Still positive after 11 days

[Downtime]

Has anyone else found this. I felt rough for a few days at the start but had antivirals ( Molnupiravir) and antibiotics and soon felt a lot better. I’m ok now just got a bit of a cough but I’m still testing positive on LFT every day. I know that I can now go out and about but I don’t really know if I’m infectious or not. I went to the shops yesterday wearing a high grade mask but I need to get back to a bit of socialising. Just wondered if it might be because of the immune suppression . I now take 10 mg prednisalone for Polymyalgia as well as 12,5 mg MXt for RA, although I haven’t had any Mxt for 2 weeks and feel reluctant to start it again until I’m negative.

[Potatos]

I'm on methotrexate and adalimumab and had covid in January. I had no antivirals and I tested positive for eight days. A friend had covid recently, she is not on any medication but was still testing positive on day eleven. Another friend who got it the same time as me in January only tested positive for five days. My husband took nine days to turn negative. It all just seems very random.

[Downtime in reply to Potatos]

Thanks for your reply. It does seem random . This omicron variant seems to take longer to clear and I was just doing some research which suggested that up to 20% still tested positive after 10 days with it.

[Potatos in reply to Downtime]

Even more random; my husband and I were on a trial to test for antibodies, he ended up with n antibodies and I didn't. So apparently I haven't had covid! We both have the s antibodies from the vaccination though.

[lucymead in reply to Potatos]

Hi it is good to hear that My OH and I are on ONS trial and the same happened with me. He didn't test Positive at all. I did and only felt very ill the Day before I tested. My ONS bloods and Swab test were done 4 days later and showed no COVID.

[Potatos in reply to lucymead]

I was positive with the lateral flow tests and the pcr. I definitely had covid. It was the antibody test that said I had made no n antibodies.

[MuppetBaby]

We had some info through work recently (NHS) that those considered severely immunosuppressed should isolate for 14 days as it often takes longer to clear. This was in reference to patients being in hospital though with no mention of staff etc and is specific to our hospital. Not sure if other hospitals have the same advice.

[Jackie1947 in reply to MuppetBaby]

14 days! Once the red line has disappeared and you feel well enough get on with life I say. I found it does take a week or two to recover just like flu does.

[Downtime]

Thanks for that info Karen. Wondered if that might be the case.

[Madmusiclover]

I tested positive for 11 days from first symptoms (not first positive test). I stopped my Baricitinib at first symptoms. Didn’t have antivirals. Keep trying to get back on Bari (6 weeks after first symptom) but makes chest wheezy.

[Downtime]

Sorry to hear that . I hope you’re not feeling too bad with the RA and you can start the Bari again soon. What a nuisance. I feel I don’t want to start the Mxt again until I’m fully better. I couldn’t stop the steroids as of course they have to be tapered and there was no time for that. Think they are the reason it’s all taking longer to clear. Didn’t have that 4th vaccine when they offered it, and I do regret that now. 🙃

[Jackie1947]

Is it a feint line? If so it could just be the debris and I'd say you're no longer infectious. I had the same on day 10 and Dr friend gave me this information. I stopped my biological meds until there was no red line.

[Downtime]

Thanks Jackie. It’s getting fainter 🤞it’s gone soon and I can get back to the MXT. …and normal life.

[aliplayspiano]

I had covid a couple of months ago. I had the anti virals (Paxlovid) and also antibiotics for a chest infection. I tested positive until day 12 although the line had been getting fainter from about day 8.

[Downtime]

Thanks Ali, hope I’m the same

[dippyd09]

I tested positive for 16 days when I had covid in June. I didn’t qualify for antivirals as am on a cocktail of DMARDS and no biologics. Still not 100% bet definitely better.

[Downtime in reply to dippyd09]

Wow, that’s a long time. Who knows if the antivirals made a difference but I felt ok after 5 or 6 days. Still coughing and I get tired . Hope you feel totally fit soon 🤞

[AshPen9]

I don't know how old you are Downtime, but Professor Tim Spector of the Zoe Symptom Study said recently that it appears that older people test positive for longer, 10 to 12 days being fairly common.

[Downtime in reply to AshPen9]

That’s interesting. I fall into that category so maybe that’s why 😜

[GinnyE]

I tested positive for about 15 days I think it was. Didn't feel ill but I didn't want to mix until I was negative. But I think when the line is really feint you're no longer infectious.

[katieoxo60]

Sounds strange still positive on LFTs after ten days. But apparently some of the new variants do take ten days to clear. No one seems to know what to do for the best, I've tested and was clear but my body does not seem back to normal. Take care

[Downtime]

You too !

[Mmrr]

My daughter, not immunocompromised, does not have RA and is healthy tested positive for 11 days on LFTs although by the last few days she felt well.

[Curious1248]

10 days sounds within a normal range to me, but just in case, here's a post I found helpful from a different group:

"Remember, everyone, read the test at the proper time. You want to read it while the liquid flow is “one way”. That is when there is still dry test strip to pull the liquid.

When the strip gets saturated, after the stated time interval, the flow is now “two way”, that is flowing in all directions. Specifically the material in the control bit is carried backwards to the test bit. Voilà. A false positive."

[Downtime]

That’s good to know. I can see how that is correct. Makes total sense.

[Pebblescat]

My husband is fit and well and was positive for 13 days. As you are immune surprised it may well be longer.

[Wannabeabago]

My daughter who has no other issues was positive for 2.5weeks

[Downtime in reply to Wannabeabago]

Amazing isn’t it . It just seems very variable. I’ve gone negative now after 13 days so actually that’s not too bad.