How long does this "not Covid virus " last?

[MyrealnameisBernard]

I started last Wednesday with sore throat, got worse and started coughing Saturday. Got Covid test Monday which was negative but I'm breathless and wheezing and fed up. My head hurts and I'm knackered. Maybe I've just forgotten how being ill feels. Im feeling grumpy as chuff. Should I have a whisky?

I have felt sickly, I'm not really interested in food at the moment. Does anyone think this is what we have all got? news.sky.com/story/respiratory-illnesses-could-claim-60000-lives-this-winter-as-nhs-launches-new-flu-jab-campaign-12428260

@Nat6999 Me too. Feel ok after a whisky and night nurse pre bed shot session. Then wake up all rough again and have to cough/ wee myself into the day

Basically everyone's immune system is shot being isolated for so long, wearing makes etc. Both DP and I ill today with two different viruses- his being manflu!,

I've got up today to conjunctivitis and now the tickly throat and constant coughing is back. I'm knackered and my eyes are prickly hurty. I've come for a lie down and refusing to cook dinner. I fancy gargling with wine until I pass out. I'm so grumpy

I'm on Day 13. Considerably better than it was, but still coughing quite a lot (at one point it was like whooping cough and I couldn't catch my breath) and feeling queasy and generally washed out. My ribs are really sore from all the coughing!

Oh it sucks doesn't it? I just want some energy back

My chest has started now, dry cough and some breathlessness and aches and pains, but no headache/facial pain today. In bed with lemon ginger and honey, covonia cough syrup and reduced appetite. Still feel very low mood.

Wishing you all lots of comfort and a speedy recovery 🤗

I came in to say I’m in the same boat but I’ve had it way easier than many of you on here
We’ve had 2 weeks of constant Covid tests after my son was a contact but he didn’t test positive until 7 days later. 1 -ve PCR on day 3, daily LFTs negative and no symptoms.
I started to feel ill at the end of that week so tested with him on the 7th day but I was negative. Had bad cold symptoms for 3 days then felt better for 2. Took younger DD for a test after DS came back +ve but he was -ve. Then after 2 days of feeling back to normal I started coughing so booked me & DD in for another test. Felt horrendous again for 3 days - eyes hurting, foggy head, coughing, wheezing, insomnia, fatigue - and just turning the corner now. Tests came back -ve and daily LFTs also -ve so still only DS in the household with Covid.
I don’t know whether I’m coming or going to be honest.
I should mention I had Covid very badly at Christmas and have been double jabbed. The first of my illness was nothing like Covid but the second part was. Cold & flu tablets didn’t touch it.
Hope everyone suffering gets well soon.

Still breathless today. Drank too much last night as I was so grumpy but still woke at 4 coughing. Feel dizzy today. Really not with it
I'm not ill enough to be off work but just knackered and fed up. Going away at half term too and want to be well by then

Turns out mine was Covid after all! Well either that or I caught Covid on top of that cold 🤷🏻‍♀️

3 negative LF tests including one taken an hour before my PCR which came back positive.

@dancemom

Turns out mine was Covid after all! Well either that or I caught Covid on top of that cold 🤷🏻‍♀️

3 negative LF tests including one taken an hour before my PCR which came back positive.

Oh really! The only way I think mine isn’t covid is because my sense of smell has been absolutely fine!

No smell or taste issues with me at all. I was really expecting my result to be negative, I only took the PCR test because I was taking dd anyway. The only symptom that isn't typical cold symptom is this achy back and shoulders which I thought was just from the massage I had on Friday.

@dancemom

No smell or taste issues with me at all. I was really expecting my result to be negative, I only took the PCR test because I was taking dd anyway. The only symptom that isn't typical cold symptom is this achy back and shoulders which I thought was just from the massage I had on Friday.

Hmm wonder if I should do a PCR then?

PCR tests have always been the gold standard compared to lateral flow testing, all scientists know this, so does the BMJ. The government, by using lateral flow test was falsely reassuring people.

"Jon Deeks, professor of biostatistics at the University of Birmingham and leader of the Cochrane Collaboration’s covid-19 test evaluation activities, said, “There are particular concerns about false reassurance. It doesn’t make sense that the government is concerned about false reassurance for PCR tests but not lateral flow tests.

“Lateral flow tests are going to give more false reassurance than PCR testing, because they are less accurate. It’s good to see the government is concerned about false reassurance, but haven’t they got this the wrong way around?”

www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4916

My house has taken a strange turn- DS has Covid. Tested both of us and I'm still negative but feel worse today
Now on antibiotics and more inhalers

Two weeks on and I am post-viral. Exhausted.

[quote andyoldlabour]PCR tests have always been the gold standard compared to lateral flow testing, all scientists know this, so does the BMJ. The government, by using lateral flow test was falsely reassuring people.

"Jon Deeks, professor of biostatistics at the University of Birmingham and leader of the Cochrane Collaboration’s covid-19 test evaluation activities, said, “There are particular concerns about false reassurance. It doesn’t make sense that the government is concerned about false reassurance for PCR tests but not lateral flow tests.

“Lateral flow tests are going to give more false reassurance than PCR testing, because they are less accurate. It’s good to see the government is concerned about false reassurance, but haven’t they got this the wrong way around?”

www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4916[/quote]
What's the point in having lateral flow tests then?!

Has anyone been feeling dizzy and sicky with it?

Gonnagetgoing

"What's the point in having lateral flow tests then?!"

From a scientific viewpoint, I am baffled - low cost, deliberately try to get herd immunity by infection, give the general public a false sense of security. Meanwhile we have one of the worst infection rates in the World.

Isn't it well known that lvt are not entirely reliable and also are not to be used when have symptoms
That said i know of several people who had covid who only had a pcr as a positive Lvt, they had no symptoms at all , just they do 2 lvt tests a week for work, so they have there place as they pick up some

My son's LF was for school and he only became snotty about an hour after the positive test. I hear such mixed reports about them but haven't heard anyone have a positive LFT and then negative PCR.

Two weeks here, no sign of COVID - done LFTs, a PCR early on and then after about 5 days. Just absolutely knackered. I'm almost ready for bed already which has been the same for the last two weeks. Had a day off work but didn't really fix it, not really bad enough to be off work but do feel rough.

@MyrealnameisBernard one of my DC had faint positive on LFT followed by negative PCRs twice in the Summer! Not sure what was going on there?!

@Ohhelppp well that's my theory shattered then. It's all so bloody weird.
I was coughing so much I was nearly sick in the night but hoping I feel better now on antibiotics

@MyrealnameisBernard there is no rhyme or reason to it whatsoever.
With regards to the ‘not Covid’ cold, mine seems to be going 3 days on, 2 days off. 3 days feeling like crap - but slightly different symptoms each time - then 2 days of feeling back to normal.
At first I had scratchy throat and aches, then it was head fog, aching eyes and cough, now it’s blocked nose and bringing up mucus. All interspersed with 2 days of feeling absolutely fine.
WTAF???