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Covid

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took a test

86 replies

Flute56 · 11/05/2023 23:06

I first had covid 6 months ago. I was not that bad but it took about 2 weeks to recover. Two days ago I began to get what I would call covid symptoms. I have aching limbs and dont really feel like eating very much. Someone suggestedd I take a covid test so I went out in the pouring rain and bought a kit and came back and tested myself and it was negative. Now this evening I am getting a sore throat and have a slight cough. I guess that was because I went out in thunder and lightning rain to get a covid test kit.

I do not want to appear paranoyd but should I do another test? I will have to go out again to get another kit because the kit I bought only had one tjomg of solution. I did not realise this until I got home otherwise I would have bought two packs. The pharmacy said you cannot just take a test and trust that it is accurateee. He said do three tests and if all three are negative then you definatley just have the flue or a cold and its not covid

OP posts:
GoodChat · 13/05/2023 06:28

It doesn't matter if you've got covid. You're unwell so shouldn't attend the seminar. Any kind of illness can be dangerous to vulnerable people so attending an event would be selfish.

Quveas · 13/05/2023 06:29

Flute56 · 11/05/2023 23:45

I think its very irrisponsible not to isolate. I would not dream of going near anyone if I was still testing positive.

It is equally irresponsible to spread flu or other diseases. Unfortunately many people have no choice in the matter because they don't get paid or can't manage without going out. Holier than thou attitudes don't pay the bills.

itsgettingweird · 13/05/2023 06:33

Flute56 · 11/05/2023 23:36

The reason I am bothered is that if it is covid i need to isolate and stay away from others

Well if you keep going out to a pharmacy you aren't isolating!!!

Better to stay home if your ill to prevent whatever you have from being passed on

FrazzledHippy · 13/05/2023 06:34

For those asking why OP is bothering testing, you don't know her circumstances.

I still test when I feel ill as I work in a care home and don't fancy one of our residents deaths on my conscience.

Not everybody can just "crack on"

Flute56 · 13/05/2023 06:40

my circumstances is that for the most part I am a healthy adult. I have nothing seriously wrong with me and I am not classed as vunerable. I just tested out of interest to see what the result is. When covid first came about everyone whether they were healthy or not tested if they felt ill and I am doing just that

OP posts:
ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea · 13/05/2023 06:41

I'm still testing with symptoms if I am still unwell after a couple of days . I don't think the tests you buy are as sensitive as the ones that were previously given through NHS so would wait a couple of days. I order tests from Amazon.

Flute56 · 13/05/2023 06:53

ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea · 13/05/2023 06:41

I'm still testing with symptoms if I am still unwell after a couple of days . I don't think the tests you buy are as sensitive as the ones that were previously given through NHS so would wait a couple of days. I order tests from Amazon.

This is why I rang 111 because some posters on here said dont bother testing 3 times and other posters siad they tested more than once and eventually got a positive reading. Would the posters on here who tested more than once say that the pharmacist was only trying to get me to buy more kits? I will test again on Monday. Last time I definately had covid I was positive for 7 daysand then tested negative

OP posts:
TheaDela · 13/05/2023 06:55

Why are you bothering 111 with this? They've got enough to do!

TooOldForThisNonsense · 13/05/2023 08:08

Imagine wasting NHS resources calling 111 for something like this. Absolutely ridiculous. I’m embarrassed for you OP. Unfortunately the other overly anxious and hypochondriac types on here will just encourage you and lull you into believing that you’re acting in any way normally. You aren’t.

why not just boost the pharmacy profit and buy 5 tests? 7? 9? At what point do you accept it likely isn’t Covid?

Why are you so paranoid? If you don’t feel well, stay at home. Other illnesses giving similar symptoms are still available. When I had it in March I was glad I did test again, but I was staying home anyway because I didn’t feel well and was using tests that I already had that were going out of date soon. I wouldn’t have been trailing my germs to a pharmacy to buy more.

As for the tests you buy not being as sensitive the ones I’ve seen in shops are the same makes as the ones you used to be able to order from the NHS so I don’t know where that’s come from.

TooOldForThisNonsense · 13/05/2023 08:15

Why on earth are you planning to go to the doctor with this? You’ve posted about entirely common cold/Covid/flu symptoms that you have had for a few days and say you are not vulnerable. Honestly take some paracetamol, stay at home, and get a grip. No wonder actually properly ill people can’t get appointments with hypochondriacs going with mild, self treatable illness.

TooOldForThisNonsense · 13/05/2023 08:21

Also the irony of you saying it’s irresponsible to have covid and not isolate when you’re convinced you’ve got Covid and have not isolated 🤣

plasticpens · 13/05/2023 08:34

@GoldenAye

There was no mention of doing the tests over a time period though?

The pharmacy said you cannot just take a test and trust that it is accurateee. He said do three tests and if all three are negative then you definatley just have the flue or a cold and its not covid

This ^ said to me that OP was told to do 3 tests, I may be reading it wrong but there is no mention from OP that the chemist said to do these on different days.

