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?

Coughing early evening and overnight has reached new heights. PCR again or phone call to GP about more/ different asthma management? I'm so tired and my chest hurts

@MyrealnameisBernard

Coughing early evening and overnight has reached new heights. PCR again or phone call to GP about more/ different asthma management? I'm so tired and my chest hurts

Do both?

I mean, loads of viruses present like this (adenovirus for one) but worth keep ruling out Covid I think. And if you have asthma, it's important to speak to your GP. Do you have an oximeter?

No oximeter no. I've had two PCRs already. I got the second while I had my son tested as I was there anyway and had symptoms. Is a third a bit mad?

@MyrealnameisBernard

No oximeter no. I've had two PCRs already. I got the second while I had my son tested as I was there anyway and had symptoms. Is a third a bit mad?

Nothing wrong with being a bit mad. :)

Better than passing it on.

@1000yardstare

I'm 13 days in. It's like the worst all you can eat buffet. Sore throat? Fix that with a cough sir? Headache, here have some Snot. Cough yourself into a hernia... be our guest G.r.i.m. coughs

Thought I was better again and so went to work, but as the day has gone on the nose is less runny but the cough is back. On my way home now and feeling pretty rough again. I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again… W.T.A.F.

On a packed tube and very few people wearing masks 😩

@VanGoghsDog I'm WFH and only waking the dog who doesn't like many other dogs so I'm not seeing anyone luckily but do keep thinking I should consider another PCR...do they offer loyalty points ?

If you do a pcr and it's positive you can't walk the dog though, and they don't let you go far back even if your symptoms started ages ago (think it's 5 days)

"they don't let you" - well, yes, those are the rules, but noone literally checks.

It's still better to know, surely?

Don't you even go in a shop, open the door to the postie, etc?

I live alone, wfh and not even got a dog, yet when I had to isolate for three days I was surprised how hard I found it.

1000yardstare

I'm 13 days in. It's like the worst all you can eat buffet. Sore throat? Fix that with a cough sir? Headache, here have some Snot. Cough yourself into a hernia... be our guest. G.r.i.m. coughs

I’ve been sick with this for literally weeks but at least you have made me laugh

Problem is if you get caught it's quite expensive . Not sure I'd risk it

@Ohhelppp

Thought I was better again and so went to work, but as the day has gone on the nose is less runny but the cough is back. On my way home now and feeling pretty rough again. I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again… W.T.A.F.

Mine did the same! I had 2 days of feeling OK to go into work now its back again with a vengeance. GP told me to do another PCR test.

Yes to the third PCR.
I had to have three before it confirmed I had it, the trace people who call just said your symptoms are of covid keep getting tested. So it did.

First was inconclusive second was negative then third was positive.

@tiddlysquat

Problem is if you get caught it's quite expensive . Not sure I'd risk it

So, you'd just not take the test?

I'm not sure I understand the point you're trying to make?

@FTEngineerM

Yes to the third PCR. I had to have three before it confirmed I had it, the trace people who call just said your symptoms are of covid keep getting tested. So it did.

First was inconclusive second was negative then third was positive.

Really? They just keep telling you to do PCRs? I gave up after the 2nd negative and assumed I didn't have it. This is a bit concerning.

I meant I wouldn't break the quarantine even if it was wrong dates

But no, in future I'd take one pcr and if negative but I have symptoms plus close exposure (in my case my dd) I'd not do anymore pcrs would just assume covid . I did 3 tests to get a positive meaning a longer quarantine (due to the way they count )and wouldn't do that again . Think it was possible to make an assumption in my case it was clearly covid despite the initial negative . Kids obviously need pcrs due to school but I'm just going to make my own assessment in the future for myself and not rely on the pcrs- I'm guessing for vaccinated people they are less accurate . Mainly as I need to walk the dog tbh (do it on an empty field which I drive to).

Test and trace didn't tell me to take repeated tests , just the one, even with symptoms.

I got my PCR test result today. Negative.

Still feel a bit 'heady' but not enough to take time off work and also sniffy too. Hard to get to sleep but feel better than I did.

@Coffeey yep I thought they were nuts until I finally got a positive.

When we do them ourselves, us untrained folk, we tend to not do as good of a job as if a professional were doing it. Also, the viral load varies depending on how long you’ve had it and other stuff which is way above my head.

I've got it - no classic symptoms, so I've only done LFTs (as did DC, who have also had it) - all of us negative all all no.

Basically I've just got far too much snot, which occasionally leads to a cough (post nasal drip) and a bit of sinus pressure. But oh, the tiredness!!

I'm not mixing with people until symptoms have started to ebb - it doesnt seem to be covid, but it's not a nice cold to have

I found myself googling "is it possible to have Covid while already ill" last night. Well this morning at 2am as I tried to stop coughing to the point of retching. My point about going out was to say I'd not been in any contact since I had my first one so I would only be catching it from my son (isolating in his room). I think my cough is a red herring as I actually have had coughs this bad before , I think due to my asthma. I was more pondering at what point you decide for or against going for another PCR

[quote FTEngineerM]@Coffeey yep I thought they were nuts until I finally got a positive.

When we do them ourselves, us untrained folk, we tend to not do as good of a job as if a professional were doing it. Also, the viral load varies depending on how long you’ve had it and other stuff which is way above my head.[/quote]
When I did a PCR I still did it myself, no professional was involved.

I had to sit in my car and do it, exactly the same method as lft, then put my hazard warning lights on when I was ready for them to come over.

That’s the point @VanGoghsDog that’s why they can give incorrect results. People do them themselves.

It's all useless, frankly!