A positive test.

[2greys]

Now it is the final day of Sharon's self-isolation there is little fear of poking providence with a sharp stick anymore.

Last week I reported about there being 5 positive tests with carers, that were carried out the previous Wed, at the nursing home where my partner works.

That Sunday Sharon went to work and at 4 pm her boss told her she had to go home, he had just got her test results back and it was positive! That result took 5 days, a totally unacceptable delay.

How on earth can this be? was the first question that came into my head, along with the unnerving panic of "not again". Once the initial shock had worn off, the next day I approached the fact with a cold, logical mind. My first thought is, we are immune, this has got to be a false positive. Even if true, protocol has to be followed, she must self-isolate.

It then dawns on me there is a perfectly alternative explanation to this. One of the other carers was indeed positive and had in fact infected Sharon. We both had the virus in the middle of April almost 4 months ago, probably any antibodies had faded away. This where it gets a little technical. We would both have produced "T cells" that upon detecting the virus, instruct the "B cells" to start producing new antibodies Obviously this will take a small amount of time. As is already known the antigen test does not differentiate between the live virus cells and the dead virus cells hence a positive result was given.

Neither of us has shown any symptoms at all. Sharon will be going back to work tomorrow. With a sigh of relief.

For myself, this has caused really huge problems with regards to having a PET scan. I have had to self-isolate for 14 days, obviously the PET scan appointment has been delayed. Delayed until we have both been tested as negative. My 14 days isolation is up this coming Wednesday. So I will have to order postal tests, my only concern now is what if they detect dead virus cells? Tick Tock time is passing by, if indeed I do have another malignant tumour and I need more treatment then any delays are going to affect the success of that treatment. This damned virus is a real curse in more ways than one.

All I can do is to keep in a positive frame of mind. After all, with my first cancer diagnosis there were delays to treatment with fitness for surgery tests, then waiting for those results and an appointment to see the surgeon and ultimately an appointment to see the Oncologist for radiotherapy, all that took 3 months.

A very stressful week, along with 6 days of high weather temps I feel exhausted, both mentally and physically. Today with a few showers, the heat is tolerable.

[Becky130777]

Sorry to hear this 2greys on a positive note at least neither of you had any symptoms. I hope you get your PET scan soon and get results ASAP so you can move forward and get treatment if needed. I agree this Virus is causing so many problems just hoping things start to settle down next year

[sassy59]

Wishing yourself and Sharon the very best and let’s hope you can have the PET scan very soon. This virus is such a curse in so many ways.

Thinking of you. Take care xxxx

[Jaybird19]

Life is not fair or kind generally. I am so sorry that you are being put through this again.ßelf isolation is a bit of blanket measure. You have the mixed benefit of knowing about the ways the body reacts to this virus but also knowing what a delay can mean to you. I hope you can get this sorted and get your treatment soon. All the best .

[Katinka46]

Sorry to hear all this, you have both been through the mill. Your logical, scientific mind mind has sorted out what is happening but it leaves your in an awful limbo.

Very hard.

All the best

Kate xx

[2greys in reply to Katinka46]

We both spent the last week regularly checking our temperatures daily and monitoring o2 sats and blood pressure as well. All within our normal ranges.

The nursing home was rife with Covid at one point (no PPE at that point), which is how we originally became infected, also for the 3 months following, yet we still have not been re-infected and made ill again, despite this positive test. There are only two possible conclusions that can be made, it was a false positive or the test picked up dead virus cells from being immune.

Ho hum, we live to tell another tale.

[SORRELHIPPO in reply to 2greys]

I seem to remember, some tests were not that reliable and were giving false positives to ?immune people, but this is no help when it comes to needing more NHS input. Would be interesting to know which tests had been used, so could see if a different one was available.

[2greys in reply to SORRELHIPPO]

The tests were privately(?) purchased by New Century Care for use in their homes. The ones we are going to use next week will be requested by post via the 119 phone number. I have seen figures quoted of 98% efficacy for a negative result but only 51% efficacy for positive results, but I cannot remember the manufacturer. Either way all the antigen tests record dead virus cells as positive.

We need a serology (antibody)and T cell test to help put paid to these disruptive, false positive antigen reports, which we were promised by the Gov, then for it to be conveniently swept under the carpet. I wonder how many hours work have been lost because of this, then they have the gall to moan about the economy, after scoring a what is a home goal.

[cofdrop-UK]

Awe 2g what a bummer. I hope you both get a decent run and your PET scan can go ahead asap.

Love cx

[Kristicats]

Oh lord how confusing !😲 what a head ache for you it sounds possible that you could get another positive result if Sharon did? 🤷‍♀️

[2greys in reply to Kristicats]

Yes, it may do the same and detect dead virus. I also need it to be negative for both of us. I am thankful I have acquired the knowledge to deal with the situation, so it doesn't drive me crazy.

[Kristicats in reply to 2greys]

🤞🙏 Lets hope you can get your tests sorted despite your test results .Did you have a test last time?

[2greys in reply to Kristicats]

No, the only tests were on hospital admission at that time. My Oncologist was certain about it though, a clinical diagnosis, plus there were Covid deaths ongoing at the nursing home at the time.

