A scary weekend...

On Friday I developed a temperature of about 38.2C. My heart rate went up to about 78bpm (a normal rate, but fast for me- my range is usually between 48-6bpm). Kardia gave an unclassified report — when I sent it off for analysis it showed no atrial fibrillation but “multiple atrial ectopics” and “atrial bigeminy”. I had a call from an out -of-hours GP who said it was “pretty unlikely” to be Covid. The following day, yesterday, my temperature had returned to normal as had my heart rate. However, in the evening, the same thing happened - my temperature rose to 38.1C and the heart rate went to 78, again with the same ectopics. This time a GP whonrang was less reassuring. He said it was not possible to say whether it was Covi, but this was a possibility. Although I have no respiratory symptoms and no loss or change of smell or taste, a fever could be caused by Covid. Another possibility is that I might have a urinary tract infection or some diverticular problems, although my symptoms in this area are very mild (some occasional mild urgency to pass water and occasional very mild abdominal pain). I am supposed to have test for a urinary tract infection today at the walk-in -centre (you have to wait in the car park until called in). Any thoughts?

[fallingtopieces]

Book yourself a covid test. It’s easy to book and promptly available . You’d possibly get an appointment for tomorrow if you booked online now. Then you’ll know.

Pat

[Hidden in reply to fallingtopieces]

A GP said that the ordinary nasal test has to be done in the first five days or it’s “likely to come back negative regardless”. The other test, he said, takes about ten days to obtain, so by that time, I would almost certainly know already. I decided to speak to my GP surgery tomorrow before going having the urinary tract test planned for today.

[fallingtopieces in reply to Hidden]

A colleague of mine had 2. The second one as the first was inconclusive. She had one the same day as booking and the second the day after. It’s nostril and back of the throat and whilst you’re having symptoms. Worth a go, I would.

[Hidden in reply to fallingtopieces]

At the moment my temperature is down to normal as it was yesterday. I don’t know if it will rise again later. I haven’t got any breathing problems or a cough so I hope it’s not Covid.

[Auriculaire in reply to Hidden]

If you suffer from diverticulitis it is more likely to be that. Before having a colectomy to remove 26 cm of very diseased bowel my attacks did not always have severe symptoms. My abdominal pain did not usually get bad enough to take painkillers and I always had urinary symptoms -the scar tissue that builds up from repeated diverticulitis attacks can cause the colon to stick to the bladder and pull on it. Try going on a liquid / low fibre diet for a couple of days . Temperature always rises towards the evening naturally and that was when mine always went above normal during attacks.

[Maggimunro]

Hi Sam

You can get the results of an MSU (mid stream urine test for infection) within 24 hours. You need to get the sample bottle from the surgery and take it back in the morning to be sent off to the lab. The results should be back the next day. I have just had to have this done last week for a suspected kidney infection.

The advice of NHS 111 is that if you are symptomatic of covid19, go on line and book a test straight away. You should be seen the same day if you go to the drive through testing stations.

[Hidden in reply to Maggimunro]

Thanks for the info on the urine test. None of the 111 doctors have said that I ought to take a Covid test. I’m going to ring my GP surgery today and take things from there.

[TheProf]

This happened to me in March. It was a return of cellulitis in my leg but I had two separate bouts of fever before it showed on my leg. I also immediately thought Covid but it wasn't. Cellulitis is a bacterial infection.