Long covid?

[trampoline123]

Is there a way to know if you have long covid if you've never tested positive for covid before?

Never tested positive (I had to shield so was inside for the big waves). I've had a cough for months which I cannot shift and someone said it could be long covid.

I usually test if I am ill and have never tested positive.

There are plenty of other things that can cause a long lasting cough other than long covid; indeed every so often the NHS runs an ad campaign saying if you have had a cough for over 3 weeks to see a doctor to be checked.

Don't get fixated on covid, and see a GP to be assessed and have some tests run.

Oh, I'm definitely not fixated on COVID just curious. I don't usually care much for COVID chat but it got me wondering.

I've been to the docs 3 times and been given various antibiotics that haven't worked. Awaiting a call for a chest X-ray.

Ok good - sorry if that sounded harsh, I just know a lot of people seem to put everything down to covid these days!

i mean, there is always a chance you have picked covid up in the last month, and just have a lasting cough…
but it can just be viral as well!

a chest x ray is definitely the way forwards to see anything untoward or rule things out; hopefully they manage to get that sorted for you soon :)

Generally Long Covid is marked by bone wearying fatigue. The cough lasts several weeks, but it's the utter exhaustion that seems to be the key symptom that goes on for weeks if not months. Do you have that too OP?

Asthma can manifest as a cough rather than a wheeze, and hayfever can cause a cough (several threads on here about how terrible this year has been for tree pollen by several posters). I got pneumonia four weeks ago and still coughing, so that's another possible...

No I don't feel exhausted, and you're right, the few people I know with it are utterly shattered.

I don't have asthma but it does run in the family.

Just so fed up of it now, awake again nearly all night and I've pulled all the muscles in my sides. It's been lingering for months now the stupid thing.

I use loratadine tablets and beconase nasal spray for hayfever. Both available in pharmacy without prescription You could try that if asthma runs in the family, as hayfever often related.

I would normally say go to the doctor if you've had a cough that long, but it sounds like you've been back multiple times. I have to say I'd still be tempted to go back again to the GP and perhaps mention that asthma runs in the family and see what they say.

I'm in a similar boat. I did test positive for covid, months ago, and have been coughing ever since, in waves of getting-better and getting-worse. Lots of pulled muscles and suspect I may have dislocated a rib last week! Chest x-ray was clear, haven't had antibiotics. Doctor thinks it's a post-viral cough rather than a version of long covid per se (although I suppose long covid can present as an endless cough so it's sort of the same thing). I'm waiting for an asthma assessment. I've never had asthma before but apparently it can develop after an infection.

I did mention asthma ran in the family on the last visit but that's as far as it went.
Ive just never known mucus like it, some bits come up like hard lumps.

I'll call today and chase the X-ray too as they were supposed to call last week.

I have a stoma ton and so paranoid about getting a hernia from all the coughing.

Anaemia has been associated with a dry cough in women. Probably not the OP but possibly others here.

That's quite interesting as I have other health issues and pass blood and used to get anaemia a lot as a child.

I have a chest X-ray booked this weekend.