Waiting my PCR

[Myshitisreal]

Hi there

I've been incredibly lucky to stay at home most of lockdown and have been really cautious. Really really.

I woke yesterday with a cough out of nowhere which very quickly has gone into my chest. I was due to go for a walk in test today but felt the 3.5 mile walk would be too detrimental to my body, so I've posted my pcr back today.

Im incredibly impressed with how quick it was, ordered Monday at 6pm,received today and posted back in today's post.

I've spent all day googling the recommendations, would drive you barmy.

My CEV best friend was a close contact so he's tested negative on a lateral flow (no symptoms).

Today i feel so rough, I've slept most of the evening and been in bed all day.

I have very very complicated health so do have real reason to be concerned. Thankfully I'm not CEV but I'm just recovering from a really bad infection, and narrowly avoided hospital with it.

I don't know why I'm posting.

Im just looking for some support. I don't need to be told I'm more likely to die by blah blah blah. Please support only.

My mental health hasn't been great and i could just do with some kind words.

I am overweight due to a thyroid problem which I'm trying to get under control, plus thyroid antibodies, inflammation, infection.

Just can't believe how wheezy i am today.

No huge appetite, very very tired (chronically exhausted already), just cough and wheezing.

Think I need to chat really as I'm trying to hide from my husband how scared I am how quickly i feel like this. His wee face too, I can see he's worried.

Please be kind. I'm sobbing now.

I realise it may not be covid of course. Due to my work I've about 6 negative lateral flow in the last week.

I'm just having a very bad day.

I have a load of health problems but I don't think its helpful for me to list them all.

Try not to worry OP. You're resting and looking after yourself which is the key thing. If in bed a lot just keep a little propped up, so not completely flat etc...helps with chest and getting oxygen in I think.

I feel exactly the same as you but my PCR came back negative. I'm not convinced though because my brother had it last week and his PCRs & LFTs were negative until he'd been unwell for a few days - which is possibly how I've caught it if it is indeed covid. I'm so wheezy, struggling the breathe and coughing until I'm sick. I blew my nose so many times today I had a nose bleed. If this isn't covid I dread to think how bad actual covid would be! And I'm vaccinated.

So nothing useful to add other than I hope you get your result quickly and recover soon

Thank you @valhalla17, i actually feel like I should sleep elevated a little.

Yes lots of rest. I managed a small amount of crochet but couldn't wait to get to the end. That's not like me!

@mrtumbleseyebrows that sounds absolutely horrendous. Were you in contact with your brother that there was a real risk?

Are you going to test again?

Is anything helping you??

I hope it passes. ASAP 🙏

Yes, I saw him when he was first unwell and we thought it was just a bad cold. Then it got worse but tests were still negative until he got a positive last weekend. I'd seen him the day before!

I've actually been unwell for a few weeks with a cold that I caught from my daughter but this has really ramped up now. I'm a bit worried because I don't know where my inhaler is but I don't have the energy to look for it. I'll test again and see what result I get. I slept for the majority of today and don't feel any better for it

It's very conflicting, I'm sure. You poor thing! I wonder if there's some bad infections around which mimic covid closely?

Im double vaxxed too, was looking up my booster a few days ago and was booked for my flu vaccine Friday.

Glad you're able to rest. Is your brother recovered?

Think I need some good trash to watch to distract me 😂 (providing I stay awake).

Cat nurse has been activated, she won't leave my side 😺. She fell asleep on my chest/shoulder earlier and i fell Asleep using her butt as a pillow 😂

Brother is recovered and back to id say 80%. He is still quite tired and getting headaches.

Apparently there is a bad cold going around which is more like flu so it could be that? I feel like I've been unwell forever!

Ahh that sounds nice. My cat isn't a good nurse at all and prefers to walk on my head while I sleep!

Ahhh I'm sorry to hear you aren't well OP. I can understand why you are worried.
I've had a terrible cough and cold the last two weeks (not covid) and I'd actually started to feel more relaxed about covid now I'm double jabbed etc but this cold made me feel so rough I have started to think about how rough covid could make me!
Colds and coughs are strange like this though aren't they.....sometimes one person is struggling with it and another person is just a bit snotty.
I'm finally feeling a bit more normal today so hopefully on the mend.
I hope you are feeling better soon and that it is not covid. Remember, worrying won't change the result. Try and keep your mind distracted if you can.
I know a couple of people who have serious health issues who have had covid and barely had any symptoms so if you do get a positive result, try and remember that for a lot of people it is like a nasty cold and they don't need to be hospitalised.
There's so many nasty colds going around at the moment. My doctor said half the surgery staff were off sick with it too.

