PCR and surgery

[switchname]

Hi all

I’m totally stressing here so I would be v grateful for any advice.

I’m due to have a double mastectomy in two weeks dues to existing recurrent cancer. I’ve been waiting since March for surgery due to Covid.

I’m due to go into hospital soon, but before that I need to take a PCR three days in advance. I had covid 9 weeks ago but a couple of days ago I woke up with swollen glands and feel like a bit of a cold is coming on. I’ve taken a couple of LFT which are negative.

My questions are how long does the PCR take to show positive (in case I have Covid) and is it likely it’s Covid as I’ve only recently had it and my LFT are negative?

If I am indeed positive, my surgery will be cancelled for eight weeks and I’m up #### creek. X

I don’t think it’s likely to be covid now, you will still have antibodies from your recent infection.

people I know who have had covid 2 or 3 times have always had a few months between infections. One caught it a second time around 4.5 months after having it, the others were at least 6 months later.

I hope you feel better soon and your op can go ahead, I hope it all goes well for you

I ended up paying £30 for a private PCR as I was scheduled for surgery, felt a bit off and DH and 3DCs all had Covid. I figured if I would test positive the earlier we knew the better. I ended up being negative so it went ahead but found out that for certain surgeries they go ahead regardless due to risk of not carrying it out.

Could you pay for a test so at least you could start discussion with your team if you do test positive?

Best of luck

My DH had a minor operation on Monday, he had to take a negative lft in with him and was asked to stay in for 3 days prior to operation. We all had covid 8 weeks ago too. They told him he could order tests from gov.co.uk but we had some already at home.