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Why is my PCR test negative?

Posted by seven09 @seven09, Sep 28, 2022

Hi all,

I'd really appreciate some advice or experience on this issue so I can get an idea of how long to isolate.

A bit of background, I had covid along with my husband & 2 kids back in November. I got extremely sick and needed steroids & antibiotics to get over it despite being very fit and healthy. I was going to get vaccinated after that hellish experience but witnessed someone having a very bad reaction to the vaccine and have been afraid ever since.

On Sunday my 5 yo son woke up with a fever of 103.8. For the next 2 days he had a high fever & headache with no other symptoms. The 3rd day he was completely fine. On the Sunday evening I also started to feel unwell with fatigue, nausea, myalgia, and slight burning in my sinuses. I also had severe night sweats which I only have experienced with covid. My husband just had a headache. On monday my 8 yo daughter looked pale and kept complaining of stomach pain. I tested everyone on Sunday with a home test (all were negative). Then on Monday I went to the doctors for a PCR test. The rapid test and lab PCR test came back negative. The doctor also tested for 8 other possible viruses including the flu which are currently circulating but they also came back negative. The person who did the swabs was very gentle so I don't know if she got a good sample. I tested myself & daughter again today (wednesday) and it was negative.

We are supposed to be visiting my elderly in-laws this weekend but I'm afraid to go in case I spread Covid to them. My husband thinks we should believe the tests and doesn't want to miss an important birthday party. Both myself and my daughter still don't feel ok despite not having any obvious covid symptoms. I feel tired with brain fog and don't have much of an appetite. Whatever I have feels like a much milder version of the covid I had in November.

Could also these negative tests possibly be false? Half my daughter's class including her teacher have covid and there is an outbreak at the school so how could we not have it? Any advice on what I should do?

Thanks so much,
Seven

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Mentor
Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Sep 29, 2022

@seven09 Well, as for why your PCR tests continue to be negative, probably because you don't have it this time. If one person had one negative test, I would say possible error, but several negatives among you - probably not.

As for still feeling ill in spite of being tested for 8 different viruses, remember that there are thousands of viruses that affect people, there are only accurate tests for a few dozen of them. So quite probably you have one of the many for which there is no test. My daughter (school nurse) and her 1st grader & 3 year old have all been walking virus pots since school started a month ago, but no Covid - just congestion, wicked coughs, and tired. We were at the school yesterday, and it seemed like half the kids and several adults had coughs, were hoarse...

The biggest question is whether to attend the important birthday party --- a personal decision. In my family, I expect to see this play out over and over again until the indoor season is over. Here are some well-respected criteria we consider:
If you are symptomatic of any illness - fever, rash, cough, vomiting... - stay home from indoor gatherings that will include vulnerable people.
If you have recently been ill, but the symptoms are gone (3-7 days for most viruses) - attend but keep your distance from vulnerable people. Maybe consider wearing a mask and keeping the sanitizer handy.
If you are part of a household or office that has a virus, but you have remained symptom-free - should be safe

Our decisions on gatherings are often made hour-by-hour - unless you have an absolute deadline for deciding, can you wait til the weekend, letting family know why?
Sue

REPLY
1 reply
rashida | @rashida | Sep 29, 2022
In reply to @sueinmn "@seven09 Well, as for why your PCR tests continue to be negative, probably because you don't..." + (show)
@sueinmn

@seven09 Well, as for why your PCR tests continue to be negative, probably because you don't have it this time. If one person had one negative test, I would say possible error, but several negatives among you - probably not.

As for still feeling ill in spite of being tested for 8 different viruses, remember that there are thousands of viruses that affect people, there are only accurate tests for a few dozen of them. So quite probably you have one of the many for which there is no test. My daughter (school nurse) and her 1st grader & 3 year old have all been walking virus pots since school started a month ago, but no Covid - just congestion, wicked coughs, and tired. We were at the school yesterday, and it seemed like half the kids and several adults had coughs, were hoarse...

