How do we know if we have it?

[tiredtiredtiredd]

Sorry if there's any more threads on this, I've searched but can't see any that answers my question.

I'm in Scotland.

Tests aren't available now unless you meet a special criteria.

How are we supposed to know if we have covid? If there are no tests available?

Do we just assume it is covid?

[Lindy2]

Covid still isn't just like any respiratory illness though is it.

My elderly mum was visiting last week - the first time since Covid started. DH got a sore throat while she was visiting. He tested negative but decided to keep his distance from her just in case. The next day he was positive. Luckily he doesn't seem to have passed it on.

One of his colleagues felt off but not too unwell for work. Because DH had tested positive, he stayed off work as a precaution. The next day he got a positive test result.

Tests do still help people know for sure and adjust their behaviour if necessary.

I don't mind paying for tests but I think they should be less than £2 per test, particularly as you won't necessarily get a positive result the first day of symptoms. £5 for 10 or something similar would be more affordable and useful to most people. Now they have the technology the actual plastic tests can't cost more than pennies really.

[Scianel]

Odfod. Can't always be sure if it's something infectious or an allergy or something else

I don't think it was altogether necessary to tell me to fuck off, but anyway.

[shinynewapple22]

I've just had Covid and tested because I had a sore throat and was due to be going away with my friend who has an auto immune condition . If I hadn't planned the trip with my friend I don't think I would have tested straight away as my symptoms at that time weren't too bad - and had I been in the office, the first day I would have gone in as I didn't feel properly unwell at all to start with .

I do test weekly anyway though before visiting my mum - and have been buying the tests because of this . You can get them from Amazon too .

[Tulipomania]

Odfod. Can't always be sure if it's something infectious or an allergy or something else.

When I recently had Covid and was still testing positive after 9 days, I didn't go to a party that pre-Covid (and testing) I would have gone to as was feeling 90% better.

A few weeks earlier I did go to an important family event with elderly vulnerable people present because I'd had a cold with lingering symptoms but had tested negative for Covid.

Was I wrong in either case? I'm just more aware now that other people may be more vulnerable than me, and am more cautious.

Others may have a different view which you are perfectly entitled to.

But I'm continuing to pay for tests because I think knowledge is useful. And it informs the choices I make.

[Scianel]

Any symptoms of what could be an infectious disease then. You shouldn't be taking those to the vulnerable whether covid or something else.

[Tulipomania]

If you have symptoms of a respiratory infection you should be taking such measures regardless surely.

Yes, but Covid symptoms may not be typical of respiratory symptoms. I'm asthmatic and often get bad chest infections. Covid was completely different.

[IncessantNameChanger]

I justed ds as he been throwing up for a few days on and off. But for a snuffle I wouldn't test. It's just not possible to test every tiny symptom. But as far as I know he's never had it and not have a vaccine either. His brothers had a twice so I wouldn't test him as his symptoms bot time was mild I almost missed them. There I'm making a presumption if he gets covid again there will be no symptoms anyway

[mattressspring]

Yes I know they do sell them, but not in my town. And no I'm not going to take a 50min bus journey if I have symptoms. I'm just going to stay home until I feel better, same as 99% of people in my town would.

Nobody is asking you to?

OP asked how they can know if they have it. The answer is 'you can buy a test'.

Your personal feelings and circumstances are not really relevant.

[firef1y]

@mattressspring

Not here they're not.
Very small town, one pharmacy, constantly out of stock (when they're even open, seems we're very low priority when it comes to pharmacists).

There is always someone.


Nearest town with them in stock is a 40min bus journey away, a journey that costs almost £10 return.

Ah, ok, so you do know they sell them then, which was really my point.

If OP doesn't have them in her small town pharmacy but knows they are sold in Scotland they would haven it needed to post.

Yes I know they do sell them, but not in my town. And no I'm not going to take a 50min bus journey if I have symptoms. I'm just going to stay home until I feel better, same as 99% of people in my town would.

[firef1y]

@Mybeautifulfriend22

Mine showed up for 12 bloody days! my partners also showed up quickly. Most people I know at work have had positive LFTs show up eventually after symptoms

NHS Healthcare worker so can still get tests and still not to go to work positive. Although no covid leave just normal sickness policy.

And yet I didn't get a positive at all, not before symptoms, not with symptoms. I'm pretty sure I had it though, considering that both my partner and son had positive tests. Plus I had the most god-awful taste in mu mouth for weeks along with the cold symptoms (and the strange few days without hayfever)

[Mybeautifulfriend22]

@AKnitterofThings

If you are ill, you are ill, it doesn’t matter what it is called. If you are unwell you know what to do. The current omnicron has a low viral load and doesn’t even show up on testing with some people anyway.

