Nasty debilitating flu but negative test

[JanisMoplin]

Is this going around? We have all had it and thought for certain it must be Omicron, but PCRs finally came back ( v late) and negative. I am completely wiped out though and could barely stand up this week.
I have had the flu before but not like this.

My DH and I both had a flu/cold like virus which started 22nd Dec - we lateral flow daily for work and were consistently negative. Then DS13 who has no symptoms had a positive LFT. So off we all went for PCRs on Xmas Eve. Only DS positive. Then although no new or worsening symptoms I got a positive LFT on 27th which was confirmed positive PCR the following day. Then DD5 tested positive on LFT today, so she and DH are off for another PCR today. We haven’t seen anyone apart from each other since 22nd. I don’t know if there is a variant that takes longer to show up, or I have had a cold/flu and then covid 🤷🏼‍♂️

I picked up something from a friend's toddler who'd been ill a week beforehand - terrible coughing, feverish, then congestion. The coughing came on during Christmas Day, I was a bit unwell on 26th but 27th & 28th I felt like death warmed up. Spent most of the time in bed, couldn't sleep for coughing, just on all the pills and syrups and nasal sprays. Today is the first day I feel like a human with a cold again as opposed to just "urgh". Toddler was PCR negative as I was I from a test taken on boxing day.

Mine started Boxing Day evening, flu symptoms and very sore throat for two days then from Wednesday I am full of cold all LFT negative and pcr negative

I had tonsillitis from hell from 23rd onwards that cleared up in a couple of days with antibiotics but I am still completely wiped out.
I haven’t booked a PCR as none are available but me and everyone else in the house have tested negative several times on LF tests and nobody else has symptoms apart from DH with a very mild cough
No idea what I have got/had really

I suppose I am just wondering if Omicron is evading testing or taking longer to show or whatever.... I don't want to have it, but I just feel so rotten that I can't believe it is just flu. We are not really meeting people right now anyway so I suppose it doesn't make that much difference.

Have you tried LFT, including swabbing yr throat even with a nasal only type?
That seems to be the best way of detecting omicron, according to scientists and people's experiences.

I'm like this, OP. Worst cold ever, but all negative on LFT. Just did a PCR to check.

My DS1 had the same last week but his LFT showed positive straight away. It's strange.

Yes, we have done LFTs and they were negative too. I guess there is no point to this thead, sorry. Most people I know have got some kind of bug and are desperately trying to figure out what it is:)

I've had covid and have felt similar OP, very flu like, so much I was convinced I had covid... several lateral flows and PCR day 2 of symptoms were all negative, but a PCR day 8 positive.. so take care it could still be covid, hope you get well soon

My husband has similar.

I was convinced it was covid. He was pinged on Wednesday, symptoms started Sunday. Dry cough, no smell, sooo much fatigue. Also some weird symptoms that he’s only ever experienced before once, and that was after his first covid jab. The first PCR test was inconclusive, second was negative.

My toddler just has a runny nose, I feel ok, he still feels dreadful. I had my booster at the beginning of December, he had his a few days before he was pinged so wouldn’t have time to take effect. So the symptom severity between the 3 of us would make covid sense.

It all seems to point to covid, and yet somehow, it’s not.

Did you think to yourself stuff like ‘I don’t want to have covid but at least now it’s getting it over with’ and then feel weirdly a bit disappointed that it’s not covid so it’s not over with after all? It’s a weird feeling.

@SomebodysMum That's exactly what I am thinking:) Get it over with since we are all vaxxed and boosted, quiet time at work, not seeing people anyway, both wfh, DS has Xmas hols. Of course we could get it again!

Usually DH has manflu and is a terrible patient, but this time around I am taking longer to recover.

I'm not even in the UK but I know 2 people who currently have exactly what you describe, and both have tested negative.

Yes! Evil evil flu. I had flu jab but OH didn't.

I had what presented asa very bad cold mid November, I had taken a LFT the day before as I was attending a conference, it was negative,

Started sore throat Saturday, LFT again Monday, PCR Tuesday and negative LFT again following Saturday.

A number of people I was with on the Friday came down with Covid, a friend who hadn’t seen anyone else caught Covid (my DD had previously given Covid to hers early October).

I did what I should have, no evidence of Covid, I followed all guidance. Did I have Covid! Who knows?

Did you think to yourself stuff like ‘I don’t want to have covid but at least now it’s getting it over with’ and then feel weirdly a bit disappointed that it’s not covid so it’s not over with after all?

Yes! Exactly this.

From what I've read omicron is probably milder than the flu, especially with vaccinations.

I've felt shocking for 3 days, waiting for pcr result , all lft negative inc the ones I did around Christmas to keep family safe. Started as incredibly painful throat and headache, hard to swallow, dry cough then over 2 days headache went , cough got worse and my face feels like its full of cement /snot. If it is omicron its still pretty unpleasant! I'm double jabbed but couldn't book booster til this coming weekend.

I have hideous virus, same symptoms as DD and DGDD. They tested positive, I tested negative. 5 lateral flow and one PCR.

Same here haven't had a cold since 2014! I get sick but not a cold.
Started Monday
Shivers
Muscle ache
Headache
Fever
Snotty nose
Fatigue like you wouldn't believe
Lft all negative
Kids have nothing

Just to add feel sick and don't want to eat anything

Did you think to yourself stuff like ‘I don’t want to have covid but at least now it’s getting it over with’ and then feel weirdly a bit disappointed that it’s not covid so it’s not over with after all? It’s a weird feeling yep!! And also now feeling a bit scared about catching covid before we have a chance to fully recover

We all had something similiar, awful sore throat, cough, cold like symtoms. I lost my sense of smell and taste for about four days. I was convinced it was covid. But we all tested negative.

Update - my friend who has been ill for 10-12 days had a negative result on 25th then a positive result on 1st Jan, both from PCR tests administered in a clinic. I think if your symptoms don't improve you should consider retesting.

Yeah I have just had covid for the second time. DD tested positive.4 days later I got body aches etc. Exactly the same weird symptoms I got last time - sinus and ear pressure but no mucus, forehead headache and fatigue that comes and goes in waves. We’d been isolating because of my daughter so hadn’t seen anyone else. Tested negative on lateral flows and pcrs but has to have been covid. I wonder if because I am triple vaxxed it keeps it at such low levels it is undetectable. Did feel rough but but for as long as first time.

LFTs miss 30-40% positive cases and PCRs miss around 25%ish (figures vary).

If you’ve been in contact, and you’ve got symptoms, there’s a good chance it’s Covid even if the tests are negative.