I'm sorry for how you're feeling OP.

So much easier said then done but try not to panic.

I assume you're vaccinated? Even with waning immunity, they still give good protection against serious illness.

Take it easy as much as possible. Rest your body.

Sip warm drinks reularly throughout the day. Try honey and ginger in warm water with a little cayenne chili powder. I also add garlic to my drink when unwell. Not the tastiest drink but it's a good brief distraction from feeling rotten. Garlic has antiviral and antibacterial properties.

Licorice root tea can help with coughs but check first that it doesn't interact with your health issues. It's to be taken with caution if you have high blood pressure, for example.

If you feel things get worse with your chest or anything else and you're worried, give your GP or 111 a call in case you need steroids or antibiotics or need to be checked over.

Do you have menthol crystals? I find it so helpful at night when ill. Add some to a bowl of boiled water on the beside table.

I hope you feel better soon OP.

Hope you’re in bed/on the sofa and taking it easy. It’s horrible being wheezy.

I’ve just booked a PCR for my son as he has a really sore throat and a terrible headache plus a temp. I’m nervous as my partner is CEV although he’s had his booster thank goodness. Mine is booked for 11th Dec. With 2 kids in school I know they’re bound to catch it at some point.

@cimcardashian i hope your son is OK. Sending you good vibes. Is the test sent back ok? I hope you don't have to wait too long. Is it possible to keep your husband separate?

My husband is doing a test but purely because we live together.

Our house isn't designed for isolation but i don't want my husband getting any more of my germs than necessary, so he slept downstairs last nt. Bloody cat loves him more so I've not seen her since last night 😂

Can't thank you all enough for the kind words. I'm not a prolific poster and have seen many horrendous things said to people on here over the years, so I thank you all very much. It really means a lot.

The kindness of strangers means a lot to me today thank you ♥

We went to a test centre this morning so I guess the result will come back tomorrow? I think it’s probably a throat infection or bad cold (LFT was neg). We’ll see!

We won’t isolate from him,my DP wouldn’t want to do that. Just hope that the vaccines do their job!

🤞 For you.

Im so confused as to why lateral flows aren't recommended for symptoms. I've heard of people getting same day PCR results or taking a few days. Just depends where you are I guess.

All things crossed in your favour!

Have you got your results back yet @myshitisreal ? i've been waiting 29 hours so far, had mine done at a testing centre. Wondering if there's a delay on them after the weekend or something? Sorry to hear you are feeling unwell

I think lateral flows are meant to test members of the public who are asymptomatic. On saying that they will still work if you have symptoms. For example, last winter when I got covid the first time, I had a negative LFT on tuesday night, wednesday lunctime started with symptoms, did another LFT still negative, had a PCR done wednesday teatime which was positive as I was informed on the Thursday. On the Thursday evening I did another LFT just to see if it actually worked knowing I was positive (with symptoms), it then came back positive. I think they're just not very sensitive but can pick up some asymptomatic cases.

Thanks for the kindness. No not yet, they got the test delivered at 643 this morning so I've no idea how long I've to wait. First time 🥴

Im in Belfast - does that matter? . Were you at a test centre?? You must be going mad. I'd have hoped for a result by now

I keep thinking I'm not so bad but then I tried to lie on my side and my breathing is rattly. Can't stay awake either and that's really not like me. Usually anxiety has me wired.

My husband just had a negative lateral flow so I'm hoping that stays 🤞

How are you feeling? 🥰

Oh i'm not sure about Belfast, but I think in general it's accepted that you should get them back within 24 hours in the UK. I went to a test centre yes, and yes i'm starting to go a bit nuts! I need answers!

I've felt rough since monday evening, swathing viral type headaches, sore throat, and an ever so slight cough. TBH it was the headaches which made me decide to get tested as i've had covid before and the worst thing about it was the headaches. So i've got SOMETHING but i'm not sure if it's Covid. Could be any of these winter viruses really.

