I have cold symptoms but no temperature or cough, lft negative should I pcr?

[MacNTosh]

I’ve got a sore throat, runny nose, tired, sneezing a little I feel ill, but not absolutely dreadful. If covid didn’t exist I’d say it’s just a cold. The symptoms for a pcr are high temperature, cough and loss of smell none of which I have so do you think I’m right in just monitoring my temperature and not testing. I spent Christmas Day with an elderly relative, but will stay away from now on. We’ve all been boosted.

It may be against the law and in effect fraud on tax payers to steal a PCR test when you don't have the 3 original symptoms you need to be eligible for one. What a mess we are in.

Just to add, we had covid last Christmas too, which started with appalling headaches all round. The ‘official’ symptom list wasn’t reflecting the reality then, and I think it’s still not. I wish the government was more willing to listen to the Zoe app data and update the symptoms.

I think I'm in the minority but my take is ..colds are still around so if lft is negative then I say its a cold and move on.

Honestly think a lot of you make up your own rules!!!

No wonder covid is spreading. Selfish and stupid!

No I wouldn’t test

@Cici22 how so?
Op would be following the rules in not doing a pcr.

@Xenia

It may be against the law and in effect fraud on tax payers to steal a PCR test when you don't have the 3 original symptoms you need to be eligible for one. What a mess we are in.

What is worse? "Stealing" a PCR or going round spreading Covid? Come on now.

I’d take a pcr with those symptoms. The official symptom list is really out of date and I read that about fifty percent of people with cold like symptoms currently have Covid. So many people have it at the moment too. My daughter tested positive with no noticeable symptoms and her main symptoms throughout were tiredness and loss of appetite.

Me and my daughter had cold symptoms, negative LFT but my mum had a positive LFT so we all did a PCR.. all positive.

I work on a ward where staff are dropping like flies and covid positive. With similar to a heavy cold symptoms: sore throats, runny noses, sneezing. Dull head . Also headaches, aches and bad fatigue mentioned in some cases. Not so much about any of the original symptoms.

@Xenia are you for real .I had for what was for all intents and purpose seemed like a cold to start with but i was worried my asthma was about to start off and my gp told me to ignore all the lateral flows yes all of them more than one and get a pcr done .You know why as omicron minics a cold and I am cev luckily I am now over the worst of it but my test came back positive and when it did kick in I felt really ill .
If I had listened to someone like you I could have continued in my job working with vulnerable elderly luckily though I do have common sense and a brain .It is people like you is why this County is in a mess , jeez .

Meant to add all my lateral flows were negative even on the day I got my positive pcr back .

If the rules are wrong we should change the rules for obtaining a PCR then. People are being put in difficult ethical positions all the time over covid and it does not help if the official symptom list is the same as in 2020.

Dh tested negative on LFT but positive on PCR. He's never had a positive LFT. It's only because our daughters pcr from work was positive.

They do need to change the symptom charts online etc
I bet many people haven't bothered with pcr's if it's only a mild cold and they haven't got to provide proof for work or on holiday this week

I would avoid anyone vulnerable and daily lateral flows. But I wouldn't go for pcr as not any of the official reasons for pcr.

This is what the Zoe app is saying symptoms are

My sister and her kids have all tested positive. None had the 3 main symptoms

Main page of Zoe app says "half of colds are Covid". Please get a PCR.

Oh give over Xenia. Mumsnet, the place where there are threads full of 'I won't comply' but what seems like 100% adherence to the 3 symptoms when debating a test. No wonder we are in such a mess.

My DD had a positive PCR after an lft that had a very slight line an hour and a half after the test as she’d been a contact 7 days earlier. In the original half hour it was fine but I’d forgotten to report it so left it out so when I looked again it was there but faint. According to the rules I should class it as negative. I didn’t and she was PCR positive. This was after having a negative PCR 5 days earlier and having not been out as I kept her from school being the last week.
If I’d followed the info she’d have been out to numerous Christmas things and spread it. I’m glad I ignored it and we are staying in until the original 10 days event tho LFTs are negative on 6 and 7.

Gosh i have three young children and if I PCR tested for all those symptoms I’d forever be isolating waiting for results! I’m not saying it’s wrong it’s just all a bit of a mess isn’t it. I also think the booking system doesn’t help as it physically will not allow you to book for ‘a scratchy throat’ unless you lie about it!

The current guidelines are so out of date. I never got a temperature, cough or sore throat and I only lost my taste (not smell) on day 6. Until then I had what I thought was a common head cold and only realised it was Covid because I was testing routinely to go to work.

I woke up with a scratchy sore throat and ringing ears and thought it was just a cold but during the day my chest started to ache which is not how I normally get a cold. LFT was negative but I took a PCR and tested positive on Christmas Effing Eve . I've gradually felt worse since then and only yesterday did I get a positive LFT.
So, yes - get it checked out. And good luck!

@Xenia

It may be against the law and in effect fraud on tax payers to steal a PCR test when you don't have the 3 original symptoms you need to be eligible for one. What a mess we are in.

Lol.