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Original poster

Self diagnosing colds as a cold and not covid and not testing

82 replies

BlondieD · 02/12/2021 23:25

I'm fuming at my partner. He works in a bar so he's at an increases risk of a covid exposure through his work because of sealing with the public.

Basically he did something idiotic back in October. He has some symptoms of illness/colds including cough. He refused to isolate and test. I came down with the same dose as him back in October and because I had symptoms, I had to isolate and test and thankfully it did actually come back as covid not detected and the cold I had did clesr in a few days. So we got lucky, just that one time, that it wasn't covid.

So yesterday he decided to take me out for breakfast and he didn't tell me until I was sitting in his car with seat belt on that he feels a cold coming on. I observed him over breakfast and it was mild. There was no cough so I was somewhat at ease. It was more sinus related. I was chatting with him today and whatever he had yesterday, has progressed into a more heavier headcold - sinus drip, sore throat. He says he's OK. He doesn't own a thermometer so he can't check fever.

I suggested an antigen test for him and he doesn't want to do a him test. I suggested booking a pcr but he doesn't want to do that either. Basically he's going to be continuing on as normal and not only that his employer will allow him to go into work with symptoms and not test fmand basically putting others and customers at risk.

I'm horrified that all public health guidelines are being ignored by my partner and not only that also from his employer. What if it progresses over the night or the next few more days and what if it is covid - he's passing it around to all and sundry without a care in the world. Needless to say I will be avoiding him and seriously considering a dump.

OP posts:
NothingIsWrong · 03/12/2021 15:02

I have a cold at the moment that one of my plague rats brought home. None of the three main symptoms so I've been doing lat flow tests every morning but I can't keep having time off for a PCR every time I get a sniffle.

snowdropsandcrocuses · 03/12/2021 15:12

I have had a cold for the last five days. Sneezing, runny nose, bit achy, the usual. The kids have been ill and negative LFT. Took a test yesterday and blow me off it wasn't positive. Waiting for PCR results now but I'm sure it's covid. Have only in last 24 hours lost sense of smell. I genuinely believed it was a cold I picked up from the kids. I didn't suspect covid at all.

JaggyJumper · 03/12/2021 15:14

I would loose about £150 for needing to take a test and it to be negative as I would need 2 days off work. I can’t afford that so I need to just hold it in and carry on like I do every winter anyway

Akire · 03/12/2021 15:16

Same here classic cold symptoms but positive LTF. According to NHS site I shouldn’t wasted their time but Zoe app said double jabbed symptoms can be more cold. Day 5 waiting for PCR results and now
No sense of smell.

SirVixofVixHall · 03/12/2021 15:19

@sleepwouldbenice

1/3 of cases that seem like a cold are covid according to the zoe study review posted today
This. I agree with you OP, he should get tested. I had someone come to a meeting the other day “oh it is just a cold” when asked if she’d been tested “oh no because I haven’t lost my sense of smell so it isn’t Covid” Hmm
JKDinomum · 03/12/2021 15:26

My Covid felt exactly like a cold. I was sneezing and had a runny nose for five days, it was only after that I got a slight cough and the loss of smell and taste. Never ever had a fever. I tested positive on LFT and then on PCR the day I started sneezing.

I too come into contact with a lot of people saying they have a cold (including people with a cough) who have not done a PCR to confirm this.

Fl0w3ry · 03/12/2021 15:37

I have come across people who think they just have a cold and are happy to spread it around because they “know” it’s just a cold without testing.
I avoid spending time with people like that these days.

PennyOnThePlusSide · 03/12/2021 15:41

I work in a gastropub. It's really difficult to take time off at the minute. A lot of us wouldn't get paid if we didn't work, as we are paid by the hour. Also, there is a lot of pressure. If someone doesn't come in unexpectedly, it does leave other team members in the shit a bit. This is in a really well staffed pub as well.

I can't say I've done what he has, but I can definitely understand it.

It is shocking how much pressure there is to show up in hospitality and you never stop moving when you're busy. And it's all for crap pay and to probably line the pockets of someone who sits in an office somewhere or elsewhere on their arse.

I do wonder why I do it sometimes! But that's probably for another thread.

PennyOnThePlusSide · 03/12/2021 15:43

Oh and you'd probably get a telling off for phoning in sick with a head cold. Honestly, it wouldn't be taken seriously at all, because they need every staff member in at the minute. People want their meals and nights out and they don't have subs on the bench to bring in every time someone gets a cold. That's the way it is and mine is pretty fancy. Then owner is extremely well off.

Trekkerbabe · 03/12/2021 15:51

I had Covid in October before half term and it started as a severe cold and blocked sinus on a Friday. I was so unwell I stayed in bed all weekend and only on the Monday did the cough, throat and really bad headaches start. It honestly didn't cross my mind til then that it could be covid.

