I don't understand this

[ABetterBitOfButter]

Hi,

Last week I became ill with a burning, sore throat and what felt like a huge chest infection starting. The following day, my daughter had the same symptoms. Mine has turned into a terrible chest 'thing' - shortness of breath, hacking cough. DD is very very tired, still has her sore throat, is coughing a bit and has a cold. We did Covid tests at the weekend - hers was positive, mine wasn't. Just did one now and it's the same. ..but we started with the same symptoms. Is it really likely that I have a completely different virus to her, of similar severity and sharing exactly the same initial symptoms at exactly the same time?! Or is it likely that my Covid is 'living' in my lungs, so the nasal swab isn't picking it up? It's very confusing.

I’ve heard that the new strain isn’t always picked up on nasal swabs alone and it’s best to do throat and nose.
I’ve also had friends who, apart from on child, all tested negative on LFT swabs but were all positive on PCR tests, so it is possible to have covid but not test positive on LFT.

Thank you.

When I think about it, the last time we had it was back in the PCR testing days - DD's positive came up on a lateral flow test on that occasion too, whereas I ended up going for a PCR after days of being unwell and testing negative on the home tests.

DH helpfully says it's because my nose is too big for the swab. 🙄

We all had some sort of virus but only 2 of us tested positive. I don’t think the tests can fully be relied upon. But Covid or not, treat it as Covid and get plenty of rest. I know so many people who now have long covid and so many health issues.

covid is more than a cold to a lot of people and very damaging.

Hope you feel better soon 🤞🏻

Same here, some positive and some not! Pretty certain we’ve all had it!

An update - I have tested positive this afternoon, nearly a full week after becoming ill!