Tested negative but no taste or smell... Wtf?

[absolutelynotfabulous]

Anyone experienced this please?

I've lost my sense of taste/smell and tested negative. No other Covid symptoms.at all at any point during pandemic apart from feeling rough after booster a couple of months back.
So how come I've lost taste and smell and any idea when it'll come back, o wise ones?

PCR or LFT? We all started with symptoms on the Sunday. All went for PCR that day, all negative. DD1 tested positive on LFT Monday.
I tested positive on PCR Tuesday. DD2 tested negative on PCR Tuesday.
DD2 tests positive on LFT on Wednesday.

LFT.

Frustrating isn't it?

Yup, LFTs are frustrating. Currently on day 5 of symptoms, day 2 after positive PCR, and today's the only day my LFT came up positive. Did it just to see WHEN it would finally detect it!

Yes end of Jan I lost my taste and smell for 24 hours.
Negative PCR and lft.
We all have covid now so no idea what that was!

I had a negative LFT a few weeks back. Booked in for a pcr when I lost my smell and taste. Came back positive

My child tested asymptomatic positve on pcr but all lateral flows were negative. As its a symptom I think you are supposed to get a pcr.

You do know it's common for LFTs to be inaccurate? It's entirely possible you have Covid. I never tested positive on LFT the entire time I had Covid. If you want to be sure you need a PCR.

I tested negative for 2-3 days after I knew I had it. Just keep testing or do a PCR.

You're supposed to get a PCR if you have one of the main covid symptoms.

Yeah you’re probably positive - get a PCR. Mine didn’t show on LFTs at all, but have been really poorly with it for weeks. Don’t know if it’s dodgy tests, user error or just this strain not compatible with the LFTs, but I certainly wouldn’t rely on them for anything other than catching the odd asymptotic case, which I think is the main point of them anyway.

I’m currently having this with dd! It’s really frustrating.

She’s completely lost her sense of taste but PCR came back negative yesterday and LFT’s are still negative. She’s been in a constant cycle of seven days LFT testing as a contact throughout this half term so I’m pretty confident we have haven’t missed an earlier infection but we’re also (seemingly) surrounded by people who are positive.

I’m waiting on a GP callback and hope they’ll try some antibiotics to rule out a sinus infection.

Sympathies @Cornettoninja. Fingers crossed for your DD.

I'm still negative today so I'll take a PCR.

Thanks @absolutelynotfabulous, it’s just such an odd symptom I can’t bring myself to trust the PCR result, especially when I read other people started with symptoms and took ages to test positive. I can hand on heart say I have never completely lost me sense of taste.

At the moment the household is testing daily and I suppose I just have to go with that unless something else develops but it feels really wrong.

I’m so self-absorbed - good luck with your PCR @absolutelynotfabulous!

So no other cold symptoms at all?

I had this for a couple days last year, but also had a blocked nose. I tested negative on PCR, so I just assumed it was a normal cold. Wait on your PCR, but perhaps you just have a cold coming on?

Nope no other symptoms at all.