an aside, it probably isn't a great idea to go for 2 mile walks when you're unwell. Your body needs to rest.

Ive had an awful cold, was in bed for 4 days . Felt worse than when I had covid

@Mrrainybow

Thanks for replies all.

Sorry if I wasn’t clear, two LFTs were negative and my PCR was negative too.

I’m thinking do I need to take another PCR?

I work in a school and my head has told me in no uncertain terms that as I’ve got a negative PCR she expects me in tomorrow, even though I’m coughing up my lungs, steaming eyes and nose.

I also have a 3 year old so no chance to rest unfortunately

This is really weird. Does the head not believe in people catching other illnesses?! I mean if you were throwing up everywhere would they expect you in as it's not covid.

@BlanketPiggy it’s a small school and they are struggling financially, so getting cover is a problem. Unless you’re throwing up/got D+V or a positive covid test then they want you in.
The reception class teacher was coughing and sneezing and blowing her nose all through class last week.

it’s a small school and they are struggling financially, so getting cover is a problem. Unless you’re throwing up/got D+V or a positive covid test then they want you in.

That's not your problem. If you are off work ill, and get pressure from your head, you should get your union to support you by having a meeting with a case officer, you and the head to make clear that it isn't appropriate.

@Mrrainybow that's appalling. You're all going to get run into the ground that way poor thing.

www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/09/negative-pcr-test-covid-symptoms-self-isolate