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?

[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.

[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.

[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

[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.

[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]

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.

[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 .

[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.

[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.