Which would you believe

[my8thMNusername]

Would you think you had covid or not if you were me? not knowingly exposed, nobody I've seen in last 10 days has it (not many people) and I've been careful with hand washing etc but:

Monday - DC seemed to have a mild cold so I tested myself, saw a faint positive line on LFT at 90 mins (clear at 30), subsequent 2 tests negative (then went for PCR). DH and DC both negative LFT.

Tuesday - negative PCR result (same for DH and DC) - I did 2 more LFTs (health anxiety + seeing family for childcare)

weds - 2 negative LFTs but started to feel a bit unwell, slightly shivery and like a head cold

Thurs morning - faint positive within test window, went for another PCR - then did 3 more LFTs and 2 clear within test time, one I'm sure I saw faintest of lines. Still unwell but no worse than weds. DC and DH negative LFT.

This morning - negative PCR results through (me and DC). I'm still unwell (intermittent cough, but if a runny nose) Negative LFT.

I am laying low, no need for childcare for a few days, cancelled weekend plans etc. Can still smell and taste (lost that but further in when I had covid a year ago). Double jabbed. But panicking the PCRs are wrong (all 5 of them - 2 of mine).

What would you think?? DH refusing to engage in this conversation

With 2 neg pcrs I’d be satisfied I didn’t have covid, especially having had covid already and being double jabbed.

I would say you don’t have covid. Believe the PCR over the lateral flow.

Something similar happened with dd. Twice. She has positive LFTs but they were faint (although easily visible). Then they got fainter. Many PCRs, negative. We all had many PCRs. Again, negative.

I felt that they were all wrong (the PCRs) then talked myself down. Google tells me that some people have had many many faint positive LFTs so I wonder if something weird is going on - some sort of previous covid infection hanging around. It’s only happened to dd.

So no, I don’t think she had covid when this happened but i wonder if she has before? It’s entirely possible as she’s had plenty of previous exposure.

Sounds like you have the 'worst cold ever'.

I have read somewhere that a positive lateral flow in a person who has symptoms is statistically very unlikely to be a false positive, so I would work on the basis you are positive.

There is a really crappy cold going round- complete with breathlessness and cough. Ironically it seems to last longer than actual 'normal' covid.

My friend is in a similar situation, except her DH has tested positive & is now (day 20) getting some symptoms, she's tested negative but feels like death warmed up!
Other nasty bugs going around I guess.

Look after yourself and if you have one(or want to get one) check your oxygen levels. It's oddly reassuring!

I'd think you have a cold.

When I had covid last year I'd been a very close contact to someone who had it, since that point I literally have no knowledge of being close to anyone who has had it.

It is blowing my mind that there's been a mix of both faint pos and totally neg LFTs.

I was going on basis of positive but haven't had any positives LFTs for DC/DH and all of our PCRs negative. Am quite used to getting colds from DC so nothing new there but it's not helping my anxiety!

@NovemberNovemberDarkNights

My friend is in a similar situation, except her DH has tested positive & is now (day 20) getting some symptoms, she's tested negative but feels like death warmed up! Other nasty bugs going around I guess.

Look after yourself and if you have one(or want to get one) check your oxygen levels. It's oddly reassuring!

Yup oximeter is telling me 99!

You don't have covid.
Trust the tests.

LFTs are terribly inaccurate, trust the PCR tests. Hope you feel better soon!

Other viruses are available. Pre covid you'd have thought this was a cold - no known covid exposure, negative tests for all of you and even if you lose your sense of smell that happens with colds too.

Good to cancel your plans and not worry other people when you pass it on.