Day 21, still testing positive

Posted by dandl48 Dave @dandl48, Oct 2, 2023

On 9/11 got sick, stores out of test kits. On 9/12, test kits in stock, tested positive. On 9/13 got a script for Paxlovid and started the 5 day regimen. The only symptoms for the last 10 days are tiredness and some light-headedness. Some articles I read say if I don't have a fever I'm not contagious, other articles say yes I am and stay isolated until 5 days after testing negative. What is it? The test kit I'm using is a Flowflex Covid-19 Antigen Home Test. I'm going stir crazy!

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Hi @dandl48. As you’ve seen there is s lot of differing info out there. My healthcare system advises PCR test is most accurate for what is readily available. Otherwise you wait for quite some time for different testing options which doesnt reflect when you were actually negative🙃. Hope this helped🌈

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Tested positive for thirty days 65 days out and I still can't breathe

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It is good to isolate until after you have one or two negative home tests. Covid saps energy so make sure you don't push it. Naps and hydrating are important. I didn't have the energy to bike, but found I could still woodwork in my shop (with rest breaks). Aerobic exercise is harder. I gradually ramped up my exercise (69 yo and March covid) but still need rest breaks, so it can be a long haul disease.

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I’ve been told that you can test positive for up to 90 days even without symptoms.

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You can test positive for up to 90 days, stop testing.

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@lkirnbauer

You can test positive for up to 90 days, stop testing.

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The 90-day positive testing refers to the pcr test, more than the less-sensitive home test. If someone is testing positive after a long time then it suggests there is still some RNA bits from covid that your immune system is ramped up about, reinfection, or who knows what. Not necessarily that one is contagious. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/testing.html

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I recently found out that I have Hashimoto/hypothyroidism. I believe that could be why the virus hung on me for so long and I still don’t have my taste or smell back, since December 2022!!! It is killing me!

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@kayabbott

The 90-day positive testing refers to the pcr test, more than the less-sensitive home test. If someone is testing positive after a long time then it suggests there is still some RNA bits from covid that your immune system is ramped up about, reinfection, or who knows what. Not necessarily that one is contagious. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/testing.html

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I know we’re all hearing different things from our medical field, but I was told that with a home test you can test positive for up to 90 days. I’m just repeating what I was told.

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