How is your cough and wheezing today? You are double jabbed I see, but do you have COPD or any other respiratory condition normally? Hope you are getting through it and fingers crossed for your result soon too.

Oh that's awful.! I think the results can come through any time of night can't they. So just hope, that's all we can do 🙏

No respiratory conditions.. Its disconcerting how it's gone in there. I've occasionally felt a sore tightness around the bra band. I'm lying in bed watching tv and there's a slight rattle as I breathe out- it's the only way I can describe it. I was considering buying an oximeter but I didn't know if that was a bit hysterical. Plus i spent too long procrastinating 😵

You poor thing. It seems so unfair people can get this numerous times.

Yes i agree with you, we definitely have something. It's just a matter of what.

I've managed the quickest shower in the world and went downstairs to get a snack. Thankfully my husband got med Time from work so I didn't have to do any things.

I gave up smoking last April, I'm so glad I did!

Just got my result, 12hrs after them receiving my envelope and its negative. I'm very surprised tbh.

I rang my mum and it seems my voice has gone a little.

Really shocked. Feel guilty there's people waiting much longer. I'm hoping you all get your results back

My husband posted his today so hoping that's the same. He's no symptoms.

Feel really upset, probably relief as long Covid is a really big fear.

So, Good news all round..

Very impressed with the speed and service. My one niggle is that i wasn't able to cancel my walkin yesterday, they told me just not to turn up which seems like a waste of resources but there we are.

Can anyone advise me on buying a mask which protects me? I work in a concert hall and it's incredibly hard to get people to keep their masks on. Our numbers are really bad too. I don't know what goes through peoples heads. I have PTSD and really struggle with them but I'll persist where possible. It's such a high risk environment.

Hope you feel better soon OP, there are some horrible bugs going round. DH was laid up in bed for a few days, with a dry cough, shivers, temp, headache, aches, exhaustion, sense of tase out of whack and a couple of vomiting sessions added for good measure and lft and pcr (done when he was at peak poorly) all negative. My sense of taste has gone funny and I woke up coughing in the night and I feel a tiny bit "off"... I have ordered a pcr and will work from home, but it would be bananas if I had Covid and not DHs bug.

Mine negative too, pleased yours negative too OP, will reply in more depth later. Phew!

I'm glad it's negative although sorry you still feel rough.

With masks, the most effective are the FFP2 or FFP3 types.

We're all different but personally I find them quite comfortable. However they can get a little hot so you might prefer the surgical ones, which are fairly lightweight and give better protection than fabric masks.

I hope you feel better soon.

Op I've just spent 8 days with the worst cold and chest ever

I've just done another postal
Pcr test as been flagged as a close contact on Friday but up until and including today still testing negative on lateral flows.

I am surprised what I've had isn't Covid to be honest. Every single symptom and I'm so drained I slept for 13 hours solid yesterday right through to after lunch as I called in sick at work which I've not done for years.

I've been on codiene paracetomol and nasal steroid spray as my sinuses and ears have been so painful and I noticed a lot of posters reporting these same symptoms with Covid so I was shocked when my pcr came bak negative last week.

This is what's being called the super cold I guess and like a previous poster said I'd hate to think what Covid feels like after this horrible bug

I work in close facing close contact and have been wearing disposable medical grade masks.
Although we don't have to by law we are all wearing masks at work and also upped the sanitisation of everything again because our area is bad for figures right now.

It's getting close to a time when people are hoping to visit family and friends and have a break from the norm so Hopi g people are sensible

That sounds awful @dialsmavis - is he recovered? I hope your test comes back quickly. I think it's just better to check isn't it? Such strange times we're living in. The problem is that most things can be considered as covid.

@wobblywinelover that's amazing news. I'm so glad for you! It's a feeling of relief isn't it? I'm definitely not seeing anyone soon in case it's contagious.

Thank you @tealightsandd i get the different masks confused in my head. Work prefer us to wear the disposable blue and white ones so we're "uniform" but it's really hit me how vulnerable i am. I can be in a room of almost 2000 people and the reluctance to wear masks is strong. So I'll have to seriously think. I read about Cambridge masks on here and don't really know what they are. I'd prefer something I didn't have to bin at the end of the day. We practice very good mask hygiene.

Can barely keep my eyes open now I've had some dinner.

Genuinely thank you to everyone here, your kindness has just been so greatfully received.