I am also reasonably sure that my pneumonia came from the home as well, as I was washing Sharon's uniforms at the time, they now get washed in their laundry now.

[crashdoll]

Oh 2greys , I’m sorry. What a palaver for you both! Sharon and her colleagues do such a hard job at the best of times, let alone during a pandemic. Ugh, how utterly frustrating.

[Patsy164]

Sorry to hear this 2greys this Covid ruins everything. How frustrating for you both. Lets hope it all gets sorted out soon.

[soul-123]

Thinking of you both X

[Oshgosh]

I feel for you, between the heat and Sharons tests, it’s been a bad week for you.

1 step forward 2 back comes to mind !

I don’t know what else to say. Look after yourself and Sharon.

[Jomo46]

Yet another hiccup. It’s not easy, is it. Good luck with the next stages

[watergazer]

🤬is how you must be feeling 2greys. There seem to be a lot of false positive tests around.

[Tugun]

Wishing you the very best 2greys. Praying for you.

[Johnsel]

What an awful week you have both had. Hopefully your PET scan will go ahead. As you say you have a lot of knowledge about this awful virus, goodness knows how many other people have been given the wrong result. Take care. Carole 😘

[2greys in reply to Johnsel]

Precisely, how many others have been worried silly by a positive test, thinking it was only yesterday that I saw my parents plus all the other scenarios like mine, preventing treatment. A positive should result in immediately getting a second confirmation test to confirm the results. It will not stop the detection dead virus though.

We need better, more specific and accurate testing. Poor accuracy tests producing false positives are also going to prevent people from working, thus hurting any economic recovery. It is like taking a sledgehammer to crack a nut, a brute force approach. The tests are not prohibitively expensive to do a second one.

Then as more people develop immunity the less effective testing will be, as people encounter and kill the virus, which will produce even more false positive results. An even worse effect when people start to get vaccinated. I bet they have not even thought of that scenario yet.

[Yatzy in reply to 2greys]

I find your knowledge on the outcomes of testing very interesting. You really do keep us all on the ball, 2greys. Thank you so much.

I do hope your next test yields a helpful and accurate negative result enabling you to move forward on the PET scan. All the best!

My husband is booked in to have a Covid test on Tuesday, ahead of endoscopy and colonoscopy investigations. I hope to goodness that he gets an accurate result, which should be negative. He has waited so long for this work to go ahead due to recent closures in the hospital system. Very difficult waiting and worrying here too.

[Hidden]

My heart goes out to you. I hope things get sorted out for you soon so that you can move forward.

[Ergendl]

Hope things start to improve for you both soon.

[Dedalus]

You are, as ever, doing everything right. I hope you get a negative result for Covid and can go ahead with your PET scan. Good luck with everything.

[MoyB]

Hope your test result allows you to go forward and get the PET scan sorted. I'm glad you haven't had any symptoms but in a way, that must make the situation even more frustrating for you.

At least it's a bit cooler this weekend, so hope that helps a bit.

xx Moy

[Suzie42]

It is a dreadful state of affairs. Inefficiency everywhere, no continuity, no proper care for some people. Frustration everywhere! At least you have the knowledge and are on the ball. I can only wish you luck, as that's all we can rely on nowadays, to have your PET scan and get in with your lives. 🤞

[Hidden]

Hope everything works out for you 2g without further delays.

[2greys in reply to Hidden]

Thanks. I can well do without any more dramas surrounding Cancer. It is not easy, knowing that all the delays with others that are costing them their lives. I can only hope that I can get through all this before the schools returning can cause a possible second wave.

Sharon returned back to work yesterday, she has found out one of her work friends was also tested positive. She had been shielding for 4 months because she was immune compromised, having Leukemia. 2 weeks back at work and this happens to her, my heart really does go out to her. Not much news of her condition other than she was feeling weak with excessive fatigue, even if she does not actually have Covid, it is most unfair to have to sustain, what I know is, the huge stress of it all.

[Kristicats in reply to 2greys]

Gosh that’s also awful news about Sharons colleague. That’s why I’ve finished work after shielding it’s far from over. The good thing is that Sharon has no symptoms this time This is going to be so drastic for many people if having had CV and gone through it then to be tested positive again due to dead covid cells!! How much delay and confusion is that going to cause whilst awaiting treatment ! The test we have obviously not picking up the difference between live and dead cells🤷‍♀️Hope there is some way around it if you get a positive result. You should not have to wait a second longer . What an investigation there will be when/ if we get through this😔

[Hidden in reply to 2greys]

Oh that is awful for the poor lady with leukemia having shielded for 4 weeks.

Cancer diagnosis alone is a huge trauma without any added risk of the virus.

My 1st annual check is next month. just hope all is clear.

Take care 2g thoughts to you and Sharon's colleague

[2greys in reply to Hidden]

Congratulations on achieving annual check up status, your prognosis must be very good now I got as far as 6 monthly checks and hope the clock is not going to be reset to zero again. I will be ringing 119 tomorrow to order the postal tests for us, I hope it was just a bad batch of tests that the home had. I do not need a positive test for either of us, because it picks up on dead virus cells.