CoozudBoyuPuak · 13/05/2023 08:35

We were all told at the time during the lockdowns that LFTs were useless if you have an active infection, and that if you have any symptoms you need a PCR test. LFTs were solely for identifying and isolating symptomless cases among people who might have picked up be virus and might be infectious without any idea that they might be ill.

Yet suddenly once they wanted to wind down the publicly available PCR testing the narrative around LFTs was changed. Their efficacy didn't change, they have never been reliable if there are symptoms.

BUT it doesn't matter. All the lockdowns etc was to slow down the spread so that there wouldn't be a huge spike of serious cases beyond what medical services could cope with. It is endemic now and medical services aren't going to get any more overwhelmed than the general level they are just expected to cope with in the context of normal tory underfunding.

If you have any kind of infectious bug stay at home while you feel unwell. Doesn't matter if it's a cold, flu or covid the action is the same, so no need to know what it is. If you feel well but have any suspicion that you might be infectious eg if you have been ill in the last few days (but feel fine now) or if you recently had contact with someone unwell, then for God's sake wear a mask to protect others. This simple rule also should be applied irrespective of whether it's a cold, flu or covid.

Waste no more time or money on LFTs. Their only purpose is to provide somewhat unreliable evidence that you aren't currently carrying a symptom less case, which you only need if you are visiting or work with someone Clinically Extremely Vulnerable.

plasticpens · 13/05/2023 08:35

Oh god OP you rang 111 Confused

I'm embarrassed for you.

plasticpens · 13/05/2023 08:37

We were all told at the time during the lockdowns that LFTs were useless if you have an active infection, and that if you have any symptoms you need a PCR test. LFTs were solely for identifying and isolating symptomless cases among people who might have picked up be virus and might be infectious without any idea that they might be ill.

Who is we?

Bearpawk · 13/05/2023 08:41

Op I have cancer. I'm clinically extremely vulnerable as the medication I'm on means my body can't regulate my temperature so what used to be a mild fever results in frequent trips to a&e.

Even I'm shocked you've called 111.

Common cold/ covid/ flu/ whatever. All dangerous to people like me. Just stay away from people as much as you can, open the windows if you have visitors, wash your hands frequently and if you must go near people wear a mask so you don't pass on your cold/ covid/ flu/ whatever.

It's really not rocket science.

CoozudBoyuPuak · 13/05/2023 08:42

@plasticpens who is we?

Everyone. This was the publicly available information on testing. Were you not paying attention? Did you never read anything about when to book a PCR test?

Once PCR tests weren't generally available, the websites got changed, but they used to all say that LFTs were for symptomless cases only and not to use them if you have symptoms.

Lcb123 · 13/05/2023 08:44

If you’re ill, stay home. If not, get on with your day. can’t believe anyone still tests

Glitterstars · 13/05/2023 08:49

Flute56 · 11/05/2023 23:45

I think its very irrisponsible not to isolate. I would not dream of going near anyone if I was still testing positive.

doesnt matter if it’s covid or not if you are not well you wouldn’t want to be around other people to pass whatever virus you have surely? If it’s negative it will just be another virus so just treat it as you would prior to the pandemic. This covid malarkey has got everyone so paranoid , it was awful I get it loads of people died I’m not saying it was not bad but it’s been 3 years now and we have all been told to go on with our normal lives and we don’t have to test at the first sign of a cold anymore.

TheChosenTwo · 13/05/2023 08:50

111? Surely this is a wind up?

plasticpens · 13/05/2023 09:00

CoozudBoyuPuak · 13/05/2023 08:42

@plasticpens who is we?

Everyone. This was the publicly available information on testing. Were you not paying attention? Did you never read anything about when to book a PCR test?

Once PCR tests weren't generally available, the websites got changed, but they used to all say that LFTs were for symptomless cases only and not to use them if you have symptoms.

Yeah that's different doesn't mean LFT won't pick up active cases though, I thought that's what you were suggesting? Maybe I picked your post up incorrectly

plasticpens · 13/05/2023 09:02

Waste no more time or money on LFTs. Their only purpose is to provide somewhat unreliable evidence that you aren't currently carrying a symptom less case, which you only need if you are visiting or work with someone Clinically Extremely Vulnerable.

But they do pick up with symptoms?

ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea · 13/05/2023 09:16

@CoozudBoyuPuak

I think you misunderstood the advice about PCRs and LFTs! PCRs were more expensive so you were only supposed to get one if these if you had symptoms whereas it was advised to use the cheaper LFTs to check that you didn't have the infection without knowing . There were a lot of people on MN with that misunderstanding though so I can see where you got it .

ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea · 13/05/2023 09:17

Additionally taking a PCR ensures that your Covid infection was added to the stats .

ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea · 13/05/2023 09:17

Ensured