Mine showed up for 12 bloody days! my partners also showed up quickly. Most people I know at work have had positive LFTs show up eventually after symptoms

NHS Healthcare worker so can still get tests and still not to go to work positive. Although no covid leave just normal sickness policy.

[Saisong]

We're just coming into cold season, so I feel this is going to become a popular topic!
We went camping over the bank holiday and have all come back with a mild snotty cold. First thought was of course covid, but we have all tested negative. This is probably our first cold in almost 2 years, so it feels odd, even though previously we would never even have remarked on it.

Question is do we all keep testing at every little symptom?

[Aposterhasnoname]

@Tulipomania

Why though? What relevance is it?

Because some of us may still wish to be responsible and take measures not to pass it on to others who may be more vulnerable.

Tests cost £2 each and are widely available in chemists in England. Or online. Can't imagine it's very different in Scotland.

Are you saying that you wouldn’t take precautions against infecting vulnerable people if you were I’ll with something infectious that wasn’t covid!

[Ontopofthesunset]

As other people have said, you can order them online. Boots, Lloyds and various other suppliers do them.

[BIWI]

You can buy them in Boots

... and yes, that includes Scotland.

[mattressspring]

Not here they're not.
Very small town, one pharmacy, constantly out of stock (when they're even open, seems we're very low priority when it comes to pharmacists).

There is always someone.


Nearest town with them in stock is a 40min bus journey away, a journey that costs almost £10 return.

Ah, ok, so you do know they sell them then, which was really my point.

If OP doesn't have them in her small town pharmacy but knows they are sold in Scotland they would haven it needed to post.

[firef1y]

@mattressspring

Tests are available in every supermarket and chemist.

Not here they're not.
Very small town, one pharmacy, constantly out of stock (when they're even open, seems we're very low priority when it comes to pharmacists).
Nearest town with them in stock is a 40min bus journey away, a journey that costs almost £10 return.

[Scianel]

Because some of us may still wish to be responsible and take measures not to pass it on to others who may be more vulnerable

If you have symptoms of a respiratory infection you should be taking such measures regardless surely.

[AllThatFancyPaintsAsFair]

@mattressspring

If you havemt seen them maybe they don't have them in Scottish shops,

As I said upthread, all the supermarkets (big ones anyway) and all of the chemists. If OP hasn't seen them it's because OP hasn't looked for them. I haven't seen a pregnancy test for dale for years. I know I could get one in Tesco or the chemist though. Just because you don't see something doesn't mean it's not there, simply you have not looked for it.

You don't shop in my local tesco, you couldn't miss the large end of aisle stands they had when they first started selling them 😂

[mattressspring]

If you havemt seen them maybe they don't have them in Scottish shops,

As I said upthread, all the supermarkets (big ones anyway) and all of the chemists. If OP hasn't seen them it's because OP hasn't looked for them. I haven't seen a pregnancy test for dale for years. I know I could get one in Tesco or the chemist though. Just because you don't see something doesn't mean it's not there, simply you have not looked for it.

[dementedpixie]

@AllThatFancyPaintsAsFair

If you havemt seen them maybe they don't have them in Scottish shops, there are all over in England so would be hard not to know

They do sell them in Scotland.

[Tulipomania]

Why though? What relevance is it?

Because some of us may still wish to be responsible and take measures not to pass it on to others who may be more vulnerable.

Tests cost £2 each and are widely available in chemists in England. Or online. Can't imagine it's very different in Scotland.

[AllThatFancyPaintsAsFair]

@tiredtiredtiredd

I wasn't aware they were being sold in shops so thanks for the info.

I know many people saying if you are ill you are ill but I would like to know if it was covid or not. Just for my own knowledge.

If you havemt seen them maybe they don't have them in Scottish shops, there are all over in England so would be hard not to know

[Monday55]

You can buy antigen rapid tests on Boots website for £2 a test & you can get them home delivered.

[Mindymomo]

As a family of 4 adults, we sad we wouldn’t test unless we had symptoms. 2 weeks ago, DS1 went to work where they had a visitor clearly ill, coughing and sneezing saying it’s not covid, then texting next day to say he does have covid. My DS1 says I better do tests for 2 days, fortunately he didn’t catch it. DS2 has had an outbreak at his work, over half the staff off, I said are you going to test, he says no, unless I have symptoms. Went into his room and I saw 2 tests, negative, but it shows people still want to know if they’ve got it. Both places where DS’s work have not updated their rules.