Testing times - Covid in 2022

[Disco]

Wow, it's going around like wildfire.

Isn't it! These last couple of pages! I hope everyone here and their family members feel better soon.

[Estrella]

It’s going wild over here too. There’s a really nasty cold going round here too which is confusing things (I didn’t trust the RAT we did at home so took J for a PCR on Monday to be certain) and my colleague’s daughter was sent home from school with symptoms yesterday but her RAT was -ve too.

[overthehill]

After a truly lovely weekend, celebrating R's 70th in the UK, I've got the very faintest of positive results this evening. R has been feeling grotty since we got home on Monday, but has had two negative tests. I've had to let my two colleagues know. Luckily, due to one of them having a vulnerable dad, we've all agreed to keep wearing masks in the shop. So, I'm hopeful that I haven't passed it on. It's not practical for me to self-isolate at home - and probably pointless, anyway, given R's grotty 'cold'. So, I'm just keeping my distance, wearing a mask, and sleeping amongst the clutter in my workroom. :)

Honestly, you can bearly see it - but it's there.

20220330_204116.jpg

[viggy]

Someone told me (on here?) that LFTs are less accurate once you have symptoms - has R done a PCR?

[Texaco Shirley]

After a truly lovely weekend, celebrating R's 70th in the UK, I've got the very faintest of positive results this evening. R has been feeling grotty since we got home on Monday, but has had two negative tests. I've had to let my two colleagues know. Luckily, due to one of them having a vulnerable dad, we've all agreed to keep wearing masks in the shop. So, I'm hopeful that I haven't passed it on. It's not practical for me to self-isolate at home - and probably pointless, anyway, given R's grotty 'cold'. So, I'm just keeping my distance, wearing a mask, and sleeping amongst the clutter in my workroom. :)

Honestly, you can bearly see it - but it's there.
20220330_204116.jpg

A had one like that (back in October, it hasn’t got him again), a real hold it to the light and squint type line. The following morning it was unmistakably positive. Hope it’s a mild case.

[Jet]

Yeah, we had similar that the day L was dark purple positive, we tested S and it was super faint but for sure he also had it.

It's so hard that there are other illnesses around as well. S had some random fever virus at the weekend, all over by Sunday, back to school Monday but then came home with a cough but it seems to be more irritated asthma stuff (we're two deep on negative covid tests, and we JUST had it, so it's unlikely anyway) but I feel so paranoid that people will assume he's ill and contagious.

[overthehill]

Someone told me (on here?) that LFTs are less accurate once you have symptoms - has R done a PCR?

He hasn't. We didn't think of it, tbh. Testing here is so different from the UK. There are no free LFTs (we call them antigen tests) and no DIY PCR tests, you have to make an appointment with a test centre - and they're not available to everyone anymore. That said, R could get one, now he's over 70, :)) but I wouldn't be eligible.

We were amazed, when we were over, back in February, that, as foreign visitors, we couldn't buy LFTs in the UK. We were lucky that a kind pharmacist gave us two boxes of 7 kits, as we couldn't order them with the NHS app. I mean, it's great they're free and everything, but a bit hopeless, if you think that, since the travel restrictions lifted, there must be loads of infectious foreigners roaming about, unable to test themselves. On the flip side, there are probably thousands of infections here that are never picked up because people won't spend €3 - €5 on a single test kit!

[sally maclennane]

I think LFTS are just as accurate when you have symptoms, it's more that if you have symptoms you were meant to get a PCR test.

[Glint]

Mr G had the faintest of lines, and it had disappeared yesterday; I had a slightly stronger faint line and it was stronger yesterday. We both definitely have covid, but it is possible thay we've picked it up from different people.

S's school put out a letter to ask for daily testing in some classes due to case numbers - I'm pretty sure previously that would have been a PCR test letter.

[Rebel Pebble]

I think LFTS are just as accurate when you have symptoms, it's more that if you have symptoms you were meant to get a PCR test.

I agree. Mr R got a very faint line when he first felt a bit ropey then a stonkingly dark one a couple of days in when he felt really rubbish.

[Ella]

I read something that said it takes longer to get a positive on an LFT if you’ve been vaccinated (which makes sense but is also mildly concerning due to all the extra spreading this could lead to).

[Princess Morripov]

Oh really Ella? That makes sense with my friend who was grotty for a good few days and only got a positive on the LFT on Day 4 (actually once the worst of the symptoms were over), whereas she hadn't trusted the negative results and had already had a positive PCR from Day 1.

[Ella]

Found it:

https://mobile.twitter.com/michaelmina_ ... 7640394756

[overthehill]

Found it:

https://mobile.twitter.com/michaelmina_ ... 7640394756

That's really interesting. Thanks, Ella. If accurate, it means I was infected last week - before we went to the UK. :( It's hopeless, isn't it?! How was I ever meant to know, without symptoms?

Much more definite positive result this morning, unfortunately. Hey ho. That's me WFH for the next few days. R is feeling really shitty this morning and has gone back to bed. I've contacted everyone we saw at the party and R's daughter said that her youngest, J, seems to have had it too, but is also testing negative.

[Suzi.Q]

I have covid for the second time. Had a routine PCR at work last Wednesday and tested positive (no symptoms). Developed bad cold symptoms at the weekend but have tested negative on LFTs throughout. His now getting positive LFTs but no symptoms. I’m bored of covid.

[kiwi]

Found it:

https://mobile.twitter.com/michaelmina_ ... 7640394756

Whereas I felt slightly rough at 8am and got the tiniest of faintest of lines, and by 11am had a stonking great line when I retested to double check. No rhyme or reason.

[Morganna]

My MIL is now negative, but her legs aren't working very well. She's had a thorough examination from her GP, and apparently she's got the same after-effect as the Queen, which has cheered her up a lot :)). The Queen is a year or two younger than MIL, so is clearly not made of as such strong stuff ;)

She's in good spirits, though, and if sore legs are good enough for the Queen . . .

[Texaco Shirley]

My mum’s pcr was positive. I’m told she’s recovering though.m, she’s walking around and her appetite is back even though she still has a cough. I’ll go to visit later.

[emma_p]

S’s mum tested positive today too. She’s in hospital recovering from her broken hip and replacement op. She was due to be released next week but I’m not sure if that can happen now. S’s dad has been going in feeding her all meals (her dementia is pretty advanced, she doesn’t eat or drink unless someone prompts) but if he gets it too I don’t think he’ll be allowed to visit.

I’m glad your mum is recovering Tex.

[purple_dress]

Oh no. I'm sorry to hear that.