Bunnyfuller · 03/12/2021 16:05

My DD’s college department has shut down since yesterday because one of the staff (amongst about 30) has ‘symptoms’. Symptoms in inverted commas as it seems Covid and colds are now interchangeable. Not a positive LFT or PCR, just symptoms,

I’m afraid a combination of utterly contradictory advice, and seeing so many completely disregard risky situations (like the number 10 Christmas party) has left me completely tired of reacting to every sniffle, and unless one of us is noticeably ill, we won’t be isolating. I think LFTs are pointless, and too dependent on how well they’re done, ditto PCRs at the test centres. I bet we only capture a teeny proportion of those infected. And don’t forget the 1/3 symptomless - they will be out and about spreading it.

The battle was lost before we even knew it was out there, because China sat on it.

PennyOnThePlusSide · 03/12/2021 16:23

It's so strange. College gets closed for symptoms because clearly young people's education isn't that important really...but meanwhile, in the hospitality world, it's absolutely essential we all show up for work or people might not get their roast dinner in a timely fashion Confused

I know, the economy, blah blah and maybe colleges can operate remotely in the short term.

But it does strike me as v strange all the same.

Original poster
BlondieD · 03/12/2021 16:28

I don't understand asymptomatic spread. If someone is without symptoms how can infectious body fluids/salvia be expelled and spread. Asymptomatic spread would surely involve very close contact and perhaps wet talkers where salvia is expelled through talking. I don't think asymptomatic spread is as common as what some people make out online.

OP posts:
FrenchyQ · 03/12/2021 16:28

I could have sworn what I had was a cold, I only took a PCR as my work asked me to before I went back into the office (had worked from home due to cold). I was shocked it was positive as all the lfts I had done were negative. I didn't get a cough or lose my sense of smell til 5 days in.

crackofdoom · 03/12/2021 16:30

I’ve had several colds that were just colds (according to the LFTs), and then one with initially identical symptoms that was Covid.

HerRoyalNotness · 03/12/2021 16:35

I had a cold the other week and didn’t test. It presented for me as all the normal indicators of a cold, inflamed sinuses, sore teeth. I had an antibody test Monday as part of a study which confirmed Ive not had covid.

bordermidgebite · 03/12/2021 16:46

I thought we had been asked to test all the time , every time you go out symptoms or not

SirensofTitan · 03/12/2021 16:58

@BlondieD

I don't understand asymptomatic spread. If someone is without symptoms how can infectious body fluids/salvia be expelled and spread. Asymptomatic spread would surely involve very close contact and perhaps wet talkers where salvia is expelled through talking. I don't think asymptomatic spread is as common as what some people make out online.
I'm not an expert but symptoms and transmission are separate things. Aerosol transmission isn't affected by whether the transmitter has symptoms. Your explanation doesn't make sense to me

Are you saying that the actual experts who have done the research have done it wrongly in some way or they've done it right but have been unable to interpret the results correctly.?

Akire · 03/12/2021 17:02

I think they mens if you sneeze and cough you have more droplets than a normal talking breathing person. But dare say not much in it if you are sitting less than 2 metres away. But on opposite end of bus talking not problem but sneezing could be.

Bunnyfuller · 03/12/2021 17:07

@PennyOnThePlusSide my thoughts exactly. I can’t believe what the college has done. It’s the Art department, no lessons or work has been set, so sick of this now.

JKDinomum · 03/12/2021 18:15

@BlondieD

I don't understand asymptomatic spread. If someone is without symptoms how can infectious body fluids/salvia be expelled and spread. Asymptomatic spread would surely involve very close contact and perhaps wet talkers where salvia is expelled through talking. I don't think asymptomatic spread is as common as what some people make out online.
Because even if people are not coughing or sneezing they are breathing out microdroplets all the time, and in an unventilated enclosed space that means other people are breathing in the particles the infected person has breathed out. The information should really be clearer on this. Advice about staying 2 metres away from people is nonsense. If you are in an enclosed space with little or no ventilation with an infected person for more than 15 minutes, even if you never go near them you will be breathing in what they breathed out. Think about how smoke works when someone breathes it out. Imagine if someone was smoking in your living room, even if you stayed 2 metres away from them you would smell and breath in the smoke wouldn't you?
JKDinomum · 03/12/2021 18:16

The advice from the government should be much less focussed on hand washing and 2 metres, and much more on ventilation and masks in enclosed spaces.

Original poster
BlondieD · 03/12/2021 18:36

Thanks JKDinomum

I never really understood asymptomatic spread. I thought someone would have to have symptoms and expelling infectious fluids through coughing and sneezing.

Your reply clears it up about asymptomatic spread. Thanks you.

OP posts:
Whywhywhy48 · 04/12/2021 21:09

I tested positive with a LTF on Monday. I was testing before I went out to shops as DH tested positive week before. I had a bit of a cough on Saturday. It wasn't that bad. But been really ill since Tuesday.

Tabasco007 · 05/12/2021 00:13

I tested positive a few weeks ago, other people in the office felt awful and some still aren't great, but I had a very slight sore throat for about an hour or so, a runny nose for a hour or so the day after and a bit of a headache, so very mild cold symptoms, I would have barely noticed them if other people hadn't been testing positive, he should definitely be testing and I'd still well clear of him OP for the moment, better safe than sorry.