Covid symptoms but negative test?

[georgarina]

Hey, so I'm almost 36 weeks pg and after around a week of symptoms and negative home tests I called 111 and was advised to go to A&E with Covid symptoms.

I went in and they basically confirmed it was Covid based on my symptoms, noted a fever and had me down for an x ray due to the possibility of a blood clot because of chest pain and tightness.

(I've got a deep cough, a really bad sore throat, and a lot of pressure and pain in my chest and upper back especially when walking. It sometimes feels like I can't get a full breath.)

But the test came back negative so they just told me to go home. So it's not Covid, but I've still got the symptoms?? They said it could be anything, but it's like the symptoms don't matter all of a sudden.

I'm at home now feeling really unwell and not sure what to do. Just wanted to get people's thoughts.

I think other viruses could cause symptoms similar to Covid, without it being Covid.

I don’t understand how they can “confirm” any condition without appropriate diagnostic tests? So they presumed covid…

When they’ve done the test it’s been negative so the chance of it actually being covid after lots of home tests and now one in hospital, is pretty much zero.

Perhaps it’s just a bad chest infection? My young son had a viral respiratory infection when he was young which had all the symptoms of covid but wasnt covid. There are LOADS of other things it could be. All those bugs that existed before covid still exist.

If you’re not right then get back in touch with your midwife or the antenatal team at your hospital. It might just be that you need rest and lots of fluids but absolutely do not hesitate to go back if things don’t improve soon

I know, but it's still potentially bad news? Or maybe it's nothing I don't know. But the chest pain and tightness worries me.

Other viruses are still available! It could be a cold and a chest infection? Some bad coughs cause chest pain and tightness. I ended up with asthma brought on by a severe chest infection.

@Ohpulltheotherone yeah they didn't officially confirm it they just said "yep sounds like your suspicions were correct, that sounds like Covid." and then were proceeding as if it were until the test came back.

Thanks I'll keep an eye. I've never had a chest infection so it's a bit scary to feel like I'm just left to myself and I'm not really sure what the cutoff point is now in terms of being unwell enough to call them back. Because I feel really unwell now.

But I was also in this situation last year where I went to A&E, called 111, etc about a tooth infection and all told me there was nothing wrong until I was blue lighted to hospital with sepsis. So I'm a bit hesitant in general about being told I'm fine when I don't feel it.

The tests aren’t 100% accurate and miss some positive cases, despite all the “gold standard” talk. The government don’t release figures on how many positive cases they miss but last I read it was around 20%.

I don't understand. You don't have Covid.

Are you confident the test was done properly. Did you swab the tonsils properly? Lots of people don’t because it makes them gag

@Egghead68 I am a bit scared of that honestly. Plus that fact that even if it's not "brand name" Covid I still have worrying symptoms that apparently aren't worrying now because they're not that one specific thing.

@HasaDigaEebowai yes they did the test in A&E

[quote georgarina]@Egghead68 I am a bit scared of that honestly. Plus that fact that even if it's not "brand name" Covid I still have worrying symptoms that apparently aren't worrying now because they're not that one specific thing.[/quote]
Whatever you have, it sounds like you still need to rest, drink plenty of fluids etc, and contact 111 if you are struggling to breathe. If you have a pulse oximeter it might be a good idea to monitor your sats. In your situation I would be isolating myself as much as possible too. I hope you feel better soon.

@Egghead68

The tests aren’t 100% accurate and miss some positive cases, despite all the “gold standard” talk. The government don’t release figures on how many positive cases they miss but last I read it was around 20%.

You're thinking of rapid flow tests. PCR tests are 99% accurate.

I’m not thinking of lateral flow tests.

PCR tests give very few false positives (1%) which is where the “99% accurate” comes from.

The government won’t release how many false negatives PCR tests give but universities estimate around 20%.

Lots of viruses are very similar to covid. You probably have one of those. Rest and plenty of liquids.

You poor thing

Is it just the one PCR test that you’ve taken? I’d probably take a second just to be on the safe side.

Whatever you’ve got sounds nasty. As someone else said, other viruses are still available.

I hope you feel better very soon.

My cousin is currently suffering from quite bad lung damage.from what the doctors kept telling her at the time was a standard pneumonia,/!chest infection which took weeks to clear up, where she had 4 negative Covid tests

She has since had lung scans and been told the damage is almost certainly due to Covid. Both the radiographer and doctor agree on that. The doctor also told her she had seen many many cases of clear Covid along with the subsequent organ damage where the patients had consistently had negative tests.

Did they do a d dimer to test for blood clot? I'd be concerned about a pulmonary embolism. I had one in pregnancy and had a cough, chest and back pain, temperature, although didn't have sore throat. If you are concerned go back and specifically ask x

If its not covid they dont give a rats ass. You can die of anything else thats not a problem. Suicide, cancer, heart, flu, pick your poison, but you're only interesting if you've covid.

If you have trouble breathing the reason isnt the only issue, the trouble breathing should he the issue. Unless.... except in covid world. If you get worse and need help, ring 111, or go back to A&E if its bad.