The biggest question is whether to attend the important birthday party --- a personal decision. In my family, I expect to see this play out over and over again until the indoor season is over. Here are some well-respected criteria we consider:
If you are symptomatic of any illness - fever, rash, cough, vomiting... - stay home from indoor gatherings that will include vulnerable people.
If you have recently been ill, but the symptoms are gone (3-7 days for most viruses) - attend but keep your distance from vulnerable people. Maybe consider wearing a mask and keeping the sanitizer handy.
If you are part of a household or office that has a virus, but you have remained symptom-free - should be safe

Our decisions on gatherings are often made hour-by-hour - unless you have an absolute deadline for deciding, can you wait til the weekend, letting family know why?
Sue

Jump to this post

@seven09 - I would not want to put elderly parents at risk but if your husband insists on going, let him go to the party on his own, and you stay home with the children. Would it be possible for you and the children to join the party via video calling or Zoom?

REPLY
seven09 | @seven09 | Sep 29, 2022

Thank so much for the info @sueinmn! Those guidelines are very helpful. I really didn't think that it could be another virus since my symptoms were so similar to covid and everyone seems to have it. It's true though, during the colder months my kids always seem to have some virus.

@rashida thank you for your reply. I'm going to let the in-laws know what is going on and leave it up to them whether they want us to attend. Obviously those of us who still have lingering symptoms by the weekend will not go. Zoom is a good idea for singing happy birthday and the kids will be happy as long as someone brings home some cake 😀

REPLY
BeBold | @bebold | Sep 29, 2022

I have always tested negative, have had it twice per IGG which is only positive if you actually had the virus. I also got it a month ago, tested negative but a friend I was with, we both came down the same day with the same symptoms 4 days after dinner together. She tested positive on day 3. I never did. I am 2 years long haulers with drastic spread of CRPS post covid (autoimmune pain disorder) And now for a month, I am bedridden with another massive spread. Antivirals helped (my doc goes by symptoms and other family results when everyone is sick!) Am now on Prednisone for 2 months to see if it helps. I tested negative. It can affect your lungs or your stomach. If it's in your stomach, swabbing your throat will probably be negative. Beyond that, if it's not COVID he feels FINE exposing his parents to any other virus? I'd be like, you people stay home if I were his parents. People get very sick from lots of flus and viruses. Seriously, if the test with a 40% false negative result is negative, potentially expose ANYONE? For a birthday? Sorry, sick is sick. Stay home. I'm looking at a wheelchair and sleeping with oxygen for 2+ years now. I'm barely retired. I think some of us just never test positive for some reason - plus these home tests are no good if they have been stored anywhere hot before they get to you. Some free ones mailed to me were already outdated! Please, stay home. Be the adult making the right decision?

REPLY
1 reply
arubnitz | @arubnitz | Sep 30, 2022
In reply to @bebold "I have always tested negative, have had it twice per IGG which is only positive if..." + (show)
@bebold

I have always tested negative, have had it twice per IGG which is only positive if you actually had the virus. I also got it a month ago, tested negative but a friend I was with, we both came down the same day with the same symptoms 4 days after dinner together. She tested positive on day 3. I never did. I am 2 years long haulers with drastic spread of CRPS post covid (autoimmune pain disorder) And now for a month, I am bedridden with another massive spread. Antivirals helped (my doc goes by symptoms and other family results when everyone is sick!) Am now on Prednisone for 2 months to see if it helps. I tested negative. It can affect your lungs or your stomach. If it's in your stomach, swabbing your throat will probably be negative. Beyond that, if it's not COVID he feels FINE exposing his parents to any other virus? I'd be like, you people stay home if I were his parents. People get very sick from lots of flus and viruses. Seriously, if the test with a 40% false negative result is negative, potentially expose ANYONE? For a birthday? Sorry, sick is sick. Stay home. I'm looking at a wheelchair and sleeping with oxygen for 2+ years now. I'm barely retired. I think some of us just never test positive for some reason - plus these home tests are no good if they have been stored anywhere hot before they get to you. Some free ones mailed to me were already outdated! Please, stay home. Be the adult making the right decision?

Jump to this post

I am so sorry you are still struggling. Were you vaccinated? I am long haul vaxx injured (10 months). Wondering if maybe your chronic illness is from that?

REPLY
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